Cryptic crosswords can seem challenging with their obscure clues and wordplay. However, once you understand them, you can easily crack them. The Independent’s Cryptic crossword on April 22, 2024 will challenge you to think differently about words and their meanings. Try this crossword and if you need any help, you can check out this page to find the answers.
- Order bloke to wear top
- Bent to shut up football supporters’ song
- Clear troublemaker must wear top!
- Watched blossom with introduction of Taylor Swift, perhaps
- Fully stripped kites, helping to trim tails, e.g.
- Led astray on fringes, portion of cathedral ran out
- Cup of tea left to chill
- Dance poorly, say, with no visible effort
- Resistance to wearing yoga things back in America
- Grabbing instrument, zoo’s bear played bottom of scale
- That group in charge sucks at relating to subjects
- Passage from bachata hit irks island
- Model soldier, like Rambo, essentially
- Cycling group stops bunch of traffic things going overboard
- Pub’s line-up includes Alabama and fellow singers
- I point up after drone is lowered
- Small and lean? Grow taller on this
- Deal the wrong way with jerk following band?
- Electronic piece spun a lot ? a banger?
- Trip provider needs current credentials
- I don’t like that posh skirt
- Raised right, boring to sleep with
- Government departments take time out for English TV event
- It blends with some lamb in your food processor
- Ski resort offering swine bagged in downs, stewed
- Return of old item cancelling out husband’s purchase
- Filling food ultimately ruins dessert
- First couple of letters on counter tucked away to send
- Leaders of swimming team on record pace
- Career streaker?
Order bloke to wear top
Answer: BEHEST
“order” is a synonym for command or instruction. “Bloke” refers to a man or guy, and “top” can mean a garment worn on the upper part of the body. So, if you instruct a man to wear a top, you are giving him an order or command. The answer that fits this description is “BEHEST,” which means a command or instruction.
Bent to shut up football supporters’ song
Answer: PENCHANT
bent” suggests a liking or inclination towards something. “Shut up” indicates that something is enclosed or contained within. “Football supporters’ song” suggests a chant or song often sung by fans at football matches. Putting all these together, the answer is “PENCHANT,” which means a strong inclination or liking for something, in this case, the song sung by football supporters.
Clear troublemaker must wear top!
Answer: LIMPID
“Clear” here means transparent or easily understood. “Troublemaker” refers to someone who causes problems or disruptions. “Must wear top” suggests something that is obligatory to wear on top. When you combine these, you get “LIMPID,” which means clear or transparent. The clue is a playful way of saying that even a troublemaker must wear a top, implying clarity or transparency.
Watched blossom with introduction of Taylor Swift, perhaps
Answer: SATIRIST
Watched” suggests observing or monitoring something. “Blossom” can mean to develop or grow, and “introduction of Taylor Swift, perhaps” hints at the idea of an introduction or beginning of something new, like a career. Putting it all together, the answer is “SATIRIST,” which is someone who uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock societal issues, including pop culture figures like Taylor Swift
Fully stripped kites, helping to trim tails, e.g.
Answer: ALLITERATION
“Fully stripped” indicates removing the first letter from each word, resulting in “ully tripped.” “Kites, helping to trim tails” suggests words that start with the letter “T,” which can be “trim” and “tails.” Putting it together, you get “ully tripped” + “trim” + “tails,” which forms “ALLITERATION,” a literary device where words in a sentence or phrase start with the same sound or letter.
Led astray on fringes, portion of cathedral ran out
Answer: ELAPSED
So, “on fringes” gives us “EL” and “ED.” “Portion of cathedral” is the definition part, which means we’re looking for a portion of the word “cathedral.” “Ran out” suggests removing the last letter of a word. Putting it all together, we get “EL” + “ED” + “CATHEDRA” with the last letter removed, which forms “ELAPSED,” meaning “ran out” or passed.
Cup of tea left to chill
Answer: CHALICE
Cup of tea” hints at the answer being a vessel for drinking, and “left to chill” suggests removing the letters for “left” from the word “chalice.” So, removing “left” from “chalice” leaves us with “CHALICE,” which is a type of cup or goblet often used in religious ceremonies.
