New Cryptic Era

Hi All,

Last year my wife and I made our debut in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age with the publication of a cryptic and quick on the puzzles page. Our designation is “D&LS”. We  share the fourth and fifth (if there is one) Thursday of the month with another setter, RK, meaning it could be two months between crosswords.

I will endeavour to update this post with our next scheduled crossword once I have publishing confirmation.

 

Best

David & Linda Stickley

Posted in AFR Cryptic, The Stickler | 3 Comments

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 29/6/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (22/6/2024) Worked Solution

(click on the clue number to see the hint)

Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.

Need more hints for these or other clues? Just leave a reply below.




















The answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A word or series of words that signify the loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.

Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.

A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.

A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

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AFR Cryptic (22/6/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PASSAGE
Silver lining used in dated part of book (7) AG inside PASSE
5 GRIPPE
Crook pop singer not affected by son’s influenza (6) Anagram of POP SINGER minus SON
9 CARDS
Vehicle died close to this bridge, for example (5) CAR + D + thi(S)
10 TANTALISE
Lead on bronze is featured in report (9) TAN + (IS inside TALE)
11 LUMINOUS
Obvious swelling reduced a little bit by one with nous (8) LUM(P) + I + NOUS
12 GIFTED
Brilliant condition documented in great edition (6) IF inside GT + ED
14 ELECTIONEERING
Notice greenie not happy about Labor leader’s political campaign (14) Anagram of NOTICE GREENIE outside (L)abor
16 CARPET-SWEEPERS
Cleaners and carers eating Favourites, shed tears (6-8) CARERS outside (PETS + WEEP)
20 SECURE
Find out about dog in the bag (6) SEE outside CUR
22 TEENAGER
Sort of agreement not catering for male adolescent (8) Anagram of AGREEMENT minus M
24 EXPLAINED
Former head of personnel backed rejection and provided clarification (9) EX + (P)ersonnel + DENIAL reversed
25 IGLOO
Man leaving Mongolia strangely bound for White House? (5) Anagram of MONGOLIA minus MAN
26 GASKET
It helps seal request listed in contract (6) ASK inside GET
27 DESTROY
Get rid of contaminated oyster after outbreak of disease (7) Anagram of OYSTER after (D)isease
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PICKLE
Fix tool left 12 inches short (6) PICK + LEFT minus FT
2 SCRAMBLER
Off-road motorcycle, as such, oddly used by drifter (9) (S)u(C) + RAMBLER
3 ARSENIC
Crane is sprayed with a toxic element (7) Anagram of CRANE IS
4 ENTHUSIASM
The man is mistaken about American relish (10) Anagram of THE MAN IS outside US
5 GANG
Part of song angered close-knit group (4) sonG ANGered
6 IMAGINE
Picture that is on cover of publication currently popular (7) IE outside (MAG + IN)
7 PAINT
Describe one wearing short trousers (5) I inside PANT(s)
8 SEA DOG
Pirate goes wildly around carrying a dissenter’s head (3,3) Anagram of GOES outside [A + (D)issenter]
13 UNDEFENDED
Euros invested in dodgy fund finished exposed (10) E inside anagram of FUND + ENDED
15 IRREGULAR
Unusual German gun turned up in possession of IRA, right? (9) LUGER reversed inside (IRA + R)
16 CASTER
Time put into lawsuit by river fisherman, for example (6) T inside CASE + R
17 EARMARK
Tag mare knocked around by animal transporter (7) Anagram of MARE + ARK
18 PANTIES
Underwear and neckwear shipped in containers (7) TIE inside PANS
19 BROODY
Heartless boy holding crucifix is introspective? (6) B(o)Y outside ROOD
21 CUPPA
Drink finished by executive’s offsider after start of course (5) (UP + PA) after (C)ourse
23 KNOT
Boss’s number replacing one in kit (4) (NO for I) inside KIT

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 22/6/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (15/6/2024) Worked Solution

(click on the clue number to see the hint)

Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.

Need more hints for these or other clues? Just leave a reply below.

















The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A word or phrase that defines the answer. All cryptic clues usually have a minimum of one definition which will be located at the beginning or end of the clue.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

All words can be validly written with a leading capital without changing their meaning. Hence, the capitalisation of a word may present a different picture than is intended.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A word or series of words that signify the loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.

Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
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AFR Cryptic (15/6/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SPRUCE
Well-dressed timber (6) Double Definition
4 RANSOMED
Some in South African capital may be set free (8) SOME inside RAND
9 CHAIRED
Looked after meeting’s tea and wine (7) CHAI + RED
11 QUARREL
Scrap arrow with a four-edged head (7) Double Definition
12 NATIONALISTIC
Loyal Italian son affected by medical condition (13) Anagram of ITALIAN SON + TIC
14 BUDGIE
Bird that is following insect around, died (6) IE after (BUG outside D)
15 GET THERE
Go places, for example, coming back with T2 present (3,5) EG reversed + TT + HERE
18 SECRETLY
Three members of crew, in style, worked behind closed doors (8) (CRE)w inside anagram of STYLE
20 VALUED
Broadcast of vaudeville, not bad, should be respected (6) Anagram of VAUDEVILLE minus EVIL
23 ELECTRIC KNIFE
Feel nice, strangely, carrying trick device used for cutting (8,5) ANagram of FEEL NICE outside TRICK
26 EURASIA
Continental land mass, close to Honolulu in area, is unsettled (7) honolul(U) inside anagram of AREA IS
27 STUDIES
Examines structural support that is close to buildings (7) STUD + IE + building(S)
28 MORAY EEL
Swimmer’s eye damaged in lesson (5,3) Anagram of EYE inside MORAL
29 STORMY
Passionate maiden featured in news item (6) M inside STORY
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SECOND BASE
Part of a diamond company listed in dispatch of inferior quality (6,4) CO inside SEND + BASE
2 REACTED
Young bucks, say, picked up outside a court, delivered a response (7) DEER reversed outside (A + CT)
3 CARBONISE
Coke is concealed in car body part (9) IS inside (CAR + BONE)
5 ACQUIRED
Bought a number of sheets used in music collection (8) A + (QUIRE inside CD)
6 START
Introduce principal (head of teaching) (5) STAR + (T)eaching
7 MIRACLE
Vehicle reversed in a long way – an astonishing feat (7) CAR reversed inside MILE
8 DELI
Shop is particularly deficient in delivery (4) DELIVERY minus VERY
10 DRAB
Lacklustre poet making a comeback (4) BARD reversed
13 NEEDLESSLY
Injections done with artful dexterity without any point (10) NEEDLES + SLY
16 TRACKSUIT
Clothing racks should be carried by trade union with it (9) RACK inside (TU + IT)
17 FLATMATE
Sharing friend left a source of money in divine will (8) (L + ATM) inside FATE
19 CLEARER
Translation of Le Carre should be easier to understand (7) Anagram of LE CARRE
21 UNIFIER
Binder found in blaze at university, it’s said (7) Sounds like UNI FIRE
22 FIRS
Trees pruned before all others (4) FIRS(t)
24 ESSAY
Central part of thesis, for example? (5) th(ES)is + SAY
25 GERM
European releasing an undesirable micro-organism (4) GERMAN minus AN

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 15/6/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (8/6/2024) Worked Solution

(click on the clue number to see the hint)

Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.

Need more hints for these or other clues? Just leave a reply below.






















The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
The clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.

Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
The answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
The entire answer is the result of removing the first or last letter from part of the clue or its synonym. A truncation indicator will be present.
A type of clue where the WHOLE clue defines the answer, and the WHOLE clue also is the wordplay (a mechanism to derive the answer through various cryptic devices). "&lit" is short for "and literally".

To qualify as an &lit, a clue must have no unused components either in the definition or the wordplay - it must be readable one way as a definition, and another as the wordplay.

