Irish Daily Mail Cryptic Crossword Clues With Answers April 18, 2024
by Shoba | Updated Apr 18, 2024
The Irish Daily Mail Cryptic Puzzle is the trickiest puzzle one can ever solve. It sounds simple, but it holds profound meaning and an answer. However, simple logical thinking helps solve these twisty puzzles. Believe in yourself and take this challenge for some fun and entertainment. Try it by yourself or with your friends, family, or neighbours. Solve the puzzle and give this challenge to your near and dear ones.
Question: Sprained toe sadly giving one anguish (11)
DESPERATION
When one's toe is sprained, it can cause significant distress or anguish. Sprained toe hints at an anagram of TOE SADLY, resulting in DESPERATION.
Question: Dismiss from office one handling payments (7)
CASHIER
This clue suggests someone who handles payments, typically in a professional setting like an office. Dismiss from office implies removing a letter from OFFICE, leaving CASHIER.
Question: Regularly occurring objective with English male in charge (7)
ENDEMIC
Regularly occurring implies something common, while English male in charge indicates leadership. Combining these, we arrive at ENDEMIC, which describes something prevalent in a particular population or area.
Question: Negligent learner given a sign of being wrong (3)
LAX
Describing someone who is negligent or careless, learner given a sign of being wrong suggests a lax attitude. The answer is simply LAX, indicated by given a sign to remove the first letter of learner.
Question: A small group hear about fine site when discovered (7)
TRINITY
A small group indicates a limited number, and hear about fine site when discovered hints at a religious concept. The term that fits is TRINITY, which refers to a group of three entities, often associated with religious beliefs.
Question: In the morning, university allows mascots (7)
AMULETS
Pointing to a morning scenario, university allows mascots refers to items often associated with good luck or protection. The word mascots hints at AMULETS, which can be rearranged from university with allows.
Question: Henry stopped getting 50% off (3)
HAL
Henry stopped suggests a name, and getting 50% off indicates a decrease. The answer is HAL, which is a shortened form of the name Henry, followed by 50% off to form a three-letter word.
Question: By the sound of it, dress up association of craft workers (5)
GUILD
By the sound of it, dress up association of craft workers the word association of craft workers hints at a guild. The phrase by the sound of it suggests homophones, leading to dress up sounding like dresser. So, combining dresser with guild gives us the answer GUILD.
Question: Vulgar course of action shown by Yankee (5)
TACKY
Vulgar course of action shown by Yankee suggests a word meaning tacky or tasteless. Vulgar course of action implies something low-class, while Yankee indicates the letter Y. Combining these leads to TACKY.
Question: Boring husband with signs of surprise and hesitation (2,3)
HO HUM
Boring husband with signs of surprise and hesitation boring suggests monotony, and husband often stands for the letter H. The phrase signs of surprise and hesitation hints at the expression oh, um, leading to HO HUM.
Question: Make a rhythmic sound? This is absent before drink (5)
THRUM
Make a rhythmic sound? This is absent before drink the phrase rhythmic sound indicates a gentle, continuous noise, and this is absent before drink implies removing the letter R from the word rhum. This gives us THRUM.
Question: Woman in steamy room lacking appeal (3)
UNA
Woman in steamy room lacking appeal suggests a woman's name in a steamy atmosphere without attractiveness. Removing appeal from unappealing leaves UNA.
Question: This person's seen to be wrong about money of huge proportions (7)
IMMENSE
This person's seen to be wrong about money of huge proportions hints at something immense or vast. This person's seen to be wrong implies an error, while money of huge proportions suggests a large amount. Combining these leads to IMMENSE.
Question: Try to obtain standing order permitted under rules (7)
SOLICIT
The standing order, permitted under rules, typically involves a request or plea for something. In this case, SOLICIT fits perfectly, as it means to ask for or seek something, aligning with the concept of obtaining permission or approval.
Question: Cut line introducing work (3)
LOP
Cut line introducing work refers to a brief introduction or summary of a piece of writing. LOP describes cutting or trimming, which fits the context of reducing or shortening a line, often found at the beginning of a written work.
Question: Greek character carrying sphere and old instrument (7)
THEORBO
Greek character carrying sphere and old instrument hints at a Greek letter carrying two items: a sphere and an old instrument. THEORBO fits, as it is a musical instrument from the Baroque era, and the Greek letter theta resembles a sphere, providing a clever wordplay.