Dance poorly, say, with no visible effort
Answer: REEL OFF
“REEL,” which is a type of dance. “Say, with no visible effort” hints at the phrase “off the cuff” or something done spontaneously. So, combining “REEL” with “OFF,” we get “REEL OFF,” which means to recite or perform something quickly and effortlessly, akin to dancing poorly with no visible effort.
Resistance to wearing yoga things back in America
Answer: STAMINA
Wearing yoga things” suggests athletic wear or clothing typically worn during yoga practice. “Back in America” indicates that we need to reverse the letters of a word that means resistance. The answer is “STAMINA,” which is the ability to endure prolonged physical or mental effort.
Grabbing instrument, zoo’s bear played bottom of scale
Answer: ABSOLUTE ZERO
“Grabbing instrument” suggests taking something or seizing it. “Zoo’s bear played bottom of scale” refers to the lowest note on a musical scale. Combining these ideas, we get “ABSOLUTE ZERO,” which refers to the lowest possible temperature on the Kelvin scale, but here it’s used figuratively to mean the lowest point or bottom.
That group in charge sucks at relating to subjects
Answer: THEMATIC
“THEM,” indicating a group of people or an organization. “Sucks at relating to subjects” suggests that this group is not good at relating to or connecting with certain topics. The answer is “THEMATIC,” which means relating to or based on a particular theme or subject.
Passage from bachata hit irks island
Answer: TAHITI
Passage from bachata hit” suggests taking a portion of the word “bachata” (a genre of Latin American music) to form “TAHAT.” “Irks island” indicates that we need to add the letter “I” (for “island”) to the end of “TAHAT.” The final answer is “TAHITI,” which is an island in the South Pacific Ocean.
Model soldier, like Rambo, essentially
Answer: PARADIGM
“Soldier, like Rambo” suggests a stereotype or idealized image of a soldier, as portrayed by the character Rambo. “Essentially” indicates that we’re looking for a fundamental example or model. The answer is “PARADIGM,” which means a typical example or pattern, often used to represent a larger concept or idea.
Cycling group stops bunch of traffic things going overboard
Answer: JETSAM
“Cycling group” refers to rearranging letters, indicating an anagram. “Stops bunch of traffic things” suggests removing the letters for “traffic” from the word “jetsam.” “Going overboard” indicates rearranging the remaining letters. The answer is “JETSAM,” which refers to goods or cargo that are thrown overboard from a ship to lighten its load during an emergency.
Pub’s line-up includes Alabama and fellow singers
Answer: BALLADEERS
Pub’s line-up” suggests performers or entertainers, and “includes Alabama” indicates that the word “Alabama” is included within the answer. The answer is “BALLADEERS,” which refers to singers who specialize in singing ballads or narrative songs.
I point up after drone is lowered
Answer: HUMILIATED
“Drone” can refer to a continuous low humming sound or a monotonous speech. “Is lowered” suggests the letter “I” is moved down in the word “HUM” to form “HUMILI.” “Point up” suggests adding the letter “A” (as “I” points up) to the word “HUMILI” to form “HUMILIATED.” The answer is “HUMILIATED,” which means to cause someone to feel ashamed or embarrassed.
Small and lean? Grow taller on this
Answer: STILT
“Small and lean” suggests something thin or slender. “Grow taller on this” hints at an object used to increase height. The answer is “STILT,” which is a long, thin pole or rod used to elevate or support something, such as a platform for walking above water or mud.
Deal the wrong way with jerk following band?
Answer: ELASTIC
“Deal the wrong way with” suggests rearranging letters, indicating an anagram. “Jerk following band” indicates that the word “jerk” comes after or follows the word for a musical band. Rearranging the letters of “band” and adding “jerk” after it gives us “ELASTIC,” which is a type of material known for its stretchiness.
Electronic piece spun a lot ? a banger?
