(click on the clue number to see the hint)
Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
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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.
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 using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Stuck 0n 21d. Is it looking for some kind of religious title?
Thanks David. Another great one this week. 14a , 18a, and 19d were clever but my favourites were 26a and 21 down. Brilliant!!!
Mike, 21d is a religious title using reversals. Hope this helps.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, and especially loved “flour originally” and leaning to the right”.
Just in passing:-
Is there now any hope of stopping this ingrained, incorrect usage of “decimated”
Even our National Broadcasters have succumbed. ………..Grrrrr.
No, Auntie seems to think “decimated” = “devastated”.
Was going well until grinding to halt with 9d & 13a I the NE and 21d & 26a in the SW. finally used solver for 9d but felt justified in that I’d never have got that one… and 13a, though with a bit more patience it might have yielded. Did manage 21d thanks to Joy and wordplay but would query ‘religious leader’ as it is a name denoting God. Umm… ?Finally got 26a, which, like so many clues today was a matter of expecting the unexpected. Thanks again David.
OK into Day Three, let’s crack this Nut
10a – is the “thresher” one with a taste for board riders?
29a – “royalty” thinking money, but it’s not happening
7d – seems to be a “t” missing after a substitution
9d – no idea, presume it start with “c”
16d – no idea, At All
25d – ditto
10a – yes
29a – not financial, it’s personal
7d – I agree
9d – does not start with “c”
7-down: Thanks Richard. Easily fixed.
G’day Richard.
10a – yes
29a – quite straightforward, think stain.
7d – I agree… maybe others can enlighten us?
9d – nope, only the man is in court. It’s an ‘unminted’ connection to the stuff you handled as a banker!
16d – trendy couple take a walk in the …. ?
25d – apparently it’s a brand name for equipment hopefully less explosive than its namesake!
PS. Re. 21d – at the risk of stirring controversy, this is the very name (in the original language) that the 3rd commandment tells us should not be taken in vain. Some might wonder therefore whether that includes ‘in a crossword vein’! Just sayin’ as the saying goes.
7d.I just found the update. Thanks David – I still read the second t in the clue.
21d This is one of the names that were used for this diety. If memory serves me correctly Genesis lists at least 3 options given by the believers for their God. IMO the crossword world spans many religions as well as unbelievers. Buddha and Mohamed are acceptable as religious leaders so I don’t see an issue with this one.
7d is similar to 20a in puzzle 258. Place inverted commas in two places this time.
Many Thanks for your various contributions guys. That’s done it.
No wonder I was stumbling.
Quite an array of David’s masterly tricks just in this small batch of Six.
A great workout with many hidden treasures and tests for my use of the English language and general knowledge.
26a is my favourite this week. The solution is entirely unexpected, and the word play is elegant. Without the clue hint for flour originally I would be still puzzling.
3d Great reference to corporation.
15a simple but effective.
28a great indicator.
Loved all those Arthur. Then there was
12a – too cute
14a & 18a – for ALL the usual reasons
1d – once I got past “former” = “ex”
17d – pretty cute too.
Agree – Special Mention for 26a
Hope you’ve been able to make Peace with 7d.!!!
12a brings a smile each time I look at the puzzle.
As usual I enjoyed the alphabet soups
7d was one of my first in – but I missed the fact that it needed the second t. I discovered the error of my ways when I saw the note about the change to the wording of the clue.
I lost The Plot a little too Arthur saying “well into Day Three” when it was in fact it was only Day Two. Maybe not so sharp as when I used to get paid to be!!! “Must Do Better” …No Loose Threads this week either. Always an added sense of accomplishment.