AFR Cryptic (New Year 2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HECTORED
Notice positioned outside court or pushed around (8) HEED outsode (CT + OR)
5 ROWING
Olympic sport in dispute (6) Double Definition
9 CHANTS
Church workers repeated songs (6) CH + ANTS
13 READY
Daycare not checking about organised game (5) Anagram of DAYCARE minus CA
14 REAR-END
Auditor involved in split hit back (4-3) EAR inside REND
15 OBSERVANT
Nomadic braves not adhering to religious practices (9) Anagram of BRAVES NOT
17 AUTOPILOT
Ship’s guide is leading one in possession of gold fortune (9) (TOP + I) inside (AU + LOT)
18 ACCOMMODATING
Co-operative, dogmatic man re-engaged outside company? (13) Anagram of DOGMATIC MAN outside CO
19 TUNIC
Unit replaced cold soldier’s jacket (5) Anagram of UNIT + C
20 PARCELS
Central part of airport clears redirected packages (7) air(P)ort + anagram of CLEARS
21 GHETTO
Needy part of city hospital is within reach (6) H inside GET TO
24 ANTHOLOGY
Remixed “hot” record in some record collection (9) (Anagram of HOT + LOG) inside ANY
27 MAORI
Characters returning from Cairo amazed New Zealander (5) caIRO AMazed reversed
28 REMOVE
Transfer half of them involved in cruise (6) th(EM) inside ROVE
30 AULD LANG SYNE
Analysed lung infected long ago (4,4,4) Anagram of ANALYSED LUNG
32 SPOILSPORT
Slop is blended with wine and damper (10) Anagram of SLOP IS + PORT
34 MISSIONARY
Evangelist is one accepted by son carried by Mary (10) [IS + (I inside SON)] inside MARY
36 REPRODUCTION
Breeding decline probed by expert (12) PRO inside REDUCTION
39 SNAPPY
Smart agent catching 40 winks (6) SPY outside NAP
40 ABOUT
A period of illness is concerning (5) A + BOUT
41 WORK ETHIC
Ocker with twisted attitude to hard yakka (4,5) Anagram of OCKER WITH
44 BARONS
Business leaders working in public houses (6) ON inside BARS
45 DESTINY
Fortune and time put into animated production of Disney (7) T inside anagram of DISNEY
48 RECUR
Return to mind ingredients belonging to Pierre Curie (5) pierRE CURie
52 WEATHER-BEATEN
Seasoned wheat (not hard) eaten after herb (7-6) WHEAT minus H + (EATEN after HERB)
54 PERSEVERE
Keep going as such, moving around at all times (9) PERSE outside EVER
55 GATHERING
Gang concentrated on the extreme elements of their troubled group (9) GANG outside anagram of THEIR
56 ORGANZA
Gran worked in Australia with a silky material (7) Anagram of GRAN inside OZ + A
57 DRAFT
Drive behind stock separated from the herd (5) DR + AFT
58 POSTER
Advertising time grabbed by model (6) T inside POSER
59 EASILY
Each one must be handled in secret without difficulty (6) EA + (I inside SLY)
60 HEAR HEAR
Words of agreement may be spoken at this place repeatedly (4,4) Sounds like HERE twice
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HERBAL TEA
Her table ordered a hot drink (6,3) Anagram of HER TABLE
2 CHASTEN
Purify speed in empty can? (7) HASTE inside C(a)N
3 OLYMPIC POOL
Ring up after millions invested in policy ruined sports centre (7,4) LOOP reversed after (M inside anagram of POLICY)
4 EARFLAP
A ref switched round cap attachment (7) Anagram of A REF + LAP
6 OPERATE
Make a speech about gym work (7) ORATE outside PE
7 INDECISION
Hesitancy duet oddly displayed during opening (10) (D)u(E)t inside INCISION
8 GLOOM
Become visible after end of mystifying darkness (5) LOOM after mystifyin(G)
9 CUSTOMER
Patron caught employer admitting to mistake initially (8) (C + USER) outside [TO + (M)istake]
10 AIR MATTRESS
Inflatable, one wedged in channel at lock (3,8) I inside ARM + AT + TRESS
11 THAT IS
Sit up holding hat, for example (4,2) SIT reversed outside HAT
12 MASTERLY
It’s needed to sail early without a professional (8) MAST + EARLY minus A
16 TOGS
Swimmers got over sandbars finally (4) GOT reversed + sandbar(S)
21 GRIPPER
It’s made to hold pig’s tail – an excellent thing (7) pi(G) + RIPPER
22 MONOLITH
Mass of rock oil refined in a set period of time (8) Anagram of OIL inside MONTH
23 NEATEN
Clean up last bit of chicken tried by consumers (6) chicke(N) + EATEN
25 TALISMAN
Items from a list represented person’s charm? (8) Anagram of A LIST + MAN
26 OWNING
Having nothing new primarily in part of hospital (6) O + (N)ew inside WING
27 MENU
Waiter’s offering people starter of umeboshi (4) MEN + (U)meboshi
29 HINDER
Check sample of flesh in dermatology (6) flesH IN DERmatology
30 ALMOST
One leaving limo parked in a street pretty well (6) LIMO minus I inside (A + ST)
31 STREAMS
Courses rate badly in text (7) Anagram of RATE inside SMS
33 FEET
Unit used to measure temperature following application of charge (4) T after FEE
35 IMPEACHMENT
Accusation rogue men put in each time (11) IMP + [MEN inside (EACH + T)]
37 CHEERLEADER
Chef mostly cooked real deer for inspiring entertainer (11) (CHE)f + anagram of REAL DEER
38 TOADSTOOLS
Consumers can’t take these to agencies accepting advertisements (10) (TO + TOOLS) outside ADS
41 WHIPPING
Defeat in Poland originally secured by air force unit (8) [HIP + (P)oland] inside WING
42 CARPENTER
Vehicle quietly set down tradie (9) CAR + P + ENTER
43 COURTIER
Palace attendant’s time taken by messenger (8) T inside COURIER
46 SENEGAL
African nation processed film needed in authentication (7) NEG inside SEAL
47 YARDAGE
Distance, for example, a cart reversed (7) (EG + A + DRAY) reversed
49 CREMATE
Burn mark noticed in form (7) M inside CREATE
50 SWIG
Knock back small head cover (4) S + WIG
51 TATTOO
Artwork display by the military (6) Double Definition
53 EAGLE
Each golfer regularly recorded shot on course (5) EA + (G)o(L)f(E)r

