Cryptic Crosswords – Solving hints #9

Clue  - Cut lavish bonus (4)

This one is a word meaning “bonus” but which also meets the requirements of “cut lavish”.  The words “cut” or “reduced” can often mean the shortening of a word.  So here the word “plush” which means lavish is shortened to “plus” which can mean “bonus”.  Voila.

Clue - Whisper spread about king’s ruin (9)

Here we have a partial anagram.  The word “whisper” is “spread about” ie re-arranged.  This can’t be the total answer, however, because you need 2 more letters.  “About” often means “c” (from the Latin circa) and references to a king will often mean R or K.  If you assume that the “ck” comes at the end you can after some cogitation come up with the second word being “wreck” which is a ruin and the remaining letters can read “ship” so the answer is “shipwreck”.

Clue  - What may be brittle in trash can? (6,3)

Often clues that finish with a question mark can be a bit strange.  This one, though, is reasonably straightforward for us cryptic freaks.  The answer is an anagram of “brittle in” meaning “trash can” – hey presto – “litter bin”.


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