Easy Cryptic Crossword from Simple Daily Puzzles 2021-12-27 (23/24)
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The clues:
1a – Girl taking jet to see old stamp (5,5)
PENNY BLACK
Old stamp is the definition (the Penny Black was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp), with the rest as a charades clue: PENNY (a girl‘s name) + BLACK (as in jet black)
7a – Maigret’s odd music (7)
RAGTIME
Music is the definition, with odd as an anagram indicator for Maigret
8a – List of choices for chaps going to university (4)
MENU
List of choices is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: MEN (chaps) + U (abbreviation for university)
10a – An American gives no backing to king (4)
YANK
An American is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: YAN (backing is a reversal indicator for NAY, meaning no) + K (abbreviation for king)
11a – More tempestuous, making more stir (8)
STORMIER
More tempestuous is the definition, with making as an anagram indicator for more stir
13a – Deprived child – no harp ordered (6)
ORPHAN
Deprived child is the definition, with ordered as an anagram indicator for no harp
15a – Keen perception – having last word about copper? (6)
ACUMEN
Keen perception is the definition, with about as an indicator to put CU (abbreviation for copper) into AMEN (last word of many prayers): A(CU)MEN
17a – Pitiful father gets the twitch (8)
PATHETIC
Pitiful is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: PA (father) + THE (the) + TIC (twitch)
18a – Competent learner in Lincoln (4)
ABLE
Competent is the definition, with in as an indicator to put L (abbreviation for learner) into ABE (Lincoln): AB(L)E
21a – Misfortunes in the ‘ighlands (4)
ILLS
Misfortunes is the definition, with the rest as a silly definition; there are in the 'ighlands (highlands) there are 'ills (hills)
22a – Red tape reformed and gradually reduced (7)
TAPERED
Gradually reduced is the definition, with reformed as an anagram indicator for red tape
23a – Film star, miscast, dived in van (5,5)
DAVID NIVEN
Film star is the definition, with miscast as an anagram indicator for dived in van
1d – Father raised horse – he’s a heathen (5)
PAGAN
Heathen is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: PA (father) + GAN (raised is a reversal indicator for NAG, meaning horse)
2d – Fastener – one of five on hand (4)
NAIL
Double definition, with a nail being a fastener and also something you have five of on your hand (fingernails)
3d – French girl yet confused about animal doctor? (6)
YVETTE
French girl is the definition, with about as an indicator to put VET (animal doctor) into YTE (confused is an anagram indicator for yet): Y(VET)TE
4d – Stack of fruit in funny rhyme (8)
LIMERICK
Funny rhyme is the definition, with the rest being a charades clue: LIME (fruit) + RICK (stack, like hay)
5d – Swindle by company? Make sure! (7)
CONFIRM
Make sure is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: CON (swindle) + FIRM (company)
6d – Sorry camp constructed for a group of soldiers (4,5)
ARMY CORPS
Group of soldiers is the definition, with constructed as an anagram indicator for sorry camp
9d – Agreed on a mixed drink (9)
ORANGEADE
Drink is the definition, with mixed as an anagram indicator for agreed on a
12d – Engage in a sport – risk a wet outcome (5-3)
WATER-SKI
Engage in a sport is the definition, with outcome as an anagram indicator for risk a wet
14d – Gently strike a girl – on the knee (7)
PATELLA
Knee is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: PAT (gently strike) + ELLA (a girl‘s name)
16d – Christopher turned up net for for small pet (6)
KITTEN
Small pet is the definition, with the rest as a charades clue: KIT (short for Christopher) + TEN (turned up is a reversal indicator for net)
19d – Nobleman – unproductive, so we hear (5)
BARON
Nobleman is the definition, with so we hear as a homophone indicator for BARREN (unproductive)
20d – Wide boy has upset bigwigs (4)
SPIV
Wide boy is the definition (that and spiv are slang for a person who makes money in a dishonest way), with upset as a reversal indicator for VIPS (bigwigs)