AFR Cryptic, Saturday 7/6/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (31/5/2025) 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 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 turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

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

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.

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.
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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (31/5/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ANGLO-SAXON
A slogan rewritten by performing Englishman (5-5) Anagram of A SLOGAN + X + ON
6 CROC
Snapper caught by fabulous bird (4) C + ROC
10 STARTER
Race official organised rest at conclusion of qualifier (7) Anagram of REST AT + qualifie(R)
11 SHUTTER
Part of a camera that’s quiet, say (7) SH + UTTER
12 REDEFINED
Colour choice adopted by editor is specified differently (9) RED + (FINE inside ED)
13 SPREE
Picture about public relations romp (5) SEE outside PR
14 CHA-CHA
Dance fellow almost completed more than once (3-3) CHA(p) twice
16 PANACHE
Criticise a chef lacking fine style (7) PAN + A + (CHEF minus F)
17 BIN
Dispose of returned bill (3) NIB reversed
19 FOR SURE
Abridged form confused user clearly (3,4) FOR(m) + anagram of USER
20 SCHEME
Seem out of place adopting church’s proposal (6) Anagram of SEEM outside CH
23 OUTDO
Trump is leaving studio broadcast before Oprah’s introduction (5) Anagram of STUDIO minus IS + (O)prah
24 GO IT ALONE
To act independently, Information Technology invested in target set by individual (2,2,5) IT inside (GOAL + ONE)
26 LEAFLET
Circular meadow left for redevelopment (7) LEA + anagram of LEFT
27 ERUDITE
Conclusion of the Italian accepted by impertinent academic (7) th(E) + (IT inside RUDE)
28 DIET
Cut out fat, ultimately? (4) DIE + fa(T)
29 INCOHERENT
Native interrupted by commanding officer is rambling (10) INHERENT outside CO
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ABSTRACT
Deep muscles stretch (8) ABS + TRACT
2 GRAND
Imposing Greek by the way (5) GR + AND
3 OUT OF THIS WORLD
Excellent flour withstood mixing (3,2,4,5) Anagram of FLOUR WITHSTOOD
4 AIRING
Publication – one produced in a syndicate (6) I inside (A + RING)
5 OBSIDIAN
A bond is reformulated containing one type of volcanic glass (8) Anagram of A BOND IS outside I
7 ROTARY HOE
Divided clubhouse with no room for American field worker? (6,3) ROTARY + (HOUSE minus US)
8 CORNET
Crown missing centrepiece – a piece of brass? (6) COR(o)NET
9 SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Replace a coach after position taken on ecstasy and misapplication of drugs (9,5) SUB + [(A + BUS) after STANCE] + E
15 ABOUT-FACE
Turn around mismanaged cafe after a fight (5-4) Anagram of CAFE after (A + BOUT)
16 PIE
Food from a bakery priced oddly (3) (P)r(I)c(E)d
17 BRIGHTEN
Clear up claim held by a Scottish high-rise? (8) RIGHT inside BEN
18 REVERENT
Loving is always apparent in split (8) EVER inside RENT
21 BOWLED
Ship’s leader went first and delivered (6) BOW + LED
22 LIKE SO
Koel is not normally this way (4,2) Anagram of KOEL IS
25 OLIVE
Love hot type of oil used in cooking (5) O + LIVE

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 31/5/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (24/5/2025) 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 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 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 where the WHOLE clue defines the answer, and the WHOLE clue also is the wordplay (a mechanism to derive the answer through various cryptic devices). "&lit" is short for "and literally".

To qualify as an &lit, a clue must have no unused components either in the definition or the wordplay - it must be readable one way as a definition, and another as the wordplay.

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.

