Wednesday Slot in The SMH/Age (D&LS)

Hi All,

Last year my wife and I made our debut in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age with the publication of a cryptic and quick on the puzzles page in the NS slot.

We now have a permanent slot on a Wednesday replacing DP, who had faithfully contributed every week since 1992. We have a different style but will endeavour to keep DP fans happy and establish our own place at the same time.

Our designation is “D&LS”.

David & Linda Stickley

Posted in AFR Cryptic, The Stickler | 3 Comments

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 12/9/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (5/9/2026) Worked Solution

(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.














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 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, then the entire result is reversed. The type of container clue involved is determined by an appropriate containment 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 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 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.

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 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 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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (5/9/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 FAST BOWLER
One who’s quick to stay away from food left in a shady enclosure (4,6) FAST + (L inside BOWER)
6 ACTS
Cancel announced routines (4) Sounds like AXE
10 SMILE ON
Show favour to son travelling across a great distance (5,2) SON outside MILE
11 TWIRLER
Drunken writer found in possession of large revolver (7) Anagram of WRITER outside L
12 FIRESTORM
Breather operated initially in strong blaze (9) [REST + (O)perated] insoide FIRM
13 CLEAN
Pure energy harnessed by family group (5) E inside CLAN
14 REPORT
Work for a newspaper on computer interface (6) RE + PORT
16 STRINGY
Tough band gathered in part of farm (7) RING inside STY
17 LIE
Outsider not bound by an untruthful statement (3) a)LIE(n
19 DINGBAT
Eccentric bandit scattered around 1000 dollars (7) Anagram of BANDIT outside G
20 ABSEIL
Base organised unharnessed, wild vertical descent? (6) Anagram of BASE + w)IL(d
23 HIT ON
Unexpectedly discover it in sweetheart’s possession (3,2) IT inside HON
24 DINNER SET
Resident excited about last part of dawn service (6,3) Anagram of RESIDENT outside daw(N)
26 TEARFUL
Tense and lengthy rebuke is harrowing (7) T + EARFUL
27 IRKSOME
One reformed smoker is disagreeable (7) I + anagram of SMOKER
28 PALM
Friend married one giving up dates (4) PAL + M
29 APPEARANCE
Soft legume worked planted in great aspect (10) (P + PEA + RAN) inside ACE
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 FISH-FARM
Fine accepted by firm has rocked primary producer (4-4) F inside anagram of FIRM HAS
2 SKIER
Lodge resident very quietly slipped away from one in charge (5) SKIPPER minus PP
3 BEEF STROGANOFF
Forget beans cooked with bad meat dish (4,10) Anagram of FORGET BEANS + OFF
4 WANTON
Pale colour mostly pointless (6) ‘WAN + (TON)e
5 ESTIMATE
Get the measure of one male occupying property (8) (I + M) inside ESTATE
7 COLLEAGUE
Workmate is separated from collies with fever (9) COLL(i)E(s) + AGUE
8 SHRINE
End to prayer in Polish place of worship (6) praye(R) inside SHINE
9 CIRCUIT BREAKER
Confused brickie cut rear switch (7,7) Anagram of BRICKIE CUT REAR
15 PAINTBALL
Missile used in war games ain’t coated in lead completely (9) (AINT inside PB) + ALL
16 SIT
Model is running over time (3) IS reversed + T
17 LANDSLIP
Groundbreaking action plans I’d modified after laughing initially (8) Anagram of PLANS ID outside (L)aughing
18 ALL THERE
Learners entering at this place must be alert (3,5) (LL inside AT) + HERE
21 CHAT UP
Flirt with bowler, say, taking part in sporting contest (4,2) HAT inside CUP
22 IN LINE
Slope down front side of castle is straight (2,4) INCLINE minus (C)astle
25 SCORN
Look down on small growth of skin (5) S + CORN

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 5/9/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (29/8/2026) Worked Solution

(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.


















The answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.
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.

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 butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
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 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.