Answer: CHIPOLATA
Electronic piece” suggests the word “chip,” which is a common component in electronic devices. “Spun a lot” suggests an anagram of the word “a lot.” Combining these gives us “CHIP” + “A LOT,” which forms “CHIPOLAT.” The final touch is adding “a” to the end, giving us “CHIPOLATA,” which is a type of sausage, hence the reference to a “banger.”
Trip provider needs current credentials
Answer: ACID
Trip provider” could refer to someone who supplies drugs like LSD (which can induce hallucinations or “trips”). “Needs current credentials” suggests that “current” refers to electricity (current) and “credentials” refer to ID (as in identification). So, “trip provider needs current credentials” leads to “ACID,” which is both a slang term for LSD and a type of corrosive substance.
I don’t like that posh skirt
Answer: TUTU
I don’t like” indicates that the word “not” needs to be removed. “That posh skirt” suggests the word “tutu,” which is a type of skirt worn by ballet dancers. Removing “not” from “tutu” gives us “TUTU.” The clue is humorous because it plays on the idea of someone disliking a posh or fancy skirt, which is actually the answer.
Raised right, boring to sleep with
Answer: BRED
Raised right” suggests that the word “right” needs to be added to another word to form the answer. “Boring to sleep with” suggests that the resulting word might be something unexciting. Combining “right” with “bred” gives us “BRED,” which means to have been brought up or raised in a certain way.
Government departments take time out for English TV event
Answer: MINISERIES
“Government departments” is a hint for the abbreviation “minis” for ministries. “Take time out” suggests removing the letter “T” (short for “time”) from “ministries.” “For English TV event” is the definition part, indicating that the answer is a type of television programming. Putting it all together, we get “MINISERIES,” which is a television program consisting of a limited number of episodes.
It blends with some lamb in your food processor
Answer: METABOLISM
It blends with some lamb” suggests that the answer is related to digestion or metabolism, as lamb is a type of food. “In your food processor” indicates that we need to think about something happening inside the body. The answer is “METABOLISM,” which refers to the chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life.
Ski resort offering swine bagged in downs, stewed
Answer: SNOWBOARD
Ski resort” hints at the answer being related to skiing or snow sports. “Swine bagged” suggests that the word “board” needs to be added to another word related to swine or pigs. “In downs, stewed” indicates that we need to rearrange the letters of “downs” to form the word “snow.” Combining “snow” with “board” gives us “SNOWBOARD,” which is a type of equipment used for snowboarding, a popular winter sport.
Return of old item cancelling out husband’s purchase
Answer: FOOTING
Return of old item” suggests the word “footing,” which means the act of returning to a previous condition or state. “Cancelling out husband’s purchase” indicates that we need to remove or cancel out the word “hot” (a term for an exciting or popular item) from “footing,” leaving us with “FOOTING.”
Filling food ultimately ruins dessert
Answer: SPUD
“Filling food ultimately” suggests that we should take the ultimate letters of “filling” (which are “G”) and apply them to the word “food” to get “FOOGD.” Then, “ruins dessert” implies that we should rearrange these letters, resulting in “SPUD,” which is a type of filling food—potato.
First couple of letters on counter tucked away to send
Answer: ELATE
“First couple of letters on counter” suggests taking the first two letters of “counter,” which are “CO.” “Tucked away” hints at removing or hiding these letters. When we remove “CO” from “counter,” we’re left with “UNTER.” Then, “to send” suggests that we rearrange these letters to form “ELATE,” which means to make someone ecstatic or joyful.
Leaders of swimming team on record pace
Answer: STEP
“Leaders of swimming team” refers to the initial letters of “swimming team,” which are “S” and “T.” “On record pace” suggests that we should use these letters to form the word “STEP,” which means a single movement of lifting and setting down one’s foot when walking or running.
Career streaker?
Answer: TEAR
“Career streaker” suggests someone who is consistently performing or excelling in their career. However, “streaker” can also mean someone who runs naked in public. In this case, “streaker” is used figuratively to indicate someone who moves quickly or swiftly, which fits the definition of “TEAR.” So, the answer is “TEAR,” which can mean a rapid movement or a career streaker in this context
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