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AFR Cryptic (24/5/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 TUNGSTEN
Modified guns, 10, finishing off leader of terrorist element (8) (Anagram of GUNS + TEN) after (T)errorist
5 ADDS UP
Dad made tipsy by drink makes sense (4,2) Anagram of DAD + SUP
10 INTER
Bury artist with no father (5) PAINTER minus PA
11 EXPOSITOR
Sit flanked by former partner and poor interpreter (9) SIT inside (EX + POOR)
12 SPRINGTIME
School principal engaging in great period of growth (10) (S + PRIME) outside (IN + GT)
13 TARO
Taproot, once out of pot, is edible stuff (4) TA(p)R(o)O(t)
15 POLITE
Refined Information Technology installed in an extreme location (6) IT inside POLE
16 LEGALISM
Support reformation of Islam’s strict adherence to law (8) LEG + anagram of ISLAM
17 HAD
Experienced firm giving up right (3) HARD minus R
18 SHIVERED
Small producer of honey wine reacted to the cold (8) S + HIVE + RED
19 PRUNED
Trimmed lead in gym died (6) RUN inside PE + D
21 I SAY
Expression of surprise is a guy’s last (1,3) IS + A + gu(Y)
22 STRETCH OUT
Be sick getting stuck into beer, and relax (7,3) RETCH inside STOUT
25 INTRUDERS
Trespassers turned roughly right in the centre of island (9) (Anagram of TURNED + R) inside IS
26 TRESS
Lock opener released from pressure (5) (s)TRESS
27 THRASH
Defeat is not accepted in this series (6) THIS minus IS + RASH
28 ONE-DAYER
Head of organisation arranged year-end game of cricket (3-5) (O)rganisation + anagram of YEAR END
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 TRIES
Goes with English politicians giving nothing away (5) TORIES minus O
2 NATURAL DISASTER
Supermarket chain invested in restaurants all over the place – what a catastrophe! (7,8) ALDI inside anagram of RESTAURANTS
3 STRENGTHEN
Stern battered by bow of galleon? Then reinforce! (10) Anagram of STERN + (G)alleon + THEN
4 EVENTS
Artiste finally releases episodes (6) artist(E) + VENTS
6 DOSE
Manage sex, largely with some Viagra, perhaps? (4) DO +(SE)x
7 SITUATION COMEDY
TV programme’s approach in a tiny studio varied (9,6) COME inside anagram of A TINY STUDIO
8 PERFORMED
Accomplished agent returned for medical (9) REP reversed + FOR + MED
9 SPAMMED
Distributed junk email went quickly over a short distance (7) SPED outside (A + MM)
14 FABRICATED
Bacteria formed in empty food container may be cooked up? (10) Anagram of BACTERIA inside F(oo)D
15 PESSIMIST
Worrier is following young lady about in a bad mood (9) [IS after (MISS reversed)] inside PET
16 LAD
Young man and woman not going all the way (3) (LAD)y
17 HEATHER
Find out information about the growth in exposed areas (7) HEAR outside THE
20 PEPSIN
Energy’s in digestive enzyme (6) PEPS + IN
23 TASER
Piece carried by sergeant, a seriously shocking weapon (5) sergeanT A SERiously
24 GUTS
Guest, dropping ecstasy, ordered spirit (4) Anagram of GU(e)ST

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 24/5/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (17/5/2025) 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 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 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.
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 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 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.

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 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 turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

