Solution for 10 May cryptic crossword clue

Oooops - managed to post 2 clues on the same day yesterday:  So here are the 2 solutions.

State of alarm, frightful in satanic spot (5,8)

Solution – Panic stations

Today, the split in the clue is at the comma.  Panic stations, of course, is when you are in a state of alarm.

“Frightful” is the word that suggests there may be an anagram ie the letters are “frightful” in the sense of all mixed up.  If you jumble up “in satanic spot” you also get “panic stations”.

I quite like the clue because if you were in a satanic spot you would probably be in a state of alarm – so the clue all hangs together in a clever way.

For a more detailed discussion of cryptic clues that involve anagrams, click here.

Hedging complex accounts of grain (4)

Solution – maze

This is a “sounds like” clue.  (See sidebar on clue types) 
A maze is a hedging complex in the sense that mazes are often made out of hedges.  


The word that points you to it being "sounds like" is "accounts".  So "maze" sounds like "maize" which is a type of grain.


A big shout out to Internal Optimist who solved it first.