The Independent's Cryptic Crossword Clues and Solutions for 15th April 2024
by J Divya
Updated Apr 15, 2024
Many may find The Independent's Cryptic crossword tough to solve. This type of crossword requires a lot of lateral thinking and understanding of the different types of clue structures. Solve today’s crossword with the help of our guide and enjoy the thrill of an intellectual challenge.
Time and motive required for crime
Answer: TREASON
Treason" refers to the crime of betraying one's country, typically by attempting to overthrow the government or acting in collusion with an enemy. The commission of treason often involves both time (planning and execution) and motive (such as a desire to undermine the state or gain personal advantage).
Cuckoo saw tree top
Answer: SWEATER
"Cuckoo saw tree top" serves as a wordplay hint for "SWEATER." The word "cuckoo" suggests a sound-alike for "sew," and "tree top" suggests "top" which could mean "cover" in this context. So, "sew" + "cover" = "sweater."
Suffer at home with bad dog
Answer: INCUR
"Suffer at home with bad dog" can be interpreted as a cryptic clue where "bad dog" is a metaphor for "ill luck" or "misfortune" and "suffer at home" indicates experiencing something negative. "Incur" means to become subject to or experience (usually something negative), so it fits the clue.
Non-stop aces badly restricting Seles
Answer: CEASELESS
"Non-stop aces badly restricting Seles" serves as a wordplay hint for "CEASELESS." "Non-stop" suggests "ceaseless," and "aces badly restricting Seles" could be an anagram for "Seles" which gives "less," hence "ceaseless."
Long leases unusual in city
Answer: LOS ANGELES
"Long leases unusual in city" is a clue indicating the name of a city, which is "LOS ANGELES." The phrase "long leases unusual" is an anagram for "Los Angeles," indicating that the answer is the name of a city.
Attractive stone circle seen with friend
Answer: OPAL
Aattractive stone circle seen with friend" is a wordplay hint for "OPAL." The word "opal" contains the letters "pal," which is a synonym for "friend." Additionally, "stone circle" can refer to the shape of the letter O, which is represented by "OPAL."
Biden and Trump, say, sounding like excessively croaky people
Answer: TWO-HORSE RACE
"Biden and Trump, say, sounding like excessively croaky people" serves as a wordplay hint for "TWO-HORSE RACE." "Biden and Trump" represent two contenders, similar to a "two-horse race." "Excessively croaky people" could sound like "hoarse," which is a homophone for "horse" in "two-horse race."
Maxim used by SAS, as her windows smashed
Answer: WHO DARES WINS
"Maxim used by SAS, as her windows smashed" serves as a wordplay hint for "WHO DARES WINS." "Maxim" suggests a motto or slogan, and "used by SAS" indicates that it's associated with the Special Air Service (SAS). "Her windows smashed" suggests removing the letters H, E, R from "who dares wins" to get "who daes wns."
A little mansion in Eaton Square
Answer: NINE
"A little mansion in Eaton Square" is a wordplay hint for "NINE." "Eaton Square" is an area in London associated with wealthy residences, and "mansion" suggests a large house. However, "a little mansion" suggests something smaller, which could be represented by the number "NINE."
Officer's given cold beer, getting notes in order
Answer: MAJOR SCALE
"Officer's given cold beer, getting notes in order" serves as a wordplay hint for "MAJOR SCALE." "Officer's" suggests "Major," "cold beer" suggests "ale," and "getting notes in order" suggests arranging musical notes sequentially, which forms a "major scale.
I would clean it out, just the same
Answer: IDENTICAL
"IDENTICAL." "Clean it out" suggests removing the letters "CL," leaving "IDENTICAL," which means exactly the same.
Island that's a ring
Answer: ATOLL
An "atoll" is a ring-shaped coral reef, island, or series of islets enclosing or partially enclosing a lagoon. Atolls are typically formed from the remnants of ancient volcanic islands and are often found in tropical oceanic regions.
French composer emptied tray, being full
Answer: SATIETY
"French composer emptied tray, being full" serves as a wordplay hint for "SATIETY." "French composer" suggests the composer Erik Satie. "Emptied tray" suggests removing the inner letters "TR" from "tray," leaving "ay" and adding "Sat" (short for Satie), which means "being full.
Tango separately, date having claws
Answer: TALONED
Tango separately, date having claws" serves as a wordplay hint for "TALONED." "Tango separately" suggests removing the letters "T" and "o" from "Tango," leaving "ang," and adding "date" (which can mean "appointment") and "claws," resulting in "TALONED," meaning having claws.
