The Irish Independent Cryptic Crossword Puzzle Solved and Answers Revealed for Today March 19 2024
by Abisha | Updated Mar 19, 2024
There are various crosswords being updated in various newspapers. One among those is “The Irish Independent Cryptic Crossword” which comes daily with a set of clues. You have more time to solve so just observe the clues and try to guess the answer.
Now let’s get started with the clues
If so charmed, it could be a time to beware of (4,2,5)
Solution: IDESOFMARCH
The phrase If so charmed refers to Julius Caesar, who was warned to beware the Ides of March before he was assassinated. The Ides of March is the 15th day of March in the Roman calendar, historically associated with the assassination of Julius Caesar.
Parent saying nothing (3)
Solution: MUM
Parent refers to a mother or father. Saying nothing suggests silence, which phonetically corresponds to mum, a colloquial term for mother.
I have to follow straightforward instruction (9)
Solution: DIRECTIVE
Straightforward instruction is another way of describing a directive, which is a clear and authoritative order or command.
Reception in which the French will surround the first lady (5)
Solution: LEVEE
Reception can refer to a social gathering or event. French surrounding the first lady suggests that the French word for the (which is la) is surrounding the word for first lady (which is Eve). Together, they form levee, which can refer to a formal reception.
Protract the proceedings and point us the wrong way (4,3)
Solution: SPINOUT
Protract the proceedings suggests elongating or extending the proceedings unnecessarily. Point us the wrong way implies leading someone astray. Spin out can mean to prolong or extend, and also to lose control of a vehicle, leading to a wrong direction.
He transports the goods for the ex-President (6)
Solution: CARTER
This refers to Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th President of the United States. The clue implies that he transports goods, which is a play on the word cart in Carter.
Sounds as though the Spaniard is more advanced (6)
Solution: SENIOR
This is a homophonic clue. The Spaniard phonetically sounds like the senior. More advanced can be synonymously replaced with senior.
Drink increased in price – that's a bloomer (3,4)
Solution: TEAROSE
Drink increased in price suggests the price increase of a drink, specifically tea. That's a bloomer refers to a blooming flower. Together, they form tea rose, which is a type of flower.
Exercise restraint about a certain kind of power (5)
Solution: STEAM
Exercise restraint suggests controlling or restraining oneself. Certain kind of power refers to steam power, which is the power generated by steam engines. Therefore, exercising restraint about steam power yields the answer steam.
Start to speak about one snare (9)
Solution: ORGINATE
Start to speak indicates the beginning of the word. About one suggests origin, which is another word for the beginning. Together, they form originate, which means to begin or start.
A vessel used for carrying loads (3)
Solution: ASS
Vessel used for carrying loads refers to an animal that carries loads, specifically a donkey or an ass. This is a play on words, as ass can also mean a foolish or stubborn person.
Split the house charge as below (4,7)
Solution: RENTASUNDER
Split the house suggests dividing a house. Charge as below indicates an instruction to split or tear something apart. Together, they form rent asunder, which means to tear or split apart violently.
Youth of the sixties upset a Benedictine priest (3)
Solution: DOM
Youth of the sixties refers to the youth culture of the 1960s, often associated with rebellion and counterculture. Upset a Benedictine priest suggests rearranging or flipping the word for a Benedictine priest, which is monk.
Plant beginning to shoot on the border (5)
Solution: SEDGE
Plant beginning to shoot refers to the early growth of a plant. On the border suggests the edge or margin of something. Together, they form sedge, which is a type of plant commonly found in wetlands or along the edges of bodies of water.
Foster strange sylvan setting (6)
Solution: FOREST
Foster suggests nurturing or encouraging growth. Strange indicates an unfamiliar or eerie atmosphere. Sylvan setting refers to a wooded or forested area. Together, they form forest, which is a natural environment characterized by a dense growth of trees and vegetation.
Impute to a teacher of the Jewish law (7)
Solution: ASCRIBE
Impute means to attribute or credit something to someone. Teacher of the Jewish law refers to a scribe, who was a learned person responsible for copying and interpreting the religious texts in Judaism. Impute to a teacher of the Jewish law gives us ascribe.
The inner coil needing adjustment when it was worn (9)
Solution: CRINOLINE
Inner coil suggests something within a garment. Needing adjustment when it was worn indicates that crinoline, which is a stiff fabric used to make underskirts, needed adjustment when worn under dresses to achieve the desired shape.
Inference that comes from a politician about the head of the Ministry (11)
Solution: IMPLICATION
Inference refers to a conclusion drawn from evidence or reasoning. Politician suggests an implication coming from political discourse. Head of the Ministry indicates the initial letter of Ministry, which is M. Together, they form implication.
Superlatively Occidental (11)
Solution: WESTERNMOST
Superlatively implies being the most of something. Occidental refers to the Western world or Western countries. Westernmost is the superlative form of Western, indicating the farthest to the west.
Somehow it reveals description of one who's adaptable (9)
Solution: VERSATILE
Adaptable means able to adjust or change easily. Somehow it reveals description suggests that the word itself contains a description. Versatile describes someone or something that is adaptable or capable of many different functions or activities.
He's exclusively self-conscious (7)
Solution: EGOTIST
Exclusively self-conscious describes someone who is excessively focused on themselves and their own importance. Egotist refers to such a person, who often talks about themselves and boasts of their own achievements.
They were moved by the chairmen (6)
Solution: SEDANS
Moved by suggests transportation. Chairmen may refer to chairs, indicating vehicles with seats. Sedans are a type of car that typically have seats for passengers and a separate compartment for the driver.
Sister Norma holds back (5)
Solution: STERN
Sister Norma suggests a religious sister. Holds back means being strict or not showing emotions freely. Stern describes someone who is strict or severe in manner or appearance.
One card expert (3)
Solution: ACE
One suggests singularity. Card expert refers to an ace, which is the highest-ranking card in many card games, often considered an expert or skilled card.
