The Stickler Weekly 33 Clue Hints

(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.


1-across


11-across

12-across



19-across

22-across



25-across

27-across



4-down

6-down

7-down

13-down

15-down


18-down

20-down


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 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.
The answer is hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.

Examples: part of, associated with, types of.

A 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 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.

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The 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 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.
The clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 33 Clue Hints

The Stickler Weekly 33 Overseas Help

Welcome all cryptic crossword solvers.

Some cryptic crosswords are tough purely because local lingo is used and not understood by all, especially those living outside of Australia. This post seeks to fill this vernacular gap.

The clues listed here may contain a component not familiar to all outside of Australia.

(click on the clue number to see the inside information)


25-across

Like to add something I’ve missed to help others, or comment on a meaning, term or expression? Please leave a reply below.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 33 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 32 Solution

A few weeks ago an old Stickler clue turned up on the newsgroup, rec.puzzles.crosswords (rpc). The thread is here. The clue was: Treat containing cold centre is special (4-3). The solver had the answer CHO(C)-ICE, but wondered whether the phrasing of the wordplay was incorrect. The clue appears to ask for “C” inside a word for “treat”, but in fact ends up being “C” inside a word for “special”. I believe there are two ways to read it, made possible by the inclusion of the word “is”. I could say “under the table is a cat” or “a cat is under the table” – to my mind perfectly valid and normal speech and identical in their meaning. Don’t you agree? So, “containing cold centre is special” is equivalent to “special is containing cold centre” – it’s all in how you read it. Thankfully someone came up with the right interpretation and the original poster was fully accepting of the explanation. However, another person questioned the structure and claimed it was “crosswordese” (stuff only found in crosswords) and should be discouraged so that new people wouldn’t be put off by it. At first I was offended by the response, but realised the problem wasn’t crosswordese, but that the wordplay wasn’t considered mainstream. Surely most cryptic clues contain crosswordese of some kind, everything from dictionary-only abbreviations, incomplete sentences, clues that make no sense when read, and wordplay structures like A holds B that are never used in everyday language when defining or describing things. Get rid of crosswordese and there wouldn’t be much left.
I don’t use this “CHOC-ICE”-type structure very often, and if I do the clue hints for the puzzle will point to it, but I think it should be fine. After all, cryptic clue solving is all about interpretation and it’s the job of the solver to discover which way is the right way.

 

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 TOPICS
Subject matters to one expanding IT equipment (6) TO + (I inside PCS)
4 OVERSHOT
Most of show, presented in public, went too far (8) (SHO)W inside OVERT
10 ADRENALIN
A doctor recalled passage concerned with stimulating hormone (9) A + DR + (LANE reversed) + IN
11 TABLE
Number cleared from significant counter (5) NOTABLE minus NO
12 EPISODE
Incident is linked to verse at end of recording (7) (IS + ODE) after EP
13 SHOUTED
Cast embracing in the open spoke loudly (7) SHED outside OUT
14 TIGER
Sculpture of granite not holding the attention of an audacious person (5) Anagram of GRANITE minus AN
15 THIRTEEN
Right golf equipment used entering narrow hole possibly (8) (R + TEE) inside THIN
18 OFFERING
Gift of iron bell (8) OF + FE + RING
20 KOREA
Section of park or earl’s divided land (5) parK OR EArl
23 OMINOUS
Boundless comic intellect is threatening? (7) C)OMI(C + NOUS
25 ROASTER
Inventory that includes a suitable oven item (7) ROSTER outside A
26 SPURN
Turn down inducement before termination of position (5) SPUR + POSITIO(N)
27 EXACTNESS
Unloved one involved in sex acts distorted truth? (9) (ONE minus O) inside anagram of SEX ACTS
28 PHEASANT
Game bird scattered heaps created by insect (8) Anagram of HEAPS + ANT
29 FRIDGE
Fine, raised strip of land should be cooler (6) F + RIDGE
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 TRAVESTY
Make fun of judge carrying a waistcoat (8) TRY outside (A + VEST)
2 PARKING
Targeted man on board after standard fringe benefit, possibly (7) KING after PAR
3 CONCOURSE
A gathering of people regarding company beset by misfortune (9) (ON + CO) inside CURSE
5 VANISHING CREAM
Shipping agent in charge is ordered first to move old cosmetic (9,5) VAN + (anagram of IN CHARGE IS) + (M)OVE
6 RETRO
Old-fashioned porters turned up with fringes cut (5) P)ORTER(S reversed
7 HABITUE
Frequent visitor is moderately dressed in colour (7) (A BIT) inside HUE
8 TRENDS
Teenager at the outset breaks with current fashions (6) (T)EENAGER + RENDS
9 ALBERT EINSTEIN
Aluminium and moulded tin beer mug, a really smart one (6,8) AL + anagram of TIN BEER + STEIN
16 TAKE AFTER
Follow large NZ parrot, female, tucking into potato (4,5) (KEA + F) inside TATER
17 FAIR ISLE
Flower wrapped in leaf formed a decorative knitting pattern (4,4) IRIS inside anagram of LEAF
19 FAILURE
Fair curtailed attraction with lack of success (7) (FAI)R + LURE
21 RETREAD
Go through books about pruned tree’s recycled material (7) READ outside (TRE)E
22 TOSS-UP
To cat turning around, it’s a close thing (4-2) TO + (PUSS reversed)
24 OINKS
Ring attached to new sink makes a beastly noise (5) O + anagram of SINK

