AFR Cryptic (23/8/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HEROISM
Boldness is shown in her room regularly (7) IS inside [HER + r(O)o(M)]
5 TAMING
Minister, wearing identification, is breaking in (6) MIN inside TAG
9 BASIL
Ingredient of pesto as listed in incomplete invoice (5) AS inside BIL(l)
10 DECORATOR
Interior designer last month briefly hooked up with speaker (9) DEC + ORATOR
11 LANDMARK
Feature with Bond’s boss involved in carefree adventure (8) (AND + M) inside LARK
12 CHIP IN
Awful physician not needing, say, to make a contribution (4,2) Anagram of PHYSICIAN minus SAY
14 UNCONTROLLABLE
Furious relative checking on bill containing bread (14) UNCLE outside [ON + (TAB outside ROLL)]
16 BREAD-AND-BUTTER
Bad burn treated with new preparation that’s practical (5-3-6) Anagram of BAD BURN TREATED
20 RAMBLE
Start to run, walk and meander (6) (R)un + AMBLE
22 DETRITUS
Nothing exported from Detroit, America, remains (8) DETROIT minus O + US
24 ANDROMEDA
An Italian city, featured in supplement, brought back a bunch of stars (9) AN + [ROME inside (ADD reversed)]
25 NAIVE
Innocent local not taking time (5) NATIVE minus T
26 NEEDED
Required leader not used by one editor repeatedly (6) (o)NE + (ED + ED)
27 SLOGGED
Far side of woods, stripped of trees, is hit hard (7) wood(S) + LOGGED
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HOBBLE
Bees, heard inside cavity, make progress with difficulty (6) Sounds like BB inside HOLE
2 RESONANCE
Vibrancy on a screen varied (9) Anagram of ON A SCREEN
3 IN LIMBO
One vote against accepting member is pending (2,5) I + (NO outside LIMB)
4 MODERATING
Demo arranged before lecture is becoming less violent (10) Anagram of DEMO + RATING
5 TACT
Time to do something with diplomacy (4) T + ACT
6 MARSHAL
Damages assessed by hospital and a large group (7) MARS + H + A + L
7 NOT UP
Tennis umpire’s call is presented the wrong way (3,2) (PUT ON) reversed
8 ORANGE
Fruit variety available after opening of orchard (6) RANGE after (O)rchard
13 DOUBLE BASS
B&B, say, managed by one foolish musician? (6,4) B twice (DOUBLE B) + ASS
15 BREATHING
Bear savaged by creature is alive (9) Anagram of BEAR + THING
16 BUREAU
Holiday unit with gold furniture (6) BURE + AU
17 DELTOID
Was first up to identify shoulder muscle (7) LED reversed + TO + ID
18 TORONTO
Excerpt from narrator on touring part of Canada (7) narraTOR ON TOuring
19 ASCEND
Climb, for instance, face of cliff with wind up (6) AS + (C)liff + END
21 MIDGE
Grey mounted grey, oddly, with bug (5) DIM reversed + (G)r(E)y
23 LEND
Advance left on purpose (4) L + END

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 23/8/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (16/8/2025) 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.
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 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.
A word or series of words that signify the removal of a letter, letters, word or words (or their equivalents) from other parts of the clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: taken from, decreased by, less.

