The Stickler Weekly 13 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


9-across



14-across

18-across

20-across

25-across

27-across


29-across

1-down

2-down

3-down

4-down



7-down

10-down

13-down

16-down

17-down



The entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram indicator will be present.
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.
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 a mixing-up of letters.

Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.

The clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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.
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 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 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 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 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) 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 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 a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation 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.
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 hidden inside the clue in reverse order. There are two indicators: one to signify that a hidden word is present; the other to reverse the letters.
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.
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The Stickler Weekly 13 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)


8-across

15-across

25-across

4-down

5-down

16-down

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

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The Stickler Weekly 12 Solution

There are always elements found in cryptic crosswords that may cause division among setters and solvers: cryptic definitions, the use of extraneous words, subtraction techniques, the importance of surface meaning to name just a few. This crossword contained a contentious device in 25-down – the use of capitalisation to deceive – that some won’t agree with. Much of my cluing philosophy is based on my experience as a solver – I don’t use techniques that irk me when I solve – so I’m happy to include things that sit well with me as a solver (I also take note feedback from other solvers). In this particular instance I view the capitalisation of any word as OK, since all words could appear in a book or film title, or a newspaper heading, with a capital without changing the meaning of the word. However, de-capitalising a proper noun changes the meaning of the word – solvers look at it differently and in most cases they will have never seen that word written starting with a lowercase letter. Simply, if a solver sees a capitalised word, they can consider both cases easily as there aren’t many in any crossword, however, I believe it’s unreasonable for a solver to be expected to evaluate every non-capitalised word as a potential proper noun as they make up the bulk of the words in a crossword’s clues.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 LEGALESE
Shelter broken apart by strong winds – it’s hard for most to understand (8) LEE outside GALES
5 STAIRS
Celebrities taking one flight (6) STARS outside I
9 GLAND
Last allocation of grazing property – it could be described as secretive (5) grazin(G) + LAND
10 RESTARTED
Foreign trade after period of little activity is taken up (9) Anagram of TRADE after REST
12 FLOWERING PLANT
Rose, say, is taking down design hanging in vacated flat? (9,5) (LOWERING + PLAN) inside F(la)T
13 AUTO
A pick-up clipped front of ordinary American car (4) A + UT(e) + (O)rdinary
14 FEATHERS
Concerns about the growth of birds (8) FEARS outside THE
18 BATTERED
Injured boy originally treated terribly (8) (B)oy + anagram of TREATED
20 OPAL
Stock of shop, a lapidary’s? (4) sh(OP A L)apidarys
24 ACTION STATIONS
Get in position to fight outrageous sanitation cost (6,8) Anagram of SANITATION COST
26 AMSTERDAM
Master arranged to check diamond-cutting centre (9) Anagram of MASTER + DAM
27 IDAHO
Employees of telco had indeed backed the Union member? (5) telc(O HAD I)ndeed reversed
28 SANITY
Fool involved in, say, mental health (6) NIT inside SAY
29 ON-STREAM
Shifted tons, a large quantity of paper, in production (2-6) Anagram of TONS + REAM
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 LEG OF LAMB
The French try most of flambe meat (3,2,4) LE + GO + (FLAMB)e
2 GO ABOUT
Indian state organised competition to change course (2,5) GOA + BOUT
3 LADIES
Public facility that is checked by boys (6) IE inside LADS
4 SURFIE
One who’s keen to take a break? (6) Cryptic Definition
6 TEA CLOTH
Group in school handled dryer (3,5) LOT in TEACH
7 INTENSE
Powerful tennis played with energy (7) Anagram of TENNIS + E
8 SODS
Unpleasant people died during call for help (4) D inside SOS
11 SIGNER
Handy communicator? (6) Cryptic Definition
15 SALESROOM
Ship with cargo of alcohol returned to secure marketing area (9) (ALE inside SS) + (MOOR reversed)
16 REGIMENT
Conversion of metering is subject to excessive control (8) Anagram of METERING
17 LEANED
One, giving up nothing with principal around, bent over (6) (o)NE inside LEAD
19 TUCKS IN
Greedily eats prune up with wrinkled skin (5,2) CUT reversed + anagram of SKIN
21 PROBATE
Investigation stalling at document that proves a will is genuine (7) PROBE outside AT
22 STAMEN
Stag briefly showed people a reproductive organ (6) STA(g) + MEN
23 STRICT
Hard trick ended early in street (6) TRIC(k) inside ST
25 WARS
Battles Green over closure of wetlands (4) RAW reversed + wetland(S)

 

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Stickler Boxed Set 1 Now Available

Hi Puzzlers,

There were many requests for a book of puzzles at the time The Stickler was axed from The Daily Telegraph. A number of people stated that they were late in discovering the puzzle, so they would be interested in buying a collection of published puzzles.

I’m pleased to announce the release of Stickler Boxed Set 1, a collection of 25 published puzzles from 2004. I intentionally started with this era as my style was well established and I am still happy with the puzzles. Some clues have been modernised and globalised to appeal to a wider audience, but the majority of clues remain untouched. These puzzles were originally only available to people in NSW, Australia, so will be new to everyone else.

To add some value, I’ve included clue help for all the puzzles on my website, and worked solutions that will be especially useful for those who are learning cryptics or teaching others the art of cryptic solving.

I’ve set up some simple buying options, and there’s an choice to buy for one person or for a group so you can copy it and distribute to friends, solving buddies at the club, or in a community college class etc.  Stickler Boxed Set 1 comes as an eBook or in bound form.

