AFR Cryptic AJ, New Year Special 2026, Clue Hints

(click on the clue number to see the hint)

Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.

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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.

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.
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
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, New Year 2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s bumper Christmas cryptic crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (Christmas 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 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 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 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 found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
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AFR Cryptic (Christmas 2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MISMATCH
Clash is concealed by two males at church (8) (IS inside M+M) + AT + CH
5 STAIRS
Celebrities taking one flight (6) STARS outside I
9 SLOPPY
Careless spy seen hanging around dock (6) SPY outside LOP
13 IDEAS
Nut products from capital of Alexandria in Roman times? (5) (A)lexandria inside IDES
14 READIED
A sink painted in colour must be prepared (7) (A + DIE) inside RED
15 OVERTIRED
Exhausted one tucked into open bottle of wine (9) I inside (OVERT + RED)
17 SUPERSTAR
Damn agent, American, upset somebody (9) (RATS + REP + US) reversed
18 MISCELLANEOUS
A solemn clue is reworked and varied (13) Anagram of A SOLEMN CLUE IS
19 APRIL
Pair reunited before end of seasonal time of year (5) Anagram of PAIR + seasona(L)
20 RANCHER
US stock manager looked after French department (7) RAN + CHER
21 TARTAN
Sharp one checked material (6) TART + AN
24 SIGNATORY
One who endorses an American soldier recalled in report (9) (AN + GI) reversed inside STORY
27 SHALE
Marketing surrounding hard rock (5) SALE outside H
28 LINE-UP
Characters hugged by individual in euphoric team (4-2) individuaL IN EUPhoric
30 HURLS
Launches internet address managed in high school (5) URL inside HS
31 DELUXE
Splendid duel arranged by retired old friend (6) Anagram of DUEL + (EX reversed)
33 MAYONNAISE
A bug (retrieved) is found in middle of parmesan dressing (10) [A + (ANNOY reversed) + IS] inside par(ME)san
35 TRESPASSED
Course about securing resort may be entered without permission (10) DESSERT reversed outside SPA
37 AMBLER
Stroller is better with front section removed (6) (g)AMBLER
38 VOICE
Ring held in gripping tool, say (5) O inside VICE
40 ABUSED
A coach with education is mistreated (6) A + BUS + ED
41 ACT ON
Influence copper excluded from falsified account (3,2) Anagram of ACCOUNT minus CU
42 APENNINES
Confine nine staying in, for instance, Italian mountains (9) (PEN + NINE) inside AS
45 REFUND
Restore entertainment filmed in colour (6) FUN inside RED
46 POODLES
Dogs pee lots (7) P + OODLES
49 INTRO
Bless Briton changing music at the start? (5) Anagram of (b)RITON
53 APOSTLES CREED
Sect deplores a translated statement of Christian belief (8,5) Anagram of SECT DEPLORES A
55 EMANATION
Discharge a famous person sent back in to broadcast (9) (A + NAME) reversed + anagram of IN TO
56 ELABORATE
Thorough political group managed consumption after end to trade (9) (LABOR + ATE) after trad(E)
57 SWIFTIE
Second wife taking time with one tricky act (7) (S + WIFE) outside (T + I)
58 IDLER
One learner, in view of traffic light, reversed into stationary car perhaps? (5) I + L inside (RED reversed)
59 DRESSY
Curvy character in formal clothing is elegant (6) ESS inside DRY
60 SUNSET
End of day school not yet confirmed (6) S + UNSET
61 TEEN IDOL
Young star and I need to set straight locals primarily (4,4) Anagram of I NEED TO + (L)ocals
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MAINSTAYS
Chief supports one involved with employee visits (9) I inside MAN + STAYS
2 SLEEPER
Support for tracks is being dropped off (7) Double Definition
3 AUSTRALIANS
People of the Commonwealth should be upset at Asian slur (11) Anagram of AT ASIAN SLUR
4 CURATOR
Hound a degenerate, retired superintendent (7) CUR + A + (ROT reversed)
6 TRIUMPH
President embracing one heading for huge victory (7) TRUMP outside I + (H)uge
7 INDUSTRIAL
Business in Denmark’s capital linked to US lawsuit (10) IN + (D)enmark + US + TRIAL
8 SCORE
Obtain illegal drugs from entrance to shopping centre? (5) (S)hopping + CORE
9 STEALERS
They take livestock around a corral at the back (8) STEERS outside [A +corra(L)]
10 OSTENTATION
Ring broadcaster about return of web show (11) (O + STATION) outside (NET reversed)
11 PARDON
Sorry standard set by expert (6) PAR + DON
12 WARRANTY
Assurance maintained by head of taxation in suspicious circumstances (8) [RAN + (T)axation] inside WARY
16 DUST
Roger leaving messy drugstore clean (4) Anagram of DRUGSTORE minus ROGER
21 TOENAIL
Note reviewed trouble with digital screen? (7) Anagram of NOTE + AIL
22 RELIGION
Belief system left by one in* designated area (8) (L + I) inside REGION
23 SPHERE
Special present – a ball (6) SP + HERE
25 GORGEOUS
Beautiful unfenced house at the bottom of ravine? (8) h)OUS(E after GORGE
26 ODDISH
Gathering up food is a little bit strange (6) DO reversed + DISH
27 SEXY
Seductive former lover living in the outskirts of Sydney? (4) EX inside (S)ydne(Y)
29 HOARSE
Rider’s companion stepped around a husky (6) HORSE outside A
30 HIT MAN
Assassin may be greeting male dressed in brown (3,3) HI + (M inside TAN)
32 LEEWARD
Pull fish up on the side away from the wind (7) (DRAW +EEL) reversed
34 AMEN
Change abridged statement of affirmation (4) AMEN(d)
36 PRETENTIOUS
Pompous goody-goody keeping on big top, say (11) PIOUS outside (RE + TENT)
38 VINDICATION
Support V-sign? (11) V + INDICATION
39 STEPHENSON
Rocket designer steps forward holding layer from battery (10) (STEPS + ON) outside HEN
42 AILMENTS
A compiled list containing people’s complaints (8) A + (anagram of LIST outside MEN)
43 SCOUNDREL
Healthy relative poisoned by cold, bad egg (9) (SOUND + REL) outside C
44 NUMERACY
Menu redefined with crude and basic competence in mathematics (8) Anagram of MENU + RACY
47 OLD-TIME
One travelling in restored Model-T is …? (3-4) I inside anagram of MODELT
48 SIAMESE
Cat is overturned by me in rough sea (7) IS reversed + ME inside anagram of SEA
50 TRIFLED
Wasted time and took flight after trip ended early (7) FLED after TRI(p)
51 DATE
Part of Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, perhaps? (4) Double Definition
52 HOT AIR
Empty talk turned to in rock musical (3,3) (TO reversed) inside HAIR
54 CHESS
Part of match essentially is a strategic game (5) matCH ESSentially

