AFR Cryptic, Saturday 23/2/2019, Clue Hints

Posted on February 23, 2019 by David Stickley

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (16/2/2019) 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.


4-across

8-across

9-across

11-across

12-across

17-across

19-across

24-across

25-across

26-across

27-across

3-down

4-down

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22-down

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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

AFR Cryptic (16/2/2019) Solution

Posted on February 23, 2019 by David Stickley

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DISPENSE
Pass out or pass around small stationery items (8) DIE outside (S + PENS)
5 SCARED
Last section of this gnarled cedar is petrified (6) THI(S) + anagram of CEDAR
10 LOSER
Baseball pitcher, not starting, is one who doesn’t get the win (5) (c)LOSER
11 BRAIN SCAN
Head of radiology, consumed by cannabis, ordered test of cerebral function (5,4) (R)ADIOLOGY inside anagram of CANNABIS
12 COIN COLLECTION
Company, in with cool client, falsified accumulation of money (4,10) CO + IN + anagram of COOL CLIENT
14 TRIP
Hallucinatory experience is nonsense largely (4) (TRIP)E
15 ATYPICAL
Japanese money invested in redeveloped capital is exceptional (8) Y(en) inside anagram of CAPITAL
18 DIE
Break down colouring in report (3) Sounds like DYE
19 LONDONER
Recluse providing refuge for college fellow – a city dweller (8) LONER outside DON
20 ALLY
Count beheaded an associate (4) (T)ALLY
23 SIMPLE FRACTURE
Femur particles complicated break in bone (6,8) Anagram of FEMUR PARTICLES
26 IDENTICAL
Duplicate driver’s licence, say, a client ordered (9) ID + anagram of A CLIENT
27 EVICT
A cross-section of fashionable Victorians may be put out (5) fashionablE VICTorians
28 EMPIRE
Commonwealth representative with a position in Ireland (6) MP inside EIRE
29 DETAINEE
One held legal document mostly about treatment of tinea (8) (DEE)D outside anagram of TINEA
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DELICATELY
Elect lady strangely hugging one with care (10) Anagram of ELECT LADY outside I
2 SUSPICION
American picture, one presented in issue with misgiving (9) (US + PIC + I) inside SON
3 ENRICH
Improve rooms originally seen in new design of nice hotel (6) (R)OOMS inside anagram of NICE + H
4 SUBTLE
Reserve title? No, it is hard to get (6) SUB + (TITLE minus IT)
6 CENOTAPH
One chap shuffled around back of Great War memorial (8) Anagram of ONE CHAP outside GREA(T)
7 RECTO
Church official missing final page (5) RECTO(r)
8 DONG
Members of squad on guard should be sound as a bell (4) squaD ON Guard
9 GAZETTE
Look over Times, beginning to enjoy an official newspaper? (7) GAZE + TT + (E)NJOY
13 PLAY CENTRE
Entertaining place where plenty race around? (4,6) Anagram of PLENTY RACE
15 AIR
Trade show lacking fine exhibit (3) FAIR minus F
16 COLLUSION
Scheming cousin upset about endless folly? (9) Anagram of COUSIN outside f)OLL(y
17 COMPUTER
Arrive holding deposit, right, for data processor (8) (COME outside PUT) + R
18 DECENCY
Clubs in need fixed up heartless city’s respectability? (7) C inside (NEED reversed) + C(it)Y
21 GRILLE
Apply heat to front of every protective screen (6) GRILL + (E)VERY
22 SCHEMA
Reassembled machines missing in plan (6) Anagram of MACHINES minus IN
24 ICE UP
Freeze one cup filled with ethanol primarily (3,2) (I + CUP) outside (E)THANOL
25 CITE
Make reference to announcement of spectacle (4) Sounds like SIGHT

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The Stickler Weekly 260

Posted on February 20, 2019 by David Stickley

The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format.

*** Note: 7-down revised 21/2/2019 ***

The solution to this puzzle will appear next week.

  Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 260
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 260
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 259
  Invest in the Future of The Stickler

Please include comments or discussion about this crossword below.
Request help in the Clue Hints blog entry so all can see.

