AFR Cryptic (22/2/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 TESTBED
Liability set back place equipped to assess new technology (7) (DEBT + SET) reversed
5 REBATES
Spectator returned clutching club discounts (7) SEER reversed outside BAT
9 ACORN
Fruit with a hard skin (5) A + CORN
10 SAMARITAN
Salvation Army and I represented in shop by an admirable fellow (9) SA + (I inside MART) + AN
11 TREE FERN
Underwater development restricted by sea-bird’s growth in a tropical area (4,4) REEF inside TERN
12 DEALER
Merchant types bound to provide ale regularly (6) proviDE ALE Regularly
14 PARTIAL ECLIPSE
It applies clear, treated blockout without full effect (7,7) Anagram of IT APPLIES CLEAR
17 HOLDING PATTERN
Flying course taken by pilot going nowhere? (7,7) Cryptic Definition
21 TRIFLE
Time to shoot child’s play (6) T + RIFLE
23 FEARLESS
Fellow, like a snake, say, is bold (8) F + EARLESS
25 HOSTELLER
Hotel overseas employed cashier, a backpacker (9) H + OS + TELLER
26 FLUTE
Loud instrument, part of the wind section (5) F + LUTE
27 TRESSES
Hair highlights trimmed at the front (7) (s)TRESSES
28 NASCENT
Last part of mountain climb is rising (7) mountai(N) + ASCENT
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 TRAITS
Gallery display backed its features (6) ART revrsed + ITS
2 STONEWALL
Hold up one working at the front in kiosk (9) [ONE + (W)orking} inside STALL
3 BENEFIT
Speculation about organisation of fine fund-raiser (7) BET outside anagram of FINE
4 DISARRANGE
Untidy Detective Inspector managed in case of local officer (10) DI + (RAN inside SARGE)
5 ROMP
Ace not included in broadcast of pro-am’s easy victory (4) Anagram of PROAM minus A
6 BAR-BELL
Weight lifted by ringer in pub (3-4) Double Definition
7 TOTAL
Get numbers together to say something briefly (5) TO + TAL(k)
8 SENTRIES
Heartless residents manipulated guards? (8) Anagram of RESI(d)ENTS
13 DECAHEDRON
Figure of solid build moved redhead on outside clubs (10) Anagram of REDHEAD ON outside C
15 PERSECUTE
Hound is essentially delightful (9) PER SE + CUTE
16 CHITCHAT
Convener’s primary problem at talk (8) (C)onvener + HITCH + AT
18 ILLNESS
Unlimited pills linked to head cold, for example? (7) p)ILL(s + NESS
19 TARIFFS
Taxes are not finalised in petty disputes (7) AR(e) inside TIFFS
20 ASSERT
Confirm announcement of a sure-fire winner (6) Sounds like A CERT
22 ISSUE
Publication is to instigate litigation (5) IS + SUE
24 ALMS
Charity is part of Palm Sunday (4) pALM Sunday

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 22/2/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (15/2/2025) 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.




















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 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 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.

