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
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
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
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.
Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.
Examples: held by, kept by, embraced by - anything that creates the image of being contained.
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 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.
Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.
Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.
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.

| 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 |
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.
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.
Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.
Examples: part of, associated with, types of.
Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.
Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.

| 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 |
Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (15/3/2025) 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.
Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.
Examples: held by, kept by, embraced by - anything that creates the image of being contained.
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.

| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | SAMOAN | |
| Islander, say, cut short protest (6) | SA(y) + MOAN | |
| 4 | SPANGLES | |
| Special fishes with shiny spots (8) | SP + ANGLES | |
| 9 | TASTE | |
| Small serving of polenta steamed, perhaps? (5) | polenTA STEamed | |
| 10 | CARBONARA | |
| English banger, say, available in bar, served with a sauce (9) | CAR + (ON in BAR) + A | |
| 11 | AVIATOR | |
| One who flies through to river south of Australia’s capital (7) | (VIA + TO + R) after (A)ustralia | |
| 12 | ALLAYED | |
| Put down vote for splitting up all traders at the centre (7) | AYE inside [ALL + tra(D)ers] | |
| 13 | KEEP | |
| Last to look the other way (4) | PEEK reversed | |
| 14 | ASSESSED | |
| Valued pack animal scattered seeds (8) | ASS + anagram of SEEDS | |
| 17 | SACRISTY | |
| Christ sacrificing much ultimately in, say, part of church (8) | [CHRIST minus muc(H)] inside SAY | |
| 19 | BLUE | |
| Argument is blasted in speech (4) | Sounds like BLEW | |
| 22 | EASTMAN | |
| Mates sorted out an American photographic pioneer (7) | Anagram of MATES + AN | |
| 24 | AMUSING | |
| A reflection is delightful (7) | A + MUSING | |
| 25 | ELUCIDATE | |
| Explain cryptic clue, one written by partner (9) | Anagram of CLUE + I +DATE | |
| 26 | HONDA | |
| Car-maker had changed around reflection of number (5) | Anagram of HAD outside (ON reversed) | |
| 27 | TETHERED | |
| Broken teeth, a light colour, should be secured? (8) | Anagram of TEETH + RED | |
| 28 | ARDENT | |
| Study in creative works is passionate (6) | DEN inside ART | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | SETBACKS | |
| Snags customers primarily carried in woven baskets (8) | (C)ustomers inside anagram of BASKETS | |
| 2 | MUSHINESS | |
| Sentimentality stands out in upset tot (9) | SHINES inside (SUM reversed) | |
| 3 | AGENTS | |
| Sales reps not losing heart in a long time (6) | N(o)T inside AGES | |
| 5 | PERMANENT WAVE | |
| Do look for every adult event organised outside WA (9,4) | PER + MAN + (anagram of EVENT outside WA) | |
| 6 | NOODLES | |
| Pasta, lots, offered after starter from Napoli (7) | OODLES after (N)apoli | |
| 7 | LEAFY | |
| Green meadow finally cleared out? (5) | LEA + F(inall)Y | |
| 8 | SHANDY | |
| Nitrogen discovered in cool drink (6) | N inside SHADY | |
| 10 | CHRISTIAN NAME | |
| Man brought up in China tries changing given title (9,4) | MAN reversed inside anagram of CHINA TRIES | |
| 15 | DALLIANCE | |
| Every single one in dance is flirting (9) | (ALL + I) inside DANCE | |
| 16 | SERGEANT | |
| Sort of anger contained by hardened officer (8) | Anagram of ANGER inside SET | |
| 18 | COMBINE | |
| Show up carrying a few bottles of wine put together (7) | COME outside BIN | |
| 20 | RESENT | |
| Take exception to vacated site included in lease? (6) | S(it)E inside RENT | |
| 21 | PUSHER | |
| Pressure maintained by escort’s drug dealer (6) | P + USHER | |
| 23 | SHUNT | |
| Deliberately avoid time switch (5) | SHUN + T |
Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (8/3/2025) 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.
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.
Examples: held by, kept by, embraced by - anything that creates the image of being contained.
Examples: taken from, decreased by, less.
Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.
Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.

| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | BARONESS | |
| One’s spotted in bars with lady (8) | ONES inside BARS | |
| 5 | FLAUNT | |
| Display unit reduced by half in living space (6) | UN(it) inside FLAT | |
| 10 | HABITAT | |
| Native environment is somewhat active in Panama possibly (7) | (A BIT) inside HAT | |
| 11 | RIVIERA | |
| Waterway spanning island, a part of Europe (7) | RIVER outside I + A | |
| 12 | LASER | |
| Exploited arsenal not fitted with an intense light generator (5) | Anagram of ARSENAL minus AN | |
| 13 | LODESTONE | |
| Surgery on oldest individual is an attractive thing (9) | Anagram of OLDEST + ONE | |
| 14 | OFFICE BLOCKS | |
| Summertime treats available behind substandard accommodation for workers? (6,6) | ICE BLOCKS after OFF | |
| 18 | RULE THE ROOST | |
| Let male mob member in decline be in charge (4,3,5) | (LET + HE+ ROO) inside RUST | |
| 21 | SEA URCHIN | |
| Lookin’ around university for an example of an echinoderm (3,6) | SEARCHIN(g) outside U | |
| 23 | DRAWL | |
| Speak slowly with minor about life primarily (5) | WARD reversed + L | |
| 24 | ITALIAN | |
| One translated a Latin language (7) | I + anagram of A LATIN | |
| 25 | ACTRESS | |
| A broken clock, one with a particular role? (7) | A + C + TRESS (C-LOCK) | |
| 26 | GOTCHA | |
| I understand symbol of acceleration shown next to fluctuating tacho (6) | G + anagram of TACHO | |
| 27 | ON THE SLY | |
| “Honestly” taken completely a different way? (2,3,3) | Anagram of HONESTLY | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | BEHOLD | |
| Observe the man reversing in Valiant (6) | HE reversed inside BOLD | |
| 2 | ROBUST | |
| Athletic run out executed before catch (6) | RO + BUST | |
| 3 | NET PROFIT | |
| Bag for suitable earnings (3,6) | NET + PRO + FIT | |
| 4 | SATELLITE PHONE | |
| Portable communicator – order it in development of phase one (9,5) | (TELL + IT) inside anagram of PHASE ONE | |
| 6 | LIVES | |
| Is wickedness overturned by Jesus ultimately? (5) | EVIL reversed + jesu(S) | |
| 7 | USE FORCE | |
| Refocus misaligned end of telescope and apply pressure (3,5) | Anagram of REFOCUS + telescop(E) | |
| 8 | TRAVERSE | |
| Come across fun-lovers in vacated townhouse? (8) | RAVERS inside T(ownhous)E | |
| 9 | CRADLE MOUNTAIN | |
| A modern cult transformed a popular Tasmanian tourist destination (6,8) | Anagram of A MODERN CULT + A + IN | |
| 15 | LAST-DITCH | |
| Desperate lad crossing street – a rash reaction? (4-5) | LAD outside ST + ITCH | |
| 16 | FROSTING | |
| Sweet coat isn’t mended with jumper around (8) | Anagram of ISNT inside FROG | |
| 17 | PLEASANT | |
| Delightful requests earnestly made by one from a colony (8) | PLEAS + ANT | |
| 19 | CARESS | |
| Control vessel with a gentle touch (6) | CARE + SS | |
| 20 | GLASSY | |
| Expressionless girl taken in by heartless guy? (6) | LASS inside G(u)Y | |
| 22 | REICH | |
| Energy harnessed by affluent German state (5) | E inside RICH |