AFR Cryptic (Easter 2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STRETCHY
Vomit found in filthy place is rubbery (8) RETCH in STY
5 BIASED
Partisan, one for instance, engaged by foundation (6) (I + AS) inside BED
10 FEDERAL ELECTION
National decision strengthened porter, say, left in building (7,8) FED + [(ALE + L) inside ERECTION]
11 LOADED DICE
Gambler’s friends, odd, deal shuffled diamonds (6,4) Anagram of ODD DEAL + ICE
12 HEAL
Outspoken person who’s not nice to treat (4) Sounds like HEEL
14 WINTRY
Icy land sample (6) WIN + TRY
15 EDITION
Complicated diet, one dealing with issue (7) Anagram of DIET + I + ON
18 MANDATE
Staff meeting’s official instruction (7) MAN + DATE
20 SOFTIE
Hacked site of person who is weak and excessively sentimental (6) Anagram of SITE OF
22 HALL
Passage in hotel used by everyone (4) H + ALL
24 COMMERCIAL
Unusual relic, described in letters, is in demand? (10) Anagram of RELIC COMMA
26 SUNRISE INDUSTRY
In study, insurers redefined “new business” (7,8) Anagram of IN STUDY INSURERS
27 SORTER
One who organises length of semesters or terms (6) semesterS OR TERms
28 FREE DROP
Water grass, growing by river, defined in dandy golf ruling (4,4) (REED + R) inside FOP
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SAFELY
Speak about iron left in one piece (6) SAY outside (FE + L)
2 RADIATION
Act of giving out aid in recession included in quota (9) AID reversed inside RATION
3 TORRENTIAL
Coming down fast hill, hire car steered around one (10) TOR + (RENTAL outside I)
4 HOLIDAY
I had activities primarily during sacred festival like Easter (7) [ID + (A)ctivities] inside HOLY
6 ITCH
Lead removed from dog with irritation (4) (b)ITCH
7 SEIZE
Confiscate drug in bulk (5) E inside SIZE
8 DANGLING
Disconnected end of rod before fishing (8) ro(D) + ANGLING
9 CLOCHE
Cover and sheet cut from prepared cheesecloth (6) Anagram of CHEESECLOTH minus SHEET
13 MISFORTUNE
Accident is from bungled engine adjustment (10) Anagram of IS FROM + TUNE
16 INITIATOR
Creative type reformed a trio after taking part (9) Anagram of A TRIO after IN IT
17 EMPHASES
Stresses central part of supplemental chapters (8) supplEMental + PHASES
19 ELOPED
East European picked up diamonds and ran off (6) E + (POLE reversed) + D
20 SEMINAR
Workshop operated in recession underneath house (7) RAN reversed after SEMI
21 PLAY UP
Call attention to malfunction (4,2) Double Definition
23 LINER
It provides protection inside a ship (5) Double Definition
25 KITE
Wind-up toy? (4) Cryptic Definition

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (Easter 2025) Solution

AFR Cryptic AJ (Easter 2025) Solution

Please see PDF for solution

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic AJ (Easter 2025) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Easter 2025, Clue Hints

Due to unforeseen circumstances there won’t be any clue hints this week. You guys are going to have to work a little harder (again).

Feel free to post here to discuss the Easter crosswords to work things out amongst yourselves, or ask for hints.

Best

David

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Easter 2025, Clue Hints

AFR Cryptic Solutions

Due to unforeseen circumstances, outstanding solutions will not be available until midweek. Sorry about that.

If you have particular clue/solution questions on any of my past crosswords I’m happy to answer them.

Thanks

David

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic Solutions

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 12/4/2025, Clue Hints

Due to unforeseen circumstances there won’t be any clue hints this week. You guys are going to have to work a little harder.

Feel free to post here to discuss the crossword to work things out amongst yourselves.

Best

David

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

AFR Cryptic (5/4/2025) Solution

Due to unforeseen circumstances, there will be no solution this week (first time in more than 550 consecutive weeks).

Will supply solution next week.

Thanks

David

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (5/4/2025) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 5/4/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (29/3/2025) 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.





















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 found by reversing part of the clue, or a synonym for part of the clue. A suitable reversal 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 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 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.

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

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

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.

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 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.
Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 5/4/2025, Clue Hints

