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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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 3/5/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (ANZAC 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.

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 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 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 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 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 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 (ANZAC 2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DISCRIMINATED
Record considered broken by one minute is singled out (13) DISC + RATED outside (I + MIN)
9 BLEND IN
Wine store securing loan to match others (5,2) BIN outside LEND
10 SLUGGER
Small sailing ship – one that may strike a big blow (7) S + LUGGER
11 CORPS
Centre listened to military unit (5) Sounds like CORE
12 CALIBRATE
Fine-tune case framing a politician (9) CRATE outside (A + LIB)
13 EYE CHART
Are they confused about speed of light tester used by an optometrist? (3,5) Anagram of ARE THEY outside C
15 BARELY
First component of basic relay switched just (6) (B)asic + anagram of RELAY
18 MEDIUM
Die horribly in the arms of tight-lipped spiritualist (6) Anagram of DIE inside MUM
19 VILLAINS
Criminals should be home with others around? (8) IN inside VILLAS
22 STALEMATE
Drunken male wearing government tie (9) Anagram of MALE inside STATE
24 SHUTS
Accommodation for skiers in centre of Russia closes (5) HUT inside ruSSia
25 IN-GROUP
Sect kept from prosecuting newly formed clique (2-5) Anagram of PROSECUTING minus SECT
26 THEATRE
Have a meal right inside the cinema (7) (EAT + R) inside THE
27 LETTER-PERFECT
Renter cheeky about iron clubs correct in every detail (6-7) LETTER + PERT outside (FE + C)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DEBACLE
Cable twisted inside unloaded device is a failure? (7) Anagram of CABLE inside D(evic)E
2 SPEARHEAD
Pioneer’s fruit tree the fellow planted in grave (9) (PEAR + HE) inside SAD
3 RIDES
Popular entertainment group from Madrid especially (5) madRID ESsentially
4 MANICURE
Neatly trim fellow, one with remedy (8) MAN + I + CURE
5 NESTLE
Teens, upset about closure of school, settle in (6) Anagram of TEENS outside schoo(L)
6 THUMBNAIL
Small picture is cut from this and arranged in album (9) THIS minus IS + anagram of IN ALBUM
7 DOGMA
Follow scholar’s teaching (5) DOG + MA
8 ARTERY
Main line crook pinched from ordnance (6) ARTILLERY minus ILL
14 HOUSEBOAT
Deal with snake found in heated mobile home (9) (USE + BOA) inside HOT
16 ETIQUETTE
Convention unsettled quiet setter with no limitations? (9) Anagram of QUIET + s)ETTE(r
17 LIVE IT UP
Throw one criminal over and celebrate (4,2,2) (PUT + I + EVIL) reversed
18 MOSAIC
Agents of CIA somehow returned an artistic work in pieces (6) CIA SOMehow reversed
20 SUSPECT
Have doubts about religious group keeping us quiet (7) SECT outside (US + P)
21 SAMPLE
Last portion of haggis, more than enough to try (6) haggi(S) + AMPLE
23 ANGEL
An application in semi-solid form is a very good one (5) AN + GEL
24 STEER
Handle old bull (5) Double Definition

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AFR Cryptic, ANZAC 2025, Clue Hints

A few bumps in the road over the last few weeks. Sorry about that. Back on track

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (Easter 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 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 using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.
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 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.
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.
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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

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AFR Cryptic AJ (Easter 2025) Solution

Please see PDF for solution

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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

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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

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