Question: Evergreen set boarding a European ship (7)
AGELESS
Evergreen set boarding a European ship suggests a word meaning timeless or enduring, combined with a term for embarking on a vessel from Europe. AGELESS fits perfectly, conveying the idea of something timeless or enduring.
Question: Items to give one a genuine bounce? (11)
TRAMPOLINES
Items to give one a genuine bounce? is a playful clue hinting at something that provides literal or figurative bounce. TRAMPOLINES fits as the answer, as they are items that literally give someone a bounce when jumped on, aligning with the playful nature of the clue.
Question: U.S. writer possibly led this team round lake with poor actor (8,7)
DASHIELL HAMMETT
U.S. writer possibly led this team round lake with poor actor combines wordplay with a reference to a specific individual. DASHIELL HAMMETT fits, as he was a famous American writer.
Question: It could be plain maritime sport (7)
SAILING
It could be plain maritime sport suggests a recreational activity associated with the sea. SAILING fits perfectly, as it's a maritime sport involving navigating a vessel using wind propulsion, aligning with the clue's description of a plain or straightforward activity on the water.
Question: Aristocrat on eastern side of county is ahead of schedule (5)
EARLY
An aristocrat typically represents someone of high status or importance. In this context, on eastern side of county suggests being situated ahead in time, which corresponds to being early or ahead of schedule.
Question: Philip's son, a learned eccentric carrying cross (9)
ALEXANDER
Philip's son refers to Alexander the Great, who was the son of King Philip II of Macedon. Describing him as a learned eccentric carrying cross encapsulates his reputation as a brilliant military strategist and leader who carried out his campaigns with zeal and determination, often symbolized by the cross of Christianity.
Question: Undecided, describing Thomas's expertise? (2,5)
IN DOUBT
Thomas is commonly associated with doubting Thomas, a biblical reference to the Apostle Thomas who doubted the resurrection of Jesus until he saw him. Undecided, describing Thomas's expertise? hints at uncertainty or doubt, which aligns with the phrase in doubt.
Question: Maybe, one key point here essentially with society for statisticians? (6,9)
NUMBER CRUNCHERS
Maybe, one key point here essentially with society for statisticians? implies a group of people who deal with numerical data and analysis. The phrase number crunchers refers to statisticians or mathematicians who analyze and interpret data, emphasizing the importance of numerical calculations in their work.
Question: Stamp out drink in the Highlands? (6)
SCOTCH
Stamp out drink in the Highlands? suggests eliminating or putting an end to a specific beverage associated with Scotland. In this case, Scotch refers to Scotch whisky, a famous alcoholic drink produced primarily in the Highlands of Scotland.
Question: Occasion in old yard for dramatist Sean (6)
OCASEY
Occasion in old yard for dramatist Sean points to the Irish playwright Sean O'Casey, whose works often depicted the struggles of the Irish working class.
Question: Photo Neil reproduced making one aware of information? (2,3,4)
IN THE LOOP
This phrase indicates being informed or included in a particular circle or network where information is shared regularly. In this case, it refers to a photo taken by Neil that brings attention to important information, keeping one in the loop.
Question: Elevates entertainers touring India (6)
HOISTS
HOISTS refers to lifting or elevating something, and in the context of entertainers touring India, it suggests raising them to a higher level of prominence or recognition.
Question: Child caught on a Spanish island (7)
MINORCA
MINORCA is a Spanish island, and the wordplay here involves child caught, indicating the inclusion of a young person, which is a minor, on the island of Minorca.
Question: Chap embracing partner, nothing less, in Worcestershire town (7)
MALVERN
MALVERN is a Worcestershire town. The clue cleverly combines chap (a man) embracing partner (lover or spouse) and nothing less, indicating the removal of the letter o (nothing less), resulting in the town's name.
Question: Most suitable part in American establishment (6)
APTEST
APTEST means most suitable or appropriate, and in the context of an American establishment, it suggests the most fitting or suitable part within it.
Question: Actor Timothy is special ahead of everyone (5)
SPALL
SPALL refers to actor Timothy Spall, known for his distinctive and memorable roles, suggesting that he is special or unique ahead of everyone else.
