AFR Cryptic, Saturday 15/3/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (8/3/2025) 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.

















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.

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 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 the removal of a letter, letters, word or words (or their equivalents) from other parts of the clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: taken from, decreased by, less.

A 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.

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.

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AFR Cryptic (8/3/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BARONESS
One’s spotted in bars with lady (8) ONES inside BARS
5 FLAUNT
Display unit reduced by half in living space (6) UN(it) inside FLAT
10 HABITAT
Native environment is somewhat active in Panama possibly (7) (A BIT) inside HAT
11 RIVIERA
Waterway spanning island, a part of Europe (7) RIVER outside I + A
12 LASER
Exploited arsenal not fitted with an intense light generator (5) Anagram of ARSENAL minus AN
13 LODESTONE
Surgery on oldest individual is an attractive thing (9) Anagram of OLDEST + ONE
14 OFFICE BLOCKS
Summertime treats available behind substandard accommodation for workers? (6,6) ICE BLOCKS after OFF
18 RULE THE ROOST
Let male mob member in decline be in charge (4,3,5) (LET + HE+ ROO) inside RUST
21 SEA URCHIN
Lookin’ around university for an example of an echinoderm (3,6) SEARCHIN(g) outside U
23 DRAWL
Speak slowly with minor about life primarily (5) WARD reversed + L
24 ITALIAN
One translated a Latin language (7) I + anagram of A LATIN
25 ACTRESS
A broken clock, one with a particular role? (7) A + C + TRESS (C-LOCK)
26 GOTCHA
I understand symbol of acceleration shown next to fluctuating tacho (6) G + anagram of TACHO
27 ON THE SLY
“Honestly” taken completely a different way? (2,3,3) Anagram of HONESTLY
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BEHOLD
Observe the man reversing in Valiant (6) HE reversed inside BOLD
2 ROBUST
Athletic run out executed before catch (6) RO + BUST
3 NET PROFIT
Bag for suitable earnings (3,6) NET + PRO + FIT
4 SATELLITE PHONE
Portable communicator – order it in development of phase one (9,5) (TELL + IT) inside anagram of PHASE ONE
6 LIVES
Is wickedness overturned by Jesus ultimately? (5) EVIL reversed + jesu(S)
7 USE FORCE
Refocus misaligned end of telescope and apply pressure (3,5) Anagram of REFOCUS + telescop(E)
8 TRAVERSE
Come across fun-lovers in vacated townhouse? (8) RAVERS inside T(ownhous)E
9 CRADLE MOUNTAIN
A modern cult transformed a popular Tasmanian tourist destination (6,8) Anagram of A MODERN CULT + A + IN
15 LAST-DITCH
Desperate lad crossing street – a rash reaction? (4-5) LAD outside ST + ITCH
16 FROSTING
Sweet coat isn’t mended with jumper around (8) Anagram of ISNT inside FROG
17 PLEASANT
Delightful requests earnestly made by one from a colony (8) PLEAS + ANT
19 CARESS
Control vessel with a gentle touch (6) CARE + SS
20 GLASSY
Expressionless girl taken in by heartless guy? (6) LASS inside G(u)Y
22 REICH
Energy harnessed by affluent German state (5) E inside RICH

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 8/3/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (1/3/2025) 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.
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 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.
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 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.

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.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.

The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
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 (1/3/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SIDE-SADDLE
Opposing groups make rotten riding gear (4-6) SIDES + ADDLE
6 AS TO
Minister of religion, extremely deficient, is concerning? (2,2) p)ASTO(r
10 ARCHERS
They are trained to shoot people parading with no leader (7) (m)ARCHERS
11 SPOILED
Lubricant, kept inside, went quickly off (7) OIL inside SPED
12 MENUS
People, American, organised lists of options (5) MEN + US
13 GREAT BEAR
Eat in Greek harbour with a bunch of stars (5,4) EAT inside (GR + BEAR)
14 DIABETES
Stops working, taking a risk with metabolic disorder (8) DIES outside (A + BET)
16 DEMAND
Associates of rude man denied request (6) ruDE MAN Denied
18 SLIDES
Borders placed around large playground items (6) SIDES outside L
19 BLESSING
Beyonce’s first singles remastered with official approval (8) (B)eyonce + anagram of SINGLES
22 HEARTLAND
A most vital area reviewed alert checked by worker? (9) Anagram of ALERT inside HAND
23 GRAZE
Damage the top surface of pasture (5) Double Definition
24 LAID OUT
Thug securing help is knocked for six (4,3) LOUT outside AID
25 ELATION
Great joy, right, sacrificed by one of the family? (7) RELATION minus R
26 RING
Phone’s digital attachment (4) Double Definition
27 CONSONANCE
Inmates formerly accepting an agreement (10) (CONS + ONCE) outside AN
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SLAMMED
A married couple transported by snow vehicle crashed (7) (A + MM) inside SLED
2 DECONTAMINATION
“No admittance” organised by one assigned to cleaning (15) Anagram of NO ADMITTANCE + I + ON
3 SEEDS
Top competitors understand limitations of diets? (5) SEE + (D)iet(S)
4 DISAGREE
Detective is strangely eager to have words (8) D + IS + anagram of AGREE
5 LASTED
Young man, consuming large amount of stew, carried on (6) LAD outside (STE)w
7 SELF-EXAMINATION
Female, six, excited by race, is soul-searching (4-11) Anagram of FEMALE SIX + NATION
8 ORDERED
Starter of oysters and variety of red wine selected from a menu (7) (O)ysters + anagram of RED + RED
9 FORTRESS
Protected building of retired king with lock? (8) OF reversed + R + TRESS
15 ELECTION
Head of engineering in telco reviewed choice? (8) (E)ngineering + anagram of IN TELCO
17 PLEDGERS
They promise additional information from writer about accounting book (8) PS outside LEDGER
18 SCHOLAR
Intellectual leader of society prepared choral (7) (S)ociety + anagram of CHORAL
20 GREENIE
Environmentalist that is backing new generation of energy mostly (7) IE after anagram of (ENERG)y
21 GASTRO
Illness causing a stroke to a limited extent (6) causinG A STROke
23 GRAIN
Beam retaining a natural character (5) GRIN outside A

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 1/3/2025, 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.
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 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 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.
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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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 structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

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

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 (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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