Irish Independent Cryptic Answers and Explanations (April 25, 2024)
by Indumathy R
Updated Apr 25, 2024
The Irish Independent Cryptic crossword puzzle is a fun challenge and solving these puzzles can help you learn new words, get better at problem solving, and become more flexible in finding solutions. It might take some time to finish this crossword, but solving this has more benefits.
Question: Unwise boss-man? Certainly not! (13)
Answer: BUSINESSWOMAN
Unwise boss-man? Certainly not! suggests a reversal of gender roles, leading to BUSINESSWOMAN, as it challenges the stereotype of male dominance in leadership. The answer reflects empowerment and progressive thinking, promoting inclusivity in the workplace.
Question: He's not who he claims to be... (8)
Answer: IMPOSTOR
He's not who he claims to be... hints at deception or falsity, culminating in IMPOSTOR. This answer emphasizes the theme of identity, cautioning against trust without verification and highlighting the complexity of human nature.
Question: ...that man in the water (4)
Answer: EDDY
...that man in the water evokes the idea of a whirlpool or swirling current, pointing to EDDY. The answer captures the essence of turbulence or chaos, illustrating the dynamic forces of nature and the unpredictability of life.
Question: Verse has Tanzanian origin (6)
Answer: STANZA
Verse has Tanzanian origin suggests a connection to poetry or literature originating from Tanzania, leading to STANZA. This answer underscores the cultural diversity of language and artistic expression, highlighting the richness of global heritage and traditions.
Question: People who would take the car to get a flower (6)
Answer: NATION
People who would take the car to get a flower hints at a broader concept of unity or collective identity, resulting in NATION. The answer reflects the shared values and aspirations of a community, symbolizing the cohesion and solidarity necessary for progress and prosperity.
Question: Search around for spirit follower (6)
Answer: CHASER
Spirit follower hints at something that follows or accompanies spirits, particularly alcoholic ones. The word chaser fits perfectly as it's a drink typically consumed after a shot of alcohol to chase it down, hence following the spirit.
Question: See me go back to doctor wrapped in the Spanish flag (6)
Answer: EMBLEM
See me as the word MEME in reverse. When you reverse see me, you get MEME, and when you add it to go back to doctor (EM) and wrap it in the Spanish flag (BLEM), you get EMBLEM, which refers to a symbol often associated with national identity.
Question: Country not exactly pure (4)
Answer: PERU
Country not exactly pure plays with the idea of purity, implying that the name of a country might not be entirely pure. Peru fits the bill as it's a country whose name contains the letters for pure but is not exactly that word, making it a clever play on words.
Question: Share a pound – that's logical (8)
Answer: RATIONAL
Share a pound – that's logical hints at a word meaning logical that can be derived from share a pound. The answer, rational, fits perfectly, as it's both a synonym for logical and can be constructed from the letters in share a pound.
Question: Inclined to walk off with a deft touch (5-8)
Answer: LIGHTFINGERED
Inclined to walk off with a deft touch suggests a term for someone who is inclined to steal (walk off) with a skillful or deft touch. Light-fingered is a perfect fit, describing someone who is adept at stealing or pilfering with nimble fingers.
Question: Champ cut badly in knock-out contest (3,5)
Answer: CUPMATCH
Cup match is a term commonly used in sports, particularly in cricket, to refer to a championship match or a knockout contest where teams compete for a cup trophy.
Question: Deny smashing windows – gone west (6)
Answer: DISOWN
Deny smashing windows implies disavowing any responsibility for breaking windows. The phrase gone west typically means to disappear or fail, suggesting a loss or failure in this context. Therefore, Deny smashing windows – gone west leads to the answer DISOWN, meaning to refuse to acknowledge or accept something.
Question: Abandoned port (4)
Answer: LEFT
Abandoned port refers to a port that has been deserted or left behind. In a crossword context, port can also mean the left side, and abandoned hints at using the past tense of leave.
Question: Steer nag around to alienate (8)
Answer: ESTRANGE
Steer nag around suggests manipulating or directing a horse, symbolized by nag, in a circular motion. To alienate means to cause someone to feel isolated or estranged. Therefore, Steer nag around to alienate leads to the answer ESTRANGE, indicating the process of driving someone away or creating distance in a relationship.
Question: Sincere little house built on home (6)
Answer: HONEST
Sincere suggests honesty, and a little house is a nest. Combine them and you get honest which means sincere. Built on home hints at using the letters of home to construct the word.
Question: Poet appears and learned fellow's on the way (4)
Answer: BARD
A poet is often referred to as a bard. Appears suggests looking like or seeming to be, which is appears for the word bard. Learned fellow's on the way refers to a scholar, and in this context, it means learnt and fellow's (someone's companion or friend).
Question: Song about boat flying through the sky (8)
Answer: AIRCRAFT
Boat flying through the sky suggests an aircraft, which is a vehicle that flies. Song about indicates we need to find a word that refers to music or a song. Combine the two, and you get a word that means song about a boat flying through the sky.
Question: Performed in theatre! (8)
Answer: OPERATED
In the context of theater, performed could refer to acting out a role on stage. However, in this case, it's hinting at the mechanical action of operated, as in operating a machine or instrument.
Question: Hunted – head south and should find it (6)
Answer: SOUGHT
Head south implies moving downwards or towards the bottom of something. When we combine these, we get the word SOUGHT, which means to have looked for or pursued something.
Question: Go-between with less money? (6)
Answer: BROKER
The phrase with less money suggests that this person deals with financial matters. Combining these ideas, we get BROKER, which refers to someone who facilitates transactions, often involving financial assets, but may not necessarily possess a large amount of money themselves.
Question: Man who cooked rice... (4)
Answer: ERIC
The word cooked indicates an action related to culinary activities. Man who indicates we're looking for a male name. The answer is ERIC, which fits the description given.
Question: ...and aunt cooked fish! (4)
Answer: TUNA
The phrase ...and aunt suggests we're looking for a female name. Cooked fish provides the context of culinary activity. The answer is TUNA, which is a type of fish that fits the description.