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AFR New Year 2025 Clueless Solution


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AFR Cryptic, New Year Bumper, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out Christmas’s cryptic crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Xmas 2024 Cryptic 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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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 phrase that defines the answer. All cryptic clues usually have a minimum of one definition which will be located at the beginning or end of the clue.
The entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram 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 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 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 structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
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.
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 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 answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.

Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The 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 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.
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AFR Cryptic AJ (Xmas 2024) Solution

Please see the PDF for the worked solution

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AFR Cryptic (Xmas 2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ACARID
Cutting pierced by a mite (6) ACRID outside A
5 ACCEPT
Receive copies wrapped in tape loosely (6) CC inside anagram of TAPE
8 FUNDAMENTALISM
Support a leader of theology after people misinterpreted Islam’s strict religious beliefs (14) FUND + A +[(T)heology after MEN)] + anagram of ISLAM
10 EQUITY
Justice is quite confused by attorney’s conclusion (6) Anagram of QUITE + attorne(Y)
11 BRIAN ENO
One in bar distracted musician influential in experimental music (5,3) Anagram of ONE IN BAR
13 PORE
Opening is not very good according to audience (4) Sounds like POOR
14 INFALLIBLE
Popular old story about misfortune returning is sure to succeed (10) IN + [FABLE outside (ILL reversed)]
17 REDISCOVER
Once again find wine is finished after start of course (10) RED + IS + [OVER after (C)ourse]
18 DADO
Decorated part of a wall constructed, in the end, with difficulty (4) constructe(D) + ADO
20 ORDAINED
Radio broadcast retraction of study as required (8) Anagram of RADIO + (DEN reversed)
22 PRESET
Research in particular should be arranged in advance (6) RES inside PET
24 POLITICAL PARTY
Albanese’s mob stuffing art policy – it upset group in parliament (9,5) ALP inside anagram of ART POLICY IT
25 PIDGIN
Sort of lipreading not catering for “real” language (6) Anagram of LIPREADING minus REAL
26 TILLER
One who works the land steering contraption (6) Double Definition
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 CONCURRED
Agreed about scoundrel consumed by credibility (9) (ON + CUR) inside CRED
3 ROASTS
Hot joints, for instance, counted among spoils (6) AS inside ROTS
4 DEEP
Intellectual visited ladies, say, heading west (4) PEED reversed
5 ALTERNATES
A large seabird at centre of nest takes turns (10) A + L + TERN + AT + n(ES)t
6 CULPABLE
Competition expert, punched by learner, is at fault (8) (CUP + ABLE) outside L
7 PASSE
Old hat faded almost completely (5) (PASSE)d
8 FREE PARDON
Noble turned up in remote district, initially assigned to Amnesty (4,6) PEER reversed inside FAR + (D)istrict + ON
9 NOTEWORTHY
Striking, not strange theory, based around tungsten (10) NOT + anagram of THEORY outside W
12 INDONESIAN
Asian one is briefly adopted by another? (10) ONES inside INDIAN
15 BRASSERIE
Fresh berries offered outside a small restaurant (9) Anagram of BERRIES outside (A + S)
16 ASPIRING
One in a vault is ambitious (8) I inside (A + SPRING)
19 PROPEL
Footballer held down flankers to move ahead? (6) PROP + h)EL(d
21 DHOTI
Hindu garment currently fashionable in the outskirts of Delhi? (5) HOT inside (D)elh(I)
23 PART
Leave hazard on course raked over (4) TRAP reversed

