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 25/4/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (18/4/2026) 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.



















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.
Part or all of the answer is found by replacing a section in a word (or its synonym) with a word (or its synonym), letters, or letter. An appropriate indicator like "for a", replacing, switching etc 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 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 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 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 entire answer is the result of removing the first or last letter from part of the clue or its synonym. A truncation indicator will be present.
The answer is 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.

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AFR Cryptic (18/4/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 REASSIGNED
Was king, say, riding donkey, given a new job? (10) REIGNED outside ASS
6 AGES
Passengers in carriage sat a long time? (4) carriAGE Sat
10 FORUM
Public meeting in favour of sharing a letter with spirit (5) FO(R/R)UM
11 EVENTUATE
Give rise to fair trade union at opening of exhibition (9) EVEN + TU + AT + (E)xhibition
12 STALLING
Everyone involved in swindle is playing for time (8) ALL inside STING
13 ACQUIT
Release most of English money listed in deed (6) (QUI)d inside ACT
15 SEE FIT
Choose it after returning service charges (3,3) IT after (FEES reversed)
16 RESOLVE
Lovers lacking cohesion and energy break up (7) Anagram of LOVERS + E
18 ONE
A single person came through in speech (3) Sounds like WON
19 TERRAIN
Land turtle giving up quietly (7) TERRAPIN minus P
21 ABODES
A builder primarily does renovated dwellings (6) A + (B)uilder + anagram of DOES
24 AUDITS
“Our currency is holding” – head of Treasury’s account inspections (6) AUD + [IS outside (T)reasury]
25 GRUESOME
Awful rogues tortured men before the end (8) Anagram of ROGUES + (ME)n
27 EXCURSION
Cruise upset about kiss on pleasure trip (9) Anagram of CRUISE outside X + ON
28 HORSE
Mount is rough according to report (5) Sounds like HOARSE
29 SOLE
The Sound of Music alone (4) Sounds like SOUL
30 TELEGRAPHY
Revolutionary therapy supporting leg – it’s all done with wires (10) Anagram of THERAPY outside LEG
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 REFUSE
Junk is put back together? (6) Double Definition
2 ACREAGE
Sabotaged gear found buried in great area of land (7) Anagram of GEAR inside ACE
3 SIMPLE FRACTURE
Femur particles complicated break in bone (6,8) Anagram of FEMUR PARTICLES
4 GREENSTONE
Geologist initially enters broadcast with one variety of jade (10) (G)eologist + anagram of ENTERS + ONE
5 EYES
They look east, no doubt (4) E + YES
7 GRADUAL
Reappointed guard given a little latitude is slow (7) Anagram of GUARD + A + L
8 SHEATHED
Part of race held in building outside should be covered (8) HEAT inside SHED
9 STICKS TOGETHER
Pieces of wood got packaged up with three different glues (6,8) STICKS + (GOT reversed) + anagram of THREE
14 PREARRANGE
Organise early start for paratroopers behind mountains (10) (P)aratroopers + REAR + RANGE
17 STEAMERS
Pilots guided around a thousand ships (8) STEERS outside (A + M)
20 RADICAL
Revolutionary form of carbon used in composition of tyre (7) C inside RADIAL
22 EGO-TRIP
Self-indulgence with drugs got linked to split (3-4) E + GOT + RIP
23 REMEDY
Medication, moderately treated, lacking a lot (6) Anagram of MODERATELY minus (A LOT)
26 MINE
Dig out quantity of aluminium in excavation (4) aluminiuM IN Excavation

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 18/4/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (11/4/2026) 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) 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 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 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 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.
Punctuation generally should be ignored - always consider how a clue reads without punctuation.
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.
The clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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 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.

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.