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 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 (16/8/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PIRACY
Private investigator linked to spirited theft (6) PI + RACY
4 BRISTLED
Prickly Englishman, crossing second, was in front (8) (BRIT outside S) + LED
9 RETRIAL
Trio not fully represented in legitimate court action (7) (TRI)o inside REAL
11 CANASTA
Call off all but the last part of a stag’s card game (7) CAN + A + STA(g)
12 MANUFACTURING
Wild African gumnut? That’s fabrication (13) Anagram of AFRICAN GUMNUT
14 THE RAM
A bit of bother – a motorway sign (3,3) boTHER A Motorway
15 REAPPEAR
Come back to harvest fruit (8) REAP + PEAR
18 RUMINANT
Meditative spirit in one loyal to the Queen (8) RUN + IN + ANT
20 ANTRUM
Ant coming in contact with strange cavity (6) ANT + RUM
23 SOCKEYE SALMON
Fish definitely included in cook’s meal upset one’s gut? (7,6) YES inside anagram of COOKS MEAL + o(N)e
26 EMANATE
Celebrity turned and put away issue (7) NAME reversed + ATE
27 TORNADO
Cooked tandoori mostly produced a great deal of wind (7) Anagram of (TANDOOR)i
28 PLEASURE
Earnest appeal guaranteed satisfaction (8) PLEA + SURE
29 SMUTTY
Dirty dog found in vacated shanty? (6) MUTT inside S(hant)Y
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PARAMETERS
Knock back newfangled steamer with limiting factors (10) RAP reversed + anagram of STEAMER
2 RETINUE
Tenants of home unit errantly sent back suite (7) homE UNIT ERrantly reversed
3 CHIEFTAIN
Tribal leader that is held by feet bound by chain (9) (IE + FT) inside CHAIN
5 RECOUPED
Recovered motor car painted in a bright colour (8) COUPE inside RED
6 SINAI
Egyptian destination some pass in Airbus (5) pasS IN AIrbus
7 LASAGNE
Dip, in a small way, is food (7) SAG inside LANE
8 DEAD
Pop round drug, not feeling anything (4) DAD outside E
10 LACE
Expert behind large network (4) ACE after L
13 PROMONTORY
Head for hill in New York after short time (10) PRO + [(TOR inside NY) after MO]
16 PENTAGRAM
Fold label printed with animal symbol that’s magical (9) PEN + TAG + RAM
17 INNER EAR
Winner not bound to bring up something needed for audition? (5,3) w)INNE(r + REAR
19 MASSAGE
Mother’s learned manipulation (7) MAS + SAGE
21 RAMPANT
A parliamentarian involved in angry tirade is uncontrollable (7) (A + MP) inside RANT
22 BEAT
Attend a course run regularly (4) BE AT
24 CHAOS
Carbon and oxygen, separating, experiences disorder (5) C + (O inside HAS)
25 TEMP
Worker sometimes contacted retired coppers at the centre (4) MET reversed + cop(P)ers

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 16/8/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (9/8/2025) 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.
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.

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 a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation indicator will be present.
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 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.