Right to put in bananas I felt for this pudding
Answer: TRIFLE
"Right to put in bananas I felt for this pudding" serves as a wordplay hint for "TRIFLE." "Right" suggests the abbreviation "R," "bananas" suggest "IF," and "I felt" suggests the letter "I." Putting "R" (right) "in" "IF" (bananas) and "I" (felt) yields "TRIFLE," a type of pudding.
Former copper starts to set everyone free
Answer: EXCUSE
Former copper starts to set everyone free" serves as a wordplay hint for "EXCUSE." "Former copper" suggests the abbreviation "EX" (former abbreviation for copper), and "starts to set everyone free" suggests taking the initial letters of "everyone free," which are "E" and "F." Combining "EX" and the initial letters "E" and "F" gives "EXCUSE."
Psychiatrist women blame in film
Answer: SHRINKWRAP
Psychiatrist women blame in film" serves as a wordplay hint for "SHRINKWRAP." "Psychiatrist" suggests "shrink" (slang for a psychiatrist), "women" suggests "W," and "blame in film" suggests "rap" (a term for blame). Combining "shrink," "W," and "rap" gives "SHRINKWRAP," which is a type of film used for packaging.
Pleasant embracing husband in appropriate place
Answer: NICHE
Pleasant embracing husband" suggests the letters "NICE" surrounding "H" (husband) to form "NICHE," which means an appropriate or suitable place for something.
Dummy on farm runs in silly cow races
Answer: SCARECROW
"Dummy on farm" refers to a scarecrow, "runs" indicates an anagram, and "silly cow races" provides the letters to rearrange into "SCARECROW," which is a dummy used to scare birds away from crops.
Animal's lair beneath end of the garden
Answer: EDEN
This is a straightforward clue where "end of the garden" provides the last letters of "garden," giving "DEN," which is an animal's lair. Combined with the word "EDEN," it forms a wordplay hint suggesting the answer, which is a reference to the Garden of Eden.
Clothes pianist packs for the theatre
Answer: THESPIAN
Clothes pianist packs" suggests an anagram of "pianist" (anagram indicator), resulting in "THESPIAN," which means an actor or actress, someone who performs in the theatre.
Victor and loser set up, journalist decided
Answer: RESOLVED
Here, "Victor and loser set up" suggests reversing the word "loser" to get "RESOL," and "journalist decided" gives the final "VED," resulting in "RESOLVED," which means to have made a decision.
Bouncer you hit to get in?
Answer: TENNIS BALL
This is a play on words where "bouncer" can refer to a person who checks entry to a venue, but in this context, it refers to a tennis ball, which bounces when hit during a tennis match.
Hits down by 50% affected archery ranking
Answer: HIERARCHY
Hits down by 50%" suggests removing half the letters from "hits" (resulting in "H"), and "affected archery ranking" provides the rest of the letters to give "HIERARCHY," which means a system of ranking or organizing according to status or authority.
A decade passed in chains
Answer: TWENTIES
This is a play on words where "decade" refers to ten years, and "in chains" suggests being shackled or bound. Combined, they form "TWENTIES," which refers to the decade of the 1920s.
Not very encouraging sign from conductor
Answer: DOWNBEAT
In music, a "downbeat" refers to the first beat of a measure, which often signifies the beginning of a new phrase or section. Figuratively, "downbeat" can also mean discouraging or pessimistic. So, the phrase "not very encouraging sign from conductor" could cryptically clue to "DOWNBEAT."
Pool in 11? I don't believe it
Answer: LAGOON
This is a cryptic clue where "Pool in 11" suggests the word "LAGOON," which is a type of pool or body of water. The word "11" hints at the letters L, A, and O occurring in the word, and "I don't believe it" could indicate the remainder of the word, completing "LAGOON."
Number one went first without kit on
Answer: PEELED
Here, "Number one" suggests the letter "P" (as in the first letter of the alphabet), "went first" suggests "led," and "without kit" suggests removing the letters "K" (kit) and "I" (first person pronoun) from "led," resulting in "PEELED," which means stripped or removed the outer covering of something
Chick knotted towel
Answer: OWLET
This is a cryptic clue where "Chick" suggests a baby bird, "knotted towel" could suggest the letters "OW" tied together, and "OWLET" is a type of baby bird, specifically a young owl.
Spot Liberal out of fashion
Answer: STYE
Spot" serves as a definition for the answer, which is "STYE," a small, painful lump on the eyelid. The wordplay part of the clue involves "Liberal out of fashion." Here, "Liberal" could be abbreviated to "L," and "out of fashion" suggests removing the letters "L" from the word "STYLE," resulting in "STYE." So, the word "STYE" is a combination of the definition ("Spot") and the wordplay ("Liberal out of fashion"), creating a cryptic clue for the answer.
