About the Setter
David Stickley has been writing crosswords professionally since 1995. His cryptic puzzle, The Stickler, reached number 4786 before being axed in July 2013 due to cutbacks. In 2024 David and his wife Linda secured a weekly cryptic and quick slot in The SMH and The Age. David has also been published in the NYT, the UK's FT and Church Times.-
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Author Archives: David Stickley
Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 4, Clue Help
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Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 4 Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 MOTIF Little time to adapt rejected design of some significance (5) MO + FIT reversed 4 WRAPPING Covering material and announcement of musical work (8) Sounds like RAPPING 8 BLANDEST Property secured by principal … Continue reading
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Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 5, Clue Help
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Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 5 Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 BLASTS Capital of Belgium survives explosions (6) B + LASTS 4 EMBRACER One willing to accept a person who attempts to influence a jury (8) Double Definition 9 SPAMMED Distributed junk email went quickly … Continue reading
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Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 6, Clue Help
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Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 6 Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 RED CARPET King raced around leading special VIP treatment (3,6) R + anagram of RACED + PET 6 BLURB Obscure brochure’s opening advertisement (5) BLUR + B 9 ALLOT Assign a pair of learner … Continue reading
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Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 7, Clue Help
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Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 7 Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 SHOUTER The woman nearly exposed a loudmouth (7) SH(e) + OUTER 5 REPAST Meal break cut by boss’s offsider (6) REST outside PA 9 EAT UP Entirely devour each sheep (3,2) EA + TUP … Continue reading
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Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 8, Clue Help
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Stickler Boxed Set 1, Puzzle 8 Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 SUPERMAN Strong heater swept over hairdo prepared by a great guy (8) SUN outside (PERM + A) 5 SHADOW Reflected image had formed in plant (6) HAD inside SOW 9 PLUTO Put ring around … Continue reading
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