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

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 (17/5/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DOCUDRAMA
Manage sheep consuming processed food – a true-to-life story (9) (DO + RAM) outside CUD + A
6 INDIA
Ones leaving Asian republic, a heavily-populated country (5) INDONESIA minus ONES
9 MISCAST
Is leader of crew, breaking spar, given the wrong job? (7) [IS + (C)rew] inside MAST
10 THRIVED
The short diver at sea did well (7) TH(e) + anagram of DIVER
11 SWINEHERD
Red wine has spoiled without input of a former farm employee (9) Anagram of RED WINE HAS minus A
13 THREE
Minus 10 or 20 roughly? (5) (13 minus 10) + anagram of THERE
14 BUGS
Rabbit diseases? (4) Double Definition
15 DOWNSTAIRS
Where the servants stay at Windsor confused head of state (10) Anagram of AT WINDSOR + (S)tate
17 BRIGHT-EYED
Eager, they reformed education following prison (6-4) (Anagram of THEY + ED) after BRIG
18 BITS
Pieces or units of information (4) Double Definition
20 THERE
That place, the area in the middle (5) THE + a(RE)a
21 TEMPERATE
Reasonable salesperson satisfied with backing at opening of exhibition (9) (REP + MET) reversed + AT + (E)xhibition
23 ENTRANT
Competitor hurried inside tent in poor condition (7) RAN inside anagram of TENT
25 NEARING
Line half dropped out with a call coming (7) (li)NE + A + RING
26 HARMS
Usher’s offering in high school causes damage (5) ARM inside HS
27 PAYPHONES
Telecommunication services reconnected happy individuals (9) Anagram of HAPPY + ONES
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DUMPS
Gets rid of division’s top sporting officials (5) (D)ivision + UMPS
2 CASTING DIRECTOR
Recording act – it’s upset with one picking out players (7,8) Anagram of RECORDING ACT ITS
3 DIADEM
I had overthrown dame falsely given regal power (6) ID reversed + anagram of DAME
4 AT THE MOMENT
People featured in loosely-bound tome that should be right now (2,3,6) MEN inside anagram of TOME THAT
5 ACT
A cabaret dropping a naked performance (3) A CABARET minus BARE
6 IRRITATE
Incense and cross displayed at both ends of ceremony mostly (8) IRATE outside (RIT)e
7 DIVERSIFICATION
One following some down under lies about a marketing strategy (15) (I after DIVERS) + (FICTION outside A)
8 ADDRESSES
Commercial clothing locations (9) AD + DRESSES
12 DANGER MONEY
Workers’ compensation confused anyone catching virus after start of development (6,5) (Anagram of ANYONE outside GERM) after (D)evelopment
14 BABY-TEETH
A bite, reportedly, taken by little Elizabeth, probably uses these? (4-5) (A +sounds-like BITE) inside BETH
16 CHEETAHS
Cheer undersized rugby players – they can run fast (8) CHEE(r) + TAHS
19 DETACH
Cadet reassigned by hospital is free (6) Anagram of CADET + H
22 EDGES
Seed scattered around garden’s front borders (5) Anagram of SEEDS outside (G)arden
24 TOP
Trump’s misguided post lacking substance primarily (3) Anagram of POST minus (S)ubstance

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 17/5/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (10/5/2025) 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.

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.
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.
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.

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 (10/5/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STIRRERS
Disorganised terrorists surrendering to troublemakers (8) Anagram of TERRORISTS minus TO
5 FAILED
Bankrupt fellow felt unwell (6) F + AILED
10 INDIVIDUALISTIC
One form of identification used in civil suit and confused with original (15) I + (ID inisde anagram of CIVIL SUIT AND)
11 TRADE NAME
Registered a study plugging unexciting brand (5,4) (A + DEN) inside TAME
12 HEAVE
Experience taking ecstasy and throw up (5) HAVE outside E
13 GOLD
Metal ring ultimately made long ago (4) rin(G) + OLD
15 ORIGINS
Launching points or island stocking alcohol (7) OR + (IS outside GIN)
18 ARRESTS
Crook superstar, not bearing up, has a heart attack (7) ANagram of SUPERSTAR minus UP
20 SIGN
Mark tin containing one thousand dollars (4) SN outside (I + G)
23 RAGER
Enthusiastic party-goer’s lifespan may be restricted by rights (5) AGE inside (R + R)
24 INCESSANT
Endless stream of insects moving around a pole (9) Anagram of INSECTS outside (A + N)
26 STRAIGHTENED OUT
The reading rewritten in bold should be corrected (12,3) Anagram of THE READING inside STOUT
27 EMERGE
Appear to come together after end of dispute (6) MERGE after disput(E)
28 HYDRANTS
Drive through rebuilt shanty’s main outlets (8) DR inside anagram of SHANTY
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SHIITE
Muslim greeting put in place (6) HI inside SITE
2 INDIAN
Someone from Asia raised financial assistance in hotel (6) AID reversed inside INN
3 REVUE
Variety show in French not counted in takings (5) REVENUE minus EN
4 RED-CARD
Send off parts of high-powered car directly (3-4) highpoweRED CAR Directly
6 ALIGHTING
A feature of stage management is coming down (9) A + LIGHTING
7 LOTHARIO
Libertine group has not finished with international playground (8) LOT + HA(s) + RIO
8 DECREASE
Contract as specified in law (8) AS inside DECREE
9 GAZEBO
Watch boat docked at summerhouse (6) GAZE + (BOAT minus AT)
14 OBSERVING
Short boy, returning (playing tennis), is attentive (9) BO(y) reversed + SERVING
16 FAIR ISLE
Flower wrapped in leaf formed a decorative knitting pattern (4,4) IRIS inside anagram of LEAF
17 DRUG-FREE
Doctor, connected with refuge, treated without narcotics (4-4) DR + anagram of REFUGE
19 SLIGHT
Put down learner driver taking part in display (6) L inside SIGHT
20 SOCIETY
Fellowship is so easy at first in a large place (7) SO + [(E)asy inside CITY]
21 BABOON
Troop member’s call that’s not nice in public proclamation (6) BOO inside BAN
22 STATES
Celebrity mostly set up authorities (6) STA(r) + SET reversed
25 SMEAR
Malign listener after brief text message (5) EAR after (SM)s