There is only one part to this clue, a definition, and it's usually a play on words. There aren't any indicators.
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 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.
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 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 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 answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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AFR Cryptic (15/2/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 THREADBARE
Study obstacle jumped by the stock (10) (READ + BAR) inside THE
6 WARM
Westpac’s first branch is friendly and responsive (4) (W)estpac + ARM
9 MACRO
Computer staff shortened computer instruction (5) MAC + RO(d)
10 APPOINTED
A quiet couple prepared to dine as arranged (9) A + PP + anagram of TO DINE
12 FRIENDLIES
Fan tells stories about end of bitter practice matches (10) (FIEND + LIES) outside bitte(R)
13 COG
Firm close to firing unimportant person in the organisation (3) CO + firin(G)
15 AISLES
A place that’s isolated by small passages (6) A + ISLE + S
16 GET IDEAS
Swimmers in huge tide assumed to be ambitious? (3,5) huGE TIDE ASsumed
18 ENDURING
Permanent dune shifted round (8) Anagram of DUNE + RING
20 CAPITA
Heads from a mine in the outskirts of Canberra? (6) (A + PIT) inside (C)anberr(A)
23 AGE
Get old, unbound contents of book? (3) p)AGE(s
24 AIRFREIGHT
Cost of shipping iridium in Africa by crew (10) IR inside AFR + EIGHT
26 EYESHADES
Visors certainly had wedged in pocket of withdrawn witness (9) (YES + HAD) inside (SEE reversed)
27 NORTH
Point and dash not used in modified form of shorthand (5) Anagram of SHORTHAND minus DASH
28 FAST
Sound like a shot (4) Double Definition
29 TRANSLATED
Simplified service scheduled after brief time (10) (RAN + SLATED) after T
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 TAME
Master thanks the writer (4) TA + ME
2 RECORDS
Releases some wines plugged with cork mostly (7) REDS outside (COR)k
3 ABOVE REPROACH
Extra with role in interpretation of Bach opera is faultless (5,8) OVER inside anagram of BACH OPERA
4 BEARDS
Hairy growths are trimmed in layers (6) AR(e) inside BEDS
5 REPAIRED
Agent before broadcast is put right (8) REP + AIRED
7 ARTICLE
Creative work left in cool section of newspaper (7) ART + (L inside ICE)
8 MADAGASCAR
Island republic’s bananas delivered by a gas vehicle (10) MAD + A + GAS + CAR
11 INSPIRATIONAL
New sort of PIN is sensible and encouraging (13) Anagram of PIN IS + RATIONAL
14 TAKE CARE OF
Nurse is agitated after a Coke (4,4,2) Anagram of AFTER A COKE
17 INTRUDER
Crook turned right following one prowler (8) (Anagram of TURNED + R) after I
19 DEEPENS
Rising performer in competition, hanging around enclosure, gets stronger (7) SEED reversed outside DEN
21 INHERIT
Be left in here, not totally with it (7) IN + HER(e) + IT
22 PRISON
European capital without a working detention centre (6) PARIS minus A + ON
25 CHAD
Combined group in church addressed African nation (4) churCH ADdressed

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 15/2/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (8/2/2025) 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) 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 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 the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.

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.
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 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 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.

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AFR Cryptic (8/2/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RACE RELATIONS
Ecstasy taken by speed freaks in Ethnic Affairs (4,9) ELATION inside RACERS
9 BLASTED
Terminal in base exploded (7) LAST inside BED
10 HADRIAN
Wall builder has cut off broken drain (7) HA(s) + anagram of DRAIN
11 THIGH
Time taken with gamy piece of chicken (5) T + HIGH
12 SPRINTERS
They run fast, small computer devices (9) S + PRINTERS
13 CRITERIA
Procedure in clubs backed broadcast standards (8) RITE inside [C + (AIR reversed)]
15 INTERN
One after another listened to doctor (6) Sounds like IN TURN
18 TUNICS
Nice suit, terribly short, that is casualwear (6) Anagram of NICE SUIT minus IE
19 BILE DUCT
“Tube connected to the duodenum” is clued badly in part (4,4) Anagram of CLUED inside BIT
22 BALLERINA
Drunken liberal backed an individual in first position, say (9) Anagram of LIBERAL + (AN reversed)
24 SNAIL
One slow to move yacht around pole (5) SAIL outside N
25 RED WINE
We diners mostly ordered alcohol (3,4) Anagram of (WE DINER)s
26 CRANAGE
Heavy lifter’s charge should be managed in a restricted enclosure (7) RAN inside CAGE
27 ENGINE-DRIVERS
People in charge of transportation needing distributed waterways (6-7) Anagram of NEEDING + RIVERS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ROBOTIC
Strip of the ear is stiff (7) ROB + OTIC
2 COALITION
Fossil fuel – it is reduced by half by active political group (9) COAL + IT + I(s) + ON
3 RETCH
Bring up sealed section of secret chamber (5) secRET CHamber
4 LADYSHIP
Noble title sadly not normally following the latest fashion (8) Anagram of SADLY + HIP
5 T-SHIRT
Top shire briefly mentioned in middle of letter (1-5) SHIR(e) inside le(TT)er
6 ORDINANCE
Established ceremony or social occasion held outside home (9) OR + (DANCE outside IN)
7 SMITE
Place populated by millions is hit hard (5) M inside SITE
8 UNISON
Tertiary institution’s operating with complete agreement (6) UNIS + ON
14 EXCEEDING
Great excuse denied us justice ultimately, by accident (9) EXCUSE minus US + justic(E) + DING
16 EMU PARADE
Dream up a convoluted end to the pick-up line (3,6) Anagram of DREAM UP A + th(E)
17 FINANCED
Learn about treatment of acne that’s guaranteed (8) FIND outside anagram of ACNE
18 TUBERS
Fleshy underground stems right inside pipes (6) R inside TUBES
20 TELLERS
Time taken by seller unsettled cashiers (7) T + anagram of SELLER
21 LIVE-IN
Resident left one with style (4-2) L + I + VEIN
23 LEDGE
Accounting book discounted narrow projection (5) LEDGE(r)
24 SWAMI
Religious master was disturbed by one after mass (5) Anagram of WAS + (I after M)

