The Stickler Weekly 224 Clue Hints

(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.



5-across

9-across

11-across

13-across



19-across


22-across

25-across


1-down

5-down


7-down

8-down

12-down

14-down

16-down



23-down


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.
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.

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 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.
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.
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 answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.

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 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 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 a mixing-up of letters.

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

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.
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.

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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29 Responses to The Stickler Weekly 224 Clue Hints

  1. Michael Kaiser says:

    Stuck on 6d…can’t figure out what is being asked for.

  2. Patrick Lewis says:

    6d – aha! It’s there in the wordplay, but a comma would have made it easier!

  3. Richard Sternes says:

    6d & many others.
    Hopefully this visit to Clue Hints may demolish some road blocks.
    Barely half done.

    • Richard Sternes says:

      But what’s the Rush? Search extending over multiple days – All Good.

      • Arthur Maynard says:

        Well I am totally stuck on 6d. I’ve mentally put a comma after alost every word int he clue, but nothing gells. Since it is a subtraction clue, the definition must be at the stat, so is it one word or two? Is the subtraction one letter of a longer one?
        I’ll give it best for now, and get onto the things my wife believes are more important.

        • Arthur Maynard says:

          boy there are a lot of spelling errors above. Memo to self. Must give my computer lessons or introduce a spellcheck.

          • Arthur Maynard says:

            Don’t you just hate it when they do that! A friend arrived ( a fellow solver) and I told her about the difficulty I had with 6d. She said “Yes that’s a real “. ….” So I said “yes it is.” and took time off to finish the puzzle”.

  4. Steve Clarke says:

    What a great crossword this week David, so much deception, it really makes you think. Many well crafted clues, the favourites list is long but here goes. 11a, 21a, 22a, 25a, 27a, 1d, 6d, 8d, 12d, 14d and 16d. Thank you and well done.

  5. Arthur Maynard says:

    After all that, I endorse Steve’s choices, with 6d as the top. Add 9a with all its temptations to take the wrong route, and 13a for its use of language to achieve a great result.

  6. Wendy Simpson says:

    Only part way through but 6d is gold star atm.

  7. Richard Sternes says:

    Still wrestling with 6d, sifting thru above Comments.
    Meanwhile difficult to go past combo of 1a & 1d as Picks of the Week.
    Loved 9a, 25a & 12d for my usual Alphabet Soup reasons.
    15a all clear, but specific “Subtraction” Indicator is…?
    5d unusual take on “Fan” & 14d wasted much time on a more modern form of roofing.
    Endorse ALL Steve’s selections, but needed to stop somewhere
    with yet another wealth of challenges. Thanks David.

    • Arthur Maynard says:

      15a “leader not committed” on “extra” “responsibility”
      25a Immediately thought how much you would enjoy this one.
      6d I should have known this quickly as I used to take my wife fishing at least once a week.

      • Richard Sternes says:

        Likewise Arthur, my Dad was an avid fisherman. Used to go with him when I was a boy & fish were still in West Qld rivers. He never took any more than required. …..But I still needed Solver of Last Resort.

  8. Greg Mansell says:

    As always, good fun.
    11a: I have to mention this one in honour of my brother-in-law the anaesthetist.
    22a: I particularly enjoyed the second definition.
    8d: My favourite. I don’t think I’ve seen a subtraction-within-a-subtraction before.
    12d: Nice definition.

    • Richard Sternes says:

      Agree Greg
      I too thought All The Above were superb examples of the Setter’s Art.

  9. Andrew Gibson says:

    After reading all of the above I still have not got a clue what 6 is all about. Otherwise all is completed.

    • Steve Clarke says:

      Andrew,
      It’s a 7 letter word meaning a difficult problem minus a letter (short for ‘time’) and as Arthur mentions, the answer is to do with the equipment used for fishing.

  10. Andrew Gibson says:

    Finally got it – and your help was very much needed, but what a ripper of a clue!

    • Arthur Maynard says:

      And the people all say “Amen.” As you found, it had most of us going.