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- Irish Times Crosaire Crossword Answers Updated as of May 6, 2024
Irish Times Crosaire Crossword Answers Updated as of May 6, 2024
by J Nandhini
Updated May 06, 2024
If you enjoy doing crossword puzzles, try today's Irish Times Crosaire Crossword. It is not too difficult if you are familiar with solving crosswords. If you are stuck on a clue, you can check out the below article for answers. Just scroll down to see all the solutions and explanations.
Perhaps patron will show parent cunning ploy?
PATRICK
This clue plays on word sounds and partial hidden words. "Patron" can suggest "Pat," a common nickname derived from Patrick, and "trick" is directly referred to by "cunning ploy." Together, "Pat" and "trick" form "Patrick," aligning with the hinted "parent" through homophonic and contextual play.
Assistant gets short written note, specifying range of colours to be used
PALETTE
Here, "assistant" implies a helper or aid in art, like a palette that assists in blending and holding paints. "Short written note" can be interpreted as "P" (often a shorthand for 'page' or just as an initial letter shorthand) followed by "alette," forming "Palette," which is a range of colors used in painting.
Winds up internet provocateurs, making them blow top
ROLLS
The phrase "winds up" implies a finishing or coiling action, which sounds like "rolls" (as in to roll up). "Internet provocateurs" might metaphorically "blow their tops" or get angry, and "rolls" can play into this with a double meaning related to movement and action.
An excellent aphorism showing subtle distinction between the two
A FINE LINE
The phrase "a fine line" itself is an aphorism used to indicate a subtle distinction between two closely related concepts, situations, or choices. The clue describes precisely what the illustrates, an aphorism on subtle distinctions.
Sister lied about it being disinfected
STERILISED
This is an anagram clue where "sister lied" rearranges to spell "sterilised," which means disinfected. The entire clue plays on the rearrangement to find the answer related to being disinfected.
On the contrary, by morning is awake to see wild animal
PUMA
Here, the clue cleverly uses wordplay. "On the contrary" suggests a reversal or opposite in the phrasing or interpretation. "By morning is awake" can be interpreted as "up" (awake), followed by "am" (morning) reversed, due to "on the contrary," giving us "ma." "Puma" is a wild animal, and the word itself is constructed from reversing "am" and appending "up" - PUMA.
Ponder why they scoffed when being described as kind
CONSIDERATE
The word "considerate" can be broken down into "con" and "siderate." Here, "con" could imply "against," commonly used in slang to scoff or trick, and "siderate" sounds like "side rate," a term that might colloquially imply being underrated or unfairly judged, which ties back to being kind but perhaps not perceived as such.
Finished with old flame mentioned, who's excessively emotional
OVEREXCITED
"Over" can mean finished or too much. "Ex" refers to an old flame. When combined, "over" and "ex" sound like "overex," which can be phonetically extended to "overexcited," meaning someone who is excessively emotional.
Pilot suggests heavy metal
LEAD
The word "lead" can mean both a heavy metal and to guide or pilot. The clue plays on this double meaning of the word.
Saturnalia bewildered person from far away
AUSTRALIAN
"Saturnalia" was a festival in ancient Rome, marked by revelry and reversal of social norms. The clue uses the chaos and foreignness of such a festival to hint at someone from afar. Phonetically, "Saturnalia" sounds somewhat like "southern alee", loosely linking to "Australian" by alluding to a person from the Southern Hemisphere.
See if they're with teachers' union when they arrive at hotel
CHECK INTO
"See" translates to "check." "If" suggests checking a condition, "they're with teachers' union" might imply a collective movement, hence "into" when arriving, especially at a location like a "hotel" where one would CHECK INTO.
Be inclined to admit designer, finally, is in fashion
TREND
"Be inclined" implies a lean or tendency, and "admit designer, finally" suggests taking the final letter of "designer," which is 'r'. "Is in fashion" defines the word TREND, which includes the letter 'r' from "designer."
Footwear worn by Third Secretary is a disgrace
SCANDAL
In cryptic clues, sometimes the components can be phonetically similar or related by meaning. For "SCANDAL," if we consider "scandal" as a homophone, it sounds like "scanned all," hinting at examining everything a "Third Secretary" would do, leading to uncovering something disgraceful.
Abhor money being used to purchase substance that might influence mood, for instance
HORMONE
In "hormone," "hor-" can be linked to "abhor" (indicative of dislike or hate), and "-mone" sounds like "money." The clue plays with the concept of purchasing a substance (hormones affecting mood) using "money."
