All Independent's Cryptic Clues Solved (April 8, 2024)
by J Nandhini
Updated Apr 08, 2024
Crosswords are games that make your brain think about different clues. You can learn how to find the answers. It also teaches you how to think in a different perspective. If you play a crossword every day, you will get better at it over time. Let's start solving today’s crossword clues
Fuel soldier fellow with bit of fish
PARAFFIN
In this clue, "fuel" hints at something used for burning, and "soldier fellow" suggests that we need to find a word related to a soldier or military person. "Bit of fish" is a subtle indicator of the letters "fin". Putting it all together, we get "paraffin", a type of fuel often used in lamps or heaters.
Oscar inside of machine cannot stand
LOATHE
Here, "Oscar" likely refers to the letter "O", which is found "inside" the word "machine" to give us "loath". The clue then cleverly plays with the word "stand" to indicate that this emotion cannot stand, leading us to "loathe", which means to intensely dislike or hate.
Lounge in Hungary regularly less appealing
UGLIER
"Lounge in Hungary" may seem puzzling, but it's actually a clue to an anagram. "Hungary regularly" suggests taking every other letter of "Hungary", which gives us "Hnra". Combine this with "lounge" and we get "Uglier", meaning less appealing.
Fetch chart to see what this should be
GETTABLE
"Fetch chart" suggests retrieving or getting something, and "see what this should be" hints at finding out the correct answer. The word "GETTABLE" combines these ideas, meaning something that is obtainable or accessible.
Tricky situation for man's cow in trouble-
CANOFWORMS
"Man's cow" implies that we're dealing with a possessive form of "cow", which is "cow's". When we add "in trouble" to "man's cow", we get "cows in trouble". The phrase "tricky situation" suggests a complex or difficult problem, leading us to "can of worms", which refers to a situation that's likely to become more complicated if investigated or addressed.
Pole feeding beast in tug
YANK
Here, "Pole feeding beast" might initially suggest something related to Poland or a physical pole. However, in this clue, "Pole" is actually referring to someone from Poland, and "feeding beast" implies putting something inside or around a word for a beast. When we put "Yak" (a type of beast) inside "P" (short for "pole"), we get "Yank", which also means to tug abruptly or forcefully.
Igneous material at lab's melted
BASALT
In this clue, "lab's melted" suggests an anagram of "lab's" resulting in "BAS". When combined with "at", we get "BASATL", which is a type of igneous rock formed from cooled lava, fitting the clue "igneous material".
-footer and -footer run off together
ANTELOPE
In this clue, "-footer" suggests an animal with the word "foot" in its name. "And" hints at a combination, and "run off together" implies removing the letters "r", "u", and "n". This leads us to "ANTELOPE", an animal name fitting the description.
Quartet her editors partly bound
TETHERED
Here, "her editors" suggests removing the letters "H", "E", and "R" from the word "tethered", leaving us with "TETHERED", which means partly bound or restrained.
President carrying small books away
ABSENT
In this clue, "small books" could refer to abbreviations, such as "AB" for "books". "President" often abbreviates to "POTUS". When "AB" is placed inside "POTUS", rearranging "POTUS AB", we get "ABSENT", meaning away or not present.
Period austere with skill shortage
SPAN
Here, "austere with skill shortage" suggests removing the letters for "skill" ("KILL") from the word "span", resulting in "SPAN", which can refer to a period of time or the extent of something.
Composer beset by gout shot English film on holiday?
TRAVELOGUE
In this cryptic clue, "Composer beset by gout" implies inserting the letters for "composer" ("BACH") into the word "travelogue", resulting in "TRAVELOGUE". The phrase "shot English film" suggests a movie or film, and "on holiday?" could indicate a travel film or documentary.
What you may pick from old Queen covers
ANNELIDS
In this clue, "old Queen covers" suggests using the first letters of "Old Queen", which are "O" and "Q". "What you may pick" implies a verb related to selecting or extracting. Combining these, we get "O" and "Q" + "extracted" = ANNELIDS, which are a type of segmented worms often found in soil.
heads of obscure order detained over odd cult
VOODOO
Here, "heads of obscure order" refers to the first letters of "obscure order", which are "O" and "O". "Detained" suggests that these letters are placed inside another word. "Over odd cult" suggests taking the odd letters from "cult", which are "C" and "U". Putting it all together, we get "O" + "O" inside "V" + "O" + "O" = VOODOO, which is a reference to a mystical or spiritual practice.
Serious young Arab maybe secures room
FORMAL
In this clue, "Serious" suggests looking for a word that means serious or solemn. "Young Arab maybe" hints at the word "LAD", which is often used to refer to a young man. "Secures room" indicates that "LAD" is placed around or securing the letters for "room", which are "R" and "O". Putting it together, we get FORMAL, meaning serious or proper.
