AFR Cryptic, Saturday 28/3/2026, Clue Hints

*** Next week the AFR will publish a bumper edition for Easter which will contain three puzzles for you to enjoy. It will be available from Thursday 2nd of April – get a copy early so you don’t miss out ***

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (21/3/2026) 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 can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram indicator will be present.
The entire answer is the result of removing the first or last letter from part of the clue or its synonym. A truncation indicator will be present.
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.
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 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.
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 (21/3/2026) Solution

*** Next week the AFR will publish a bumper edition for Easter which will contain three puzzles for you to enjoy. It will be available from Thursday 2nd of April – get a copy early so you don’t miss out ***

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SHOWDOWN
First to see who’d arranged personal confrontation (8) (S)ee + anagram of WHOD + OWN
5 ABATED
A temperature in a hospital unit decreased (6) (A + T) inside (A + BED)
10 OKAPI
Yes, a pig with no tail is a strange-looking animal (5) OK + A + PI(g)
11 SHILLINGS
Capital Hill protected by different signs (9) HILL inside anagram of SIGNS
12 THIRD PARTY
Hotel, caught in dirty trap, falsified insurance form (5,5) H inside anagram of DIRTY TRAP
13 HOME
Mass held in digger’s birthplace (4) M inside HOE
15 CARPUS
Fish served by American joint (6) CARP + US
16 NEEDLES
Sewers could be unnecessary shortly (7) NEEDLES(s)
18 COUPLER
A type of car fitted with left and right linkage gear (7) COUPE outside L + R
20 ON TIME
Throw out number withdrawn according to schedule (2,4) (EMIT + NO) reversed
23 EARL
Auditor left one of high standing (4) EAR + L
24 ALLEGIANCE
Support one in possession of a weapon with loyalty (10) (LEG + I) inside (A + LANCE)
26 TRIBUNALS
Right held in Istanbul perplexed law courts (9) R inside anagram of ISTANBUL
27 GOOD-O
Party after sticky matter expressed agreement (4-1) DO after GOO
28 DIETER
One brought in to discourage weight watcher (6) I inside DETER
29 ENTRANCE
Rebuilt centre incorporating an access point (8) Anagram of CENTRE outside AN
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SCOUTS
Talent seekers caught out on board vessel (6) (C + OUT) inside SS
2 OCARINA
Operator’s starting motor in a musical toy (7) (O)perator + CAR + IN + A
3 DRIED APPLE
Doctor that is spotted with desiccated fruit (5,5) DR + IE + DAPPLE
4 WEST AUSTRALIAN
We treated naturalist as one of us (4,10) WE + anagram of NATURALIST AS
6 BALL
Social sphere (4) Double Definition
7 TINFOIL
Sheet metal in frame originally used in industry (7) [IN + (F)rame] inside TOIL
8 DISPERSE
Broadcast is essentially shown after the beginning of December (8) (IS + PERSE) after (D)ecember
9 LISTEN TO REASON
Rotten sea lions at sea come round (6,2,6) Anagram of ROTTEN SEA LIONS
14 LEFT-WINGER
Football player dropped out before win by Germany (4-6) LEFT + WIN + GER
17 ACCEPTED
Did something about mushroom generally approved (8) ACTED outside CEP
19 UKRAINE
Wet weather in country bordered by East European republic (7) RAIN inside (UK + E)
21 MONSOON
Wind on bearing inside satellite (7) (ON + S) inside MOON
22 REDONE
Embarrassed individual should be given a makeover (6) RED + ONE
25 CURE
One who stands in line reportedly for treatment (4) Sounds like QUEUER

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 21/3/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (14/3/2026) 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.

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 the result of removing the first or last letter from part of the clue or its synonym. A truncation 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 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.