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 10/5/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (3/5/2025) 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 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 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.

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.
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 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 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 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.

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 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 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 (3/5/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BASTARDISE
A celebrity, found in bed, is awfully corrupt (10) (A + STAR) inside anagram of BED IS
6 CARD
Joker, perhaps, in more ways than one (4) Double Definition
10 OPERATING SYSTEM
Crook paying store to hold back essential software (9,6) Anagram of PAYING STORE + STEM
11 ALOE VERA
Love area developed with a commercially-viable plant (4,4) Anagram of LOVE AREA
12 ASHEN
White, like a bird (5) AS + HEN
14 ONIONS
Switch position is covering working bulbs (6) (ON + IS) outside ON
16 SEMITONE
Clocks rewound by one half step (8) TIMES reversed + ONE
18 SEDATELY
Prince’s last engagement held in secret without fanfare (8) [princ(E) + DATE] inside SLY
20 ENTICE
Lead on silver not used by agent with diamonds (6) AGENT minus AG + ICE
22 INGOT
Piece of precious metal found behind home (5) GOT after IN
24 BENGALIS
Scottish mountain girl is with people in Asia (8) BEN + GAL + IS
27 PERSONA NON GRATA
Agent recalled son, a fool, deserter, and a character not liked (7,3,5) REP reversed + SON + A + NONG + RAT +A
28 REEF
Section of tree found with rocks under water (4) tREE Found
29 HYPNOTISTS
Python sits in odd positions, mesmerising people (10) Anagram of PYTHON SITS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BLOC
Stop mostly countries in special alliance (4) (BLOC)k
2 SPELLBIND
Hold and shift bin back to yard (9) SPELL + BIN + yar(D)
3 ABATE
A cricketer close to milestone is slow (5) A + BAT + mileston(E)
4 DRIVEL
Bull left after steer (6) L after DRIVE
5 SIGNAGE
Drug gang is fed up with public displays (7) (E + GANG + IS) reversed
7 AITCH
Character may be a source of irritation (5) A + ITCH
8 DOMINEERED
Buck’s mate, embarrassed about explosive item, behaved arrogantly (10) (DOE + RED) outside MINE
9 GYRATION
Heartless guy helping revolution? (8) G(u)Y + RATION
13 WORSHIPPER
One who praises line set up by transport company (10) ROW reversed + SHIPPER
15 NOTATION
System of signs reverted to in race (8) TO reverse inside NATION
16 SAY
Timeless suspension, for instance? (3) STAY minus T
17 ORIGINALS
Masters manipulate one limited by tailored loans (9) (RIG + I) inside anagram of LOANS
19 LIBRARY
House readily emptied out a collection of books? (7) LIBRA + R(eadil)Y
21 ENJOIN
Appreciate substantially popular order (6) (ENJO)y + IN
23 GORSE
Prickly shrub is starting to grow next to rambling rose (5) (G)row + anagram of ROSE
25 ANGST
Fear an income generator imposed by government (5) AN + GST
26 CARS
Vehicles are mostly parked in vacated centres? (4) (AR)e inside C(entre)S

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