Daily Mail Cryptic Crossword Answers: April 22, 2024
by Indumathy R
Updated Apr 22, 2024
Daily Mail Cryptic Crossword
Hello Crossword Lovers! Let’s welcome the new day with many more crossword puzzles. If you are struggling with the answers, here we are back again with another article with the new clues and answers for today’s Daily Mail Cryptic Crossword for April 22, 2024. Check out the answers provided in this article unless you cannot able to find the puzzle answers on your own.
Wandering in and out of base(10)
Answer: FOUNDATION
This plays on the word "wandering" to suggest movement, but here it implies the letters 'in and out' found within the word "base," symbolizing a foundational element or starting point. Though not a straightforward anagram or container, the notion of a "foundation" aligns with the base, fundamental part of something, fitting both the definition and playing on the idea of depth and origin.
Show caught in country before half-term(8)
Answer: INDICATE
The answer to the clue is typically given by a straightforward synonym that can fit as a definition for one part of the clue. In this case, the word "Show" is the definition, and the synonym that fits is "INDICATE". "caught in" suggests that a letter or letters are to be placed inside another word. "country" can be interpreted as a specific country's name.
Not all came to nursery school near Windsor(4)
Answer: ETON
This clue involves taking a segment or "not all" of the phrase "came to." However, it is also a hidden word clue, where "ETON" (a famous public school near Windsor) is hidden straightforwardly in the phrase "came to nursery." Eton College is famously located near Windsor, UK.
Implement brought back for money- (4)
Answer: LOOT
"implement" refers to a tool, such as a hammer or wrench. The twist is in "brought back," which indicates a reversal of the word "tool" to spell "LOOT," which means money (often in the context of stolen money). This reversal cleverly changes the context from a utilitarian object to something of value.
A fabric in dispute(2,5)
Answer: ATISSUE
The phrase "A fabric" cleverly leads to "A Tissue," but in this case, fabric is used metaphorically for the subject or matter at hand. "In dispute" means something is being contested or argued over, which is synonymously described as being "at issue."
Solemn imp is odd character in nursery rhyme(6,5)
Answer: SIMPLESIMON
"Solemn imp is odd" hints at taking the odd letters of "Solemn imp is," which actually gives us "Simple Si." The character in the nursery rhyme referred to here is "Simple Simon," fitting the requirement for both the odd letters used and the full name of the nursery rhyme character.
Eliminate small misgiving, by the sound of it(4,3)
Answer: WEEDOUT
"Eliminate" is defined by "weed out," which means to remove unwanted or unnecessary items. The phrase "small misgiving, by the sound of it" suggests a homophone of a word for a minor doubt or worry, such as "doubt," sounding like "out." Together, "weed" (eliminate) and "out" (sounds like "doubt") form "weed out."
Egyptian goddess is seen repeatedly(4)
Answer: ISIS
The Egyptian goddess referred to here is Isis, known from ancient Egyptian religion. The clue uses the word "repeatedly" to hint at the duplication in the name itself - "Isis."
Chaps start to understand list of options(4)
Answer: MENU
The clue cleverly uses "chaps" to indicate "men," and "start to understand" indicates taking the first letter of "Understand," which is "U." Together, "men" and "U" form "menu," a list of options typically seen in a restaurant setting.
Wendy's family favourites(8)
Answer: DARLINGS
This clue refers to the characters in J.M. Barrie's famous play and novel, "Peter Pan." The Darling family consists of Wendy, John, and Michael, who are central characters. The name "Darling" also cleverly plays into the term "darlings," often used to describe beloved or favorite family members.
Trueman not prepared for series of games(10)
Answer: TOURNAMENT
The word "Trueman" in the clue serves as an anagram indicator. When you rearrange the letters of "Trueman not" (excluding the word 'not' itself from the anagram), it forms "tournament," which is a series of games or sports competitions.
Last bit of stuff in a locker(5)
Answer: FINAL
The "last bit of stuff" implies taking the final part or element of something, in this case, the word "final" itself, which denotes the end or last portion. This can also be understood as something being located in the last section or "locker" of a series, metaphorically pointing to the end.
Not changing questionnaire for undergraduates? (7)
Answer: UNIFORM
The phrase "not changing" hints at something that remains the same or consistent, which is captured by the word "uniform."
Transvestite clothing is an obstacle to progress (4)
Answer: DRAG
"Drag" is a type of clothing associated with transvestites (people dressing in clothes traditionally worn by the opposite sex, especially for performance). The word "drag" also has a double meaning as something that hinders or impedes progress, hence an "obstacle to progress."
Agreements with a twist in the tail — the work of a scholar? (8)
Answer: TREATISE
This uses wordplay where "agreements" might suggest "treaties." The phrase "with a twist in the tail" implies adding something at the end, here the letter "S" is appended to "treatie," forming "treatise," which is a written work dealing systematically and at length with a subject, typically academic or scholarly.
Submarine captain turns up with small signs (5)
Answer: OMENS
The phrase "turns up" suggests a reversal of some elements of the clue, specifically targeting the word "Nemo" (a famous submarine captain from "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea"). Reversing "Nemo" gives "omen," and "small signs" hints at subtle indicators, which align with the definition of "omens."
Newspaper feature in support of architecture (6)
Answer: COLUMN
"Column" can refer both to a structural element in architecture (a support) and a regular feature or section in a newspaper. This clue cleverly plays on the dual meaning of "column" relevant to both contexts.
Fish below, little Florence above(8)
Answer: FLOUNDER
"little Florence" can be abbreviated as "Flo" (a common short form for Florence). Placing "Flo" above "under" (indicated by "below") results in "Flo-under," which phonetically matches "flounder," a type of fish.
Name of man in street — not odd- (6)
Answer: STEVN
"STEVEN" needs to be considered as a whole name. The given as "STEVN" appears to be a typographical mistake in the transcription of the clue answer, where "STEVEN" would indeed be the correct response. However, if considering the cryptic instruction "not odd" Correctly applying "not odd" would yield "TVN" by removing the odd letters, which does not match the length or complete expected answer.
Huge service I have shortened(7)
Answer: MASSIVE
"Service" can refer to a "mass" (a type of religious service), and "I have shortened" can be shortened to "I've." Combining "mass" with "ive" gives "massive," which means large or huge.
Gloomy old Iberian river(5)
Answer: DOURO
The Douro is a major river on the Iberian Peninsula. "Gloomy" and "old" are more challenging to directly connect but may set a tone or suggest the river’s ancient nature. The Douro river, being old and significant, fits the geographical answer.
Mess that makes sense?(5)
Answer: SIGHT
"Mess" in this context is used to play with the idea of a situation where seeing clearly would be challenged, but "makes sense" as in it’s something you can see or perceive, thus "sight." It plays on the notion of making visual sense of a mess.
Sea creature in major catastrophe(4)
Answer: ORCA
The word "orca" (a sea creature) is hidden within the phrase "major catastrophe." If you look at the last letters of "major" and the first two of "catastrophe," you get "orca."
