22nd April 2024 The Irish Independent Cryptic Crossword Puzzle Solutions
by Gayathri
Updated Apr 22, 2024
The Irish Independent Cryptic crossword is crafted to challenge your lateral thinking with its complex clues and subtle wordplay. These cryptic clues can be hard to solve. So, we have provided all the answers for today’s crossword clues here. Use the answers to fill the grid and complete the crossword.
Inactivity in sails, pray for movement (9)
PARALYSIS
The word "inactivity" defines the answer. "Pray for movement" suggests a word associated with stillness or inability to move. Here, "in sails" is an anagram indicator suggesting the rearranging of "sails, pray" leading to the word PARALYSIS.
Exclamation made by pop at the hotel (3)
PAH
"Exclamation" is the definition. "Pop" can be shortened to "PA," and "at the hotel" hints at using the letter "H" which is phonetic alphabet for "Hotel."
Reads it once and turns over, being unselfish (11)
CONSIDERATE
"Being unselfish" is the definition. In the wordplay, "reads it once" can be represented by "CONSIDER" (to think about or read carefully), and "turns over" suggests reversing or considering the opposite, but in this context, it just follows as it is. "ATE" completes the phrase to "CONSIDER ATE," phonetically sounding like "CONSIDERATE," aligning with being unselfish.
Former soap mystery left on display (7)
EXPOSAL
"On display" is the definition. "Former" suggests "EX," "soap" could be represented as "SOAP," though not directly used here, "mystery" usually represents a cryptic component, and "left" in crossword puzzles is often abbreviated as "L." The full interpretation, combining these elements is somewhat strained.
Colourful music? (5)
BLUES
"Colourful music?" is both the definition and the wordplay. "BLUES" is a style of music known for its distinct and emotive sound, and blue is also a color, making the answer both literal and cryptic in reference to the "colorful" descriptor.
Is the girl able to go to the country? (6)
CANADA
"Go to the country?" is the definition, implying a name of a country. The wordplay comes from "Is the girl able to" – "CAN" (able to) + "ADA" (common diminutive or affectionate form of a girl's name like Ada). Together they form "CANADA," a country.
Had a venture back to discover state secret (6)
NEVADA
he definition here is a "state." The wordplay involves reversing ("back") the phrase "had a venture." If you reverse "had" and "a" from "had a" you get "adah." Since "venture" isn't directly reversed in the answer, we focus on "had a" which reversed, contributes "ada." We then look for the letters that can spell out "NEVADA." We see "nev" possibly from "venture" read backward plus "ada" from "had a" reversed, constructing NEVADA.
Head off drug peddler and see him in court (5)
USHER
"See him in court" is the definition, referring to someone who might be present or work within a courtroom setting. The wordplay involves "head off drug peddler." "Drug peddler" can be slang for "pusher." To "head off" means to remove the first letter, removing the 'P' from "pusher," leaves us with "usher," which is someone you see in courts (especially in terms of guiding people to their seats).
Ian's ego will suffer as a result of character change (7)
AGONISE
"Will suffer" is the definition, indicating distress or suffering. The wordplay here involves a "character change" of the phrase "Ian's ego." By rearranging the letters of "Ian's ego," we get "AGONISE," which fits the definition of suffering.
The one who brings home the dough? (11)
BREADWINNER
This clue plays directly on the literal and metaphorical meanings of the phrase. "Brings home the dough" is the definition, referring to someone who earns money (dough) for a household. "BREADWINNER" fits perfectly as it also plays on the word "bread," another slang term for money, hence the person who earns (or wins) the bread.
Animal unused to sound (3)
GNU
"Unused to sound" is the key to the wordplay here. The animal name "GNU" sounds like "new" (unused). Thus, the wordplay hinges on the homophone of "GNU" which sounds like "new," referring to the concept of being unused.