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AFR Cryptic (11/4/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SCRAWLED
Hastily written books ultimately moved along slowly (8) book(S) + CRAWLED
6 BLOOD
Family flourished without me (5) BLOOMED minus ME
10 ANIMAL MAGNETISM
An enigmatic mate smiling about mother with personal charm (6,9) AN + anagram of MATE SMILING outside MA
11 DUDGEON
Resentment shown by fellow carrying $1000 at work (7) DUDE outside G + ON
12 AT TIMES
Rough estimate not completed on occasion (2,5) Anagram of (ESTIMAT)e
13 ART
Public hanging…an endless party? (3) p)ART(y
14 PLIERS
Pinchers, large, seen in fishing spots (6) L inside PIERS
15 INSIDE
Sporting team is under cover (6) IN + SIDE
18 SEAMER
Sailors docked with right delivery (6) SEAME(n) + R
20 DERMIS
Skin divers at sea switching “volume” to “mass” (6) Anagram of DIVERS with M for V
24 END
A number of aldermen defended resolution (3) aldermEN Defended
26 REWARDS
Artist returned small prizes (7) DRAWER reversed + S
28 ETERNAL
Unchanging consumer not taking a computer system back (7) EATER minus A + (LAN reversed)
29 FIRST AUSTRALIAN
Original inhabitant, a naturalist, resettled behind trees (5,10) Anagram of A NATURALIST after FIRS
30 YODEL
Sing melody arranged without musicians initially (5) Anagram of MELODY minus (M)usicians
31 EARTHING
Auditor linked to affair is going to ground (8) EAR + THING
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 CHILDLIKE
Learner driver, grabbed by kid raised in Chile, is innocent (9) (L inside KID) reverse inside CHILE
3 AMATEUR
A friend set up rugby union player who doesn’t get paid (7) A + MATE + (RU reversed)
4 LAMINA
Savage overturned thin plate (6) ANIMAL reversed
5 DOGMATIC
Opinionated male chasing scoundrel, a jerk (8) (M after DOG) + A + TIC
6 BREATHS
Inspiring efforts are lacking a bit in swimming pool (7) (ARE minus A) inside BATHS
7 OPIUM
Narcotics division originally not bound to impound distributed drug (5) Anagram of IMPOUND minus (N)arcotics (D)ivision
8 DEMISE
Part in modem is examined for failure (6) moDEM IS Examined
9 LAID UP
Support university breaking record – that’s sick (4,2) (AID + U) inside LP
16 DIMENSION
Measure soldiers replacing six in division (9) DIVISION with VI replaced by MEN
17 PRESSURE
Research bearing subjected externally to pure heat (8) (RES + S) inside PURE
19 MARITAL
Academic linked to new trial of a husband (7) MA + anagram of TRIAL
21 EYELASH
Hair pieces turned up in church sale yesterday (7) churcH SALE YEsterday reversed
22 SPLINE
Thin strip left in back of book (6) L inside SPINE
23 CRAFTY
Announcement about modified fat is devious (6) CRY outside anagram FAT
25 DEBTOR
Corrupt foundation set up borrower (6) (ROT + BED) reversed
27 WIRED
We brought around Irish leader from Dublin in an excited state (5) WE outside IR + (D)ublin

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 11/4/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crosswords? Check out the worked solutions here:
AFR Cryptic (Easter 2026) Worked Solution

AFR Cryptic AJ (Easter 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 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 answer is a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation indicator will be present.
A 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 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 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.
A word or series of words that signify the position of wordplay elements in the answer.

Examples: before, after, leading, in the middle of, under (down only) 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.
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 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.
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 AJ (Easter 2026) Solution

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AFR Cryptic (Easter 2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 GIVE UP THE GHOST
Go and get huge VIP prepared to put on a show (4,2,3,5) Anagram of GET HUGE VIP + HOST
9 FLAT STRAP
Units backed member very quickly (4,5) FLATS + (PART reversed)
10 LATTE
Coffee cart with no wheels entering behind schedule (5) (CART minus CAR) inside LATE
11 ODIUM
Dislike platform with front section removed (5) (p)ODIUM
12 SAY CHEESE
Easy speech delivered unusually without soft smile (3,6) Anagram of EASY SPEECH minus P
13 THEOLOGIAN
The occultist’s original journal, one found by an academic interested in religion (10) THE + (O)ccultist + LOG +I + AN
14 MOLE
Spot an infiltrator (4) Double Definition
17 RISE
Upward slope is in middle of street (4) IS inside st(RE)et
19 DISTRESSED
Dish, mostly sweet, turned over and cut up (10) (DIS)h + (DESSERT reversed)
22 FINANCIER
One who loves carrying in money bags (9) FANCIER outside IN
23 DENIM
I am after study material (5) IM after DEN
24 CHASE
Follow a groove (5) Double Definition
25 AESTHETIC
Tasteful marine recalled the nervous complaint (9) SEA reversed + THE + TIC
27 SPECTATOR SPORT
Top actress drunkenly left much-watched activity (9,5) Anagram of TOP ACTRESS + PORT
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 IMAGINE
Suspect that is taking publication in (7) IE outside (MAG + IN)
3 ENSEMBLE
Company selected elements of Holden’s emblem (8) holdENS EMBLEm
4 PAR
Expected time not taken up by actor’s role (3) PART minus T
5 HAPPY EASTER
They appear upset about introduction of seasonal greeting for now (5,6) Anagram of THEY APPEAR outside (S)easonal
6 GALAHS
American girl has ordered Australian birds (6) GAL + anagram of HAS
7 ON THE GO
Very busy ethnologist messed up short list (2,3,2) Anagram of ETHNOLOGIST minus LIST
8 THEME
The central point of commerce essay (5) THE + com(ME)rce
9 FLOATER
Look after losing very good, cooked Australian fare (7) Anagram of LOOK AFTER minus OK
12 SIGNIFICANT
Important instructions regarding power of attorney? (11) SIGN IF I CANT
15 ENDEMIC
Indigenous mice tortured beyond extreme limit (7) Anagram of MICE after END
16 HEADSHIP
The fellow notices trendy position of chief (8) HE + ADS + HIP
18 SUNBAKE
Get brown bun cooked in rice wine (7) Anagram of BUN inside SAKE
20 SENATOR
A number of these NATO representatives elected politician (7) theSE NATO Representatives
21 INFECT
Corrupt court replaced after re-issuing of fine? (6) CT after anagram of FINE
22 FOCUS
Concentration of mounted copper is reduced by half (5) OF reversed + CU + i(S)
26 SIR
Military address is fixed up, right? (3) IS reversed + R