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.
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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (29/8/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CHOP-CHOP
Two pieces of meat sliced quickly? (4-4) CHOP + CHOP
5 ELATED
Happy worker in news restricting overtime (6) ED outside LATE
10 DISCONTINUATION
Break dance group making a comeback in the country (15) DISCO + (UNIT reversed inside NATION)
11 ROUNDABOUT
Our band, in a new setting, finished with “Carousel” (10) Anagram of OUR BAND + OUT
12 SUIT
Administrative official reduced size of hotel accommodation (4) SUIT(e)
14 AREAS
Fields are grassy in the centre (5) ARE + gr(AS)sy
15 RING A BELL
Jewellery and label oddly seem familiar (4,1,4) RING + anagram of LABEL
17 KILLER BEE
Aggressive worker and rebel like being manipulated (6,3) Anagram of REBEL LIKE
21 TEMPO
Rate parts of system, possibly (5) sysTEM POssibly
23 EDGY
Irritable and terribly fidgety once fit has passed (4) Anagram of FIDGETY minus FIT
24 COMPARISON
Capital available after company managed primarily with distinction (10) (PARIS + ON) after [CO + (M)anaged]
27 EXPERIMENTATION
Cross taken up by mean petitioner affected research (15) X inside anagram of MEAN PETITIONER
28 PANAMA
Criticise a graduate’s hat (6) PAN + A + MA
29 READINGS
Values shown on gauges are altered by damage caused by accidents (8) Anagram of ARE + DINGS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CODER
Software engineer writing in C, right? (5) ODE inside (C + R)
2 OBSCURE
“B” scored in course confused minor (7) B inside anagram of COURSE
3 CROP DUSTER
Produce sprinkler from assorted pre-cut rods (4,6) Anagram of PRE-CUT RODS
4 OCTOBER
Alliance in bloc to be reviewed in one month (7) blOC TO BE Reviewed
6 LOAN
Head of organisation in computer linkup borrowed money (4) (O)rganisation inside LAN
7 TRIBUTE
Tribe not quite given native American recognition (7) TRIB(e) + UTE
8 DONATELLO
Italian sculptor is on a report tabled in function (9) (ON + A + TELL) inside DO
9 IN TURN
One after another mended tin boiler (2,4) Anagram of TIN + URN
13 MASTERCARD
Crates remade right in extremely good plastic (10) (Anagram of CRATES + R) inside MAD
14 ANKLE-DEEP
Shallow one went first into store (5-4) AN + (LED inside KEEP)
16 ICE
Cool down components of graphic equaliser (3) graphIC Equaliser
18 LEG-SPIN
Pakistan’s opener, buoyed by single, smashed bowling (3-4) (P)akistan inside anagram of SINGLE
19 BROOME
Accommodation reserved in last place visited by tourists in WA (6) ROOM inside BE
20 EXPANSE
Former partner looks around last piece of office space (7) EX + PANS + offic(E)
22 MISSION
Fail to see one on task-force (7) MISS + I + ON
25 NO-NOS
Child playing back unacceptable things (2-3) (SON + ON) reversed
26 PRIM
Puritanical chief finished early (4) (PRIM)e

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 29/8/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (22/8/2026) Worked Solution

(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.




















