(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.
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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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 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 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.
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 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 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.
Hmmmm! Thought I’d finished but no congratulations.
I’m confident with my cross clue letters for 1a but unsure if my parsing is correct.
22a I feel the answer is right, as it parses the cluing , except the initial letter.
I’ll have to keep looking.
Got the congrats but not comfortable with 22a. Is the hint correct?
Of course, the hint is correct. You may need a change of bed clothes.
Aha! Congratulations at last!
Can’t believe I didn’t see 1a straight away. Need more coffee!
Thanks David for another amazing puzzle with way too many brilliant clues. You never fail to impress. Loved it.
No congrats for me, despite having a full grid. I can’t work out what’s going on with 15a, I assume the definition is the last word of the clue.
Never mind, got it now. Whew.
Thanks Llyod, you have the same problem with 22a that I had and I hadn’t seen the clue hint!
Greg, you’re on the wrong track. ” giving up” is a truncation indicator.
Hope this helps.
Mmmm. Still no congrats despite having tried a range of options. I think 1a and 15a are the problems despite the help of you kind people. Any further assistance is welcome.
thanks Cathy
In both clues, the definition is the first word. Is that enough?
… and if not, both involve subtractions.
Another masterful puzzle. Much lateral thinking required for slightly left or right of centre meanings makes me wonder if our (albeit favourite) setter is perhaps a Cancerian!
Having just now checked it, I am also mystified by the clue hint for 22a.
22a – I do have, missing a few others tho.
Try “Bright start” + “day turned wet”
Hadn’t checked the Clue Hint, very clever.
Leaves first word stand alone as definition.
Yes Richard. Still don’t really see where the d for day comes in – D for Dunce, perhaps?
What about if your read “turned” as “reflected” and apply it to “start of day”?
Thanks Steve, well it took a bit of seeing, but that does work – for a lowercase d of course. Very clever, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen this trick before. Thumbs up, David!
KERLUNK (The sound of my penny dropping) Yet another amazing clue from David!
Thanks so much Steve and Patrick. With your hints and a fresh look, they became clear very quickly. I can relax now, at least until the Saturday AFR anyway.
I am well and truly trailing the field in posting.
Very happy with outcome this week. Paid a visit to Merriam Webster for the definition of 20a, which is a new word for me. I puzzled over start of day turned, but the clue hint solved the issue.
Some choices
1a 11a and 12a. Very clever demonstration of the art of clueing.
25a that’s a YES from me.
31a “parents”
9d Last in due to problems with 20a. Yet the clue is so well constructed. I misled myself overthinking.
18d This was a bit of a struggle until I realised that I had overlooked one letter which made all the difference.
13a I puzzled over the parsing, until I took the clue word by word.
Once again thanks to the maestro
Last week I mused on the small number of posts in the blog. thought everybody must have earned first class badges in solving.
Yes, all those Arthur – however
12a – so easy, but totally baffled as to why, needs greater reflection
22a – Much discussed – brilliant & even more so after checking Clue Hint
30a – after I uncoupled myself from ‘ideologue”
14d & 17d – Of Course…..
Yet another great work-out David & seems your Bag of Tricks is far from exhausted.
OH & 9d – another Gem, once I got hold of the correct “agent”
12a. How many letters in the answer to 3d. Then re-solve. Brilliant
Of Course, Arthur. Brilliant bag of Tricks here – indeed.
Would not have understood without a prompt tho.
Many Thanks…….