It’s a weekly crossword, so please don’t give/discuss any full answers until the solution is posted (such posts will be deleted/edited).

Enjoy!

The Stickler

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The Stickler Weekly 260 Clue Hints

Posted on February 20, 2019 by David Stickley

(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.


1-across

5-across

10-across

11-across

12-across

14-across

18-across

24-across

26-across

27-across

28-across

1-down

3-down

4-down

6-down

8-down

9-down

15-down

16-down

19-down

20-down

21-down

25-down

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.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 260 Overseas Help

Posted on February 20, 2019 by David Stickley

Welcome all cryptic crossword solvers.

Some cryptic crosswords are tough purely because local lingo is used and not understood by all, especially those living outside of Australia. This post seeks to fill this vernacular gap.

There aren’t any extra hints needed this week.

Like to add something I’ve missed to help others, or comment on a meaning, term or expression? Please leave a reply below.

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The Stickler Weekly 259 Solution

Posted on February 20, 2019 by David Stickley

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 COMES
Appears to criticise one abandoning businesses (5) COMPANIES minus (PAN + I)
4 CATATONIC
Unresponsive pet needing a shot in the arm (9) CAT + A + TONIC
9 MONTAGE
Artistic work on label owned by the writer (7) (ON + TAG) inside ME
10 SCRAPER
Salesperson bends back cleaning tool (7) (REP + ARCS) reversed
11 PAINSTAKINGLY
Paint a royal hugging head of state with much care (13) (PAINT + A + KINGLY) outside (S)TATE
14 DILI
Fellow not welcome in hard-working East Timorese town (4) DILIGENT minus GENT
15 DIARRHOEA
Sortie retrieved a hero treated for dysentery (9) RAID reversed + anagram of A HERO
18 INTRICATE
Fancy home with ordinary clothing about (9) IN + (TRITE outside CA)
19 SNOT
Air filter many switched around (4) TONS reversed
21 SCREENWRITERS
Westerner is wrongly taking credit for film’s essential personnel (13) Anagram of WESTERNER IS outside CR
24 BAPTISE
A point is used in live call (7) (A + PT + IS) inside BE
26 INKWELL
Calligrapher may use one in back of book skilfully (7) IN + BOO(K) + WELL
27 ENTANGLED
Snared gannet at sea managed (9) Anagram of GANNET + LED
28 ROTOR
Run out to bowler’s final spinner (5) RO + TO + BOWLE(R)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CAMP
Vice not gripping large section (4) CLAMP minus L
2 MANIPULATOR
Worker turned up in Filipino city to rest primarily (11) UP reversed inside MANILA + TO + (R)EST
3 SPADIX
Fleshy spike of flowers – half a dozen – seen growing outside home (6) SIX outside PAD
4 CLEPSYDRA
Timing mechanism is not needed in refurbished disc players (9) Anagram of DISC PLAYERS minus IS
5 TESLA
Famous electrical engineer’s contribution to Descartes’ Law (5) descarTES LAw
6 TERRIERS
Enthusiastic people do the wrong thing inside banks (8) ERR inside TIERS
7 NIP
Pinch a small drink (3) Double Definition
8 CURRY PASTE
Kneaded pastry stored in preserve with spicy ingredient (5,5) Anagram of PASTRY inside CURE
12 GROUNDSHEET
Get separated by patrol with the woman under cover (11) GET outside (ROUND + SHE)
13 ADMISSIBLE
Commercial weapon stationed outside front of base is lawful (10) (AD + MISSILE) outside (B)ASE
16 ACETIFIED
Hotshot, bound over in case, turned sour (9) ACE + (TIED outsdie IF)
17 NIGERIAN
National remaining irritated with minutes lost (8) Anagram of REMAINING minus M
20 BEAKER
Potassium nitrate’s back in exhibit’s glass jar (6) [K + NITRAT(E)] inside BEAR
22 WHEEL
Rotate tungsten end of golf club (5) W + HEEL
23 BLUR
A confused impression given by short promotional statement (4) (BLUR)B
25 POT
Cover up container of plants (3) TOP reversed

 

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 16/2/2019, Clue Hints

Posted on February 16, 2019 by David Stickley

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (9/2/2019) 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.