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.
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 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 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.
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.
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 is the result of removing the first or last letter from part of the clue or its synonym. A truncation indicator will be present.
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AFR Cryptic (22/8/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CRAMP
Confine resistance operating in military base (5) R inside CAMP
4 DEADLOCKS
Load shifted in sections of a vessel with security arrangements (9) Anagram of LOAD inside DECKS
9 REALISM
Practical view of things is accepted by monarchy (7) IS inside REALM
10 ADMIRER
Person who appreciates a drive around marshy area (7) (A + DR) outside MIRE
11 SENSE
Be aware of auditor’s assessment of working capital (5) Sounds like CENTS
12 TASWEGIAN
Southerner was not normally, for example, one sporting tan (9) (Anagram of WAS + EG + I) inside TAN
13 LOTUS-EATERS
Indolent people group had food pinched by junkies (5-6) LOT + (ATE inside USERS)
15 LAB
Site that tests small piece taken from concrete section (3) SLAB minus S
17 SOP
Weak person is first to schedule surgical procedure (3) (S)chedule + OP
19 RISK CAPITAL
Group backed in trial is wrongly given gambling money (4,7) PACK reversed inside anagram of TRIAL IS
21 DISHONOUR
Is sweetheart taken in by severe insult? (9) (IS + HON) inside DOUR
22 ERASE
Get rid of material penned by setter. A setter? (5) settER A SEtter
23 TAKE AIM
Prepare to fire Tim holding a flyer from NZ (4,3) TIM outside (A + KEA)
24 TELLING
New sort of gill net is impressive (7) Anagram of GILL NET
25 SANHEDRIN
Jewish council has dinner rescheduled (9) Anagram of HAS DINNER
26 TASTE
Small serving of polenta steamed, perhaps? (5) poleTA STEamed
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CHRYSALIS
Developer in case has lyrics revised (9) Anagram of HAS LYRICS
2 AGAINST
Stove enclosed by stone is on (7) AGA + IN + ST
3 POISE
Composure shown by one in a modelling position (5) I inside POSE
4 DAM
Nuts knocked back with a container of water (3) MAD reversed
5 ADAM SPENCER
Aussie AI expert mad about scientist’s initial draft adopted by Acer (4,7) [MAD reversed (S)cientist + PEN] inside ACER
6 LIMBERS UP
Is plumber prepared for exercises before hard work begins? (7,2) Anagram of IS PLUMBER
7 CORDIAL
Warm core reduced by selector switch (7) COR(e) + DIAL
8 SIREN
Attractive woman is returning with rent shortly (5) IS reverse + REN(t)
12 TRANSFORMER
Track runners not needing one old innovator (11) TRAINS minus I + FORMER
14 SURROGATE
Substitute is certain about run out call being reversed (9) SURE outside [RO + (TAG reversed)]
16 BALD EAGLE
American bird dog drilled by excited lad (4,5) BEAGLE outside anagram of LAD
18 PUSHKIN
Promote family poet known throughout Russia (7) PUSH + KIN
20 TRADIES
Tests interrupted by commercial workers (7) AD inside TRIES
21 DATES
Members of band ate some fruit (5) banD ATE Some
22 ECLAT
Clubs implicated in story brought up social distinction (5) C inside (TALE reversed)
24 TON
Opener from the batting side scored runs (3) (T) + ON

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 22/8/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (15/8/2026) Worked Solution

(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.


















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.
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 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.
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.

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.
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.
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.

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AFR Cryptic (15/8/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BUSHCRAFT
Bus and hire car float? Such Australian know-how! (9) BUS + HC + RAFT
6 COAST
Sail cover snagged on pole (5) COAT outside S(outh)
9 STIRRUP
Runs in to stimulate support for rider (7) R inside STIR UP
10 TEAPOTS
Soft drink mostly carried by milk suppliers and brewers (7) (PO)p inside TEATS
11 CROWN
Rook close to fallen king (5) CROW + falle(N)
12 OBSTINATE
Persistent botanist replanted eucalypts at the front (9) Anagram oif BOTANTIST + (E)ucalypts
14 RYE
Shareholders of distillery evaluated whisky? (3) distilleRY Evaluated
15 CORNERSTONE
Preserve deformed trees on groundwork (11) CORN + anagram of TREES ON
17 IN THE SADDLE
Leading site handled poorly (2,3,6) Anagram of SITE HANDLED
19 PAT
Some butter, maybe, and a lot of fancy spread (3) (PAT)e
20 SOUR CREAM
Make a lot of noise about our fermented product (4,5) SCREAM outside OUR
22 MATHS
Academic one pulled out of this school subject (5) MA + (THIS minus I)
24 ABATING
Dropping off a container of preserves sealed in bag (7) A + (TIN inside BAG)
26 TARTARE
Saucy thing could be biting ear, strangely (7) TART + anagram of EAR
27 EXILE
Old friend that is hugging large deportee (5) EX + (IE outside L)
28 STRANGLED
Learner, sitting in unfamiliar Datsun at the front, throttled (9) L inside STRANGE + (D)atsun
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BASIC
Key is needed in hire car travelling around (5) (IS inside CAB) reversed
2 SKI POLE
Sleep in one with stock (3,4) KIP inside SOLE
3 CHRONICLE
Record carbon absorbed by unstable chlorine (9) C inside anagram of CHLORINE
4 APPROPRIATE
Suitable software or withdrawn development of pirate? (11) APP + (RO reversed) + anagram of PIRATE
5 TAT
Tasteless things upset a teacher to some extent (3) upseT A Teacher
6 COATI
Relative of the raccoon, one found on south side of hide (5) I after COAT
7 AVOCADO
Fruit and eggs served up cold before a function (7) OVA reversed + C + A + DO
8 TASTE TEST
Newly-formed state, ahead of time, established consumer research (5,4) Anagram of STATE + T + EST
13 SPEEDOMETER
Pressure in plant distorted remote device that measures velocity (11) P inside SEED + anagram of REMOTE
14 REINSTATE
Bring back check, say (9) REIN + STATE
16 STEAM IRON
Gentleman, taking competitive group on, could be smoother (5,4) (SIR outside TEAM)+ ON
18 TSUNAMI
Emission from midnight sun, a minute wave? (7) midnighT SUN A MInute
19 PITFALL
Dose of medicine spread on the outside of fat, cooked snag (7) PILL outside anagram of FAT
21 CHIME
Ring that man placed in centre of bracelet (5) HIM inside bra(CE)let
23 SPEND
Lay out page in dispatch (5) P inside SEND
25 GAS
Drop over some fuel (3) SAG reversed