 

Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 32

The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format.

The solution to this puzzle will appear next week.

  Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 32
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 32
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 31
  Invest in the Future of The Stickler

Please include comments or discussion about this crossword below.
Request help in the Clue Hints blog entry so all can see.

It’s a weekly crossword, so please don’t give/discuss any full answers until the solution is posted (such posts will be deleted/edited).

Enjoy!

The Stickler

Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 32 Clue Hints

(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.


1-across

4-across

10-across

11-across

12-across

13-across


15-across

18-across

23-across


27-across


1-down

2-down

3-down

5-down

7-down

8-down

9-down



19-down


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.

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 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.
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 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 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 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 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 Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 32 Clue Hints

The Stickler Weekly 32 Overseas Help

Welcome all cryptic crossword solvers.

Some cryptic crosswords are tough purely because local lingo is used and not understood by all, especially those living outside of Australia. This post seeks to fill this vernacular gap.

The clues listed here may contain a component not familiar to all outside of Australia.

(click on the clue number to see the inside information)


22-down

Like to add something I’ve missed to help others, or comment on a meaning, term or expression? Please leave a reply below.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 32 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 31 Solution

In the recent Crossword Unclued interview, I mentioned a crossword program, Crossword Compiler (CC), which I have used for almost 20 years. There are other crossword programs out there, but apart from some assessment in the early days, I’m not really familiar with them and have no need to be as CC meets all my current needs. Despite my association with this program, it wasn’t the first one I used.
Back in the early 1990s I met a fellow, Kevin Cox, at an Australian Crossword Club luncheon, who told me about a Windows program he had written as part of his university role, called Crossword Designer (CD). It differed from other crossword programs in that it allowed the user to control word placement rather then just filling a grid with random words. He sent me the program (which was functional but not production-ready) and I used it extensively. The key advantage was the program’s ability to look ahead and weight words according to their usefulness going forward. In other words, the program reduced the chance at reaching a dead-end and at the same time allowed the user to pick their own words. Regular crossword programs fill a grid from a wordlist, relying on the user to provide a wordlist that only has suitable words. Kevin’s program was the forerunner of CC’s Pro Grid Filler that most professional setters are familiar with.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DEDICATION
Editor recalled speech about a commitment (10) ED reversed + (DICTION outside A)
6 APIA
A Pacific capital, one close to central part of Oceania (4) A + P + I + OCE(A)NIA
10 ARSON
Rookie’s first in when playing matchplay, say? (5) (R)OOKIE inside AS + ON
11 INFIELDER
Baseballer wearing fine levied by one senior (9) IN + F + I + ELDER
12 FACILE
Smooth one left wearing make-up (6) (I + L) inside FACE
13 RATCHET
Device promoting One Direction that crew nearly damaged (7) Anagram of (THAT CRE)W
15 RUDDER
Boat’s guide is ignorant about closing of flooded river (6) [RUDE outside FLOODE(D)] + R
16 ADHESIVE
He is in a place that’s disreputable and tacky (8) HES inside (A + DIVE)
17 CHASTISE
Correct time is logged in pursuit (8) (T + IS) inside CHASE