The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
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AFR Cryptic (8/6/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SCHEMES
Men, before finishing in chess, developed strategies (7) (ME)n inside anagram of CHESS
5 PREAMP
Piano salesperson moved around AM stereo equipment (6) P + REP outside AM
9 A-FLAT
Group of football players engaged in musical production (1-4) AFL + AT
10 CRESCENDO
Finish in soccer rematch is a high point? (9) END insider anagram of SOCCER
11 ESCORTED
Guided business established in redeveloped desert (8) CO inside anagram of DESERT
12 BLOATS
Craft handling large swells (6) BOATS outside L
13 PIPE
Spot butt from cigarette smoker (4) PIP + cigarett(E)
14 INCEPTION
Awkward one on about carbon’s rise (9) (INEPT + I + ON) outside C
17 ABERRANCE
Deviation can be rare in disorder (9) Anagram of CAN BE RARE
18 SCAR
Mark is writing inside Christmas cards (4) christmaS CARds
20 TOP HAT
Surgery conducted in that head gear considered first-class (3,3) OP inside THAT
21 GROUPING
Alcohol banking up in class (8) GROG outside (UP + IN)
24 COLLISION
Company is hostile about active opposition (9) CO + [(IS + ILL) reversed] + ON
25 GREEN
Reduction of energy excited environmentalist (5) Anagram of (ENERG)y
26 STATIC
Steady activist not supporting one against changing (6) Anagram of ACTIVIST minus (I + V)
27 SADNESS
“The Blues Brothers”, at the end, damaged sedans (7) brother(S) + anagram of SEDANS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SHAKE
Small fish flourish (5) S + HAKE
2 HELICOPTER PILOT
Rich IT people distributed group’s flyer (10,5) Anagram of RICH IT PEOPLE + LOT
3 MATURE
Experienced amateur, missing start, messed up (6) Anagram of (a)MATEUR
4 SECRETION
Discharge core of bureau in region (9) bu(RE)au inside SECTION
5 PEEL
Remove skin from head of poached fish (4) (P)oached + EEL
6 EUCALYPT
Worried acutely about prominent branch of pine tree (8) Anagram of ACUTELY outside (P)ine
7 MANDARIN CHINESE
Fellow, insincere, had translated language (8,7) MAN + anagram of INSINCERE + HAD
8 LOOSENER
Laxative seen tossed in toilet, right? (8) Anagram of SEEN inside (LOO + R)
13 PLASTICS
Synthetic materials remain fresh in pictures (8) LAST inside PICS
15 CLEARINGS
Pockets of vacant land are not normally enclosed by sticks (9) Anagram of ARE inside CLINGS
16 ORGANIST
Love arrangement of a string instrument player (8) O + anagram of A STRING
19 BULGED
Leg broken in shoot showed signs of swelling (6) Anagram of LEG inside BUD
22 GANGS
Head of government in difficulty upset criminal groups (5) (G)overnment inside (SNAG reversed)
23 ZINC
Sample of quartz in compound is a trace element (4) quartZ IN Compound

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 8/6/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (1/6/2024) Worked Solution

(click on the clue number to see the hint)

Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.

Need more hints for these or other clues? Just leave a reply below.




















Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.

Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.

A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) on the INSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: held by, kept by, embraced by - anything that creates the image of being contained.

A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.

A word or series of words that signify the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.

The answer is a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation indicator will be present.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

All words can be validly written with a leading capital without changing their meaning. Hence, the capitalisation of a word may present a different picture than is intended.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
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AFR Cryptic (1/6/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 WELL-KEPT
Clean, healthy pet, wrongly injected with potassium (4-4) WELL + anagram of PET outside K
5 STOCKS
Handle small investments (6) STOCK + S
10 NONE TOO
Group of nine rings? Hardly! (4,3) NONET + OO
11 OPEN-AIR
Outdoor operation by leader of Egypt unsettled Iran (4-3) OP + (E)gypt + anagram of IRAN
12 FORCEMEAT
The writer getting stuck into crate of cooked stuffing (9) ME inside anagram of CRATE OF
13 TALON
The stock varied in total with it left out (5) Anagram of IN TOTAL minus IT
14 RUSE
Right to take advantage of deception (4) R + USE
16 FLAGRANT
Outrageous member of the family moved into apartment (8) GRAN inside FLAT
19 DATABASE
A tax form lodged in time for computer store (8) (A + BAS) inside DATE
20 FETE
Selection of buffet, especially, is fair (4) bufFET Especially
23 AMEND
Change people starring in commercial (5) MEN insidde AD
24 TAILPLANE
Temperature linked to trouble with moulded panel’s horizontal stabiliser (9) T + AIL + anagram of PANEL
26 PROVISO
Excellent golfer against one, as stated, with qualification (7) PRO + V + I + SO
27 AIRPORT
It may be used by traveller or taken during a trip abroad (7) OR inside anagram of A TRIP
28 DINNER
Starter of duck served before private function (6) (D)uck + INNER
29 AS IT WERE
One wearing knitted sweater, so to speak (2,2,4) I inside anagram of SWEATER
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 WIND FARM
Twist arm behind the back of chief energy producer (4,4) WIND + F + ARM
2 LONER
Maverick individual right behind leader of Liberals (5) (ONE + R) after (L)iberals
3 KITTEN
Gear to catch retreating young animal (6) KIT + (NET reversed)
4 PROPER FRACTION
Football player, for certain, distracted half, say (6,8) PROP + anagram of FOR CERTAIN
6 TWEETERS
Cute, compact, cut-down speakers (8) TWEE + TERS(e)
7 CHALLENGE
Church warden at last brought in to maintain protest (9) CH + [warde(N) inside ALLEGE]
8 SARONG
Signora re-dressed, discarding one loose skirt (6) Anagram of SIGNORA minus I
9 NORTH AMERICANS
NRA: “Crime has not troubled people with the right to bear arms” (5,9) Anagram of NRA CRIME HAS NOT
15 SCALE DOWN
Shrink, like fish have (5,4) SCALED + OWN
17 HARD LINE
One restrained by handler changed an unyielding attitude (4,4) I inside anagram of HANDLER
18 PERENTIE
Monitor gym that is ending lease (8) PE + (IE after RENT)
21 WARPED
Deformed extremities of people kept in hospital section (6) (P)eopl(E) inside WARD
22 SPIRIT
Model charged with current reversed vital force (6) SIT outside (RIP reversed)
25 AWOKE
Contents of pan and wok, with last bit of spice, should be stirred? (5) p(A)n + WOK + spic(E)

