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 1/8/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (25/7/2026) 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 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 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) 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.
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 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 turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.

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.
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.
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AFR Cryptic (25/7/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SALTBUSH
Plant located in arid region arranged last bus in front of hotel (8) Anagram of LAST + BUS + H
5 ASYLUM
Harbour city ultimately forming part of a poor area (6) cit(Y) inside (A + SLUM)
10 AGGRO
A mixture of grog responsible for offensive behaviour (5) A + anagram of GROG
11 COLONISER
Pioneer is accommodated by company person with few friends (9) IS inside (CO + LONER)
12 DRUG DEALER
E-trader, perhaps, treated large dude right (4,6) Anagram of LARGE DUDE + R
13 HYMN
Church song that fellow heard (4) Sounds like HIM
15 STOOPS
Duck in close with small ducks (6) (O inside STOP) + S
16 TRUSTED
Front of tank suffered from corrosion for sure (7) (T)ank + RUSTED
19 EYE
Look at pieces painted in pale yellow (3) palE YEllow
20 HERETIC
Dissident’s present medical problem (7) HERE +TIC
21 ISRAEL
Re-directed airlines not flying in a Middle Eastern country (6) Anagram of AIRLINES minus IN
23 PORK
Meat slices from shop or kiosk (4) shoP OR Kiosk
25 PRESUPPOSE
Accept uppers organised by model (10) Anagram of UPPERS + POSE
27 APPOINTEE
One nominated antipope replaced Pope finally (9) Anagram of ANTIPOPE + pop(E)
28 SPACE
Special serve that wins play (5) SP + ACE
29 HEDGER
One who works in the garden with hard trimming tool (6) H + EDGER
30 INCENSED
Audience from hotel noticed fuming (8) Sounds like INN SENSED
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STANDS
Stone, including seconds, doesn’t change (6) ST + AND + S
2 LEG-CUTTER
Conclusion of retiring copper included in letter delivery (3-6) [retirin(G) + CU} inside LETTER
3 BLOODY OATH
Old boy switched oxygen at hospital – that’s certainly true (6,4) ANagram of OLD BOY + O + AT + H
4 SOCIAL SECURITY
Income support from drunken cleric is out, say (6,8) Anagram of CLERIC IS OUT SAY
6 SANE
Balanced article included in middle of insert (4) AN inside in(SE)rt
7 LUSTY
Healthy core of valued collection of pigs? (5) va(LU)ed + STY
8 MARINADE
Man, briefly spotted by a diner, ordered flavour enhancer (8) (MA)n + anagram of A DINER
9 ALBERT EINSTEIN
Aluminium and moulded tin beer mug, a really smart one (6,8) AL + anagram of TIN BEER + STEIN
14 CURRY PASTE
Kneaded pastry stored in preserve with spicy ingredient (5,5) Anagram of PASTRY inside CURE
17 THE ROYALS
King staying in hotel, say, manipulated family members? (3,6) R inside anagram of HOTEL SAY
18 WHIPLASH
Injury to neck joint left in soothing lotion (8) (HIP + L) inside WASH
22 DEFEND
Guard is fed up with objective (6) FED reversed + END
24 RAPID
Fleet quietly moved in to invade (5) P inside RAID
26 FINE
Fair penalty (4) Double Definition

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 25/7/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (18/7/2026) Worked Solution

Not many clue hints – must be easy!