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AFR Cryptic (9/8/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CHAMBER
Light colour painted at far end of church room (7) AMBER after CH
5 POTATO
Vegetable matter kept in depot at orchard (6) dePOT AT Orchard
9 OWING
Outstanding work done by crew down river (5) ROWING minus R
10 WHOLESOME
Innocent breaches admitted by women mostly (9) HOLES inside (WOME)n
11 DIAL TONE
Caller might hear this voice in the middle of feast (4,4) ALTO inside DINE
12 TOO BAD
Outside broadcast handled by contemptible person is regrettable (3,3) OB inside TOAD
14 CHEF
Main supplier’s heartless boss? (4) CH(i)EF
15 BLOCKHEAD
Criminal fencing security device? He is a stupid person (9) BAD outside (LOCK + HE)
17 ANCHORAGE
An enclosure containing last lot of scotch or port (9) (AN + CAGE) outside [scotc(H) + OR]
18 CHIP
Clubs in a golf shot (4) C + HIP
20 STREAM
State of water restricting river’s flow (6) STEAM outside R
21 GET ABOUT
Move around broken gate before fight (3,5) Anagram of GATE + BOUT
24 FOOD COURT
Fine clubs located in redeveloped outdoor area that caters for consumers (4,5) F + (C inside anagram of OUTDOOR)
25 SEINE
Find out about popular European flower (5) SEE outside IN
26 ENTRAP
Mate just about pulled back catch (6) (PARTNE)r reversed
27 REFUGEE
Displaced person on drug paying no attention to doctor in charge (7) RE +(DRUG minus DR) inside FEE
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CROWD
Assembly line packed in music collection (5) ROW inside CD
2 ANIMATED CARTOON
NIDA actor upset about mate on children’s TV (8,7) Anagram of NIDA ACTOR outside MATE + ON
3 BIGOTS
Prejudiced people operate in small sections (6) GO inside BITS
4 ROWING BOAT
Just shoot snake in degenerate’s small vessel (6,4) (WING + BOA) inside ROT
5 PLOT
Great deal behind power scheme (4) LOT after P
6 THE WORKS
How treks prepared with everything possible (3,5) Anagram of HOW TREKS
7 TROUBLESHOOTING
Neighbour’s tool busted after short time fixing problems (15) Anagram of NEIGHBOURS TOOL after T
8 HEADED UP
Strange dude, in beat-up car, managed (6,2) Anagram of DUDE inside HEAP
13 HONEY-EATER
Survey taken by another confused Australian flyer (5-5) EYE inside anagram of ANOTHER
14 CLASSIFY
Categorise vessel if buried in mud (8) (SS + IF) inside CLAY
16 ROMANCER
Writer of “Love Story”, or “Carmen Reimagined” (8) Anagram of OR CARMEN
19 MASSIF
Service provided for central mountain assembly (6) MASS + IF
22 THEBE
The “live” satellite of Jupiter (5) THE + BE
23 GULP
Knock back promotion in recession (4) PLUG reversed

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 9/8/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (2/8/2025) 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.
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.
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 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 a mixing-up of letters.

Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.

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.
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AFR Cryptic (2/8/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CASTRATE
Company fee is cut (8) CAST + RATE
5 DOUBTS
Questions driver originally reassigned to bus (6) (D)river + anagram of TO BUS
10 TWADDLE
Pair nearly spoil uninteresting talk (7) (TW)o + ADDLE
11 OVERAGE
Part of insurance policy, not including initial excess (7) (c)OVERAGE
12 CAME ABOUT
Passed section containing mutated amoeba (4,5) CUT outside anagram of AMOEBA
13 TENSE
A character ejected from unruly Senate is unable to relax (5) Anagram of SENATE minus A
14 MOPE
Move around slowly and aimlessly in vehicle mostly (4) Double Definition
16 DRAW NEAR
Approach tired auditor (4,4) DRAWN + EAR
19 CROCKPOT
Toss quietly in bed – it makes you stew, doesn’t it? (8) (ROCK + P) inside COT
20 CEDE
Qualities of rice determined yield (4) riCE DEtermined
23 SCENT
Perfume is going up after the first of August (5) (a)SCENT
24 AERIALIST
High-flying performer is available finally in music catalogue (9) availabl(E) inside (ARIA + LIST)
26 STABILE
Reserved table is fixed in position? (7) Anagram of TABLE IS
27 DAIMLER
Object learner found in damaged red car (7) (AIM + L) inside anagram of RED
28 PLEDGE
Guarantee place with slight advantage (6) PL + EDGE
29 DEJECTED
Blue diamonds thrown out (8) D + EJECTED
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CATACOMB
Vessel leading a search in tunnel network (8) CAT + A + COMB
2 SPASM
Sudden burst of activity is reduced by 50% in electronic junk mail (5) (i)S inside SPAM
3 REDRAW
Paint a new picture a primary colour and green (6) RED + RAW
4 THE LORDS PRAYER
Devotion reportedly has changed mourner’s heart? (3,5,6) Anagram of REPORTEDLY HAS + mou(R)ner
6 OVERTONE
Open person’s suggestion (8) OVERT + ONE
7 BRAIN-WAVE
Bright idea in WA demonstrated during challenge (5-4) (IN + WA) inside BRAVE
8 SEEMED
Witness with medicine appeared (6) SEE + MED
9 CONTRACT BRIDGE
Call about right to join card game (8,6) CONTACT outside R + BRIDGE
15 PORTERAGE
Post Office reviewed greater charge paid to carriers? (9) PO + anagram of GREATER
17 SCATHING
A fine imposed inside SCG is harsh (8) (A +THIN) inside SCG
18 RESTORED
Broken stereo dumped in road should be fixed (8) Anagram of STEREO inside RD
21 USES UP
Goes through items in clause supposedly (4,2) claUSE SUPposedly
22 MARINE
Sea horse manoeuvred across current (6) MARE outside IN
25 INLET
Opening line spoilt start of talk (5) Anagram of LINE + (T)alk