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AFR Xmas 2024 Year In Review Solution

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AFR Cryptic, Christmas Bumper 2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (14/12/2024) 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.
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 answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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 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 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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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 entire answer is found by reversing part of the clue, or a synonym for part of the clue. A suitable reversal indicator will be present.
The answer is found by 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.
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.
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.
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.

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 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.
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AFR Cryptic AJ, Christmas Bumper 2024, Clue Hints

 

(Click on the given letter 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (14/12/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 TOUCHSTONE
Standard sort of cut shot finishing up with single (10) Anagram of CUT SHOT + ONE
6 BUST
Work of art is broken (4) Double Definition
8 PROVINCE
Area in front of courthouse featured in show (8) [IN + (C)ourt] inside PROVE
9 CARPET
Reprimand coach with blue-eyed boy (6) CAR + PET
10 ASIO
Spy group is recalled following a leader of operations (4) IS reversed after A + (O)perations
11 SPACE CADET
School accepted a distracted person who is out of touch with reality (5,5) S + anagram of ACCEPTED A
12 INNOVATOR
Eggs delivered at the back of inn to right person who makes things happen (9) (OVA after INN) + TO + R
14 DUVET
Cover song performed by two, including verse (5) DUET outside V
17 THREW
Cast right into the water at the front (5) R inside [THE +(W)ater]
19 MAKE HASTE
Friend, carrying keg, nearly has to hurry (4,5) MATE outside [KE(g) + HAS]
22 MASCARPONE
Large serving of mash, fish and one kind of cream cheese (10) (MAS)h + CARP + ONE
23 ARIA
People leaving Armenia performed song (4) ARMENIA minus MEN
24 RESULT
Score drug addict brought back late, oddly (6) USER reversed + (L)a(T)e
25 HAIRLINE
Very thin hydrogen gas pipe (8) H + AIR + LINE
26 LOUT
Yahoo left in an exhausted state (4) L + OUT
27 STRING VEST
Small band against wearing sample underwear (6,4) S + [( RING + V) inside TEST]
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 TOPIARIST
Fashion-conscious gardener’s hat is covered in art (9) TOPI + (IS inside ART)
2 UTOPIAN
University, to one on board vessel, is ideal (7) U + TO + (I inside PAN)
3 SANDSOAP
Abrasive cleaner, an awful sod, stuck in drain (8) (AN + anagram of SOD) inside SAP
4 ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
Switched on a new rotary hoe somehow (3,3,2,7) Anagram of ON A NEW ROTARY HOE
5 EXCEED
Beat former outspoken top player (6) EX + sounds like SEED
6 BARRACUDA
Fish food that’s regurgitated by a fish (9) BARRA + CUD + A
7 SEE HERE
Hassled sheepshearer not influenced by sharp look (3,4) Anagram of SHEEPSHEARER minus SHARP
13 OPEN COURT
Public tribunal ordered recount following downsizing of operation (4,5) Anagram of RECOUNT after OP
15 THE LATEST
Athletes reserved time for current information? (3,6) Anagram of ATHLETES + T
16 DELETION
Removed passage and note was first written up about one (8) (NOTE + LED) reversed outside I
18 HEAVE TO
Stop sailing ban after heat decreased (5,2) VETO after HEA(t)
20 SURMISE
Suspect male is locked in stable (7) (M + IS) inside SURE
21 GRATIS
Head of giant rodent is on the house (6) (G)iant + RAT + IS

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 14/12/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (7/12/2024) 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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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.

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 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.

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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