(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 using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.
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AFR Cryptic (18/7/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PILGRIMAGE
Part of a book about the Italian forbidding religious journey (10) PAGE outside (IL + GRIM)
6 ACID
Bitter cold contracted by helper (4) C inside AID
10 RUN-UP
Hastily make an approach (3-2) Double Definition
11 STIMULANT
Arranged litmus test, initially after an exciting, vital action (9) Anagram of LITMUS + [(T)est after AN]
12 OF ONE MIND
Agreed nothing with bad omen apparent in discovery (2,3,4) O + (anagram of OMEN inside FIND)
13 TERSE
The dresser, in an odd way, is snappy (5) (T)h(E) d(R)e(S)s(E)r
14 SEE HERE
Distracted sheepshearer not taking sharp look (3,4) Anagram of SHEEPSHEARER minus SHARP
15 RAPT
Totally absorbed, right, and quick to learn? (4) R + APT
18 ETCH
Eat into piece of bittersweet chocolate (4) bittersweET CHocolate
20 DIORAMA
Small picturesque scene, one associated with love in play (7) (I + O) inside DRAMA
23 APART
A light carriage returned in pieces (5) A + (TRAP reversed)
24 PROVENCAL
French person confirmed call terminated before the end (9) PROVEN + (CAL)l
25 OBLIVIOUS
Inattentive lie mostly exposed in patent (9) (LI)e inside OBVIOUS
26 SUPER
Place I acquired from supplier is fantastic (5) SUPPLIER minus (PL + I)
27 GATE
Take items of bling at emporium (4) blinG AT Emporium
28 ITINERANTS
Intranet is reconfigured for those actively roaming (10) Anagram of INTRANET IS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PORPOISE
Ocean swimmer characterised by power or elegance (8) P + OR + POISE
2 LONDONER
Recluse providing refuge for college fellow – a city dweller (8) LONER outside DON
3 REPRESENTATIVE
Agent sent in crooked privateer before end of lease (14) SENT inside anagram of PRIVATEER + leas(E)
4 MISSILE
Failure to hit the mark that is recorded on exterior of large weapon (7) MISS + (IE outside L)
5 GRINDER
Smile broadly, embarrassed about hard worker on board (7) GRIN + (RED reversed)
7 CHAIRS
One involved in terrible crash is meeting runners (6) I inside anagram of CRASH
8 DUTIES
Outsider losing or changing responsibilities (6) Anagram of (OUTSIDER minus OR)
9 MULTIPROCESSOR
Cruel impostors wrecked a powerful digital computer (14) Anagram of CRUEL IMPOSTORS
16 SAUCEPAN
Kitchen utensil shaped canapes containing stuff in the middle (8) ANagram of CANAPES outside st(U)ff
17 FAILURES
Losers, right, not included in fair inducements (8) FAIR minus R + LURES
19 HOP TO IT
Hurry up modification of photofit lacking features primarily (3,2,2) Anagram of PHOTOFIT minus (F)eatures
20 DROPS IN
Doctor, before operations at home, stops by (5,2) DR + OPS + IN
21 BARONG
Captain of industry with grand, large chopper (6) BARON + G
22 TABLET
Medicinal substance is effective time after time (6) (ABLE + T) after T

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 18/7/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (11/7/2026) 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.
















Punctuation generally should be ignored - always consider how a clue reads without punctuation.
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.
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 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 word or series of words that signify the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.

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.

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.