* “in” was omitted from the original published clue

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AFR Christmas 2025 AJ Solution

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AFR Christmas 2025 Clueless Solution

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AFR Cryptic, Christmas Special 2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (13/12/2025) 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 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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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 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.
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 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.

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AFR Cryptic (13/12/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 FREE-FOR-ALL
Go down outside bar or fight (4-3-3) FALL outside (REEF + OR)
6 LIST
Write down orderly’s tip (4) Double Definition
10 ALTER
Modify components in general terms (5) generAL TERms
11 SUCCESSOR
Replacement has finally revitalised US soccer (9) ha(S) + anagram of US SOCCER
12 EARTHY
They are not entirely reformed and unrefined (6) Anagram (THEY AR)e
13 INTAGLIO
Engraving consisting of name written with refined oil (8) IN + TAG + anagram of OIL
14 SOLEMN
Only man without a grave (6) SOLE + M(a)N
16 PERSONAL
Exclusive perk, mostly tailored loans (8) (PER)k + anagram of LOANS
17 DECISION
Settlement is coined strangely (8) Anagram of IS COINED
19 CAMEOS
Small parts arrived overseas (6) CAME + OS
21 STRIPPER
It removes stone, an excavating device that breaks up rock (8) ST + RIPPER
22 ACCRUE
Build up a company in speech (6) Sounds like A CREW
25 GO THROUGH
Goth with rugged face (2,7) GOTH + ROUGH
26 MENSA
Toilet used by a group of smart people (5) MENS + A
27 SODA
Turf laid next to a compound (4) SOD + A
28 BEGINNINGS
Pray before time in the middle starts (10) BEG + INNINGS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 FRAMERS
They set up one not involved in distribution of firearms (7) Anagram of FIREARMS minus I
2 ESTER
Elements of test eradicated an organic compound (5) tEST ERadicated
3 FOR THE MOST PART
Generally those people pastor converted in stronghold (3,3,4,4) (THEM + anagram of PASTOR) inside FORT
4 RASH
Eruption is premature (4) Double Definition
5 LICENCE
Sort excluded from complicated electronics certification (7) Anagram of ELECTRONICS minus SORT
7 INSOLENCE
Popular individual, one not included in “nice” backchat (9) IN + SOLE + (NICE minus I)
8 TURMOIL
Cocktail of rum, consumed during work, confused situation (7) Anagram of RUM inside TOIL
9 RENAISSANCE MAN
Person of many talents looked after checking fictitious names in case (11,3) RAN outside anagram of NAMES IN CASE
15 LACERATED
Ornamental fabric considered good is torn (9) LACE + RATED
16 PEN
Enclosure not closed down at the front (3) (o)PEN
17 DOSAGES
Prescribed amounts of medicine satisfy authorities (7) DO + SAGES
18 OVERUSE
Wear out oven largely connected to device (7) (OVE)n + RUSE
20 SEESAWS
Playground equipment was reassembled behind courts (7) Anagram of WAS after SEES
23 RUN-IN
Rugby Union scrumhalf nearly ended fight? (3-2) RU + (NIN)e
24 THAI
Asian cuisine that is ultimately lacking? (4) THA(t) + I(s)

