The Independent’s Cryptic Crossword Clue As Of April 17, 2024 Answers Revealed
by J Divya
Updated Apr 17, 2024
Enter the mysterious world of The Independent's mysterious crossword puzzle. Every square holds a secret. Every clue is a whisper in the wind, a clue that signals you to guess its hidden meaning.
With each puzzle, you take on the role of a detective, and ready to crack the code.Each clue is a whisper in the wind. Each puzzle is a triumph of intellect and intuition, a triumph of wordplay over the mysterious forces of language.This puzzle isn't just a game, it's a journey of the mind.
Bill's vice is returning in Spanish city
Answer: SEVILLA
In this clue, "Bill's vice" indicates that we need to reverse ("returning") a word that means "vice" or "flaw" associated with the name "Bill." The Spanish city "Sevilla" fits this description, as "vices" backward is "sevic," which sounds similar to "Sevilla," a city in Spain.
Rabble-rousing nurses head off Mary Berry in Glasgow
Answer: BRAMBLE
This clue is an anagram clue, where "rabble-rousing" serves as an indicator that the letters of "nurses" (a synonym for "attending") need to be rearranged. Removing the initial letters of "Mary Berry" (head off) from "Glasgow" results in "BRAMBLE," which is a word that fits the clue.
Prepare the way for metal pot somehow to hold uranium
Answer: LEAD UP TO
This clue is a charade clue, where different parts of the clue combine to form the answer. "Prepare the way" suggests "LEAD UP TO." "Metal pot somehow" indicates the element "LEAD" (a metal) and "to hold uranium" implies adding "U" (the chemical symbol for uranium) to "LEAD," resulting in "LEAD UP TO."
Eat around one in site of Oktoberfest
Answer: MUNICH
This is a cryptic definition clue. "Site of Oktoberfest" refers to Munich, Germany, where the famous Oktoberfest celebration takes place. "Eat around one" suggests that "MUNICH" contains the letter "I" ("one") and the rest of the word spells out the answer.
Reserve national team for national leader
Answer: WALESA
This clue is a double definition. "Reserve national team" refers to a reserve squad for a national sports team, and "national leader" refers to Lech Wałęsa, who was a prominent leader in Poland and served as the country's president. The answer is his surname, "WALESA."
Flipping bighead John Campbell?
Answer: BLOOMING
In this clue, "flipping" suggests that we need to reverse the letters of "bighead" (since "bighead" is a synonym for "blooming"). "John Campbell" indicates the word "blooming," which is a euphemism often used to express annoyance or surprise. So, "John Campbell" suggests the word "blooming" with its letters flipped.
Caribbean Island accepts mistake, sick of opposition to the activity of partisans
Answer: ANTIGUERRILLA
This is an anagram clue. "Caribbean Island" gives us the letters "ANTI" (accepts mistake). "Sick of opposition" indicates the anagram indicator. "Activity of partisans" suggests "GUERRILLA." When we rearrange "ANTI" and "GUERRILLA," we get "ANTIGUERRILLA," which refers to opposition against guerrilla warfare.
Free oil on tap is not compulsory
Answer: OPTIONAL
This is a straightforward cryptic definition. "Free oil on tap" suggests something that is available but not required. "Not compulsory" is the definition, and "OPTIONAL" fits the bill.
Partygate in magistrate's office
Answer: DOGATE
This is another anagram clue. "Partygate" gives us the letters "PARTY." "In magistrate's office" serves as the anagram indicator. When we rearrange the letters of "PARTY," we get "DOGATE," which could be a term for a party held in a magistrate's office, although it's more likely created for the purposes of the crossword puzzle
Dry Fe(III)?
Answer: IRONIC
"Dry" often means witty or without emotion. "Fe(III)" is the chemical symbol for iron in its +3 oxidation state. So, "dry Fe(III)" is a humorous way to describe something that involves iron but is more likely to be a play on words, making it IRONIC.
Highlight organised demonstration's centrepiece being outrageous
Answer: FLAGRANT
This is an anagram clue. "Highlight organised demonstration" provides the letters for "FLAGRANT," and "outrageous" hints at rearranging these letters to form a new word, which means glaringly obvious or shocking.
I'm not obliged, but try to leave the cost, generally
Answer: INGRATE
This is a cryptic definition clue. "I'm not obliged" suggests the word for someone who is not grateful, which is INGRATE. "But try to leave the cost, generally" is a hint to the definition, as an ingrate doesn't appreciate the cost of what they receive.
