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

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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

The Stickler Weekly 11 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)


11-across

3-down

6-down

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

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.
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The Stickler Weekly 10 Solution

I’ve talked about difficulty recently, but only in terms of how a puzzle grid can add its own complexity to the overall crossword. A crossword’s difficulty in general comprises so many factors that it’s almost impossible to get it right for everyone. I regularly get conflicting emails about the difficulty of a particular crossword, which reflects the varying levels of solving ability among solvers and the need for a middle-ground. So how do I know how difficult I’ve made a puzzle? In a perfect world I would pay a team of people to test-solve my puzzles, and adjustments would be made based on their feedback. This process is done by The New York Times who relies on public submissions for their crossword puzzle content. Without this luxury, I must rely on my experience and a consistent approach which I believe yields a consistent, balanced outcome. Generally I aim for easyish to moderate clues throughout, with one or two harder ones to cover all levels of solvers. I don’t always get it right but be assured a great deal of thought goes into it.

Across
1 PARKING SPOT
Leaders in average corporation reserved perk? (7,4) KINGS inside (PAR + POT)
9 CLEAN UP
Make a lot of money from tip in competition (5,2) LEAN inside CUP
10 SOLVENT
So, large outlet is financially sound? (7) SO + L + VENT
11 ACADEMIC
A person studying a rat and interbred mice (8) A + CAD + anagram of MICE
12 STREET
Genealogical structure etched in stone road (6) TREE inside ST
14 REEL
Five pulled out of riotous feast and dance (4) REVEL minus V
15 IMPLICATED
One Government representative with an unusual dialect is under suspicion (10) I + MP + anagram of DIALECT
18 BITCHINESS
Malice took hold in opening board game (10) BIT + (IN inside CHESS)
19 BRIO
Spirit revealed primarily in personal account of life (4) R inside BIO
22 ADDICT
Part of a play, staged outside, did upset aficionado (6) ACT outside anagram of DID
24 ULTIMATE
Fundamental cult with leader lacking one companion (8) (c)ULT + I + MATE
26 DITHERY
Hobbyist’s work clipping the roses at first is indecisive (7) DIY outside [THE + (R)oses]
27 G-STRING
Government income association’s standard line for musicians (1-6) GST + RING
28 DISCONTINUE
Stop broken unit cutting disc one (11) Anagram of UNIT inside (DISC + ONE)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PREVALENT
Stop carrying a large current (9) PREVENT outside (A + L)
2 RANGES
Classifies fruit after opening of orchard (6) o(RANGES)
3 IMPAIRMENT
Rogue pilots head to therapy with disability (10) IMP + AIRMEN + T
4 GIST
Drift could be great around island (4) GT outside IS
5 POLITICO
Statesman, one restrained by copilot going through turbulence (8) I inside anagram of COPILOT
6 THEME
The central points of judgmental essay (5) THE + judg(ME)ntal
7 ECLAIR
Bakery item is so free of rotten calories (6) Anagram of CALORIES minus SO
8 STATED
Specified edition prefaced by sports figure (6) ED with STAT at the front
13 FLASHLIGHT
It may be needed to see rope in escape (10) LASH inside FLIGHT
16 TURN ASIDE
Deviate vessel when carried by movement of sea (4,5) (URN + AS) inside TIDE
17 SHOCKERS
Quiet and loud Australians, disagreeable people (8) SH + OCKERS
18 BEARDS
Hairy growths are trimmed in layers (6) AR(e) inside BEDS
20 ON EDGE
Anxious one died, for example, in retreat (2,4) ONE + D + EG reversed
21 LISTEN
Follow advice and write down both sides of equation (6) LIST + E)quatio(N
23 DATED
Saw is square (5) Double Definition
25 TYRO
Novice’s input acknowledged in duty roster (4) duTY ROster

 

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The Stickler Weekly 10

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 10
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 10
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 9
  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 10 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


18-across

24-across

26-across


28-across



3-down

5-down


8-down

13-down

16-down

18-down

21-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 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 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 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.

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 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 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.
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.

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 position of wordplay elements in the answer.

Examples: before, after, leading, in the middle of, under (down only) 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.
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.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment