Here are The Irish Independent Cryptic Clues and Answers for April 5, 2024
by Gayathri
Updated Apr 05, 2024
The Irish Independent Cryptic crossword clues are here. You can test your creativity by solving this puzzle. This is perfect for experienced solvers looking for a challenge. So, Grab your pencil and get ready to solve the clues. You can also check the answers and explanations here.
Former duo's moving – moving out! (6)
EXODUS
Former duo suggests a pair that is no longer together. Moving – moving out hints at a mass departure or migration. Putting these together, we get the word EXODUS, which means a mass departure of people.
Shopkeeper is more extreme, it is said (6)
GROCER
In this clue, Shopkeeper hints at a profession. More extreme, it is said indicates a homophone clue where the word sounds like another word with a different meaning. In this case, 'GROCER' sounds like more grosser, implying an extreme comparison.
Tend to slope (7)
INCLINE
Tend suggests a direction or inclination towards something. Slope directly refers to an incline or slant. Combining these, we get INCLINE, which means to slope or lean towards a particular direction.
Dunderhead's skills with arrows (5)
DARTS
Dunderhead implies foolishness or lack of intelligence. Skills with arrows directs us to the game of DARTS, where precision and skill are required to throw arrows (darts) at a target.
Displays songs (4)
AIRS
Displays suggests presenting or showing something. Songs hint at pieces of music. Together, they clue us into AIRS, which can mean presenting or performing music publicly, often on radio or television.
Weight of small rock (5)
STONE
Small rock suggests a common term for a stone. The word weight hints at a unit of measurement. When combined, weight of small rock leads to the answer STONE, which is a compact, solid piece of material commonly found in nature, often used for various purposes such as construction or decoration.
Holds on to bags (5)
GRIPS
Bags could imply something carried or contained within. Holds on to directs us to the answer GRIPS, which denotes a firm grasp or hold, often used in contexts like holding onto handles or objects tightly to prevent slipping.
Altered last season (4)
SALT
Altered suggests a change or modification. Last season implies a period of time that has passed. Combining the two, altered last season leads to the answer SALT, as salt can undergo changes, such as dissolving or crystallizing, and is commonly used to enhance the flavor of food, regardless of the season.
Refuse to have a fight? (5)
SCRAP
Refuse suggests declining or rejecting something. Fight typically denotes a conflict or disagreement. However, in this context, refuse to have a fight hints at a term for discarded material or waste, leading to the answer SCRAP, which refers to discarded or leftover material from various processes, such as manufacturing or demolition.
Decor I'm altering for little creatures (7)
DORMICE
Decor implies something related to adornment or embellishment. Little creatures suggests small animals. Altering indicates a change or modification. Combining these elements, decor I'm altering for little creatures hints at the answer DORMICE, which are small rodents known for inhabiting decorated spaces, especially in literature or folklore, and often found nesting in attics or other cozy locations.
Sketch eradicated partly by engraver (6)
ETCHER
Sketch suggests the idea of something being etched, and eradicated partly indicates removing a section from a word. When you remove sk from sketch (partly eradicated), you're left with etch. An engraver is someone who etches, making ETCHER the solution.
Choose to steal, we hear, at outdoor feast (6)
PICNIC
The wordplay here involves a homophone clue where we hear indicates that the answer sounds like another word. Choose to steal sounds like pick nick, which refers to an outdoor feast. Thus, the answer is PICNIC.
Claimed wrongly, but has a point (7)
DECIMAL
Claimed wrongly suggests an incorrect assertion or misrepresentation. Has a point suggests that there is some truth in it. A DECIMAL is a point within a number system, and it's often misunderstood or misrepresented as a whole number. So, DECIMAL fits the bill.
Hundred on line have agreement (7)
CONCORD
Hundred refers to the Roman numeral for hundred, which is C. On line suggests putting C on top of or next to on line, resulting in CONCORD, which means agreement or harmony.
The food of love? (5)
MUSIC
The food of love is a phrase from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, where the character Duke Orsino says, If music be the food of love, play on. So, the answer is MUSIC, as it's metaphorically described as the nourishment for love.
Missile having three-pronged attack! (7)
TRIDENT
Missile having three-pronged attack suggests the name of the missile might relate to its trident-like structure. The answer, fittingly, is TRIDENT, which is both a type of missile and a three-pronged weapon often associated with mythology.
Races around to frighten (5)
SCARE
Races around implies a quick movement or activity, while to frighten indicates the purpose or effect. The answer, SCARE, fits perfectly as it means to cause fear or alarm, and the wordplay suggests a quick, racing action associated with causing fright.
Got up for a flower (5)
AROSE
Got up often means to rise or awaken, and for a flower indicates a clue relating to a type of flower. The answer, AROSE, aligns with both these interpretations, as it means to get up from a lying, sitting, or kneeling position, fitting the clue's context.
Creepy-crawly makes decent pie! (9)
CENTIPEDE
Creepy-crawly hints at an insect or creature known for its many legs, while makes decent pie suggests an anagram of a word meaning decent or good. The answer, CENTIPEDE, is an insect with numerous legs and can be rearranged to form decent pie, fulfilling both parts of the clue.
One of three little ones, quiet in disturbed litter (7)
TRIPLET
Quiet in disturbed litter implies finding a term within the phrase that means quiet and placing it inside a synonym for disturbed litter. The answer, TRIPLET, fits perfectly, denoting one of three siblings born at the same time.
Very happy with train ad redesign (7)
RADIANT
Very happy with train ad redesign suggests a word for being extremely pleased with a makeover of a train advertisement. The term for this elation is RADIANT, which describes a glow of happiness or satisfaction.
Get longer prison sentence (7)
STRETCH
Get longer prison sentence hints at an action leading to an extension of time behind bars. The answer, STRETCH, denotes both a physical lengthening and, in this context, an increase in the duration of imprisonment.
Attendant places us next to that lady (5)
USHER
Attendant places us next to that lady implies a term for someone guiding or directing individuals to their seats, often seen in theaters or cinemas. The word USHER fits, as it describes someone who leads or accompanies others to their designated places.
Priest receiving hard water will pay this (5)
PRICE
Priest receiving hard water will pay this suggests a term for what a clergyman might offer in exchange for receiving difficult or challenging circumstances. The answer is PRICE, indicating the cost or consequence associated with receiving something of value, even if it comes with hardship.
British sort of weather is all in the mind (5)
BRAIN
British sort of weather is all in the mind indicates a phrase referring to a type of atmospheric condition that is perceived or imagined rather than experienced physically. BRAIN is the answer, as it represents the organ associated with cognition and perception, suggesting that certain weather conditions may be subjectively interpreted.