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 15/8/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (8/8/2026) Worked Solution

(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.




















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.
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 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 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.
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, then the entire result is reversed. The type of container clue involved is determined by an appropriate containment 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 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 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 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.

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.
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AFR Cryptic (8/8/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SEMESTER
“Academic period” seems to be confused with “short term” (8) Anagram of SEEMS + TER(m)
5 IMPART
Pass on one piano on show in shop (6) I + (P inside MART)
10 GOLDEN HANDSHAKE
Has had dog kennel rebuilt with unemployment benefit? (6,9) Anagram of HAS HAD DOG KENNEL
11 EYE-OPENER
I heard peer on broadcast – what a revealing event! (3-6) Sounds like I + anagram of PEER ON
12 ROAMS
Sheep, taking in nothing, wanders about aimlessly (5) RAMS outside O
13 EVIL
In operation, sitting around could be harmful (4) LIVE reversed
15 MAGNATE
Powerbroker may cut off corrupt agent (7) MA(y) + anagram of AGENT
18 FROWNER
French proprietor, one who looks displeased (7) FR + OWNER
20 MYTH
Members of academy that fabricated story (4) acadeMY THat
23 ETHER
One of two releasing one old number (5) EITHER minus I
24 MINUSCULE
Lower-case subtraction indicator used by cryptic clue (9) MINUS + anagram of CLUE
26 COUNTER-ATTACKED
Marker changed direction after a time and fought back (7-8) COUNTER + [TACKED after (A + T)]
27 SPEEDO
Costume maker is not seen in edited episodes (6) Anagram of EPISODES minus IS
28 TRUNCATE
Dock directed sailing boat in middle of westerly (8) (RUN + CAT) inside wes(TE)rly
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SIGNET
10 American soldiers picked up SEAL (6) (TEN + GIS) reversed
2 MULLET
Do tell about finishing Greek letter (6) TELL reversed after MU
3 SWEEP
Waste matter absorbed by special brush (5) WEE inside SP
4 ETHANOL
One in hotel ordered alcohol (7) AN inside anagraqm of HOTEL
6 MISS RIGHT
The perfect female engineer shortened height following oversight (4,5) (RIG + HT) after MISS
7 AGAR-AGAR
A newspaper backed and reproduced setter (4-4) [A +(RAG reversed)] twice
8 THE ASHES
He has played badly in most of test series (3,5) (HE + anagram of HAS) inside (TES)t
9 IN TRIM
Fit caretaker lacking energy (2,4) INTERIM minus E
14 VENERATED
Respected veteran worked with journalist (9) Anagram of VETERAN + ED
16 OFFENCES
Violations of bent resellers (8) OF + FENCES
17 HOTHOUSE
Water surrounding grand development environment (8) HOSE outside THOU
19 REMARK
Comment on score in an exam (6) RE + MARK
20 MONITOR
Observe him on it, or in it? (7) hiM ON IT OR
21 QUOKKA
Heads to Queensland, uncertain of keeping koala and wallaby (6) (Q)ueensland (U)ncertain (O)f (K)eeping (K)oala (A)nd
22 PEDDLE
Sell cycle by word of mouth (6) (HE + anagram of HAS) inside (TES)t
25 SPAWN
Small shrimp, clear of river, deposit eggs (5) S + (PRAWN minus R)

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