The Irish Daily Mail Cryptic Puzzle is the trickiest puzzle one can ever solve. It sounds simple, but it holds profound meaning and an answer. However, simple logical thinking helps solve these twisty puzzles. Believe in yourself and take this challenge for some fun and entertainment. Try it by yourself or with your friends, family, or neighbours. Solve the puzzle and give this challenge to your near and dear ones.
- Engineer pinches room – and aids for performers? (11)
- Keyboardist Rick has to stir staff (7)
- Setback concerning poet’s output (7)
- Complete feature in a bowls game (3)
- Quiet sort rushing to restrain new lively horse (7)
- Doddery gent holding container and meshed material (7)
- Pair perform around university (3)
- By the sound of it, praises titled figures (5)
- Ward off first signs of another very extreme reaction today (5)
- Director cutting organised tour in royal house (5)
- Avoid fairground car with rear dropping off (5)
- Nocturnal creature hiding in meadow, lately (3)
- Learner after working in a fug is productive? (7)
- Actress Sally beginning to thrive in Celtic language (7)
- Decorate a cake in fantastic embellishments (3)
- Insistence on a big drink? Very much so! (3,4)
- Group of battalions ordered to carry equipment (7)
- Digital evidence used in investigations? (11)
- What a boxer might do in front of old fellow to perform well? (4,1,4,4,2)
- Laughable male in charge probing mined commodity (7)
- One who has depressing experience with day gone (5)
- Heard don’s unusually no-nonsense? (4,5)
- Female tennis player broadcast on a TV after number (7)
- Waiting, say, to reduce business agreement? (7,8)
- Took disposable cloth inside second department (6)
- Delay, reportedly, to get item in a gym (6)
- Athlete Paula has run on a part of coast amid deer at odd points (9)
- Label in Spain for North African stew (6)
- Hold back repeated line in a song (7)
- Retired professors have worth in English institute (7)
- One in cavalry regiment left on unstable crane (6)
- Live with start of boisterous work in type of jazz (5)
Engineer pinches room – and aids for performers? (11)
Answer: MICROPHONES
Engineer pinches room suggests taking a smaller part of a larger space, indicating the concept of micro or small. Aids for performers points to equipment used by performers, often for amplification. Putting these together, the answer is microphones, devices used to capture and amplify sound, often used by performers such as singers or public speakers.
Keyboardist Rick has to stir staff (7)
Answer: WAKEMAN
Keyboardist Rick is a reference to the famous keyboard player Rick Wakeman. Stir staff hints at rearranging or mixing letters, resulting in Wakeman, which is a seven-letter answer referring to Rick Wakeman.
Setback concerning poet’s output (7)
Answer: REVERSE
Setback suggests reversing or going backward. Poet’s output indicates words written by a poet. Combining the two, the answer is reverse, which means to go backward or undo.
Complete feature in a bowls game (3)
Answer: END
Complete feature indicates something that is finished or concluded. In a bowls game hints at a term used in the context of bowls, a game where players aim to roll biased balls to a target. The answer is end, which refers to the conclusion of something, often seen in the context of games or activities.
Quiet sort rushing to restrain new lively horse (7)
Answer: PRANCER
Quiet sort suggests the letter P for quiet in the phonetic alphabet. Rushing to restrain hints at quickly acting to control or limit something. New lively horse refers to a creature known for its energy and liveliness. Putting these together, the answer is Prancer, which is a lively horse character often associated with Christmas.
Doddery gent holding container and meshed material (7)
Answer: NETTING
Doddery gent suggests an older person, and holding container implies something that can hold or contain. Putting these together, along with meshed material, we find that NETTING fits perfectly, as it refers to a meshed material often used in containers or to enclose areas.
Pair perform around university (3)
Answer: DUO
Pair perform suggests a duo, a group of two people. Around university indicates that we need to insert or surround a university-related term with this duo. Therefore, DUO is the answer, as it consists of two letters and is surrounding U, which stands for university.
By the sound of it, praises titled figures (5)
Answer: LORDS
By the sound of it indicates a homophonic clue, where the answer sounds like something else. Praises titled figures could sound like LORDS. So, LORDS is the answer, as it fits both the sound and the context of titled figures.
Ward off first signs of another very extreme reaction today (5)
Answer: AVERT
Ward off suggests preventing or avoiding something. First signs of another very extreme reaction implies taking the first letters of each word, which gives AVERT. Today might indicate that this action is happening in the present time.
Director cutting organised tour in royal house (5)
Answer: TUDOR
Director cutting suggests removing the first letters of a word, which gives IRECT. Organised tour could be abbreviated to O, and royal house suggests DOR. Putting these together, we get TUDOR, which refers to a royal house associated with the Tudor dynasty.
Avoid fairground car with rear dropping off (5)
Answer: DODGE
Fairground car hints at the kind of vehicle typically found at a fair, which is often a dodgem car or simply a DODGE car. With rear dropping off suggests removing the last letter, leaving us with DODGE as the answer.
Nocturnal creature hiding in meadow, lately (3)
Answer: OWL
The word hiding suggests a hidden creature, and lately hints at a recent occurrence, leading to the answer OWL, a nocturnal bird commonly found in meadows.
Learner after working in a fug is productive? (7)
Answer: GAINFUL
In a fug suggests a state of confusion or haze. Putting these together, the answer is GAINFUL, meaning productive or profitable, indicating that someone who has worked through confusion or difficulty is now productive.