Tight Rome schedule for a flier (5,4)
TIGE
The original provided space seems to be an error. The correct solution would be a phrase that fits "tight Rome schedule." The wordplay can be dissected as follows: "EAGLE" is a bird (flier) and "OWLET" is a baby owl (another flier), creating a scenario where the clue should involve birds and possibly puns or anagrams. Though the exact wordplay involving "Rome schedule" is unclear from the clue.
Make a fuss at a party (3)
ADO
"Make a fuss" is the definition. "ADO" is a term that means a commotion or fuss, typically used in phrases like "much ado about nothing."
Part of a body of roaming lions (5)
LOINS
The definition is cryptically indicated as "part of a body." The word "lions" is an anagram of "loins," which are indeed a part of a body. "Roaming" suggests the anagram indicator, scrambling "lions" to get "loins."
She tells a different version (6)
STELLA
The definition might be subtly implied by "she." "Tells a" rearranged ("different version") forms the name "STELLA." The key here is recognizing the anagram of "tells a" giving the female name "STELLA."
Unsteady walk to place of disorder? (7)
SHAMBLE
"Unsteady walk" is the definition. "Shamble" refers to moving with a slow, shuffling, awkward gait, which fits both parts of the clue. The use of "to place of disorder?" suggests a chaotic or disorganized movement which aligns with the meaning of shamble.
Lout in space sent up as a gamble (11)
SPECULATION
"As a gamble" is the definition. In the wordplay, "lout" can be interpreted as "SPEC," a short slang or abbreviation. "In space sent up" suggests the inclusion of an anagram or reversal involving space, here "SPACE" is used directly and then combined with "LATION" (from "sent up" indicating a reversal or anagram). When put together, SPEC + ULATION (an arrangement or a modified form of "space sent up") gives SPECULATION.
Orderly craft seen at the Oval, for instance (9)
SHIPSHAPS
"Orderly" is the definition, meaning in good order or organized. "Craft seen at the Oval, for instance" suggests the presence of a "ship" at a shape that is oval (the word "Oval" cleverly suggests the word "shape"). Hence, "SHIP" + "SHAPE" = SHIPSHAPE, meaning orderly.
Stop din in the pub causing mayhem (3,2,3,3)
NIPINTHEBUD
Stop" is the definition. The phrase "NIP IN THE BUD" means to stop something before it develops further or gets out of control, much like stopping the "din" (noise) in a metaphorical sense and also aligning with causing "mayhem" by preventing it from escalating.
Worked out a cure: gone for help (9)
ENCOURAGE
"For help" is the definition. "Worked out a cure gone" suggests an anagram where the letters of "a cure gone" are rearranged to form ENCOURAGE, which means to give support or help.
River in which a wader went to fish (7)
DERWENT
"River" is the definition. Here, "a wader" is "WENT" and the type of fish could be represented by "DER," which doesn't directly correlate to a specific fish but forms part of the name when combined, yielding DERWENT, a known river.
Barker doing the rounds? (6)
LAPDOG
"Barker" is a playful definition referring to a dog that barks. The term "doing the rounds" suggests moving around laps, typically as a small dog might follow its owner around or sit in their lap. Hence, LAPDOG fits both the literal meaning of a small dog in laps and the playful pun on "barker."
Eros possibly holds one in a basket (5)
OSIER
The definition here could be "in a basket," referring to material often used in basket making. The wordplay involves the phrase "Eros possibly," suggesting an anagram of "Eros" which is "Oser." Then, "holds one" indicates inserting the letter 'I' (often used to represent "one" in cryptic crosswords) into the anagram, giving us "OSIER," which is a type of willow used for making baskets.
Little creature left out at the start (3)
EFT
The definition is "little creature," which directly refers to a young newt. In the wordplay, "left out at the start" indicates taking the letter 'L' (commonly used abbreviation for "left") away from the beginning of a word. A common word isn't apparent here because the solution "EFT" itself does not suggest removing 'L' from it. It seems to be a simpler clue where the entire clue functions mostly as a definition by describing a juvenile newt, called an "eft."
