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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AFR Cryptic (19/7/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HABIT
High somewhat? That’s addiction (5) H + A BIT
4 ETRUSCANS
Old Italians converted true digital images (9) Anagram of TRUE + SCANS
9 INSWING
Movement of delivery from one state in Germany’s western part (7) I + NSW + IN + (G)ermany
10 SURGEON
Strong desire held by son’s doctor (7) URGE inside SON
11 READERS DIGEST
Disagreed with new layout in leisure publication (7,6) Anagram of DISAGREED inside REST
14 LANK
Long and thin pieces of wood with trimmed ends (4) p)LANK(s
15 TURFED OUT
Trade union, given food in disorderly retreat, may be expelled (6,3) TU + (FED inside ROUT)
18 SMELT A RAT
Suspected something from faulty alarm test (5,1,3) Anagram of ALARM TEST
19 OR SO
Front piece ripped from trunk roughly (2,2) (t)ORSO
21 INSUBORDINATE
Recalcitrant is in navy vessel to speak about commotion (13) IN + SUB +(ORATE outside DIN)
24 ECONOMY
Thrifty management company involved in distribution of money (7) CO inside anagram of MONEY
26 ECHIDNA
Spiky creature sought refuge in field of scattered cane (7) HID inside anagram of CANE
27 STRANGERS
Park officers at end of street with foreigners (9) RANGERS after ST
28 DRY UP
Become unproductive as doctor committed to casual agreement (3,2) DR + YUP
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HAIR
Filament is hot when in contact with gaseous mixture (4) H + AIR
2 BUSHRANGERS
Coach employed by personnel angers Raiders, perhaps (11) BUS + HR + ANGERS
3 TRIBAL
Blood group found in test related to people of common descent (6) B inside TRIAL
4 EGG-BEATER
Kitchen appliance, for example, used by consumer from Great Britain? (3-6) EG + GB-EATER
5 RUSES
Leader of rebellion takes advantage of cunning manoeuvres (5) (R)ebellion + USES
6 STRAINED
Side’s opener practised under pressure (8) (S)ide + TRAINED
7 ATE
A number heard what consumers did (3) Sounds like EIGHT
8 SANITATION
Large farm around a home fixed up drainage system (10) STATION outside [A + (IN reversed)]
12 ECO-FRIENDLY
Cultivated rye field once mostly green (3-8) Anagram of (RYE FIELD ONC)e
13 FLASHINESS
Fine girl possessing sparkle and flamboyance (10) (F + LASS) outside SHINE
16 RETAILERS
Merchants regarding realist in an unusual way (9) RE + anagram of REALIST
17 STUBBORN
Small tub, delivered, is not flexible (8) S + TUB + BORN
20 HASHED
He had fencing wood chopped up (6) HED outside ASH
22 RHYME
Religious song abbreviated in the middle of free verse (5) HYM(e) inside f(RE)e
23 WASP
Stinger was first to pounce (4) WAS + (P)ounce
25 OAR
One rowing boat in the middle, right? (3) b(OA)t + R

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 19/7/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (12/7/2025) 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.
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 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.
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 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 answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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 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) 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.

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AFR Cryptic (12/7/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STAMPS
Collectables stay mostly with house-sitters? (6) (STA)y + MPS
4 MORASS
Primitive growth found on banks of river and a bog (6) MOSS outside (R + A)
8 AWAIT
Look for it east of a state of Australia (5) IT after (A +WA)
9 OBSTACLES
Drunken constable is not counting in bars (9) Anagram of CONSTABLE IS minus IN
11 PACIFIC
A client’s initial condition, shown in picture, is mild (7) [A + (C)lient + IF) inside PIC
12 NIOBIUM
Nickel ring and iodine encased in worthless metal (7) NI + O + (I inside BUM)
13 RAYS
Pick up sound beams (4) Sounds like RAISE
14 PROPERTY
Quality veteran forward playing in the centre (8) PRO + PERT + pla(Y)ing
17 PLATINUM
A can coated with excellent metal (8) (A + TIN) inside PLUM
19 WELL
Oil supplier in good condition (4) Double Definition
23 ERODING
Section of tie rod in general is wearing away (7) tiE ROD IN General
24 TEEMING
Falling heavily and crawling (7) Double Definition
25 DESPERADO
Reckless person distributed speed right before a party (9) Anagram of SPEED + R + A +DO
26 SPENT
Writer set in stone is shattered (5)
27 TEXTAS
Sign that something’s wrong in a test troubled markers (6) X inside anagram of A TEST
28 WRITER
A character in war replaced by ceremonial author (6) W(RITE for A)R
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SWAPPERS
They trade weapons primarily secured by soldiers (8) (W)eapons inside SAPPERS
2 ANARCHY
Chief needed in any revolution (7) ARCH inside ANY
3 PUT OFF
Blast directed outside to cause distress (3,3) PUFF outside TO
4 MISINFORMATION
Mini’s remodelled shape is nonsense (14) Anagram of MINIS + FORMATION
5 REASONED
A child in a rush thought logically (8) (A + SON) inside REED
6 SOLOIST
Single performer, as reported, is supported by group (7) SO +(IS inside LOT)
7 PORCUPINE GRASS
Growth in outback harvest lifted using pears of an unusual variety (9,5) CROP reversed + anagram of USING PEARS
10 SUMS
Arithmetical problems university included in text (4) U inside SMS
15 STRIDENT
Spiteful gossip, served up in broadcast, is harsh (8) DIRT reversed inside SENT
16 BLIGHTER
Fire starter, seen behind bush initially, is a despicable person (8) LIGHTER after (B)ush
18 LOOK-SEE
Misplace end of article about very good and brief inspection (4-3) [LOSE + articl(E)] outside OK
20 EXIGENT
General entering outlet is demanding attention (7) GEN inside EXIT
21 SEND
Direct point next to boundary (4) S + END
22 TEASER
Prisoners of state – a serious problem? (6) staTE A SERious

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