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AFR Cryptic AJ, Easter 2026, Clue Hints

(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 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.
There is only one part to this clue, a definition, and it's usually a play on words. There aren't any indicators.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.

Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.

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.

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AFR Cryptic, Easter 2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (28/3/2026) 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 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.
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 the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

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

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.

A word or series of words that signify the position of wordplay elements in the answer.

Examples: before, after, leading, in the middle of, under (down only) etc.

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 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.

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AFR Cryptic (28/3/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STANDING ORDERS
Involved strangers in odd parliamentary rules (8,6) Anagram of STRANGERS IN ODD
10 OWNER
One who has unlimited supply of sedatives? (5) d)OWNER(s
11 MOONSHINE
Hair and bone found in one’s rubbish (9) MO + (SHIN inside ONE)
12 STIPEND
Mines backed to terminate regular clerical payment (7) PITS reversed + END
13 COPS IT
Greek character, resting in bed, gets into trouble (4,2) PSI inside COT
15 WOLF
Playboy issue withdrawn (4) FLOW reversed
16 RAISE CAIN
Returning fighter pilots, following turbulent air home, create trouble (5,4) (ACES reversed after anagram of AIR) + IN
19 GAS HEATER
Consumer going after split system that provides air-conditioning (3,6) EATER after GASH
20 TOPS
Wonderful location for retirement (4) SPOT reversed
23 INTACT
Unimpaired in judgement (6) IN + TACT
25 PEERAGE
Lords and ladies visit ladies, say, with style (7) PEE + RAGE
27 ARMADILLO
Equip a party transporting sick species that’s protected (9) ARM + A +(DO outside ILL)
28 CLICK
Get on with race’s third lap (5) ra(C)e + LICk
29 SPRING-CLEANING
Special group caught liking a refreshing seasonal activity (6-8) SP + RING + C + LEANING
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 TANGIBLES
Burglar initially caught inside stealing assorted items of property (9) (B)urglar inside anagram of STEALING
3 NERVES
Tension shown by Novak’s first misdirected serve (6) (N)ovak + anagram of SERVE
4 IMMODERATE
Excessive time in the middle obtaining practice against pace (10) t(IM)e + MODE + RATE
5 GOOF
Spirit of a clown (4) GO + OF
6 RISSOLES
River is stocked with fish food (8) (R + IS) outside SOLE
7 EDITS
Checks upset minor, swollen, with temperature (5) (SIDE reversed) outside T
8 SWEETEN
Sugar bags turned up with little inside (7) NETS reversed outside WEE
9 BOWSAW
Cutter was steered back behind front of ship (6) WAS reversed after BOW
14 MICROPHONE
Collect hydrogen and oxygen in mine with sound converter (10) (CROP + H + O) inside MINE
17 ADORATION
Praise a director’s first speech (9) A + (D)irector + ORATION
18 FENCED IN
Crooked reseller connected to racket is locked up (6,2) FENCE + DIN
19 GUITARS
Sawn-off gun is taken apart by Jack’s instruments? (7) GU(n) + (IS outside TAR)
21 SNEAKY
Slippery snake meandered back to shrubbery (6) Anagram of SNAKE + shrubber(Y)
22 DEACON
Deal mostly with crook church official (6) (DEA)l + CON
24 TIMER
Clock-watcher’s area of responsibility in recession (5) REMIT reversed
26 BLOC
Union group shortened stoppage (4) (BLOC)k

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