20 ABLOOM
Central branches of eurabbie appear in flower (6) EUR(AB)BIE + LOOM
23 AIRMAIL
Postal service restricted during design trouble (7) (R inside AIM) + AIL
24 IN A WAY
I vote against keeping Western Australia to some extent (2,1,3) I + (NAY outside WA)
26 MISPLACED
Is power cord secured by doctor in the wrong position? (9) (IS + P + LACE) inside MD
27 NAIVE
Green mineral water supplier retired (5) EVIAN reversed
28 DELI
Food shop is very lacking in transportation (4) DELIVERY minus VERY
29 ATTENDANTS
They provide assistance at opening of development held by lessees (10) AT + [(D)EVELOPMENT inside TENANTS]
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DYAD
Parent accepting conclusion of happy couple (4) DAD outside HAPP(Y)
2 DISCARD
Evidence of damage spotted in completed shed (7) SCAR inside DID
3 CONFIDENTIALLY
Find notice replaced by partner behind closed doors (14) Anagram of FIND NOTICE + ALLY
4 TOILET
Waste disposal unit is available for hire with one included (6) (TO LET) outside I
5 OFFERED
Made from iron, vehicle stopper is put on the market (7) OF + FE + RED
7 PAD THAI
Place that reduced one Asian dish (3,4) PAD + (THA)T + I
8 AIRSTREAMS
Races are announced in modified Maseratis (10) Sounds like ARE inside anagram of MASERATIS
9 FEATHERBRAINED
Dizzy Rosemary, say, fell down after great performance (14) (HERB + RAINED) after FEAT
14 PROCLAIMED
Lauded veteran rigged medical (10) PRO + anagram of MEDICAL
16 ACE
Great friend not welcome in royal residence (3) PALACE minus PAL
18 AEROSOL
Spray a variety of rose only on the odd occasion (7) A + anagram of ROSE + (O)N(L)Y
19 SOLICIT
Son shortened lawful proposition (7) (SO)N + LICIT
21 OVATION
Great reception hotel excluded from modernisation (7) INNOVATION minus INN
22 RIDDLE
Screen problem (6) Double definition
25 NEWS
Important information – it’s missed by distracted witness (4) Anagram of WITNESS minus ITS

 

Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 31

The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format.

The solution to this puzzle will appear next week.

  Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 31
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 31
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 30
  Invest in the Future of The Stickler

Please include comments or discussion about this crossword below.
Request help in the Clue Hints blog entry so all can see.

It’s a weekly crossword, so please don’t give/discuss any full answers until the solution is posted (such posts will be deleted/edited).

Enjoy!

The Stickler

Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Stickler Weekly 31 Clue Hints

(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.



10-across

11-across



15-across

16-across

17-across

20-across

23-across


26-across



29-across

1-down

2-down

3-down


5-down

7-down

8-down

9-down

14-down


21-down


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 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 a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation indicator will be present.
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 structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A 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 found by reversing part of the clue, or a synonym for part of the clue. A suitable reversal 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 structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
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.
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.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 31 Clue Hints

The Stickler Weekly 31 Overseas Help

Welcome all cryptic crossword solvers.

Some cryptic crosswords are tough purely because local lingo is used and not understood by all, especially those living outside of Australia. This post seeks to fill this vernacular gap.

The clues listed here may contain a component not familiar to all outside of Australia.

(click on the clue number to see the inside information)


20-across

Like to add something I’ve missed to help others, or comment on a meaning, term or expression? Please leave a reply below.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 31 Overseas Help