AFR Cryptic, Easter 2025, Clue Hints

Due to unforeseen circumstances there won’t be any clue hints this week. You guys are going to have to work a little harder (again).

Feel free to post here to discuss the Easter crosswords to work things out amongst yourselves, or ask for hints.

Best

David

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AFR Cryptic Solutions

Due to unforeseen circumstances, outstanding solutions will not be available until midweek. Sorry about that.

If you have particular clue/solution questions on any of my past crosswords I’m happy to answer them.

Thanks

David

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 12/4/2025, Clue Hints

Due to unforeseen circumstances there won’t be any clue hints this week. You guys are going to have to work a little harder.

Feel free to post here to discuss the crossword to work things out amongst yourselves.

Best

David

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AFR Cryptic (5/4/2025) Solution

Due to unforeseen circumstances, there will be no solution this week (first time in more than 550 consecutive weeks).

Will supply solution next week.

Thanks

David

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 5/4/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (29/3/2025) Worked Solution

(click on the clue number to see the hint)

Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.

Need more hints for these or other clues? Just leave a reply below.





















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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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 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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AFR Cryptic (29/3/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 TUCK SHOP
Minor food supplier gathers plant popular with brewers (4,4) TUCKS + HOP
5 MASSES
One thousand clowns – that’s a lot (6) M + ASSES
9 WEAKENED
Tie the knot around a dodgy knee lacking strength (8) WED outside (A + anagram of KNEE)
10 SCRIBE
Plagiarism admitted by some heartless writer? (6) CRIB inside S(om)E
12 RESISTING ARREST
Rising star, wrongly taking ecstasy before break, is not cooperating with police (9,6) (Anagram of RISING STAR outside E) + REST
13 LOUNGE
Lie about fencing charge, admitting nothing (6) LUNGE outside O
15 SLIGHTS
Ignores beacon on board vessel (7) LIGHT inside SS
18 REMAINS
A miner disturbed head of skeletal corpse (7) Anagram of A MINER + (S)keletal
20 RUNG UP
Called dog returned after scamper (4,2) PUG reversed after RUN
22 BIRTHDAY PRESENT
Bad printers – they messed up an anniversary gift (8,7) ANagram of BAD PRINTERS THEY
25 BLAZON
Fire not fully depicted on a coat-of-arms (6) BLAZ(e) + ON
26 SUPERIOR
One after change in purse or prize (8) (I after anagram of PURSE) + OR
27 EATERY
Pals leaving separately confused restaurant (6) Anagram of SEPARATELY minus PALS
28 LEATHERY
Tough end of silverside marinated in bubbly (8) silversid(E) inside LATHERY
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 THWART
Check the slightly diminished growth on skin (6) TH(e) + WART
2 CLASSROOM
Educational facility’s young female jumper measured in centimetres (9) (LASS + ROOM) inside CM
3 SHEDS
Drops off bridging section of unfinished symphony (5) unfiniSHED Symphony
4 ONE-TIME
Old limitations lifted from money before issue turned up (3-4) m)ONE(y + (EMIT reversed)
6 ACCORDION
String, one used in a kid’s musical instrument (9) (CORD + I) inside (A + CON)
7 SEIZE
Apprehend witnesses in audience (5) Sounds like SEES
8 SWEETISH
Elevated golfing area in stylish environs is quite nice (8) (TEE reversed) inside SWISH
11 AGES
Gets old silver assessed at the centre (4) AG + ass(ES)sed
14 NEIGHBOUR
Huge robin disturbed one nearby (9) ANagram of HUGE ROBIN
16 HOUSEWIFE
Exercise in how I iron, is needed for unpaid worker (9) USE in (HOW + I + FE)
17 PROBABLE
Candidate with a good chance of success implicated lab in inquiry (8) Anagram of LAB inside PROBE
19 SLAP
Close associates backed rebuke (4) PALS reversed
20 RAPTURE
Pressure applied by trade union in unusual form of transport (7) (P + TU) inside RARE
21 STOREY
Keep middle of kayak level (6) STORE + kaYak
23 ROAST
Baked food, as in tripe (5) AS inside ROT
24 EVENT
Item on a programme is just running ahead of time (5) EVEN + T

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 29/3/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (22/3/2025) Worked Solution

(click on the clue number to see the hint)

Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.

Need more hints for these or other clues? Just leave a reply below.















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 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.

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 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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (22/3/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PALATE
Taste starter of anchovies presented in dish (6) (A)nchovies inside PLATE
4 PRICE CUT
Discount place stocking rice crackers at the front (5,3) PUT outside [RICE + (C)rackers]
9 MATERIALISATION
Mate is clothed by a tailor in organised appearance (15) MATE + (IS inside anagram of A TAILOR IN)
11 OPERATED
Speed included in distribution of dope should be controlled (8) RATE inside anagram of DOPE
12 IMPALE
Run through sick person’s admission perhaps (6) IM PALE
13 SKIP
Leave out rubbish bin (4) Double Definition
14 CONTINUOUS
Union scout worked without a break (10) Anagram of UNION SCOUT
18 LIGHT METER
Camera gear fitted inside flame thrower (5,5) MET inside LIGHTER
19 PROF
Piano beneficial to retired teacher of note (4) P + (FOR reversed)
22 NUMBAT
Australian termite eater paralysed ants regularly (6) NUMB + (A)n(T)s
24 TOLERANT
Catholic rushed in to lease (8) RAN inside (TO + LET)
26 IN THE ALTOGETHER
Theatre light, one out of order, is stripped (2,3,10) Anagram of THEATRE LIGHT ONE
27 STRAYING
Roving kind of fish shielded by piercing weapon? (8) RAY inside STING
28 UTERUS
Unwavering trade union backed young developer (6) (SURE + TU) reversed
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 POMPOUS
Overbearing Englishman ordered soup (7) POM + anagram of SOUP
2 LATHERING
Ring under shaping tool is making foam (9) RING after LATHE
3 TARMAC
Road surfacing division, stationed in ACT, relocated (6) ARM inside anagram of ACT
5 RAID
Pressure released by speedy attack (4) RAPID minus P
6 CLAIMANT
Accuser’s objective admitted by close social worker (8) AIM inside (CL + ANT)
7 CHINA
Porcelain items from church in Antioch (5) churCH IN Antioch
8 TENDERS
Inexperienced seller’s opening bids (7) TENDER + (S)eller
10 ACETONE
Excellent colour for a solvent (7) ACE + TONE
15 TREMOLO
Redesigned motel roof without 50% fluctuation in pitch (7) Anagram of MOTEL + RO(of)
16 OUR FATHER
Prayer at four excited most of flock (3,6) Anagram of AT FOUR + (HER)d
17 STRATEGY
Contract not put forward in odd plan of action (8) GET reversed inside STRAY
18 LENTILS
Time of fasting is broken by large vegetarian meal for one (7) LENT + (IS outside L)
20 FUTURES
Commodities, dealer offloaded from defaulter, sure varied greatly (7) Anagram of DEFAULTER SURE minus DEALER
21 RELENT
Give in on fast time (6) RE + LENT
23 METER
Apparatus for measuring oxygen extracted from heavenly body (5) METEOR minus O
25 CLAN
Family group caught with a number of computers connected up (4) C + LAN

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 22/3/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (15/3/2025) Worked Solution

(click on the clue number to see the hint)

Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.

Need more hints for these or other clues? Just leave a reply below.
















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.
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 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 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 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.
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 (15/3/2025) Solution

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

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