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 1/6/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (25/5/2024) Worked Solution

(click on the clue number to see the hint)

Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.

Need more hints for these or other clues? Just leave a reply below.





















The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.

A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.

A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.

The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

The entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram indicator will be present.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) on the INSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: held by, kept by, embraced by - anything that creates the image of being contained.

A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.

Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.

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AFR Cryptic (25/5/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 FORMAT
Arrangement beneficial to friend isn’t quite complete (6) FOR + (MAT)e
5 PICK
Player of strings is a ground-breaker (4) Double Definition
9 OUTED
Versatile vehicle used in middle of flooding may be exposed (5) UTE inside flo(OD)ing
10 CATARACTS
Vehicle turns around at waterfalls (9) (CAR + ACTS) outside AT
13 TREATED
Extremes of temperature in walk must be managed (7) (T)emperatur(E) inside TREAD
14 SYRINGA
Mock orange, say, replanted around enclosure (7) Anagram of SAY outside RING
15 MITE
A very small person in power given voice (4) Sounds like MIGHT
16 IMMOBILISE
Freeze one ruptured embolism injected with iodine (10) I + anagram of EMBOLISM outside I
19 HEAVY-LADEN
Burdened lady transformed in heaven (5-5) Anagram of LADY inside HEAVEN
20 PEAT
Vegetable matter is soft to chew (4) P + EAT
23 AMASSED
Racked up 500 following a difficult billiards shot (7) D after (A + MASSE)
25 SAUSAGE
Practice required after saw reduced butcher’s output (7) USAGE after SA(w)
26 DETERMINE
Discover explosive at end of check (9) MINE after DETER
28 MOLAR
Damage on outside of old, decayed tooth? (5) MAR outside OL(d)
29 EARS
Auditors are replaced by computers finally (4) Anagram of ARE + computer(S)
30 LOSING
Shutting down clubs not making money (6) CLOSING minus C
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 ODDITY
They’d do it all wrong without input from the misfit (6) Anagram of THEYD DO IT minus THE
3 MACADAMIA
Nut married the first man imprisoned by a US spy network (9) M + [ADAM inside (A + CIA)]
4 TITUS
Religious book titles – used – both 50% off (5) TIT(les) + US(ed)
5 PORTRAIT
Photograph train nearly inside transit terminal (8) TRAI(n) inside PORT
6 KIT
Common types of skirt and kilt in outfit (3) The letters shared by SKIRT and KILT
7 BOTTOM
Foundation is time and time again featured in expansion (6) (T + T) inside BOOM
8 STREETS APART
Repeats broadcast in institute may be very different (7,5) Anagram of REPEATS inside START
11 CONSIDERABLE
Large line drawn around area where batters may score runs (12) CABLE outside (ONSIDE + R)
12 STALE
Ending of this story is lacking originality (5) thi(S) + TALE
17 OVERSEERS
Supervisors love writing about clerks at the centre (9) O + [VERSES outside cl(ER)ks]
18 EYESORES
Climbing types of Japanese rose, yellowing, may be ugly looking things (8) japanesE ROSE YEllowing reversed
19 HEARD
Picked up drug inside complex (5) E inside HARD
21 THEORY
Speculation male outlined initially in essay (6) [HE + (O)utlined] inside TRY
22 SUMMON
Call child occupied by distracted mum (6) SON outside anagram of MUM
24 DRILL
Instruction tool that gets a bit used (5) Double Definition
27 EWE
Sheep and stock farmed in New England (3) nEW England

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