The Stickler Weekly 194 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.


1-across


10-across

11-across

16-across



24-across

29-across

2-down




8-down

9-down


15-down

17-down

19-down

23-down


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.

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 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 hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.

Examples: part of, associated with, types of.

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 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 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.
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 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.

This entry was posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

27 Responses to The Stickler Weekly 194 Clue Hints

  1. Christine Hulley says:

    Pleased with myself, finished the crossword and it’s still Tuesday in WA (for 45 minutes or so). Less taxing than last week and no new words. 🙂

    • Arthur Maynard says:

      You deserve a medal for early completion, or alternatively we could contribute to sleeping pills to solve your insomnia. I have just entered my first word as I have been busy since reveille. One good thing about daylight saving in the underworld, I will be able to get a head start after the end of September

      • Richard Sternes says:

        Yet another very good reason not to have this pestilence thrust upon us Arthur, specially after Last summer & with what is coming – This. …..Yeah! Verily! even unto the Hills (here). Prospect of Bedroom aircon does not rest well. Lived in Sydney 29yrs – know about these things.

    • Richard Sternes says:

      Not even the ram Christine – 23d?

  2. Christine Hulley says:

    Oops maybe that comment should be edited. ?

  3. Steve C says:

    A tiny bit easier on us this week David, I managed to complete without looking at the clue hints (except for 18a), maybe I’m just getting the hang of how your brain works. Favourites this week are 9d, 13d and 29a ?

  4. Richard Sternes says:

    All of the Above. So it’s not just me.
    Now what to do for the rest of week – only seven more sleeps!!!
    “How So” on 8d & particularly 9d – need more thought.
    Picks of the Week also need some thought………

  5. Wendy Simpson says:

    My pick is 18a for this week, apart from new word at 23d.

    • Richard Sternes says:

      Yes – 8d Wendy.
      Think I’m clear on “axis” just unsure where “sent up” begins & ends.
      Seems to apply both directions – to Left & to Right.
      Still Clueless on 9d.

      • Richard Sternes says:

        8d – Got It.
        Just did not look far enough in trusty old Concise Oxford.
        Four legs involved……..

  6. Richard Sternes says:

    Picks of the Week
    6a (but still unclear about plural form of this), always Alphabet Soups – 10a & 27a,
    11a (last in), 18a (tho spent much time tripping over “y”),
    2d, – 8d & 9d (still pondering), 13d & 17d. I’m awarding a Team Gold this week……

    • Wendy Simpson says:

      9d, (not put forward) is reversal of a word for put forward, comes before the y. Remaining letters form a word meaning odd.

      • Richard Sternes says:

        Thanks Wendy
        May be on your wavelength, but then again, may be not.
        I have a random bullet = “odd”
        containing a reverse understand equivalent = “put forward”
        Can live with that.

  7. Arthur Maynard says:

    Finally reached the end and got the success message. Now to comment.
    Richard 9d if you are not yet with it. The 3 letter word is one we use when we come down with a disease – commonly the flu.
    6a My research indicates that the 4 letter word is used when you use multiple services whereas it should end in es if it relates to the communication. Either way it could be acceptable in the clue context as the definition could be the services, or the communications. Either way I feel the answer is a bit like ABN Number (I worked in ATO for a couple of years). That is Australian Business Number Number. The 3 letter word is the service not the message, but the population prefers to say 3 words when 1 would do the job.
    I thoroughly enjoyed the alphabet soups, but they fell into place very early with the definition and the fodder.
    8d sent me into google for the new word for this thing with 4 legs.
    My picks are 8d, 9d, 29a, 24a, and 16a
    Must say I agree with the early finishers. The puzzle sat on my desk in the “to do” pile for some time, but did not take long once I put pen to paper.
    A very enjoyable puzzle, with a number of twists. I normally give Stickler to my advanced group, but this one would not be beyond my novice group. It is very hard to find reliable puzzles for a group of solvers who are not ready to tackle what they see as hard ones.

    • Richard Sternes says:

      Thank you also Arthur
      9d – I am now much more confident of my response to Wendy (above)
      6a – yes I was half expecting “es” – but have no problems with it – as is.
      (But we won’t go to ATM Machines!!! ATMS is a quite acceptable plural)
      Glad you enjoyed the Journey. Liked all your Picks too.
      A faster run was refreshing but no less rewarding.

      • Arthur Maynard says:

        Only problem now I will have to check out the Guardian. I like Rufus. He is not as challenging as some, so I get a sense of satisfaction rather than frustration.

      • Richard Sternes says:

        OH Boy! In the Fullness of Time – Arthur & Wendy.
        Takes me a while to get up to speed sometimes.
        NOW I finally understand “contract”

        • Richard Sternes says:

          Fairly sure it was “Rufus” I used to enjoy in the Courier Mail Saturday cycle Arthur, with reasonable success. Way back then all the others were way beyond me. My intro to “The Boxer” also occurred at this time. We go back quite a way….

          • Richard Sternes says:

            Haven’t wasted One Cent on The Courier since they dropped David.

          • Arthur Maynard says:

            We also had Southern Cross in the Courier before Boxer. I started with that remarkable lady many years ago. She had many write ups in newspapers as the epitome of setters in Queensland. I believe she has since died, but she will remain part of my cryptic history.

          • Richard Sternes says:

            Wasted much time on “contract” = reduce…
            Came to Cryptics about the same time as Southern Cross moved on Arthur. David will know about this.

  8. Greg Mansell says:

    Regarding 6ac – one of the Macquarie’s definitions is a message sent via the eponymous service – so I’m happy to pluralise it by adding a lower case “s” (no apostrophe, thanks).
    My favourite was 25dn, with an honourable mention going to 4dn.
    Overall, I agree with those who said that this week was relatively agony-free.

    • Arthur Maynard says:

      I agree there is no apostrophe. I am comfortable with the spelling in terms of the puzzle, as I can justify it in my own mind. There at so many terms in the mass communications world which I just do not need to catch up with.