AFR Cryptic, Saturday 28/9/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (21/9/2024) 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 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.

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.
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 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 a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation indicator will be present.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
A 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 (21/9/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STRUCK
Small vehicle involved in a collision (6) S + TRUCK
4 SPELLING
Relieving English teacher’s subject, perhaps (8) Double Definition
10 AMPOL
Refined palm oil decreased by the Italian fuel supplier (5) Anagram of PALM OIL minus IL
11 ORIENTATE
Get the lie of the land that isn’t presented in talk? (9) (IE + NT) inside ORATE
12 BULLET TRAIN
News about returned art – it travels quickly (6,5) BULLETIN outside (ART reversed)
13 PIT
Withdrawn bonus is mine (3) TIP reversed
14 DIOCESAN
Newly-appointed deacon is a bishop (8) Anagram of DEACON IS
15 STOP
Prevent plants growing back (4) POTS reversed
18 AREA
A study, mostly a field of study (4) A + (REA)d
20 CUT LOOSE
Free toilets situated in nice setting (3,5) LOOS inside CUTE
24 SAP
Members of congress approach easy mark? (3) congresS APproach
25 OBSERVATION
Serb involved in cheering should be watching (11) Anagram of SERB inside OVATION
26 GESTATION
Development, for example, set back transport hub (9) EG reversed + STATION
27 IRATE
Cross that is worn by traitor (5) IE outside RAT
28 SCRUTINY
Hybrid of any citrus passing a close examination (8) Anagram of ANY CITRUS minus a
29 SACHET
Sealed envelope located outside a church (6) SET outside (A + CH)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SCABBY
Despicable taxi-driver parked behind pole (6) CABBY after S(outh)
2 RIPPLED
Strong current, conducted under pressure, caused waves (7) RIP + (LED after P)
3 CALLED ON
Everyone linked to journalist in fraud must be summoned (6,2) (ALL + ED) inside CON
5 PRIMA BALLERINA
Formal liberal treated roughly in article by a star performer (5,9) PRIM + (anagram of LIBERAL inside AN) +A
6 LINING
Some poplin in garment, perhaps? (6) popLIN IN Garment
7 IN A SPOT
One not trapping snake is experiencing difficulty (2,1,4) (I + NOT) outside ASP
8 GREAT APE
Gear modified to record a wild animal (5,3) Anagram of GEAR + TAPE
9 POP THE QUESTION
Father, quite honest, arranged to make a proposal (3,3,8) POP anagram of QUITE HONEST
16 MARSH GAS
Methane from planet Mercury, for instance (5,3) MARS + HG + AS
17 MONA LISA
Painting from Tassie art centre is in LA (4,4) MONA + (IS inside LA)
19 EXPOSER
Former model and whistle-blower (7) EX-POSER
21 EPITAPH
Last word: record it using a phone (7) EP + IT + A + PH
22 COBALT
Metal bar shortened inside gun (6) BA(r) inside COLT
23 INSERT
Conclusion of press reported in dull supplement (6) pres(S) inside INERT

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 21/9/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (14/9/2024) 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 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 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.

