CRYPTO CLUES LXX

Dell PennyPress Variety Puzzles

December, 2020 (1-4)

Volume 121 (5-10)

Finding the division point between definition and wordplay is the key to solving cryptic crosswords. Many times, that distinction is hard to make. For example, the clue Have a meal around a boat, suggests eating in a circle around a boat. But the answer to the clue is LAUNCH - which does not sound much like eating around a boat. The clue has to be parsed as have a meal around A - boat - - -  that is,  have a meal around [the letter] A - boat. LAUNCH answers this version of the clue. To lunch is to have a meal, and it is around [the letter] A (lAunch) - and a launch is a kind of boat. 

 

1. Temporary shelter covering an occupant of building 

2. Dad's brother with article not washed

3. Greek character easily understood a kind of energy

4. Acts of deception mixed up users

5. I say Tess upset a writer

6. Relax with duck feathers after fictional story

7. Some Pennsylvania people like the morning

8. Admitted lunatic feeds cons

9. Safeguards dog covered by spots (container clue)

10. Address inaccurately and fail to hit the top

11. Loudly chase off confused loafer (homophone/homograph)

12. Fixed certain instrument part broken apart by couple

Answers:

 

1. TENANT (tent covering "an") 

2. UNCLEAN (uncle with "an" [article])

 

3. NUCLEAR - Nu (Greek character) 

 

4. RUSES

 

5. ESSAYIST (I SAY TESS mixed up) 

 

6. LIE DOWN

 

7. AMISH

 

8. CONFESSED (lunatic = mixed up letters)

 

9. SECURES [SEES (spots) covers CUR (dog)

 

10. MISSPEAK (miss peak)

 

11. SHOE (shoo) (loafer - two meanings) 

 

12. REPAIRED (RE pair ED)