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.
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 (14/3/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HIGH POINTS
Most memorable moments arranged in spot after vocal welcome (4,6) Anagram of IN SPOT after sounds like HI
6 LIMB
Part of a bow, a projecting part (4) Double Definition
9 STOOD UP
Failed to keep an appointment with Rose (5,2) Double Definition
10 RESISTS
Refuses breaks from work around island (7) RESTS outside IS
12 ESPALIER
Failure in recession that is fixed by right training method for plants (8) LAPSE reversed + IE + R
13 RAN OFF
Associates with veteran of fighting took flight (3,3) veteRAN OF Fighting
15 GETS ON
Edge of grinding stone ruined boards (4,2) (G)rinding + anagram of STONE
16 DRINKER
Drive home killer, bypassing seedy boozer (7) DR + IN + (KILLER minus ILL)
18 AIM
Try valium taken regularly (3) vAlIuM
19 RICHEST
Most productive doctor’s closing one case (7) docto(R) + I + CHEST
21 OUTLAW
Ban the LBW rule, for example (6) Double Definition of sorts
24 VOLUME
Louis V, slipping away, is excited by the writer’s book (6) Anagram of LOUIS V minus IS + ME
25 SIDENOTE
Marginal comment done badly through internet location (8) Anagram of DONE inside SITE
27 TEA TREE
Australian growth rate wrongly accepted by over half of teens (3,4) Anagram of RATE inside (TEE)ns
28 HEALERS
Lose heart in surgery, surrendering to doctors (7) Anagram of LOSE HEART minus TO
29 SEED
Watch final of good player who is ranked highly (4) SEE + goo(D)
30 BRIDGETOWN
West Indian place I should get constructed in walnut, say (10) (ID +GET) inside BROWN
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HASTEN
Holds fishing gear up – fly (6) HAS + (NET reversed)
2 GROUPIE
Detective, embraced by rogue, roughed up fan (7) PI inside anagram of ROGUE
3 PADDLE-STEAMER
River traveller confuses team breaking through (6-7) (ADDLES + TEAM) inside PER
4 IMPREGNATE
Fill position initially made available in a regiment going through redeployment (10) (P)osition inside anagram of A REGIMENT
5 TARP
Protective sheet is right in a light blow (4) R inside TAP
7 IN STOCK
A number of teak cots – nine – kept back for sale (2,5) teaK COTS NIne reversed
8 BUSHFIRE
Fellow travelling in bus to take on natural disaster possibly (8) F inside (BUS + HIRE)
11 SLAP IN THE FACE
Rebuff unsettled pleasant chief (4,2,3,4) Anagram of PLEASANT CHIEF
14 ADMONISHED
He invested in newly-cut diamonds and put on guard (10) HE inside anagram of DIAMONDS
17 PRIVATES
Is a busybody hanging around large tank with soldiers? (8) PRIES outside VAT
20 COLLATE
Left behind schedule after company put in order (7) (L + LATE) after CO
22 AT ONE GO
A hundred runs, for example, scored before duck in a single effort (2,3,2) A +TONE + EG + O
23 SEASON
Flavour the drink provided by one of the family (6) SEA + SON
26 WEAR
We are not totally taken with clothing (4) WE + (AR)e

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 14/3/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (7/3/2026) 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.
A word or series of words that signify the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

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

The answer is hidden 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 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.

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.

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.

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.
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 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 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 (7/3/2026) Solution

