Independent's Cryptic Crossword Clues and Answers are Here (April 16, 2024)
by J Divya
Updated Apr 16, 2024
This puzzle is really tough, but many love it. If you solve it, you can get really good at solving puzzles. Start doing these puzzles and practice a lot. If you get stuck, we have included the answers and explanations below to help you. So, grab your pencil and start solving.
Salmon perhaps that's potted for six
Answer: PINK
This question is asking for a word that is synonymous with "salmon" and also hints at the color pink. When salmon is potted (preserved) for six, it becomes the color pink.
Welsh male leaving pit for a drink
Answer: WINE
In this clue, "Welsh male" refers to the word "welsh" minus its first letter ("w") which leaves "elsh," a homophone for "ale" (a type of drink). "Pit" hints at the removal of the letter "p" from "ale."
Hack covering for editor is a bounder
Answer: LOPER
"Hack" often refers to a journalist, and "covering for editor" suggests replacing the "ed" in "editor" with another word. The word "bounder" means a dishonorable person or scoundrel.
Hugh Laurie character, Stuart?
Answer: HOUSE
This question is referencing the TV show "House," where Hugh Laurie portrays the character Dr. Gregory House. "Stuart" is a misdirection, hinting at another name, but the correct answer is the name of the TV show.
People in line overheard signal for action
Answer: CUE
"People in line" could refer to actors in a play or movie, and "overheard signal for action" suggests a cue, which is a signal for actors to start performing
Cheever and Lessing like subtle openings; does Bellow?
Answer: CALLS
This clue involves wordplay and literary references. "Cheever and Lessing" are authors known for their subtle openings in their works. "Bellow" refers to another author, Saul Bellow. The question is asking if Bellow shares this characteristic.
I must infiltrate merchants heading off marauders
Answer: RAIDERS
This clue combines wordplay and a narrative scenario. "Infiltrate merchants" suggests inserting "I" (the pronoun for oneself) into "raiders" (marauders). "Heading off" indicates removing the first letter ("m") from "merchants."
Charlie's Angels finally stopped by British TV network
Answer: C B S
This clue involves a reference to a popular TV show and a British TV network. "Charlie's Angels" refers to the TV show, and "finally stopped" suggests taking the last letter ("s") from "Angels." "British TV network" is a hint for the initials of a network
Leopard without spots, one breathing heavily, biting hard
Answer: PANTHER
A "leopard without spots" hints at another big cat, a panther. "One breathing heavily" suggests the word "pant," and "biting hard" indicates adding "her" (a synonym for "hard").
Italian manager in India getting behind his former team
Answer: MANCINI
"Italian manager" refers to Roberto Mancini, who managed the Italian national football team. "In India" suggests taking the last letters ("in") of "India." "Getting behind" indicates moving these letters to the end of "Mancini."
Barrier in dim mall that's abandoned
Answer: MILLDAM
"Barrier in dim mall" hints at reversing the phrase to get "MILLDAM," which is a barrier constructed across a stream or river to hold back water. The "abandoned" aspect indicates reversing or rearranging the letters.
I climb mountain close to Tibet, with a lot of expertise provided
Answer: SKI LIFT
"I climb mountain close to Tibet" suggests removing "I" from "Tibet" and adding it to "skill" (a lot of expertise). "With a lot of expertise provided" indicates adding "lift" to "ski."
Keen bass follows the intro to Summer Love
Answer: SOB
"Keen bass" refers to the word "sob," and "follows the intro to Summer Love" suggests taking the initial letters ("S" and "L") of "Summer Love."
Cardinal's cape left by primate in Rome
Answer: HUNDRED
Cardinal's cape" is a reference to the red robe worn by a cardinal in the Catholic Church, which is called a "cassock." "Left by primate in Rome" suggests removing the letter "c" (the first letter of "cape") from "hundred."
Planetary orbiter, one that flies by central belt of Uranus
Answer: TITAN
"Planetary orbiter" refers to the moon Titan, which orbits the planet Saturn. "Flies by central belt of Uranus" suggests taking the letters "T," "I," and "N" (the central letters of "Uranus") to form the answer.
Perfect score for some sport, with no error recalled
Answer: TEN
"Perfect score for some sport" refers to a score of ten, often associated with sports like gymnastics or diving. "With no error recalled" suggests removing the letter "e" (error) from "ten."
Imaginative genre featured occasionally in Psychic Fair
Answer: SCI-FI
"Imaginative genre" refers to science fiction, abbreviated as "SCI-FI." "Featured occasionally in Psychic Fair" suggests taking every other letter from "Psychic Fair."
Beano section: Snooty's back!
Answer: PARTY
"Beano section" could refer to a party or social gathering. "Snooty's back" suggests reversing or flipping the word "snooty" to get "ytoons," which, when read backward, gives us "party."
For more than 48 hours, stagger broadcast
Answer: DAYS
This clue involves time measurement and wordplay. "For more than 48 hours" suggests the word "days." "Stagger broadcast" indicates rearranging the letters of "days."
Cry of delight from Clouseau's certainly on the soundtrack
Answer: WHEE
This clue is referring to Inspector Clouseau, a character from the Pink Panther series, known for his exclamations. "Certainly on the soundtrack" suggests that we're looking for a word related to sound. The answer is "WHEE," which is a cry of delight often associated with excitement or joy.