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AFR Cryptic (11/7/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CUT NO ICE
Rough count that is about 100 failed to impress (3,2,3) Anagram of COUNT + (IE outside C)
5 SCRIPT
Drunken inspector ignoring one doctor’s instruction (6) Anagram of INSPECTOR minus ONE
10 MOPED
Light transport moved aimlessly (5) Double Definition
11 ADRENALIN
A doctor recalled passage concerned with stimulating hormone (9) A + DR + (LANE reversed) + IN
12 DECORATED
Company strike-breaker, involved in exploit, is given an award (9) (CO + RAT) inside DEED
13 MIMIC
I am repeatedly taken aback by cold impressionist (5) IM reversed twice + C
14 SLOWER
Small calf, say, is less intelligent (6) S + LOWER
15 EXTINCT
Former partner, back to fight in court, is wiped out (7) EX + figh(T) + IN + CT
18 PSYCHIC
Spy distracted smart clairvoyant (7) Anagram of SPY + CHIC
20 SIGHTS
Landmarks and places so to speak (6) Sounds like SITES
22 RAMBO
Sly character is right in front of emergency services worker (5) R + AMBO
24 NARRATIVE
River rat featuring in simple story (9) (R + RAT) inside NAIVE
25 THREESOME
Group of clubbers met heroes in strange circumstances? (9) Anagram of MET HEROES
26 HYENA
Wild dog had briefly appeared outside Japanese capital (5) (HA)d outside YEN
27 DILATE
Enlarge identification returned at the last minute (6) ID reversed + LATE
28 INGRATES
King short of capital judges selfish people (8) (k)ING + RATES
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 COMEDO
Show up and fix black spot (6) COME + DO
2 TYPICALLY
Parking in city confused friend as a rule (9) P inside anagram of CITY + ALLY
3 OLD-GROWTH FOREST
Woodland preserved for the world got badly infected with diseases ultimately (3-6,6) Anagram of FOR THE WORLD GOT outside (D)iseases
4 CHAPTER
Male tenor missing out on backing part (7) CHAP + [TENOR minus (ON reversed)]
6 CINEMATOGRAPHER
Shooter scrambled to manager entering secret code (15) Anagram of TO MANAGER inside CIPHER
7 ISLAM
Religion is liturgy, primarily, and a mass (5) IS + (L)iturgy + A + M
8 TENACITY
Web reflected a city’s strength of will (8) NET reversed + A + CITY
9 BRIDLE
Restrain newlywed crossing threshold of love-nest (6) BRIDE outside (L)ovenest
16 NUTRIMENT
Triathlon men tucked into dry fruit for sustenance (9) (TRI + MEN) inside NUT
17 SPIRITED
Lively insect’s wings tied up by agitated spider? (8) (I)nsec(T) inside anagram of SPIDER
19 CANNON
Big shot, smart, not totally active (6) (CANN)y + ON
20 SURGEON
Wave on one heading for the operating theatre (7) SURGE + ON
21 RECAPS
Builder’s gap-filler, knocked over, runs through (6) SPACER reversed
23 MORAL
Righteous human being short on time (5) MORTAL minus T

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 11/7/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (4/7/2026) 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.



















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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (4/7/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BEDSPACE
A follower escaped in disguise with hotelier’s offering (8) B + anagram of ESCAPED
5 SCRAPS
Breaks up fights (6) Double Definition
9 NAPOLEON
North Pole fortified by a functioning French general (8) A inside (N + POLE) + ON
10 ASTUTE
Knowing, for instance, class in university (6) AS + TUTE
12 BEYOND REPROACH
Right claimed by chaperoned boy in bad shape is impeccable (6,8) R inside anagram of CHAPERONED BOY
14 CHIPPER
Machine that processes potatoes well (7) Double Definition
16 UP-TEMPO
Occupants of shop met pupil running back at a fast pace (2-5) shOP MET PUpil reversed
18 BANGKOK
Guineas kept in bank with approved Asian capital (7) G inside BANK + OK
20 WADDING
Supplement carried by section is a filler (7) ADD inside WING
21 DISINTEGRATION
Broken stein found in dig next to allotment is falling apart (14) Anagram of STEIN inside DIG + RATION
25 VIOLET
Nitrogen released by wild flower (6) VIOLENT minus N
26 LABRADOR
Underwear grabbed by boy or dog (8) BRA inside LAD + OR
27 RUDDER
Boat’s guide is not nice about closing of flooded river (6) RUDE outside floode(D) + R
28 MEASURED
A bound taken during medical should be evaluated (8) (A + SURE) inside MED
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BIND
Restrict members of club in debt (4) cluB IN Debt
2 DEPLETION
Cut in power reversed consumption? (9) P inside DELETION
3 POLIO
Viral infection, one contracted in sport (5) I inside POLO
4 CHOWDER
Start to consider how wine lifted a hearty meal (7) (C)onside + HOW + (RED reversed)
6 CASTRATED
Company thought highly of is rendered ineffective (9) CAST + RATED
7 ARUBA
A difficulty managed by a Caribbean playground (5) A + RUB + A
8 SEE THROUGH
Penetrate boil not completely hard (3,7) SEETH(e) + ROUGH
11 PERU
Part of Europe – ruralised country (4) euroPE RUralised
13 SCUBA DIVER
Country nightclub owned by senior one down under? (5,5) (CUBA + DIVE) inside SR
15 PEKINGESE
Dog goes to the toilet outside royal house finally (9) PEES outside KING + hous(E)
17 MAIL ORDER
One leader in paper raised postal application for goods (4,5) (I + LORD) inside (REAM reversed)
19 KEEN
Intense expression of grief (4) Double Definition
20 WARFARE
Raw fear exploited in armed conflict (7) Anagram of RAW FEAR
22 SCOLD
Rebuke leader of sect lacking warmth (5) (S)ect + COLD
23 TERMS
Top mark not accepted by master affected conditions (5) Anagram of MASTER minus A
24 PROD
Dig for diamonds (4) PRO + D