Across
 Across  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SPIRED
One after special wine, like a church, possibly (6) (I after SP) + RED
5 BEMUSE
Be first to make and run through puzzle (6) BE + (M)ake + USE
8 DISINFORMATION
Misleading report is available for covering one kidnapped by mafia boss (14) (IS + IN + FOR + MAT + I) inside DON
10 RIPPER
Strong, current member of parliament knocked back fine thing (6) RIP + (REP reversed)
11 CAULDRON
Head of cannibal left in a moulded round boiler (8) (C)annibal + L inside (A + anagram of ROUND)
13 GURU
Wig worn the wrong way by university master (4) RUG reversed + U
14 CREDITABLE
Right to make corrections in TV service is deserving (10) (R + EDIT) inside CABLE
17 TASKMASTER
Disciplinarian adjusted mask in preview (10) Anagram of MASK inside TASTER
18 FLAT
Smooth contents of decaf latte (4) deacF LATte
20 REFERRAL
Fellow to miss the mark in actual recommendation (8) (F + ERR) inside REAL
22 ROMANO
Type of tomato served with no cheese (6) ROMA + NO
24 LATE DEVELOPERS
People with hidden potential do repeat levels in the wrong sequence (4,10) Anagram of DO REPEAT LEVELS
25 WENT IN
Sort of new corrugated iron was installed (4,2) Anagram of NEW + TIN
26 RETURN.
Extraordinary run-rate reduced by a fielding effort (6) Anagram of RUNRATE minus A.
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 PASSPORTS
Gullible one heading north displays travel documents (9) SAP reversed + SPORTS
3 RANKED
Complete education determined by grades (6) RANK + ED
4 DROP
Measure of medicine doctor applied before operation (4) DR + OP
5 BOMBARDIER
Soldier in crowd held up right pass in bar (10) MOB reversed + [(R + DIE) inside BAR]
6 MUTILATE
Butcher and I departed after onset of stomach upset (8) ( I + LATE) after (TUM reversed)
7 SPOOR
Head from station on inferior track (5) (S)tation + POOR
8 DEROGATORY
Surgery on good artery is damaging (10) Anagram of GOOD ARTERY
9 INTENTIONS
Popular carnival sight is taking on designs (10) IN + TENT + (IS outside ON)
12 CRUSTACEAN
Fungus expert canned crab, for example? (10) (RUST + ACE) inside CAN
15 BALLADEER
Social animal embracing a singer (9) (BALL + DEER) outside A
16 EMERGENT
Distributed agreement, with a section missing, is calling for immediate action (8) Anagram of AGREEMENT minus A
19 NOT OUT
No ticket seller is capable of scoring (3,3) NO + TOUT
21 FLAKE
Fish and chip (5) Double Definition
23 PEER
Noble, one visiting ladies, say? (4) Double Definition

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 7/3/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (28/2/2026) 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.









Punctuation generally should be ignored - always consider how a clue reads without punctuation.
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 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.

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AFR Cryptic (28/2/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SEALANT
It’s used to secure computers linked in an established centre (7) LAN inside SEAT
5 ATTIRED
Dressed in clothes at flat (7) AT + TIRED
9 STAND AND DELIVER
Did vandals enter in a frenzy with a demand for valuables? (5,3,7) Anagram of DID VANDALS ENTER
10 EVENTS
College finally releases program’s items (6) colleg(E) + VENTS
11 DOWNPLAY
Undervalue own place offered in set time (8) (OWN + PL) inside DAY
13 DONER KEBAB
Accomplished baker cooked starter of brilliant Middle Eastern food (5,5) DONE + anagram of BAKER + (B)rilliant
15 LIVE
Carrying power to escape death (4) Double Definition
18 DOGS
Boxers, say, perform with gloves lacking passion (4) DO + (GLOVES minus LOVE)
19 GREEN LIGHT
Authority redefined genre of little importance (5,5) Anagram of GENRE + LIGHT
21 NUISANCE
Annoying person is sitting in shade (8) IS inside NUANCE
22 GEISHA
Part of village is happy with Japanese entertainer (6) villaGE IS HAppy
25 CHESS TOURNAMENT
Contest on board reviewed surname not used in case? (5,10) Anagram of SURNAME NOT inside CHEST
26 SATISFY
Comply with treatment of fits noted in report (7) Anagram of FITS inside SAY
27 DISUSED
Issue, poorly handled by two detectives, may be neglected (7) Anagram of ISSUE inside (D + D)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SUSPENDED
Instigated litigation about pay-out set aside (9) SUED outside SPEND
2 AGAPE
A fellowship meal is wide open (5) Double Definition
3 AUDITORS
European car body docked specialists in accounts (8) AUDI + TORS(o)
4 TUNA
Fish a fanatic tossed back (4) (A + NUT) reversed
5 AUDIOTAPES
Head of operations, in check of financial records, copies sound recordings (10) (O)perations inside AUDIT + APES
6 TALENT
Beer consumed by explosive genius (6) ALE inside TNT
7 REVOLTING
Dreadful fan sent back with metal grill at the front (9) LOVER reversed + TIN + (G)rill
8 DERBY
Colour of cricket ball returned by bowler (5) RED reversed + BY
12 REFRACTORY
Church accommodation housing Father and a recalcitrant (10) RECTORY outside (FR + A)
14 NEGLIGENT
Developed film left by one fellow guilty of being careless (9) NEG + L + I + GENT
16 EXTRACTED
Uncredited actor performed, sharing the role of one character picked out (9) EXTR[A]CTED
17 BLUECAPS
Opening of baby capsule distracted young swimmers (8) (B)aby + anagram of CAPSULE
20 LASSES
Young girls left more than one behind? (6) L + multiple ASSs
21 NICKS
Steals chips (5) Double Definition
23 STEMS
Plant supports checks (5) Double Definition
24 PROD
Dig for diamonds (4) PRO + D