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 8/2/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (1/2/2025) 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.
















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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 (1/2/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CERAMIST
Potter’s backed horse is featured in court (8) (MARE reversed + IS) inside CT
5 LATHES
Young girl nearly cut by the machinery (6) (LAS)s outside THE
10 BRANDY ALEXANDER
Relax and be spoilt drinking hot cocktail (6,9) ANagram of RELAX AND BE outside RANDY
11 DEPARTMENT
Section tampered with Reformation books of religious significance (10) Anagram of TAMPERED + NT
12 REAL
Only half of Canadian port is authentic (4) mont(REAL)
14 FARTER
Gas emitter at a more advanced point releasing hydrogen (6) FARTHER minus H
15 NARRATE
Rushed back to assess report (7) RAN reversed + RATE
18 IN SHORT
Prepared historian not using AI to sum up (2,5) ANagram of HISTORIAN minus AI
20 SHTICK
Little time needed at the end of quiet comedian’s routine (6) TICK after SH
21 PALE
Part of a fence is lacking in colour (4) Double Definition
23 BRING ABOUT
Manage to call sailor involved in drinking session (5,5) (RING + AB) inside BOUT
26 TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS
Wonder if a term’s wrong at end of temporary sign (6,2,7) Anagran of IF A TERMS after (TEMP + LEO)
27 HERESY
This world, say, not supporting a belief contrary to established theory (6) HERE + (SAY minus A)
28 PENDANTS
Items of jewellery finish up in pocket of trousers (8) END inside PANTS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CUBED
Copper base is cut into small pieces (5) CU + BED
2 REAPPEARS
Harvest fruit turns up again (9) REAP + PEARS
3 MODERATION
Mediator worked on composure (10) Anagram of MEDIATOR
4 STAMMER
Smart men mostly sorted out communication problem (7) ANAgram of (SMART ME)n
6 AGAS
A substance that powers kitchen appliances (4) A + GAS
7 HEDGE
Hard cutter fashioned fence (5) H +EDGE
8 STROLLED
Street wound round and rambled (8) ST + ROLLED
9 PENNON
Old money largely being supported by standard (6) (PENN)y + ON
13 PROTRACTED
Long-winded veteran star regularly performed on stage (10) PRO + s(T)a(R) + ACTED
16 ANCHORMAN
Monarch rattled an individual who’s crucial to the success of a broadcast (9) Anagram of MONARCH + AN
17 DISPATCH
Carry out fancy bath found in dump (8) SPA inside DITCH
19 TORPOR
Drowsiness some attributed to stout or port (6) stouT OR PORt
20 SANTA FE
Feast spread around an important city in New Mexico (5,2) Anagram of FEAST outside AN
22 LEMUR
Arboreal animal left crested animal next to river? (5) L + EMU + R
24 TUSKS
Trade union makes requests, ignoring a number of tough projections (5) TU + (ASKS minus A)
25 PLUS
Asset may be costly to a large extent (4) (PLUS)h

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 1/2/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (25/1/2025) 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.