Actress Sally beginning to thrive in Celtic language (7)
Answer: BRETTON
Actress Sally beginning to thrive in Celtic language hints at an actress named Sally who is excelling or prospering in a language associated with Celtic culture. The answer BRETTON aligns with this clue, suggesting Sally’s success in mastering or thriving within the Celtic language, perhaps as part of a role or personal interest.
Decorate a cake in fantastic embellishments (3)
Answer: ICE
Decorate a cake suggests adding something to enhance its appearance. Fantastic embellishments hints at something that could be used to decorate a cake creatively. The answer is ICE, as icing is commonly used to decorate cakes with fantastic designs or embellishments.
Insistence on a big drink? Very much so! (3,4)
Answer: NOT HALF
Insistence on a big drink suggests someone who really wants a large beverage. Very much so! reinforces this idea. The answer NOT HALF is a British colloquial expression meaning very much indeed, indicating a strong desire for a large drink.
Group of battalions ordered to carry equipment (7)
Answer: BRIGADE
The term ordered to carry equipment suggests a unit responsible for logistics and coordination. The answer, BRIGADE, fits perfectly, as it denotes a group of military units organized for a specific purpose, often involving equipment or supplies.
Digital evidence used in investigations? (11)
Answer: FINGERPRINT
Digital evidence used in investigations points to a crucial tool in forensic analysis. Fingerprints serve as unique identifiers, aiding law enforcement in identifying individuals and linking them to crime scenes.
What a boxer might do in front of old fellow to perform well? (4,1,4,4,2)
Answer: MAKE A GOOD FIST OF
The phrase in front of old fellow implies a scenario involving an observer or mentor, suggesting a performance-related action. The answer, MAKE A GOOD FIST OF, captures the idea of a boxer forming a strong grip or stance, symbolizing readiness and competence.
Laughable male in charge probing mined commodity (7)
Answer: COMICAL
The phrase laughable male in charge suggests a humorous figure in a position of authority. The answer, COMICAL, fits the bill as it means amusing or funny, and in charge probing mined commodity metaphorically refers to the scrutiny of something valuable, akin to mining for comedy gold.
One who has depressing experience with day gone (5)
Answer: OWNER
The term owner here refers to someone who possesses or has a stake in something, but the phrase hints at a negative connotation. It suggests a person who feels burdened by the passing of time or the events of the day, resonating with themes of regret or sorrow.
Heard don’s unusually no-nonsense? (4,5)
Answer: HARD NOSED
Heard indicates that the answer sounds like a word. Don’s unusually no-nonsense implies a person’s behavior. Hard means no-nonsense, and nosed implies a determined attitude. When combined, it forms the phrase hard-nosed, which means tough and uncompromising.
Female tennis player broadcast on a TV after number (7)
Answer: NOVOTNA
Broadcast on a TV suggests the answer could be a well-known figure. After number hints at the word following or coming after a number. Novotna is the surname of Jana Novotna, a female tennis player, which fits the criteria.
Waiting, say, to reduce business agreement? (7,8)
Answer: SERVICE CONTRACT
Waiting, say, suggests a type of service, and reduce business agreement hints at a contract. Combining them gives service contract, which is an agreement for provision of services.
Took disposable cloth inside second department (6)
Answer: SWIPED
Disposable cloth suggests something easily discarded or used briefly. Inside second department implies placing something within another element. SWIPED fits the context, indicating taking or acquiring something quickly or stealthily.
Delay, reportedly, to get item in a gym (6)
Answer: WEIGHT
Delay, reportedly might hint at a homophone. Item in a gym refers to something commonly found or used in fitness centers. WEIGHT is the answer, signifying an item often used in gym workouts.
Athlete Paula has run on a part of coast amid deer at odd points (9)
Answer: RADCLIFFE
Athlete Paula, renowned for her marathon prowess, traversed a scenic coastal route where deer occasionally appeared, forming an unexpected sight amidst her run. The answer RADCLIFFE corresponds to her name, Paula Radcliffe, a celebrated long-distance runner.
Label in Spain for North African stew (6)
Answer: TAGINE
In Spain, the term TAGINE refers to a traditional North African stew, reflecting the cultural influence and culinary diversity prevalent in the region. This label encapsulates the essence of a flavorful dish that has transcended geographical boundaries.
Hold back repeated line in a song (7)
Answer: REFRAIN
A REFRAIN in a song serves as a recurring line or phrase that is often held back, building anticipation and adding structure to the musical composition. It’s a familiar element in songwriting, providing listeners with a memorable and rhythmic refrain.
Retired professors have worth in English institute (7)
Answer: EMERITI
EMERITI denotes retired professors who retain worth and recognition for their contributions, particularly within the esteemed confines of an English institute. This term honors their distinguished careers and continued influence in academia even after retirement.
One in cavalry regiment left on unstable crane (6)
Answer: LANCER
A LANCER, typically a member of a cavalry regiment, is portrayed leaving atop an unstable crane, symbolizing the precarious nature of military operations and the strategic maneuvers required in combat scenarios. This imagery aligns with historical depictions of military tactics and equipment.
Live with start of boisterous work in type of jazz (5)
Answer: BEBOP
BEBOP, a lively and improvisational style of jazz, is characterized by its energetic rhythms and spirited performances, reflecting the essence of living with gusto and embracing the dynamic nature of creative expression. This genre epitomizes the vibrant spirit of musical innovation and cultural evolution.
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