AFR Cryptic (29/3/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 TUCK SHOP
Minor food supplier gathers plant popular with brewers (4,4) TUCKS + HOP
5 MASSES
One thousand clowns – that’s a lot (6) M + ASSES
9 WEAKENED
Tie the knot around a dodgy knee lacking strength (8) WED outside (A + anagram of KNEE)
10 SCRIBE
Plagiarism admitted by some heartless writer? (6) CRIB inside S(om)E
12 RESISTING ARREST
Rising star, wrongly taking ecstasy before break, is not cooperating with police (9,6) (Anagram of RISING STAR outside E) + REST
13 LOUNGE
Lie about fencing charge, admitting nothing (6) LUNGE outside O
15 SLIGHTS
Ignores beacon on board vessel (7) LIGHT inside SS
18 REMAINS
A miner disturbed head of skeletal corpse (7) Anagram of A MINER + (S)keletal
20 RUNG UP
Called dog returned after scamper (4,2) PUG reversed after RUN
22 BIRTHDAY PRESENT
Bad printers – they messed up an anniversary gift (8,7) ANagram of BAD PRINTERS THEY
25 BLAZON
Fire not fully depicted on a coat-of-arms (6) BLAZ(e) + ON
26 SUPERIOR
One after change in purse or prize (8) (I after anagram of PURSE) + OR
27 EATERY
Pals leaving separately confused restaurant (6) Anagram of SEPARATELY minus PALS
28 LEATHERY
Tough end of silverside marinated in bubbly (8) silversid(E) inside LATHERY
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 THWART
Check the slightly diminished growth on skin (6) TH(e) + WART
2 CLASSROOM
Educational facility’s young female jumper measured in centimetres (9) (LASS + ROOM) inside CM
3 SHEDS
Drops off bridging section of unfinished symphony (5) unfiniSHED Symphony
4 ONE-TIME
Old limitations lifted from money before issue turned up (3-4) m)ONE(y + (EMIT reversed)
6 ACCORDION
String, one used in a kid’s musical instrument (9) (CORD + I) inside (A + CON)
7 SEIZE
Apprehend witnesses in audience (5) Sounds like SEES
8 SWEETISH
Elevated golfing area in stylish environs is quite nice (8) (TEE reversed) inside SWISH
11 AGES
Gets old silver assessed at the centre (4) AG + ass(ES)sed
14 NEIGHBOUR
Huge robin disturbed one nearby (9) ANagram of HUGE ROBIN
16 HOUSEWIFE
Exercise in how I iron, is needed for unpaid worker (9) USE in (HOW + I + FE)
17 PROBABLE
Candidate with a good chance of success implicated lab in inquiry (8) Anagram of LAB inside PROBE
19 SLAP
Close associates backed rebuke (4) PALS reversed
20 RAPTURE
Pressure applied by trade union in unusual form of transport (7) (P + TU) inside RARE
21 STOREY
Keep middle of kayak level (6) STORE + kaYak
23 ROAST
Baked food, as in tripe (5) AS inside ROT
24 EVENT
Item on a programme is just running ahead of time (5) EVEN + T

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (29/3/2025) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 29/3/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (22/3/2025) 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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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.
Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

AFR Cryptic (22/3/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PALATE
Taste starter of anchovies presented in dish (6) (A)nchovies inside PLATE
4 PRICE CUT
Discount place stocking rice crackers at the front (5,3) PUT outside [RICE + (C)rackers]
9 MATERIALISATION
Mate is clothed by a tailor in organised appearance (15) MATE + (IS inside anagram of A TAILOR IN)
11 OPERATED
Speed included in distribution of dope should be controlled (8) RATE inside anagram of DOPE
12 IMPALE
Run through sick person’s admission perhaps (6) IM PALE
13 SKIP
Leave out rubbish bin (4) Double Definition
14 CONTINUOUS
Union scout worked without a break (10) Anagram of UNION SCOUT
18 LIGHT METER
Camera gear fitted inside flame thrower (5,5) MET inside LIGHTER
19 PROF
Piano beneficial to retired teacher of note (4) P + (FOR reversed)
22 NUMBAT
Australian termite eater paralysed ants regularly (6) NUMB + (A)n(T)s
24 TOLERANT
Catholic rushed in to lease (8) RAN inside (TO + LET)
26 IN THE ALTOGETHER
Theatre light, one out of order, is stripped (2,3,10) Anagram of THEATRE LIGHT ONE
27 STRAYING
Roving kind of fish shielded by piercing weapon? (8) RAY inside STING
28 UTERUS
Unwavering trade union backed young developer (6) (SURE + TU) reversed
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 POMPOUS
Overbearing Englishman ordered soup (7) POM + anagram of SOUP
2 LATHERING
Ring under shaping tool is making foam (9) RING after LATHE
3 TARMAC
Road surfacing division, stationed in ACT, relocated (6) ARM inside anagram of ACT
5 RAID
Pressure released by speedy attack (4) RAPID minus P
6 CLAIMANT
Accuser’s objective admitted by close social worker (8) AIM inside (CL + ANT)
7 CHINA
Porcelain items from church in Antioch (5) churCH IN Antioch
8 TENDERS
Inexperienced seller’s opening bids (7) TENDER + (S)eller
10 ACETONE
Excellent colour for a solvent (7) ACE + TONE
15 TREMOLO
Redesigned motel roof without 50% fluctuation in pitch (7) Anagram of MOTEL + RO(of)
16 OUR FATHER
Prayer at four excited most of flock (3,6) Anagram of AT FOUR + (HER)d
17 STRATEGY
Contract not put forward in odd plan of action (8) GET reversed inside STRAY
18 LENTILS
Time of fasting is broken by large vegetarian meal for one (7) LENT + (IS outside L)
20 FUTURES
Commodities, dealer offloaded from defaulter, sure varied greatly (7) Anagram of DEFAULTER SURE minus DEALER
21 RELENT
Give in on fast time (6) RE + LENT
23 METER
Apparatus for measuring oxygen extracted from heavenly body (5) METEOR minus O
25 CLAN
Family group caught with a number of computers connected up (4) C + LAN

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (22/3/2025) Solution