1-across

5-across

10-across

11-across

14-across

15-across

18-across

19-across

20-across

29-across

2-down

4-down

6-down

8-down

9-down

15-down

16-down

17-down

22-down

25-down

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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
Punctuation generally should be ignored - always consider how a clue reads without punctuation.
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.

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 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 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 using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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AFR Cryptic (9/2/2019) Solution

Posted on February 16, 2019 by David Stickley

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DIM SUM
Turn down an amount of money for Chinese food (3,3) DIM + SUM
5 BEDLAMP
Loud sound made by soft light in rest area (7) BEDLAM + P
9 PSYCHOANALYSIS
Physical son, say, misinterpreted study of the mind (14) Anagram of PHYSICAL SON SAY
11 AILING
Travelling by yacht down south and not doing very well (6) SAILING minus S
12 EVACUATE
Clear cave, returning with a ute all twisted (8) CAVE reversed + anagram of A UTE
14 KITE
High-flyer took it easy to some extent (4) tooK IT Easy
15 AT ALL COSTS
A big company, Streets, downsized regardless of the consequences (2,3,5) A + TALL + CO + STS
18 GOD-FEARING
Religious life revitalised deaf people with a shared interest (3-7) GO + anagram of DEAF + RING
19 CREW
Company restored most of wreck (4) Anagram of (WREC)K
22 BALLCOCK
Slob finally adjusted local creek’s flow regulator (8) SLO(B) + anagram of LOCAL + CK
24 MEANIE
Malicious person that is finishing off design (6) IE after MEAN
26 INCONSIDERABLE
Petty criminal abducted by insider up to the task (14) CON inside INSIDER + ABLE
27 LIAISON
Mediator is working after trouble resurfaced (7) (IS + ON) after (AIL reversed)
28 TENURE
Associates of landowner unethically returned holding (6) landownER UNEThically reversed
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 INSULATED
A utensil manufactured with copper should be shielded (9) Anagram of A UTENSIL + D
3 SECOND
Endorse company shown in broadcast (6) CO inside SEND
4 MOOR
Securely fix part of a house up (4) ROOM reversed
5 BENEVOLENT
Noble event unsettled humanitarian (10) Anagram of NOBLE EVENT
6 DELICACY
Tact guided upstanding ICAC attorney’s closing (8) LED reversed + ICAC + ATTORNE(Y)
7 AT SEA
Percentage of plutocrat’s earnings all over the place (2,3) plutocrATS EArnings
8 POSTERS
Frauds releasing one thousand bills (7) IMPOSTERS minus (I + M)
10 TALK
Approach under cover, giving up second to chat (4) STALK minus S
13 ATTRACTION
Engaged in purchase for charm (10) AT + TRACTION
16 SPRINKLER
It’s used to water part of green left in care of retired representatives (9) (RINK + L) inside (REPS reversed)
17 DESCANTS
Dances choreographed with beginning and end of timeless melodies (8) Anagram of DANCES + (T)IMELES(S)
18 GABRIEL
American girl, swallowing cheese, is an angel (7) GAL outside BRIE
20 WREN
New owners not limited by overseas architect (4) Anagram of OWNERS minus OS
21 DETAIN
Keep me free of strange form of dementia (6) Anagram of DEMENTIA minus ME
23 LYCRA
Items fashioned in really crazy material (5) realLY CRAzy
25 FELT
Touched soft material (4) Double Definition

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The Stickler Weekly 259

Posted on February 13, 2019 by David Stickley

The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format.

The solution to this puzzle will appear next week.

  Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 259
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 259
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 258
  Invest in the Future of The Stickler

Please include comments or discussion about this crossword below.
Request help in the Clue Hints blog entry so all can see.

It’s a weekly crossword, so please don’t give/discuss any full answers until the solution is posted (such posts will be deleted/edited).

Enjoy!

The Stickler

Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Stickler Weekly 259 Clue Hints

Posted on February 13, 2019 by David Stickley

(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.


1-across

4-across

9-across

10-across

11-across

14-across

18-across

21-across

24-across

28-across

1-down

3-down

4-down

6-down

8-down

12-down

16-down

17-down

20-down

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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.

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 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.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments