The Irish Daily Mail Cryptic Crossword puzzle is a word game in the Irish Daily Mail newspaper. It’s called “cryptic” because the clues are tricky and need some thinking to solve. Lots of people who like word games and puzzles enjoy playing it.
Fine belt delivered after American returned (6)
SUBTLE
This clue breaks down into a few components for wordplay: “Fine” is the definition, suggesting something not easily noticeable or delicate in difference. “Belt delivered” suggests a synonym or related word for “belt” being “subtle.” “After American returned” indicates that we need to look at a typical abbreviation for American, which is “US,” and then reverse it (“returned”), giving “SU.”
Assign gold to someone out of pocket (8)
CREDITTOR
“Assign gold” can be broken down with “gold” often represented by the chemical symbol “Au.” “To someone out of pocket” refers to someone who is owed money, i.e., a creditor. If we parse this as “credit” (assign as trust or give due recognition) and “or” (possibly a play on “Au” for gold, or just phonetically hinting at the sound), it forms “CREDITOR.”
During flight, energy may reduce (7)
LIGHTEN
“Reduce” serves as the definition. “During flight” suggests the wordplay, indicating lightness or the state of being less heavy, which is what happens when something is lightened. “Energy” here connects metaphorically as energy can weigh down or lift up, and removing energy from an equation typically lightens the load. Thus, “during flight” (lighten) + “energy” aligns to create the word LIGHTEN.
Eternal fool has unbridled glee (7)
AGELESS
“Eternal” is the definition. “Fool” here plays on the word “age” as in an old or foolish way, and “has unbridled glee” suggests releasing or removing controls (“unbridled”), on “glee” which here is creatively reinterpreted or dissected to play on the letters that make up “ageless,” forming the answer that fits the definition of being eternal.
Moving north – that is sharp (5)
THORN
The definition is “sharp,” as in something that pricks or stabs. “Moving north” indicates a wordplay where you might look for a directional reversal of the letters, but in this case, it uses “TH” (a common abbreviation for “that”) followed by “ORN” from “NOR” (a piece of the word “north”) reversed (moving north implies reversing the letters).
Cut a slithery arrangement (9)
HAIRSTYLE
“A slithery arrangement” serves as the wordplay, where “a slithery” suggests an anagram. Re-arranging the letters of “hairstyle” doesn’t change the word, so the clue is clever in that the anagram points to the word itself.
Decline notes on peer group (12)
DEGENERATION
“Decline” is the definition, referring to the process of degenerating. The wordplay involves “notes on peer group.” “Notes” can be interpreted as musical notes or annotations, and “peer group” can relate to generation (a group of peers by age or interest). When put together as “DE-GENERATION,” it describes a generational decline or degradation.
Fear of arrest (12)
APPREHENSION
The definition here is straightforwardly “fear.” The word “apprehension” itself means fear or anxiety about something in the future, often related to being arrested (as police apprehend suspects). The clue is a direct definition with no additional wordplay involved.
Ted’s era? (9)
EDWARDIAN
This is a play on the name “Ted,” which is a diminutive form of Edward. “Era” refers to a historical period associated with a person’s reign or significant influence. The “Edwardian era” refers to the period when King Edward VII ruled the United Kingdom, known for its distinctive cultural and fashion styles. The question format “Ted’s era?” whimsically asks which historical period could be associated with someone named Ted, leading to “EDWARDIAN.”
Worth adjusting launch (5)
THROW
The definition suggested is “launch,” as in to throw something. The wordplay comes from “Worth adjusting,” indicating an anagram of the word “worth.” By rearranging the letters of “worth,” we get THROW, which means to launch something.
Modernises cheerful appointments (7)
UPDATES
The definition is “modernises,” suggesting making something more current or up-to-date. The wordplay involves “cheerful appointments,” where “UP” suggests cheerful or elevated mood, and “DATES” are types of appointments. Together, “UPDATES” means to modernize or bring up to date.
Behold best recipe with right seafood (7)
LOBSTER
The definition here is “seafood.” In the wordplay, “Behold” translates to “LO” (a common abbreviation in cryptic crosswords for “look at” or “behold”), “best recipe” can be taken as “B” (often used to denote the best or first) and “S” for the start of “soup” (a typical dish/recipe). “Right” is represented by the abbreviation “R.”
Menacing trendy relative outside (8)
SINISTER
“Menacing” is the definition, meaning threatening or ominous. For the wordplay, “trendy” can be abbreviated to “IN,” and “relative” suggests “SISTER.” Combining these, with “IN” placed within “SISTER” (trendy relative outside), yields SINISTER, which fits the definition of menacing.
Street initially coned off, to a degree (6)
SECOND
“To a degree” here means to an extent or level, typically used in contexts like “second degree.” The wordplay involves “Street initially” and “coned off.” “Street initially” gives us the letter “S” (the initial letter of Street), and “coned off” suggests taking “SECOND” without direct reference to the rest of the phrase, mainly relying on the phonetic resemblance to “coned.”