Stickler for the rules is in place to welcome returning knight
PURIST
A "purist" is indeed a stickler for rules. "Returning knight" suggests a reversal of "N" (knight in chess notation), when reversed, it can be mentally visualized as fitting within the context of "purist" who rigidly follows rules.
Quarrel later, having recalled some pieces being longer
TALLER
"Taller" suggests being longer in physical height. This clue might work with a subtle play on "quarrel later," potentially hinting phonetically at "taller."
Laughing as discontented intern repairs hole?
IN STITCHES
"In stitches" is a phrase meaning laughing uncontrollably. "Discontented intern" could suggest using parts of the word "intern," specifically the first and last letters ("IN"), and "repairs hole" suggests stitching, leading to the phrase "in stitches."
For starters, kid has assorted knitted items in military-looking colour
KHAKI
"KHAKI," a military color. The phrase "for starters" directs you to take the initial letters of the subsequent words: Kid Has Assorted Knitted Items.
First person finds staple food on register - this will show how much it is
PRICE LIST
"Price list" is a list indicating costs. "First person" suggests using "I," "staple food" suggests "rice," and "on register" gives us "list." Combined, they form "I rice list," phonetically sounding like "price list."
Stare at freelance recruits heading north
LEER
"Leer" means to stare in an unpleasant or overtly suggestive way. In this clue, the surface reading may include extra detail for complexity ("freelance recruits heading north") that doesn’t necessarily contribute to solving the clue.
Ruined in brutal public inquiry?
TRIBUNAL
The term "in brutal" can be rearranged to spell "tribunal," which is a formal body designed to conduct hearings and make judgments, often in a public inquiry. Here, "ruined" might suggest the reputations or the situations being dissected and possibly destroyed ("ruined") in such a tribunal.
Delighted to stock electric vehicle they promoted
ELEVATED
"Elevated" means raised or lifted up, often used metaphorically to describe emotions like delight. The clue cleverly embeds "EV" (electric vehicle) within "elated" (meaning delighted or overjoyed). Thus, "to stock electric vehicle they promoted" leads to placing "EV" inside "elated," forming "elevated," which not only describes being promoted but also gives a sense of joy or uplift.
Go to get the original for principal
HEADMASTER
"Go to get the original" suggests seeking the leader or the head, and "for principal" straightforwardly defines the term "headmaster," the principal authority in a school.
Brought up trick used to convert antisocial extremists active at night
NOCTURNAL
"Nocturnal" describes being active at night. "Brought up" indicates a reversal in cryptic clues, and "trick used to convert antisocial extremists" might involve taking the extremes of the word "antisocial" (the letters 'a' and 'l'), suggesting a play with these letters or concepts. However, the straightforward answer connects with the definition of being active at night, as "nocturnal" fits directly.
Republicans, left with the winning cards, will be successful
GO PLACES
"Go places" means to be successful or advance. In cryptic crossword terms, "Republicans" might be abbreviated to "R," and "left with the winning cards" could involve a charade or combination of other elements (though not overtly clear here), forming a phrase that evokes progress or success.
Reveal ad ill-advisedly featuring former Taoiseach
DE VALERA
"De Valera" is the name of a former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland. The phrase "reveal ad ill-advisedly" could suggest an anagram where the letters in "ad" are positioned within a rearrangement or are part of the overall solution hinting at revealing or uncovering his name. The clue might hinge on recognizing the historical figure directly from the wordplay setup.
Aware of sensible use of tomato skin
WISE TO
"Wise to" means being aware of or knowledgeable about something. "Sensible use of tomato skin" might not directly contribute to forming the phrase but serves as a whimsical or indirect reference to peeling back layers (like a skin), analogous to understanding or uncovering truth.
Nervous, observing oddly dogged support for individual
ON EDGE
"On edge" means feeling nervous or anxious. The clue uses "observing oddly," which suggests taking alternate letters from "observing" (O, S, R, I, G), though they do not form "on edge" directly; this might just set the thematic tone. "Dogged support for individual" plays on feelings associated with being persistent (dogged) and perhaps feeling supported yet stressed.
Short blast on first horn made from bone-like structure
TOOTH
"Tooth" is a structure similar to bone. In this clue, "short blast" could phonetically hint at "toot," and "on first horn" suggests the initial sound or part of a horn, which is a "toot." Hence, "tooth" fits both the cryptic reading and the definition.
Slide into desk, ideally
SKID
"Skid" means to slide or slip, often uncontrollably. This clue might suggest the physical action of sliding and includes "desk, ideally" to give a surface reading of casual or everyday language usage.