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 13/12/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (6/12/2025) 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.




















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 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 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 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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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.
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 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.

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AFR Cryptic (6/12/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HURTS
Inflicts injuries on regiment primarily occupying small buildings (5) (R)egiment inside HUTS
4 FLATTERED
Fine coffee and wine should be praised (9) F + LATTE + RED
9 DOUBLE CREAM
High-fat dairy product could be reviewed by paper? (6,5) Anagram of COULD BE + REAM
10 ABS
Muscles may be so evenly spaced (3) mAy Be So
11 EPILEPSY
Nervous disorder may be written down in records close to surgery (8) (PILE inside EPS) + surger(Y)
12 RENTER
Leaseholder’s right to go in (6) R + ENTER
14 OVER
Off-side fielder not starting a short bowling spell (4) (c)OVER
15 VERTEBRA
Green support for woman taking on head of experimental spinal unit (8) (VERT + BRA) outside (E)xperimental
18 SPRAINED
Injured spy almost fell down (8) SP(y) + RAINED
20 SAGO
Pudding ingredient, say, reduced vitality (4) SA(y) + GO
24 EARTHS
Grounds are prepared by one leaving this (6) Anagram of ARE + TH(i)S
25 SCREW-TOP
Type of bottle a group of workers sealed with plug (5-3) STOP outside CREW
27 ROT
Tripe and bread not finished (3) ROT(i)
28 BARBITURATE
Drug distributor that sells alcohol, organised a tribute (11) BAR + anagram of A TRIBUTE
29 PENETRATE
Trap rat in sewer waste with probe (9) (NET + RAT) inside PEE
30 NITRE
Contents of can – it really is saltpetre (5) caN IT REally
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HEDGEROW
How about a garden tool used to trim a line of shrubs or trees? (8) HOW outside EDGER
2 ROUTINE
Way left open to retain batting order (7) ROUTE outside IN
3 SILVER
Money is rolled over and left very briefly (6) IS reversed + L + VER(y)
4 FACE-SAVING
Maintaining prestige, cafe mixed French wine in dip (4-6) Anagram of CAFE + (VIN inside SAG)
5 AXES
A male, say, recalled choppers (4) A + (SEX reversed)
6 TEMPERED
Hardened agent met retired journalist (8) (REP + MET) reversed + ED
7 REACTOR
Church leader harnessing a source of power, perhaps (7) RECTOR outside A
8 DESIRE
Fancy term used to address someone in abridged legal document (6) SIR inside DEE(d)
13 PRODUCTIVE
Conduit, one used in test, should be efficient (10) (DUCT + I) inside PROVE
16 BAD HABIT
Character flaw bishop had corrected slightly (3,5) B + anagram of HAD + A BIT
17 COMPLETE
Fill in parking permit in advance (8) (P + LET) inside COME
19 PURITAN
Fanatic turned up on rescheduled train (7) UP reversed + anagram of TRAIN
21 ATTRACT
Pull a pamphlet containing twaddle primarily (7) (A + TRACT) outside (T)waddle
22 BEER-UP
Be straight over for drinking party (4-2) BE + (PURE reversed)
23 TEA URN
Switch around each beverage supplier (3,3) TURN outside EA
26 PROA
Old hand seen on a Malay sailing boat (4) PRO + A

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 6/12/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (29/11/2025) 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.


















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 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.
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) 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 the result of removing the first or last letter from part of the clue or its synonym. A truncation indicator will be present.
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 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 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.

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