Difficult to get sailor with trick on street
ABSTRUSE
Here, "sailor" suggests the abbreviation "AB" for Able-Bodied Seaman. "Trick on street" indicates that "TRICK" is placed on or surrounding "AB". "Difficult to get" implies a word meaning hard to understand. Combining these, we get "AB" + "TRICK" + "street" = ABSTRUSE, which means difficult to understand.
Bother edging tomb mostly with quartz
AGGRAVATE
In this clue, "Bother" suggests a synonym for annoy or irritate. "Edging tomb mostly" implies taking the first letter of "tomb", which is "T", and "mostly" suggests removing the last letter, leaving us with "TO". "With quartz" hints at the word "AGATE". Combining these, we get "AG" + "TO" + "AGATE" = AGGRAVATE, meaning to irritate or provoke.
One of filmic trio from plane in Laos losing wings-
AMIGO
This clue plays on a double meaning. "Amigo" means friend, but "losing wings" suggests a plane crash. This could be a reference to a specific movie with a plane crash in Laos, or a more general clue referencing a group of friends in a perilous situation.
Heartless circus performer crushing women's spirits
FIREWATER
"Firewater" is a metaphor for alcohol, suggesting a performer who is dependent on alcohol and uses it to cope, potentially neglecting their performances and impacting the spirits of the women they work with. It could also hint at a performer who exploits women through alcohol.
Country tune (for example) popular in retirement
NIGERIA
This clue throws you off track. "Country tune" makes you think of American country music, but the answer is "Nigeria," an African country with its own rich musical traditions. It could be a trick question or a hint that country music is also popular in unexpected places.
Top removed from First Lady's vehicle
LOTUS
"Top" can be the convertible top of a car, and Lotus is a car brand known for open-top sports cars. This combines a literal meaning with a reference to a specific car associated with luxury and elegance.
Lily brought up daft stuff after last of vodka
AMARYLLIS
"Lily" sounds similar to "amaryllis," a type of flower. "Daft stuff" could be a playful way of describing the flower's unusual shape or vibrant colors. "Vodka" misdirects you towards a connection to Russia, where lilies are sometimes associated with funerals, but the answer is unrelated.
Female catches the French ship launcher?
HELEN
This clue references Helen of Troy, a figure in Greek mythology known for her beauty and her role in the Trojan War. "French ship launcher" could be a metaphorical reference to her role in sparking the war, or a more playful clue suggesting she "launched" herself onto the French ship with Paris.
EU anthem played across a place of learning
ATHENAEUM
It hints at the potential role of the European Union in promoting unity and shared values within educational institutions. An Athenaeum is a historical term for a place of learning or a library. This clue could spark discussions about the importance of international collaboration in education and the potential benefits of fostering a sense of European identity among students.
Note birds covered by beer: they go into the pot-
TEALEAVES
This cryptic clue uses a metaphor and wordplay. "Note birds" is a playful term for musical notes, and "covered by beer" suggests submerging them. Tea leaves are traditionally used in fortune-telling by reading their shapes after steeping. This clue combines the idea of musical notation with the practice of tea leaf reading, suggesting a hidden message or a prediction based on the notes.
Swinging writer couple hosting Latin American
PENDULOUS
"Pendulous" means hanging or swinging, and "writer couple" could refer to a famous literary duo like Charlotte and Emily Brontë. "Hosting Latin American" might be a metaphor for their work influencing a Latin American writer. This clue could be a reference to a specific literary connection or a more general one about the influence of British literature on Latin American authors.
Bill's in river, a place one won't sink
DEADSEA
This clue combines a proper noun ("Bill") with a geographical feature ("river"). The Dead Sea is known for its high salt content, making it incredibly buoyant. This clue might be a specific reference to someone named Bill floating in the Dead Sea, or a more general observation about the buoyancy properties of the water.
Labour member cryptically written as KPO?
PINKO
Weave poorly under back edges of garret window
TWILL
In this clue, "weave poorly" suggests a type of fabric or weaving style. "Under back edges of garret window" indicates taking the last letters of "garret" and "window," which are "T" and "W." Putting it all together, we get TWILL, which is a type of fabric characterized by diagonal parallel ridges.
Frodo urgently conceals what may be detected
ODOUR
Here, "Frodo urgently conceals" suggests that we need to hide something associated with Frodo. "What may be detected" implies that the answer relates to a sense, particularly smell. Combining these, we get ODOUR, which can be concealed but eventually detected, fitting the clue.
