Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-12-25 (26/26)
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The clues:
1a – Train a swimming group (6)
SCHOOL
Double definition, with school meaning train and also a group of fish (a swimming group)
4a – Start pulling strings for situations (6)
PLACES
Situations is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: P (start pulling, first letter of pulling) + LACES (strings)
8a – Western farm operated by church (5)
RANCH
Western farm is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: RAN (operated) + CH (abbreviation for church)
9a – Walter’s turned out to be a good-for-nothing (7)
WASTREL
Good-for-nothing is the definition, with turned out as an anagram indicator for Walter's
10a – Advertisement on northern gate (7)
POSTERN
Gate is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: POSTER (advertisement) + N (abbreviation for Northern)
11a – Sound of distress when girl’s first put on horse (5)
GROAN
Sound of distress is the definition with the rest as a charades clue: G (girl's first, first letter of girl) + ROAN (horse)
12a – Rouse runners in Yorkshire town (9)
WAKEFIELD
Yorkshire town is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: WAKE (rouse) + FIELD (runners)
17a – One from Glasgow, perhaps, seen in racecourse (5)
ASCOT
Racecourse is the definition (Ascot is a British racecourse), with the rest as a charades clue: A (one) + SCOT (from Glasgow, perhaps)
19a – Left Spain and Portugal for part of Africa (7)
LIBERIA
Part of Africa is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: L (abbreviation for left) + IBERIA (Spain and Portugal)
21a – They go to make several reforms (7)
LEAVERS
They go is the definition, with reforms as an anagram indicator for several
22a – Saint, not well yet (5)
STILL
Yet is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: ST (abbreviation for Saint) + ILL (not well)
23a – Neglect daughter – poor Susie! (6)
DISUSE
Neglect is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: D (abbreviation for daughter) + ISUSE (poor is an anagram indicator for Susie)
24a – Such discourtesy is trivial (6)
SLIGHT
Double definition, with slight meaning discourtesy and trivial
1d – Fights for leftovers (6)
SCRAPS
Double definition, with scraps meaning fights and also leftovers
2d – Small tool spotted by worker (7)
HANDSAW
Small tool is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: HAND (worker) + SAW (spotted)
3d – Colour seen in loch recently (5)
OCHRE
Colour is the definition, with in as a hidden word indicator for l(och re)cently
5d – Angela’s cooked an Italian dish (7)
LASAGNE
Italian dish is the definition, with cooked as an anagram indicator for Angela's
6d – Stuff carried in cold Greek ship (5)
CARGO
Stuff carried is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: C (abbreviation for cold) + ARGO (Greek ship)
7d – Listen out for mum (6)
SILENT
Mum is the definition, with out as an anagram indicator for listen
9d – Autumn turns out to provide unexpected gains (9)
WINDFALLS
Unexpected gains is the definition, with out as an indicator to put FALL (Autumn) into WINDS (turns): WIND(FALL)S
13d – Christopher gets numbers of small pets (7)
KITTENS
Small pets is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: KIT (short for Christopher) + TENS (numbers)
14d – Learner with bold exterior gets sweetheart (7)
DARLING
Sweetheart is the definition, with exterior as an indicator to put L (abbreviation for learner) into DARING (bold): DAR(L)ING
15d – Jack suffered behind bars (6)
JAILED
Behind bars is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: J (abbreviation for Jack) + AILED (suffered)
16d – Sort of hammer everyone’s come across outside (6)
MALLET
Sort of hammer is the definition, with outside as an indicator to put ALL (everyone) into MET (come across): M(ALL)ET
18d – City girl showing form (5)
CLASS
Form is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: C (abbreviation for city) + LASS (girl)
20d – A herb for Mr Fawlty (5)
BASIL
Double definition, with basil being a herb, and Basil being the first name of Mr Fawlty