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 28/2/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (21/2/2026) 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 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 series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

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

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.

Examples: part of, associated with, types of.

Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.

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

A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

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

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 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 (21/2/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 INTROS
Trendy class recalled opening passages of music (6) IN + (SORT reversed)
4 IMMORTAL
Unforgettable time spent in base (8) T inside IMMORAL
10 MYSTERIES
Strange events televised initially in my long-running TV program (9) (T)elevised inside (MY SERIES)
11 ALL-IN
Exhausted, a large duck turned back (3-2) A + L + (NIL reversed)
12 TEENAGE
Juvenile is far away from a free agent after change of management (7) Anagram of A FREE AGENT minus FAR
13 EXACTOR
Former player is demanding one (7) EX + ACTOR
14 ROSTI
Serving of crostini is a tasty dish (5) cROSTIni
15 CARNIVAL
Four involved in erotic merrymaking (8) IV inside CARNAL
18 LIBERALS
Politicians start to brag in organised rallies (8) (B)rag inside anagram of RALLIES
20 FATWA
Rich state’s religious decree (5) FAT + WA
23 ACROBAT
A tumbler and a mug kept on board boat (7) A + (ROB inside CAT)
25 NETTING
Clearing gauze, for example (7) Double Definition
26 HOIST
Give a lift to one engaged by media personality (5) I inside HOST
27 ELEVATION
Amount of oxygen inhaled by the Spanish native changed with altitude (9) O inside (EL + anagram of NATIVE)
28 MASONITE
Son and I invested in partner’s particle board (8) (SON + I) inside MATE
29 BENGAL
Indian material being manufactured without iodine and aluminium (6) Anagram of BEING minus I + AL
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 IMMATURE
Shut up about a tense adolescent (8) IMMURE outside (A + T)
2 TOSSERS
Stores distributed small pitchers (7) Anagram of STORES + S
3 OPERATIVE
Ring private involved with drug running (9) O + anagram of PRIVATE + E
5 MISREPRESENTED
Agent disliked after M is portrayed falsely (14) (REP + RESENTED) after (M + IS)
6 OSAKA
Centre of Hirosaki, also known as a Japanese port (5) hir(OS)aki + AKA
7 TELSTRA
Service provider raised rent and upset star (7) LET reversed + anagram of STAR
8 LONERS
UK capitalists losing support of fellow mavericks (6) LONDONER minus DON
9 DISENCHANTMENT
People bitten by insect hadn’t prepared for revulsion (14) MEN inside anagram of INSECT HADNT
16 INFATUATE
Captivate a trade union imprisoned by popular appointed lot (9) (A + TU) inside (IN + FATE)
17 MARGINAL
Reset alarm fixed to the outside of trap on the edge (8) Anagram of ALARM outside GIN
19 IN RUINS
A rising sun, emitting gas erratically, may be falling apart (2,5) Anagram of A RISING SUN minus GAS
21 TAILING
Tradesperson’s work securing a following (7) TILING outside A
22 FATHOM
Get to the bottom of large dwelling not quite finished (6) FAT + HOM(e)
24 BATON
Keep scoring runs for small club (5) BAT ON

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