Shapps ignoring last two flipping expressions of contempt
Answer: PAHS
"Shapps" might refer to Grant Shapps, a British politician. "Ignoring last two" indicates that we remove the last two letters from his name. "Flipping" suggests we reverse the remaining letters. "Expressions of contempt" can be represented by the sound "PAHS," indicating disdain or contempt.
Common sense in Pointless seen only briefly
Answer: NOUS
"Common sense" can be referred to as "NOUS." "In Pointless" suggests we look inside the word "Pointless" for a brief moment, giving us "NOUS."
More irritated by technology, singer cans electric current
Answer: ITCHIER
"More irritated" indicates a comparative form, which can be "ITCHIER." "By technology" suggests we look for a word related to technology. "Singer cans electric current" suggests that we remove the letters "AC" (alternating current) from the word "SINGER," leaving us with "ITCHIER."
The old smile after joke's conclusion, look
Answer: EYEBEAM
"The old" refers to the word "EYEBEAM," which means a look or a glance. "Smile after joke's conclusion" suggests we take the word "BEAM," which can be a smile or a facial expression, and place it after the end of a joke, giving us "EYEBEAM."
Best bit of sax in jazz musician's phrases?
Answer: LICKS
"Best bit of sax" refers to a musical term, "LICKS," which are short, improvised phrases or riffs played by jazz musicians, often on saxophones.
Humourless cynic ill, snarling in medical centre
Answer: POLYCLINIC
"Humourless cynic" suggests the word "POLY." "Ill" indicates that we add the word "ILL" to "POLY." "Snarling" indicates an anagram, so we rearrange the letters of "ILL" and "POLY" to get "CLINIC," which refers to a medical center.
Kentish society's yellow climbing flowers
Answer: ROSES
"Kentish society" suggests the abbreviation for the Royal Society, which is "RS." "Yellow climbing flowers" refer to "ROSES," which can climb and come in various colors, including yellow.
Like fox driven underground, extremely exhausted, heart fluttering
Answer: EARTHED
"Like fox driven underground" suggests "EARTHED," meaning buried or hidden. "Extremely exhausted" suggests taking the outer letters of "EXHAUSTED," which gives us "ED." "Heart fluttering" indicates that we insert the letters "ED" into "EARTH," resulting in "EARTHED."
Son in the morning quietly opens junk mail
Answer: SPAM
"Son" refers to "S." "In the morning" suggests the letter "AM." "Quietly" indicates that we need a silent letter, which is "P." "Opens junk mail" gives us "SPAM," which is unwanted or irrelevant messages, often received via email.
Sacked Brent-alike, infantile crawler
Answer: ANKLE-BITER
"Sacked Brent-alike" suggests we remove the first name of a character similar to Brent. David Brent is a character from the British TV series "The Office." Removing "David" leaves us with "Brent-alike," which is "BRENT." "Infantile crawler" refers to a young child, often referred to as an "ANKLE-BITER."
Superb poster plugging new French art portraying river nymphs
Answer: NAIADES
"Superb" suggests that we take a word meaning great or excellent, which is "NAI." "Poster plugging new" indicates that we insert the letter "N" (abbreviation for "new") into "NAI." "French art portraying river nymphs" refers to "NAIADES," which are nymphs in Greek mythology associated with bodies of fresh water like rivers.
Keen on mackintosh coats
Answer: INTO
"Keen on" suggests that we are "INTO" something. "Mackintosh coats" refer to "INTO," meaning interested or enthusiastic about something
Made note of Lilliputian island's far side
Answer: MINUTED
"Made note of" suggests we make a record of something, which is "MINUTED." "Lilliputian island's far side" refers to "MINUTED," which is a play on words with "minute" (small) and "Lilliput," a fictional island in Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels."
Straggling orchestra section, second soprano replaced by 25D at last
Answer: STRINGY
"Straggling orchestra section" suggests we're looking for a word related to a group of instruments in an orchestra. "Second soprano replaced by 25D at last" indicates that we replace the second letter in "soprano" with the last letter of "25D," which is "Y." So, "second soprano replaced by 25D at last" becomes "STRINGY," which means thin or wispy.
Puts up with 25D in bed
Answer: SHTUP
"Puts up with" suggests tolerating or enduring something, which is "SHTUP." "25D" refers to the previous answer, "STRINGY." So, "25D in bed" gives us "SHTUP," meaning to have sexual intercourse.
Guy's expression of surprise about the end of Moon River
Answer: HENRY
"Guy's expression of surprise" refers to "HENRY," which is a common expression used to express surprise or exasperation. "About the end of Moon River" suggests we remove the last letters of "Moon River," leaving us with "HENRY."
Old politician dumps wife by hotel on a trip
Answer: HIGH
"Old politician" refers to "HI," a greeting often associated with older individuals. "Dumps wife" suggests removing the letters "WIFE" from "HI," leaving us with "HI." "By hotel on a trip" indicates that "HI" is near or next to "HOTEL," resulting in "HIGH."
Setter supports appeal over jail sentence
Answer: TIME
"Setter supports" suggests that the answer is something that supports or holds up another word. "Appeal over jail sentence" suggests we take the word "TIME" and place it over "J" (the abbreviation for jail) to get "TIME," which means a period spent in jail.