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 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 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 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 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.
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.

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.
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AFR Cryptic (25/1/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CHAMBERPOT
Hot, orangy-yellow pee sat in bed pan (10) (H + AMBER + P) inside COT
6 GOES
Turns and leaves (4) Double Definition
10 SCRUM
Packed assembly room initially appearing in film (5) (R)oom inside SCUM
11 PHENOMENA
People in possession of a phone organised remarkable events (9) MEN inside anagram of A PHONE
12 LOOSENED
What a guide did about noose incorrectly untied (8) LED outside anagram of NOOSE
13 OAFISH
Ring a swimmer slow on the uptake (6) O + A + FISH
15 GENTLE
Light tile oddly found inside building block (6) (T)i(L)e inside GENE
16 NEW AGER
Modern revolutionary is one not starting to gamble (3,4) (o)NE + WAGER
18 NUT
One unbalanced cask must be returned (3) TUN reversed
19 INHIBIT
Hold back trendy greeting before segment (7) IN + HI + BIT
21 HEROIC
Grand final of one in rocky choir (6) on(E) inside anagram of CHOIR
24 NO-NAME
Unconventional moneyman not handling my type of generic branding (2-4) Anagram of MONEYMAN minus MY
25 SCREAMER
Shopper’s primary milk substitute! (8) (S)hopper + CREAMER
27 DISREPAIR
Dreadful couple admitting son’s initial neglect (9) (DIRE + PAIR) outside (S)on
28 TONGA
Island group not affected by reduction of gas (5) Anagram of NOT + (GA)s
29 PAYS
Head of personnel, say, adjusted salaries (4) (P)ersonnel + anagram of SAY
30 SEA SERPENT
Gently manoeuvre rod inside weakened creature of the deep (3,7) (EASE + R) inside SPENT
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 COSTLY
Company time put into secret of great value (6) CO + (T inside SLY)
2 AUREOLE
Gold part going around top of evangelist’s halo (7) (AU + ROLE) outside (E)vangelist
3 BUMPER-TO-BUMPER
Worthless forward arranged more pub crawling (6-2-6) BUM + PERT + anagram of MORE PUB
4 REPRESENTS
Agent doesn’t like displays (10) REP + RESENTS
5 OVEN
Part of stove normally (4) stOVE Normally
7 OPENING
Initial direction taken by disoriented pigeon (7) N inside anagram of PIGEON
8 SEASHORE
Spot bordering wood or coastal area (8) SEE outside (ASH + OR)
9 ROYAL WORCESTER
China relocated lawyer or escort? (5,9) Anagram of LAWYER OR ESCORT
14 ON THE CARDS
Restoration of car in shed, not strangely likely to happen (2,3,5) CAR inside anagram of SHED NOT
17 SIGNED UP
Twisted genius, accepting end of world power, enlisted (6,2) [Anagram of GENIUS outside worl(D)] + P
20 HONESTY
Sweet stuff written about saint’s integrity (7) HONEY outside ST
22 IMMENSE
Giant that is seen hanging around male toilets (7) IE outside (M + MENS)
23 DREAMT
Team using resort after drive imagined great things (6) Anagram of TEAM after DR
26 CAVE
A number of upstanding people vacated primitive dwelling (4) peoplE VACated reversed

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 25/1/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (18/1/2025) 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.





















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.
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 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 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.

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.
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 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.

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 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.
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