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 4/7/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (27/6/2026) 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.
























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.

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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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.
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 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 butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
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 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 word or series of words that signify the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.

The entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram 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.
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.

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AFR Cryptic (27/6/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RUBBLE
Two billion collected by government remains (6) BB inside RULE
4 PROTESTS
Objects and worthless stuff carried by troublesome people (8) ROT inside PESTS
9 METHAMPHETAMINE
Ice, say, received with meat the pieman ordered (15) MET + HAM + anagram of THE PIEMAN
11 ALL HEART
A judge transporting two learners back to court is generous (3,5) (A + HEAR) outside LL + cour(T)
12 TABLED
Governed after the bill is put forward (6) LED after TAB
14 TO-DO
Period in retreat before start of outrageous excitement (2-2) DOT reversed + (O)utrageous
15 PLAINTIFFS
They’re seen in court contesting ordinary arguments (10) PLAIN + TIFFS
18 LONELINESS
Solitude is not so much about one with nothing in retirement (10) LESS outside [ONE + (NIL reversed)]
19 KNEE
Passengers in shock needed a joint (4) shocK NEEded
22 NUANCE
Subtlety is lacking in person who’s obnoxious (6) NUISANCE minus IS
24 PLEADERS
Quiet people who guide advocates (8) P + LEADERS
26 INSURANCE POLICY
Sort of preclusion limiting an indifferent contract that offers protection (9,6) Anagram of PRECLUSION outside AN + ICY
27 GO TO SEED
Degenerate experienced overdose outside court (2,2,4) GOT + (OD outside SEE)
28 WEDGED
Wide, hit with the outside part of the bat, is blocked (6) W + EDGED
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 REMNANT
A small number surviving division infiltrated by corrupt man (7) RENT outside anagram of MAN
2 BATTLED ON
Insulator, deceived, struggled to succeed (7,2) BATT + LED ON
3 LEADER
News reel turned up containing advertisement (6) REEL reversed outside AD
5 RHEA
Bird poacher scrambled free of cop (4) Anagram of POACHER minus COP
6 TEA PARTY
Pate dished out before stylish social gathering (3,5) Anagram of PATE + ARTY
7 STILL
Source of alcohol (not sparkling) (5) Double Definition
8 SPEEDOS
Swimmers so far below the surface returned after minutes finally (7) (SO + DEEP) reversed after minute(S)
10 PARKLAND
Place containing old animal sanctuary and nature reserve (8) PL outside ARK + AND
13 DISSOLVE
Break down loss mounting in disreputable club (8) LOSS reversed inside DIVE
16 FINGERING
Identifying fine wool for knitting (9) Double Definition
17 PLACARDS
Public notices “P” on front of vehicle owned by young men (8) P + (CAR inside LADS)
18 LINKING
Connecting line cut off with ruler (7) (LIN)e + KING
20 ESSAYED
Judges say, editor to a certain degree, tried (7) judgES SAY EDitor
21 CAPONE
Beat one famous gangster (6) CAP + ONE
23 ASSET
It’s well worth having when ready (5) AS + SET
25 ONCE
An area of concern in the old days (4) cONCErn

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