Duet Lois performed in isolation (8)
SOLITUDE
” The wordplay involves “Duet Lois performed,” where “Duet” suggests taking the initial letters of “D” and “L,” and “performed in isolation” indicates a word that means to perform or exist alone.
Next to old king? Good heavens! (2,6)
BYGEORGE
“By George!” which is an exclamation of surprise or amazement. The wordplay involves “Next to old king,” where “old king” is GEORGE (referring to King George). “Next to” suggests using the word “BY” to mean “beside” or “next to,” hence “BY GEORGE” meaning beside or following King George.
City can produce obsolete language (5)
LATIN
“Obsolete language.” The wordplay involves “City” as an indicator for the city of Rome, which historically used Latin as its language. “Can produce” suggests that the city “produces” or is associated with the language, leading to the answer LATIN.
One who is down-toearth about tails being tossed (7)
REALIST
“One who is down-to-earth,” referring to a person who is practical and pragmatic. The wordplay involves “about tails being tossed,” where “tails” suggests the last letters of the word “real” being “L” and “being tossed” indicates an anagram.
Wear casual clothes, getting reprimand (5,4)
DRESSDOWN
“reprimand.” The wordplay involves “Wear casual clothes,” which is DRESS DOWN, a phrasal verb meaning to wear less formal attire. The phrase cleverly hints at the literal action of dressing down and the figurative meaning of receiving a reprimand.
Bound to the old patterned garment (3-3)
TIEDYE
The definition here is “patterned garment.” The wordplay involves “Bound to” indicating the action of tying and “the old” suggesting the antiquated nature of the pattern, “dye.” Together, TIE DYE forms a garment with a pattern created by tying and dyeing fabric.
Colour of an apple (6)
RUSSET
The definition here is “Colour of an apple.” RUSSET refers to a reddish-brown color, which is common among certain varieties of apples. The clue is a straightforward definition, giving the answer directly without involving additional wordplay.
Articles right behind part of flower (6)
ANTHER
“Part of flower” is the definition, which directly refers to ANTHER. The wordplay involves “articles” being “AN” and “THE” placed in front of “R” for “right.”
Complaint gets hipster in trouble (9)
NEPHRITIS
The definition is “complaint,” in a medical sense referring to a specific type of illness or condition. Here, NEPHRITIS, which is an inflammation of the kidneys. The wordplay involves “hipster in trouble.” “Hipster” might suggest the letters “HIP,” and “in trouble” indicates that these letters need to be part of a larger scramble or disorder. However, without an obvious anagram indicator or container, this clue may seem somewhat opaque. Still, NEPHRITIS could be derived from interpreting “hipster” as relating to the hip or renal region anatomically, involved in kidney function.
Blotter used to hold one set of words (8)
LIBRETTO
“Set of words” is the definition here, referring to a LIBRETTO, which is the text or words used in an opera or extended musical composition. The wordplay might come from “blotter used to hold one.” “Blotter” might be misleading unless we consider its role as something holding or absorbing.
Deer/swan hybrid responded (8)
ANSWERED
The definition part of the clue is “responded.” The wordplay involves a hybrid of the words “deer” and “swan.” Although it’s not a literal combination of animal names, by extracting and rearranging the letters common to both “deer” and “swan,” you get “ANSWERED.”
Another publication concerning children (7)
REISSUE
“Another publication” serves as the definition, indicating a publication being published again, known as a REISSUE. “Concerning” can be parsed as “RE,” which is a common abbreviation for regarding or about, and “children” could be metaphorically related to issues.
Deal with a name (6)
HANDLE
The definition “Deal with” fits well with the word HANDLE, which means to manage or deal with something. “A name” doesn’t actively contribute to altering or constructing the answer but may suggest that “HANDLE” is a term that can metaphorically include dealing with the naming or handling of situations.
Streets losing top concert halls (6)
VENUES
“Concert halls” is the definition. The wordplay is “Streets losing top,” where “Streets” could be “VENUES,” and “losing top” ” leaving us with VENUES, which is a synonym for places like concert halls.
Vegetable new to some land (6)
SWEDEN
The clue’s is “some land,” referring to a country. The wordplay involves a homophone and rearrangement where “vegetable” subtly indicates “Swede” (a type of turnip), combined with “N” for new, rearranging these to get SWEDEN, the country.
List an item of furniture (5)
TABLE
“List” here serves as a double meaning, which is a common feature in cryptic crossword puzzles. “List” can mean both a verb to tilt or incline (as a ship might list to one side) and a noun referring to a sequence or enumeration of items written or printed. However, in this cryptic clue, “List” subtly suggests the verb “to table” something, which means to lay it down for discussion or consideration (common in parliamentary language), but it also points directly to the noun “table,” an item of furniture. This dual usage cleverly resolves to the straightforward answer TABLE, fitting the requirement for a 5-letter word that is an item of furniture.