Supports welcoming a recipient of bequest
Answer: LEGATEE
This clue combines a wordplay element with a definition. "Supports" can be understood as "legs." "Welcoming a recipient of bequest" suggests putting "e" (short for "recipient") inside "leg" (supports), forming LEGATEE, which means a person who receives a legacy or bequest.
Get payback for turning up to promote German city
Answer: GENEVA
Get payback" indicates reversing the word "get," resulting in "teg." "For turning up" suggests a reversal of this "teg" to spell "get" backward. "To promote German city" suggests adding "Eva," which is a German name, resulting in GENEVA, a city in Switzerland.
American frontier stew?
Answer: WILD WEST
American frontier" refers to the historical period of westward expansion in the United States, known as the "Wild West." The question mark suggests that "stew" is not meant literally but rather metaphorically, implying a mix of chaotic and lawless elements characteristic of the Wild West era.
Friends is returning with immediate impact? Absolutely
Answer: SLAP-BANG
Friends is returning" suggests reversing the letters of "Friends" to get "sdneirF." "With immediate impact" indicates rearranging these letters to form a new word. "Absolutely" serves as an indicator that the resulting word is emphatic or definitive, which is SLAP-BANG.
Millions in bed over the festive period?
Answer: CRIMBO
Millions" suggests the abbreviation "M." "In bed" suggests the letter "B." "Over the festive period" implies the Christmas season, which is often referred to informally as "crimbo." So, when we combine "M," "B," and "crimbo," we get CRIMBO, a colloquial term for Christmas.
Mine, repeatedly claims songwriter
Answer: EMINEM
Mine, repeatedly" suggests that we should repeat a word meaning "mine." "Claims songwriter" hints at a famous musician known for claiming authorship of songs. Eminem, a well-known rapper and songwriter, fits this description, as "EM" (short for "mine") is repeated twice.
Organ put next to altar, initially
Answer: PLACENTA
Organ" suggests the word "PLACENTA." "Next to altar, initially" hints that we should take the first letter of "altar," which is "A," and place it next to "PLACENT" to get PLACENTA, a biological organ.
Double bluff?
Answer: DOUBLE BLUFF
This clue is a cryptic definition. A "double bluff" is a tactic in which someone pretends to be doing one thing while actually doing the opposite, or pretending to do the opposite of what they're actually doing. So, "Double bluff?" serves as both a clue and the answer, DOUBLE BLUFF
Hoping to be American secret agents, say?
Answer: ASPIRING
This clue is a cryptic definition. "Hoping to be American secret agents, say?" suggests individuals who aspire to become something, in this case, American secret agents. "ASPIRING" is a word that describes individuals who have ambitions or goals to achieve something.
I traded with a crook, and beamed
Answer: RADIATED
This is a cryptic definition clue. "I traded with a crook" suggests a connection to radiation or emitting energy, as if trading with a crook might result in exposure to harmful radiation. "Beamed" is a synonym for emitting energy or radiation, leading to the answer RADIATED.
Delivery left for one dodgy baker
Answer: LEG BREAK
Delivery left" suggests the left side of the word "delivery," which is "LEG." "One dodgy baker" hints at "BREAK," as a baker may bake bread or pastries, and "break" could suggest a disruption or damage. Together, they form the phrase LEG BREAK, which can refer to an injury often associated with sports, especially football.
Pay no attention to topless foreign eccentric (or topless foreign man)
Answer: IGNORE
This is a cryptic definition clue. "Pay no attention to" is a clue to the word IGNORE, which means to disregard or pay no heed. "Topless foreign eccentric (or topless foreign man)" is a play on words, suggesting that we should ignore the "top" letters (the first letters) of "foreign eccentric" or "foreign man" to get the answer.
Delicate point raised in church extremely tetchily
Answer: NICETY
This clue is a charade clue. "Delicate point" suggests the word "NICE." "Raised in church" indicates reversing the word "nice" to get "ecin." "Extremely tetchily" suggests taking the first letter ("extremely") of "tetchily," which is "T." Putting "ecin" (raised in church) together with "T" gives us NICETY, which means a subtle or delicate point of detail.
Leather worker in 6d
Answer: TANNER
"6d" is a reference to the clue number where the answer was given. In this case, "Leather worker" refers to a person who tans leather, which is a TANNER.
