(click on the clue number to see the hint)
Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
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This is a substituion clue. “on for low” needs to be applied in a word for “guys”
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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.
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 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.
A type of clue where the WHOLE clue defines the answer, and the WHOLE clue also is the wordplay (a mechanism to derive the answer through various cryptic devices). "&lit" is short for "and literally".
To qualify as an &lit, a clue must have no unused components either in the definition or the wordplay - it must be readable one way as a definition, and another as the wordplay.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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 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.
One reason, of course, why some solvers may be slipping behind as David has mentioned, could be that, as in my opinion, the difficulty level has increased considerably over the last month or two. Today’s was no exception and I needed the hints for 22a, 25a – both of which hovered around the outer edges of my usual understanding of their definitions – as I have come to expect in a Stickler – as did 5a. ‘Ahas’ for 10a and 13a and a big grin for 24a. Now, should I post this now to get the ball rolling, as it were, or wait until a reasonable time has elapsed for other comments to be forthcoming? well, if only to reassure Arthur……. 🙂
Patrick, I am struggling with 5a, 22a & 25a too, hence my visit here.
Agree with your light bulb moments too, specially 24a.
Hi Richard,
5a – an ancient ‘authority’ I presume… I would suggest following the rest of clue word by word (with hint above).
22a – likewise but four parts, two reversed in the middle. Only one final word for the definition!
25a – again, step by step, floor covering, one born ‘as’, with surprise definition – derived from French morning time, I believe…
Hope that’s enough to get on with.
Patrick I like the way you phrased these responses. They provide pointers but leave room for Richard to exercise his thought processes.
Yes, Thanks Guys
I was there later in that day but needed that nudge from Clue Hints. Had I waited Patrick, your suggestions would probably have carried the day.
I finished it today without too much trouble but hesitated from commenting as it has been mentioned that it might put off a few people. Lots of good clues there.
There will always be varying levels of expertise in a Group such as this Christine.
I’ll go out on a limb –
better to have those ahead of the Pack commenting, but thoughtfully as you have above & thereby making themselves available to assist others,
rather than to have No (or Fewer) Comments.
I struggled last week, and ended up pattern-matching to fill in a couple of answers, whereas I completed this one without the need for any aids. That’s probably a function of my state as much as the puzzle. I can’t say that I’ve noticed The Stickler getting harder, though I do find some weeks’ puzzles harder than others. Managing overall difficulty can be a challenging job because every solution is obvious to the setter. I think David does an admirable job.
Good morning all. Time for a cup of tea a Bex and a good lie down, after a challenging puzzle.
Again I marvel at the craftiness displayed by David as he provides new ways of looking at familiar words.
22a and 2d I enjoyed the complexity and clever phrasing.
16d I as lost on the parsing until the penny dropped while I was completing the on line version. Then I found the clue hint above which confirmed.
14a I had to dredge my memory for this meaning of the contents of the container.
11a A hearty laugh when I realised what the the duke was.
2a Richard I think you would have enjoyed this one.
2a should have been 2d
Yes Arthur, all on my List, as were Patrick’s Nominations above & along with
12a – last in, real light globe moment here, overview of US baseball helped
17a – knew what it was but parsing it was a whole new “ball game”!!!
1d – overlooked the watery solution at first
7d – for the same reason as 2d Arthur,
can never be getting enough of those Alphabet Soups!!!
Now – only Three more sleeps………..
17a I thougt it should be the whiskers rather than this part of the animal’s anatomy, because I was looking at “very well”. I have only just brought my legal mind to bear to work out the parsing and confirm the definition/solution.
Confession time. I was puzzled over this parsing, but put it aside and forgot to check back until today.
Really sad about diminished level of Responders here.
Missing the Community.
Me too. I was curious about how long you have contributed to the blog, so I ducked into the history of a number of crosswords, and sure enough there was a comment from you. Right back to 2013 when David started this weekly series. I I also found a few other familiar names going back several years. I am relatively a johnny come lately to the blog but I enjoy the interaction, and have had many learning points form the contributions.
Arthur I first discovered David with “The Boxer” in the Courier Mail probably 10+ years ago, my Intro ro the Magic of Crypticland. When that went down the drain, managed to track him down or maybe he was able to generate some publicity, either way I’ve run with it from there at the Get-Go. Always loved his Puzzles, their accessibility & the learning process attached thereto. I have an extensive Log of e-mails from those early days.
Ever since I’ve done as much as I can to support him & spread the message, Regrettably not None of my limited Network has become a devotee.
I love these Exchanges & really hope they can return to their former greatness,
Although in the other direction, I have made a very good, caring & thoughtful Facebook Friend via a Friend Request – & she will know who she is…
read “Regrettably not One” above
It was well worth a brief visit to early Stickler days, Arthur to see how the Clue Hints Comments have developed & built over the years. Way back then, often there were None & it took me a while to get the drift – that it could be a worthwhile way for All to share their thought, Ideas & (occasional) frustrations, but above all to learn by sharing & comparing. Many names from those early days no longer appear which is pity. But then circumstances do alter, in many different ways..