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 2/8/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (26/7/2025) 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.
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.
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.

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 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 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 can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram indicator will be present.
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AFR Cryptic (26/7/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 GAPING
Joke about pressure in Open (6) GAG outside (P + IN)
5 FORT
Military outpost defended soundly (4) Sounds like FOUGHT
9 RONDO
Musical composition is right before performing act (5) R + ON + DO
10 CONGRUENT
Members of public on Gruen topic should be agreeing (9) publiC ON GRUEN Topic
13 FIELDER
Fine one senior member of a cricket team (7) F + I + ELDER
14 DESCENT
Pole secured by reasonable line (7) S inside DECENT
15 RATE
Trade adversely impacted without diamonds to value (4) Anagram of TRADE minus D
16 CALCULATOR
Call about copper at work endlessly in summer? (10) CALL outside CU + AT + w)OR(k
19 GO-BETWEENS
Grand English award disconcerted newest agents (2-8) G + OBE + anagram of NEWEST
20 LIVE
Endure depravity in retreat (4) EVIL reversed
23 AWAKENS
A snake, twisted around tail of cow, comes to life (7) Anagram of A SNAKE outside co(W)
25 IN PRINT
She dropped out of internship not properly documented (2,5) Anagram of INTERNSHIP minus SHE
26 DREAM TEAM
The best people rate me poorly in block (5,4) Anagram of RATE ME inside DAM
28 CONDO
Pro’s opposing side provide a place in America (5) CON + DO
29 BEAR
Put up with growth of hair to a great extent (4) (BEAR)d
30 MODERN
Novel way of working, right, inside study? (6) MO + (R inside DEN)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 AVOIDS
Ducks enthusiastic about egg starting to split (6) AVID outside O + (S)plit
3 INCARNATE
Human transporter engaged by native (9) CAR inside INNATE
4 GONAD
Sex gland’s activity connected to mutated DNA (5) GO + anagram of DNA
5 FIRE SALE
Clearance of damaged goods affected lease after large growth (4,4) Anagram of LEASE after FIR
6 TIN
Large amount of colour roofing material (3) (TIN)t
7 PREFER
Sporting official protected by agent returned favour (6) REF inside (REP reversed)
8 INVERTEBRATE
Indecisive person, wearing green, adjusted a beret (12) IN + VERT + anagram of A BERET
11 ELECTRICIANS
Tradies fashioned nice articles (12) Anagram of NICE ARTICLES
12 TUTOR
Express disapproval or give individual instruction (5) TUT + OR
17 CONFIRMED
Proven case of fraud dismissed for male (9) (CON + FIRED) outside M
18 STREAMER
Ship carrying right flag (8) STEAMER outside R
19 GUARD
Drug turned up in possession of a sentry (5) DRUG reversed outside A
21 EFTPOS
Payment option left, possibly, with shortcomings? (6) lEFT POSsibly
22 SPACER
Small horse – it maintains a steady gap (6) S + PACER
24 STEAM
Move fast left-winger of steady squad? (5) (S)teady + TEAM
27 ROB
Hold up probe with ends missing (3) p)ROB(e

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 26/7/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (19/7/2025) 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.

















All words can be validly written with a leading capital without changing their meaning. Hence, the capitalisation of a word may present a different picture than is intended.
The answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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