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Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
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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 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.
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 entire answer is found by reversing part of the clue, or a synonym for part of the clue. A suitable reversal indicator will be present.
The entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram indicator will be present.
The answer is hidden inside the clue in reverse order. There are two indicators: one to signify that a hidden word is present; the other to reverse the letters.
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.
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 entire answer is found by reversing part of the clue, or a synonym for part of the clue. A suitable reversal 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Hmmmm!
I prefer our Aussie Stickler David .
There were no wry smiles or “aha” moments with this US version. Makes me appreciate your efforts even more . Thank you for providing a weekly challenge that brings such a delightful sense of achievement. Much gratitude to you. Looking forward to next week’s.
I’m with you, Joy. This was quite straightforward compared with recent Sticklers. Enjoyable enough, but I prefer the deep feeling of satisfaction which comes from finishing, say, last week’s – not to mention the wry smiles and “aha” moments.
However, if we were talking golf courses, my position would be the exact opposite. A short, easy course is plenty challenging enough for me – but probably uninteresting for a decent golfer.
My highlights this week:
24a, 7d: nice definitions
6d: of course
I wondered how our US friends would handle 7d and 18d. Well known in Australia, but how do they translate overseas?
I was on your wave length throughout this week – quite unlike last week when I ws off with the fairies.
I note comments about the degree of difficulty in recent weeks. The problem is that what is simple for one is challenging for another, and week by week how we feel aids or detracts from our ability to solve a cryptic clue.
I appreciate that David continues to challenge us to constantly review how we say, or understand our common language, with the aim of providing enough guidance to see most of us to a successful solution of the puzzle.
Likes this week
1a and 1d, 11d, 26a, 4d, 15d
Re 1d: I found the solution but can’t satisfactorily parse “dupe”
I was satisfied to take dupe as a verb – two letter word for “con” or “take in”
Others may have alternate theories, but it satisfied me
It appears in the options for synonyms. I did not check earlier as I was happy with it.
Maybe there were no stunning clues in this grid but at least I got the congrats, I’ve had a shocker with the local puzzle the last few weeks coming up two or three words short every week, so thanks David it was a nice change for me.
Ps Should the word “from” in 2d’s clue be “form”
An enjoyable and satisfying crossword. Thank you David.
Frequently struggle to make an impression by end of Day One,
certainly never complete – but this was
with barely any assistance & NO lose threads.
If I didn’t read the intro, I doubt I’d have noticed any difference from a regular Oz Stickler. About average solve time for me, held up a bit by the unfamiliar 8d.