Each boxed set takes a while to assemble as it has to be formatted from scratch. The next one is in the pipeline, and there are more to come.

To learn more about and buy Stickler Boxed Set 1, click here, use the menu above, or click on the icon to the right of this post.

Thanks

The Stickler

Posted in Stickler Boxed Set 1 Availability, The Stickler | 3 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 12

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 12
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 12
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 11
  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 , , , | 4 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 12 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.



5-across


10-across

12-across


26-across


1-down

2-down

3-down


6-down

11-down

15-down

17-down

19-down

21-down

25-down

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 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 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.
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 answer is hidden inside the clue in reverse order. There are two indicators: one to signify that a hidden word is present; the other to reverse the letters.
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.

There is only one part to this clue, a definition, and it's usually a play on words. There aren't any indicators.
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.
There is only one part to this clue, a definition, and it's usually a play on words. There aren't any indicators.
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 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 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.

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.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 12 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)


4-down

8-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 12 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 11 Solution

It’s not uncommon to have a person’s name as an answer in a crossword, but have you thought about, in crossword terms, how different any proper noun (and names especially) is to an everyday word? First and foremost is working out the definition. Some setters are happy with something general like “writer”, but this is far too broad for my liking and not all that helpful to the solver. It has to be specific enough but not so definitive that it makes the wordplay element redundant. Then there’s the clue that leads to someone’s name: could it be seen as offensive or inappropriate? As we know, a cryptic clue shouldn’t be read like a straight clue, but you can’t help associating the whole clue with the answer, which may be a person’s name. Care is required. This may be why the Times prohibit the use of any living person as an answer in their crosswords. Cluing someone’s name isn’t always easy either as foreign names especially have tricky letters, and generally an anagram is the only choice. This week’s crossword had MAO ZEDONG as an answer at 15-down – thankfully what looked hard to clue at the start turned out to be relatively easy with the definition put at the start to disguise the need for a capital C for “Chairman”.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 NO-TRUMPS
Call is not right by officials in the middle (2-6) NOT + R + UMPS
5 PLACID
Head of clan dressed in tartan without ruffles (6) (C)lan inside PLAID
9 ANT-HILL
King not taking part in an exciting occasion in Queen’s building (3-4) (AN + THRILL) minus R
10 MALLARD
Male clipped fat duck (7) MAL(e) + LARD
11 SCEPTICISM
Disbelief that’s festering outside church primarily is connected with mass (10) SEPTIC outside (C)hurch + IS + M
12 GAPE
Section of something, a peculiarly wide opening (4) somethinG A PEculiarly
14 REMINISCE
Recall past crimes in debauched capital of Europe (9) (Anagram of CRIMES IN) + (E)urope
16 LIAR
Bar sent back one trying to sell pork pies (4) RAIL reversed
18 MOLE
Spot an infiltrator (4) Double Definition
19 ALLIANCES
Everyone in case formed partnerships (9) ALL + anagram of IN CASE
21 STET
Retainer is agreed upon, including time (4) SET outside T
22 PIANO STOOL
Player’s support ain’t so organised in sharing group (5,5) (Anagram of AINT SO) inside POOL
25 UTOPIAN
Fantastic test clearing outpatients undergoing surgery (7) Anagram of OUTPATIENTS minus TEST
26 ON A DIET
Do eat in irregularly, eating particular foods (2,1,4) Anagram of DO EAT IN
27 RAGING
Jewellery containing silver is wild (6) RING outside AG
28 ESTEEMED
Honoured guests at the centre fell down heavily (8) gu(ES)ts + TEEMED
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 NOAHS ARK
Old vessel not tailed by a shark at sea (5,3) NO(t) + anagram of A SHARK
2 TITHE
Offering it up, they finished short (5) IT reversed + THE(y)
3 UNINTENDED
Accommodation completed around back of mansion is not planned (10) (UNIT + ENDED) outside mansio(N)
4 POLICE STATION
Pilots notice a relocated headquarters for law-enforcers (6,7) Anagram of PILOTS NOTICE A
6 LOLL
Drop is sweet mostly (4) LOLL(y)
7 CHARABANC
Coach Arab in probability before final (9) ARAB inside CHANC(e)
8 DODGEM
Electric car damaged odd stone of some value (6) Anagram of ODD + GEM
10 MISCELLANEOUS
A solemn clue is reworked and varied (13) Anagram of A SOLEMN CLUE IS
13 CLEAN SLATE
A record without dishonour may be inadequate in Newcastle? (5,5) LEAN inside anagram of CASTLE
15 MAO ZEDONG
Chairman who led Australian editor on in magazine (3,6) (OZ + ED + ON) inside MAG
17 ISOLATED
Is dead, with external evidence of overdose hard to find (8) IS + (LATE inside OD)
20 ISSUER
Publisher is backed by litigator (6) IS + SUER
23 ODIUM
Dislike platform with front section removed (5) (p)ODIUM
24 MIEN
Aspect, one held by people generally (4) I inside MEN

 

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The Stickler 11 Weekly

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 11
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 11
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 10
  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 , , , | 5 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 11 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


9-across

10-across


14-across

16-across

19-across

21-across

22-across

25-across

28-across

1-down

3-down

7-down

13-down


17-down

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.
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.
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.

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 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 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.
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.

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.

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.
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.
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments