Find Out the Answer to the Daily Mail Cryptic From April 17, 2024
by Indumathy R
Updated Apr 17, 2024
The Daily Mail Cryptic is a puzzle game in the Daily Mail newspaper. It's like a brain-teaser where words are hidden in tricky clues. Each clue is like a puzzle that you have to solve by figuring out what word it's talking about. It's called cryptic because the clues are cleverly disguised and not always easy to understand at first. People enjoy solving these puzzles as a fun challenge for their minds. To play, you read the clue carefully and try to think of a word that fits. Sometimes the answer is a regular word, but other times it might be a play on words or a funny twist. It's a bit like a secret code that you have to crack. When you figure out the answer, it feels like solving a puzzle, and you can fill it in the crossword grid. Many people like to solve the Daily Mail Cryptic as a daily ritual or as a way to exercise their brain and have some fun with words.
Heaps that may delight a card player? (1,5,4)
Answer: AGREATDEAL
A card player often seeks heaps of cards that may enhance their chances of winning. The phrase A GREAT DEAL suggests an abundant quantity or a large number of cards, which would indeed delight a card player looking for winning combinations.
FA rules broken? No! (7)
Answer: REFUSAL
In football, the Football Association (FA) governs the rules of the game. Rules broken? No! implies that despite the possibility of rules being infringed upon, there's a denial or rejection indicated by the term REFUSAL, meaning that rules weren't broken in this instance.
Come up against reversed instrument (4)
Answer: TUBA
The clue hints at a musical instrument, which, when reversed, spells ABUT (to come up against). The reversal of ABUT gives us TUBA, which is a type of brass instrument often used in orchestras and bands.
African river with nothing English- (4)
Answer: NILE
Nothing English implies the absence of any English characteristics or associations. The only African river fitting this description is the NILE, as it has no English connotations.
This bean may be transformed into a drink (8)
Answer: ABSINTHE
The bean mentioned here is the ABEAN, which, when transformed or rearranged, becomes ABSINTHE, a highly alcoholic and aromatic liquor made from herbs.
A Trojan hero rocked her cot (6)
Answer: HECTOR
A Trojan hero rocked her cot - this cryptic clue suggests a character from Greek mythology. Hector fits the bill as a Trojan hero, and the wordplay indicates that the letters of her cot are rearranged to form his name.
Soldiers drag us out (6)
Answer: GUARDS
Drag us out implies removing or extracting something from within. When you remove us (the letters) from soldiers, you get GUARDS, which are indeed soldiers responsible for protecting and securing various establishments or individuals.
Bear that's found by side of road (8)
Answer: SHOULDER
Bear is a homograph, meaning to carry or support, not the animal. Side of road refers to where this bear is typically found, meaning the side of a road or highway, hence SHOULDER.
Seaweed from a coastal garden (4)
Answer: ALGA
Seaweed is commonly found in coastal areas. When referring to a coastal garden, it hints at a single term for this type of plant, which is ALGA.
Dog food (4)
Answer: CHOW
Dog food is a colloquial term for what dogs eat. The answer CHOW is a slang term often used to refer to food, especially in a casual or informal context, which fits the clue perfectly.
Extracted data about a detour (4-3)
Answer: READOUT
Extracted data typically refers to information that has been obtained or retrieved. Detour suggests a diversion from the main route. When combined, READOUT represents the information obtained about this diversion or alternative route.
Cooked rice I store in desk (10)
Answer: ESCRITOIRE
Cooked rice could hint at an Asian origin, leading to a term for a desk that originates from French, escritoire. The phrase I store in desk suggests the function of this piece of furniture, further reinforcing the answer.
Terrible starts for anyone who files unread letters (5)
Answer: AWFUL
Terrible starts refers to the first letters of the words in the phrase anyone who files unread letters, which spell out AWFUL, meaning extremely unpleasant or disagreeable.
Others take part in fire station (4)
Answer: REST
Others refers to the remaining letters after removing the word take from the phrase take part in fire station, resulting in REST, which denotes relaxation or repose. This answer reflects the idea of individuals not actively involved in firefighting duties but rather resting or being inactive.
One's not prepared for these remarks (2-4)
Answer: ADLIBS
Remarks indicates words spoken, and the phrase not prepared hints at improvisation. Together, they form ADLIBS, referring to remarks made on the spot without prior planning or scripting.
It rusted badly, turning into debris (8)
Answer: DETRITUS
It rusted badly, turning into debris suggests the transformation of an object due to deterioration. The answer, DETRITUS, describes the result of this process, depicting the scattered remains or fragments left behind when something decays or disintegrates.
Rarebit put out for judge (7)
Answer: ARBITER
Rarebit put out for judge hints at a term associated with making decisions or settling disputes impartially. The answer, ARBITER, denotes a person entrusted with this role, often referred to as a judge or an authority figure responsible for resolving disputes or determining outcomes based on fairness and justice.
His entry into country provides voting qualification (9)
Answer: FRANCHIS
His entry into the country provides voting qualification suggests a concept related to citizenship and political rights. The answer, FRANCHIS, refers to the granting of rights or privileges, particularly in the context of voting eligibility, indicating the acknowledgment of an individual's status as a citizen or resident with the right to participate in elections.
Song composed in Athens, say (3,6)
Answer: SEASHANTY
Sailors often composed rhythmic tunes while at sea, and Athens, being a maritime hub, likely influenced such compositions. The term sea shanty refers to a type of work song sung by sailors to coordinate tasks on board.
One who succeeds as disciple (8)
Answer: FOLLOWER
In many contexts, a disciple is someone who follows the teachings or guidance of a particular leader or mentor. Therefore, a follower is someone who successfully adopts and implements the teachings or principles of their mentor.
He is surrounded by fools showing garments (7)
Answer: CLOTHES
This clue suggests the word clothes by indicating that the subject is surrounded by fools. Additionally, the phrase showing garments implies a connection to clothing.
Got to know Shakespeare play and New Testament (6)
Answer: LEARNT
The word LEARNT can be derived from the phrase Shakespeare play and New Testament by taking the first letter of Lear (a play by Shakespeare) and the first letter of New Testament, resulting in LEARNT, which means to have acquired knowledge or understanding.
Wobbly toilet seat with half missing- (5)
Answer: LOOSE
The clue hints at the word LOOSE by describing a situation where a toilet seat is wobbly and half missing, implying that it's not firmly secured. The word LOOSE describes something not firmly fixed in place, as suggested by the wobbly toilet seat.
Surrealist upsetting one young man (4)
Answer: DALI
This clue plays with the idea of a famous surrealist artist, Salvador Dalí, whose last name is the answer. The word upsetting indicates rearranging the letters in the word one, resulting in the answer Dali.
