The Irish Daily Mail Cryptic Crossword Puzzle is a special kind of puzzle in the Irish Daily Mail newspaper. Instead of straightforward clues, the hints are tricky and puzzling. You have to work out these clues to find the words that fit into the puzzle grid.
Morose oration prepared about pressure in place from which war effort is directed (10 4)
OPERATIONSROOM
- "Morose oration" suggests a solemn speech or discussion.
- "Prepared about pressure" indicates an anagram of "prepared" around "P" (pressure).
- "In place from which war effort is directed" refers to the operations room, which is where strategic decisions are made during military operations.
Belonging to a group occupied by the start of county cricket for example (6)
INSECT
- "Belonging to a group" suggests the prefix "IN-."
- "Occupied by the start of county cricket for example" refers to the first letter of "county cricket," which is "C," placed inside "INSET," meaning part of a whole or a member of a group.
Pause to cast- off around time to embark on a voyage (3,2,3)
PUTTOSEA
- "Pause" suggests a break or interval.
- "Cast-off" refers to "PUT," meaning to place or set something down.
- "Around time to embark" suggests "TO SEA," indicating the act of starting a voyage.
Hands over gifts (8)
PRESENTS
- "Hands over" suggests giving or offering.
- "Gifts" is a synonym for "PRESENTS," which are items given to others as a gesture of goodwill or celebration.
Having been defeated by Britain's earliest public school reportedly (6)
BEATEN
- "Having been defeated" suggests the past participle of "beat," which is "BEATEN."
- "Britain's earliest public school" refers to "Eton," and "reportedly" indicates a homophonic clue, where "BEATEN" sounds like "beaten."
Ms Parton describing Rex in an amusing way (6)
DROLLY
- "Ms Parton" refers to "Dolly Parton," known for her cheerful demeanor.
- "Describing Rex in an amusing way" suggests the word "DROLLY," meaning amusing or whimsical.
Article looking into temporary accommodation of renter (6)
TENANT
- "Article" suggests the word "THE."
- "Temporary accommodation of renter" refers to "TENANT," which is a person who occupies rented property.
Separate near northern river (6)
SEVERN
- "Near northern" suggests "NE" for "near" and "N" for "northern."
- "River" refers to the River Severn, which flows through Wales and England.
Huge tailless rodent following English fellow on the way back (8)
ENORMOUS
- "Huge" suggests "ENORMOUS," meaning very large or immense.
- "Tailless rodent" refers to "MOUSE," and "English" indicates the letter "E" (from "English").
- "Fellow on the way back" suggests "NORM," and "following" indicates placing "MOUSE" after "NORM" to get "ENORMOUS."
Everybody in that place is completely sane (3,5)
ALLTHERE
- "Everybody" suggests "ALL."
- "In that place" suggests "THERE."
- "Completely sane" implies being mentally present and coherent, which is expressed by "ALL THERE."
Gradually introduce changes in its length (6)
INSTIL
- "Gradually introduce changes" suggests the word "INSTIL," meaning to gradually introduce or implant something, often ideas or beliefs.
- "In its length" is a part of the clue that helps maintain the cryptic nature of the crossword puzzle.
Head teacher with international connections in Liechtenstein and Monaco perhaps (14)
PRINCIPALITIES
- "Head teacher" indicates the word "PRINCIPAL."
- "International connections in Liechtenstein and Monaco perhaps" refers to "CITIES," as both Liechtenstein and Monaco are countries known for their city-states.
- Combining "PRINCIPAL" and "CITIES" gives us "PRINCIPALITIES," which refers to territories ruled by a prince or princess.
Not initially taken in by trowel crudely fashioned by rural resident (7,7)
COUNTRYDWELLER
- "Not initially taken in" suggests removing the first letter from "COUNTRY," leaving "OUNTRY."
- "Trowel crudely fashioned" indicates an anagram of "trowel," resulting in "DWELLER."
- Putting these together gives us "COUNTRY DWELLER," a person who lives in a rural area.
Hard before getting to this place (4)
HERE
- "Hard" suggests the letter "H," which is the first letter of "hard."
- "Getting to this place" refers to "HERE," meaning the current location or position.
Trick involving cunning and a cardboard box (6)
CARTON
- "Trick involving cunning" suggests "CON," which is a synonym for a trick or deceit.
- "Cardboard box" is a "CARTON," which is a type of container typically made of cardboard.
A French building for horses likely to give way (8)
UNSTABLE
- "A French" suggests "UN," which is the French word for "a."
- "Building for horses" refers to a "STABLE."
- "Likely to give way" suggests "UNSTABLE," meaning not firmly fixed or steady.
Right over Dido oddly ignored in a group of three musicians (4)
TRIO
- "Right" suggests the letter "R."
- "Dido oddly ignored" suggests removing the odd letters from "Dido," leaving "Dd."
- Putting "R" (right) "over" "Dd" (Dido oddly ignored) gives us "TR," which, when combined with "IO" (ignored in a group), forms "TRIO," a group of three musicians.
Take advantage of Miles overwhelmed by Italy's top model (6)
IMPOSE
- "Take advantage of" suggests "IMPOSE," meaning to force something upon someone.
- "Miles overwhelmed by Italy's top model" suggests "IM," the abbreviation for Italy, and "POSE," a model's position or stance.
Amuse investor surprisingly over Henry's excessive keenness (14)
OVERENTHUSIASM
- "Amuse investor surprisingly" suggests an anagram of "amuse investor," resulting in "OVER."
- "Over Henry's excessive keenness" implies "ENTHUSIASM," meaning intense excitement or eagerness.
Pinched woman's long shawl (5)
STOLE
- "Pinched" here suggests stealing, and "woman's long shawl" is a definition for "STOLE," a type of scarf or wrap.
Apprehension caused by Capone with a weapon (5)
ALARM
- "Apprehension" here refers to a feeling of fear or anxiety, which is synonymous with "ALARM."
- "Caused by Capone with a weapon" indicates the letter "A" (from "Al Capone") followed by "ARM," a weapon.
Women's underclothing found by Heather near North American lake (8)
LINGERIE
- "Women's underclothing" is a definition for "LINGERIE."
- "Found by Heather near North American lake" suggests the word "ERIE," which is a lake in North America, found near Heather.
Henry regularly in pursuit of information on American groups with common characteristics (6)
GENERA
- "Henry regularly" suggests taking every other letter from "Henry," which gives us "G N R Y."
- "In pursuit of information on American groups with common characteristics" refers to "GENERA," which are groups of organisms sharing common characteristics and usually arranged in hierarchical taxonomic categories.
Against storing equipment near Iceland's capital in the beginning (6)
ORIGIN
- "Against" suggests using the word "OR," meaning "against" in sports terminology.
- "Storing equipment near Iceland's capital" suggests "GIN," the capital of Iceland, and "beginning" refers to the initial letter "O."
Helping to make mat in this shade of colour (4)
TINT
- "Shade of color" is a definition for "TINT," a slight variation in hue or shade.
- "Helping to make mat" suggests "TIN," which is part of the word "TINT," indicating a contribution to the final result.
Uttered by South American girl on the way up (4)
SAID
- "Uttered" suggests "SAID," meaning spoken or expressed.
- "South American girl on the way up" suggests reversing the word "DIA," which means "day" in Spanish, giving us "SAID."
TRENDING
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