Said twice for comfort, but not here (5)

I thought about updating the last crossword post with new clues but then decided to make a completely new one. Cryptic clues kind of spice up a blog. Basically here, I'm going to explain some of my favourite cryptic clues and why they're so awesome to solve. If you're new to cryptics, go here and here. Let's start.

Ridiculous, ridiculous, ridiculous, I quit (9)

Given to me by a friend of mine, I saw it a couple of weeks later in the Sunday TOI. Brilliantly constructed clue, the first ridiculous is the definition, the second is the anagram indicator and the third is the anagram fodder. But the answer has 9 letters and ridiculous has 10, so you have to remove 1, that is the letter 'I'(hence it quits). So anagram of ridiculous-i and means ridiculous. Got it? Answer here: LUDICROUS

Time for removing ups and downs (7)

It's a time and it means to remove ups and downs. Simple and yet so awesome when you get it. Can you see what it is? Answer: EVENING.

Food said to please a photographer (6)

It's a food and it's said to please a photographer. Now why would a photographer be pleased? If he gets a good smiling picture, right? So the answer is.......CHEESE.

One's manual exercise may be character building (6)

This is one CRAZY cryptic definition. A person who does manual exercise and it builds characters. Think as off-beat as you can for 'manual exercise' and 'character'. The answer may still surprise you if you don't get it. Our person is a TYPIST.

Exercising charity's in it (12)

This is something known as an &lit clue(pronounced 'and lit'). Such clues are extremely difficult to make and are equally awesome if done right. Basically other clues have a definition at the beginning or end of the clue and the other part of it is a cryptic way to get at the answer. But here, the whole clue plays a double role. Read one way, it's the definition of the answer and another it is a cryptic way to get the answer. In the above example, the answer is something where you are taught to exercise charity and read cryptically, it's an anagram of 'charity's in it'. Get it? The answer is CHRISTIANITY.

I'm a leader of Muslims! (4)

Another genius &lit. He is a leader of Muslims. Now read it cryptically. Leader of Muslims is the letter 'M'. The other three letters have to be taken as they are in the clue. Such clues can evoke a 'Holy cow!' if got right. Answer: IMAM.

I'm one involved with cost (9)

One final &lit. He's involved with 'cost' literally and it's an anagram of 'I'm one' and 'cost' with 'involved' as the anagram indicator. Answer: ECONOMIST.

Baby soldiers (8)

A nice pun-like double definition. The answer etymologically comes from a word for baby. Answer: INFANTRY.

You can't hit on this girl (6)

A clue that sounds funny on surface reading. You start picturing some sort of tough harridan or something. The answer is completely different. Think sports. Answer: MAIDEN.

Emotional people can be transported without difficulty (6,5)

Phrases and idioms make for awesome double definitions as what they literally mean is usually different from what they're supposed to mean. The above phrase is a good example. It means 'transported without difficulty' literally and it's phrase meaning is something that defines emotional people. Do you see the connection? Answer: EASILY MOVED.

Have veracity or moisture (4,5)

Another example of the previous type. 'Have veracity' is the meaning and 'have moisture' is the literal meaning in a way. Answer: HOLD WATER.

Receives and deceives (5,2)

A final example of this type. Answer: TAKES IN.

Bout of illness when you are healthy (3)

An awesome double definition as the the two meanings are opposites. As an adjective, the word means healthy but as a noun, it may mean a bout of illness. See the connection? Answer: FIT.

It's up for approval (5)

Simply brilliant. This is a cryptic definition, so the answer is the 'it' in the question. So, what's up for approval? Hint: ends with a b. Got it? Answer: THUMB.

It tightens a lock or picks it? (7)

The answer is again the 'it' in the question. The word 'lock' has 2 different meanings here. Once you realise those two meanings, you should get it. Answer: HAIRPIN.

E? Utter stupidity (13)

This is another CRAZY clue. The answer means utter stupidity and the 13 letter word, when looked at cryptically, gives you the letter 'E'. Confused? So was I :P Just think of a 13 letter word that fits and that is your answer. The go in reverse and see if you can explain the E. OK, the answer is SENSELESSNESS. Do you see why? SENSE-(LESS indicates subtraction) NESS. This clue is made more awesome by the fact that it makes sense on surface reading, as E could be the drug ecstasy.

Please turn off the lamp! (7)

This one is pure gold. A very smartly disguised double definition. The answer means 'please', (think of all the possible meanings of the word) and it means to turn off the lamp in a cryptic way. Answer: DELIGHT. Enough to evoke a "Wow!" whether you get it or not.

OK, this leaves the one in the title. That's a reasonably easy one, just attack it directly. Post the answer if you get it :)