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) 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 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 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) 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.
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 (14/9/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SEALSKIN
Animal fur stops blood (8) SEALS + KIN
5 CORPUS
Cold or festering body (6) C + OR + PUS
9 ASTERISK
Star reviewed a set with uncertainty? (8) Anagram of A SET + RISK
10 UNDONE
Outstanding fund not started by an individual (6) (f)UND + ONE
12 OMANI
Ring fellow linked to one Arab (5) O + MAN + I
13 ROADBLOCK
Board modified to secure device that holds up vehicles (9) Anagram of BOARD + LOCK
14 GENERAL STORE
Numbers rushed trading post? (7,5) GENERALS + TORE
17 SCARLET FEVER
Disease’s lasting effect felt rotten always (7,5) SCAR + anagram of FELT + EVER
22 SPLENDOUR
Place to stop in unpleasant ceremony (9) (PL + END) inside SOUR
23 IMAGE
Corporate identity that is plugged by local publication (5) MAG inside IE
24 EMAILS
Art deleted from materials used incorrectly in communication (6) Anagram of MATERIALS minus ART
25 BUSTLING
Seal covering ordered list is active (8) BUNG outside anagram of LIST
26 TAKING
Delightful time meeting a powerful man (6) T + A + KING
27 ADHERENT
Tenacious head sorted out cost of living? (8) Anagram of HEAD + RENT
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STAY ON
Support number tipped to continue (4,2) STAY + (NO reversed)
2 ASTRAY
Right blocked by a guy is off the mark (6) R inside (A + STAY)
3 SERVICE
Organised worship and half of sermon based on depravity (7) (SER)mon + VICE
4 INSURRECTION
Trendy recruits moved on civil disorder (12) IN + anagram of RECRUITS + ON
6 OMNIBUS
Replacement, in quick time, piled up a collection of books (7) (SUB + IN + MO) reversed
7 PROTOCOL
Troop misread Colonel’s code of behaviour (8) Anagram of TROOP + COL
8 SPECKLED
Spotted hole made by bird in sled (8) PECK inside SLED
11 PARADE GROUND
Knock up notice, for example, on every side of marching square (6,6) RAP reversed + AD + EG + ROUND
15 AS I SEE IT
A family member, heading to exhibition match, turned round IMO (2,1,3,2) A + SIS + (E)xhibition + TIE reversed
16 FALL BACK
Fine NZ rugby player, left out at last, is to retire (4,4) F + ALL B(l)ACK
18 LANOLIN
Animal oil worked on all at home (7) Anagram of ON ALL + IN
19 EPISTLE
Letter “R” missing from anagram of reptiles (7) Anagram of REPTILES minus R
20 MALICE
Aluminium found in lab animals with bad blood (6) AL inside MICE
21 WEIGHT
Power shown by WA’s first rowing team (6) (W)a + EIGHT

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 14/9/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (7/9/2024) 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 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 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 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.
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 word or series of words that signify the position of wordplay elements in the answer.

Examples: before, after, leading, in the middle of, under (down only) etc.

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) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

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

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

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

The 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 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.

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AFR Cryptic (7/9/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SELLS SHORT
Underestimates value of new shells placed in order (5,5) Anagram of SHELLS inside SORT
6 LOSS
Cost expensively-produced magazine with reduced margins (4) g)LOSS(y
9 ACTOR
Animated cartoon missing out on person with role-playing experience (5) Anagram of CARTOON minus ON
10 PATRONAGE
Support is perfectly right regarding time in history (9) PAT + R + ON+ AGE
12 TRIFECTA
Betting system’s current act amended after time (8) (RIFE + anagram of ACT) after T
13 STRIKE
Hit small kid’s treadly (6) S + TRIKE
15 FLEET
Quick escape by convict ultimately (5) FLEE + convic(T)
16 EMIGRATE
A leader from Turkiye in regime arranged move abroad (8) [A + (T)urkiye] inside anagram of REGIME
18 THIEVING
Act involving evil to a great extent? (8) THING outside (EVI)l
20 OFTEN
Foot is put in one in error regularly (5) FT inside anagram of ONE
23 AERATE
Inflate end of tube in a class (6) tub(E) inside (A + RATE)
24 FRAGRANT
Sweet old lady accepted by small fraternity (8) GRAN inside FRAT
26 STONE-COLD
Character in lecture is severely lacking in warmth (5-4) TONE inside SCOLD
27 LANCE
Clean infected open wound to allow drainage (5) Anagram of CLEAN
28 SANG
A number of girls, angels, put on a show (4) girlS ANGels
29 MEMORANDUM
Family member receiving broadcast of a modern form of communication (10) MUM outside anagram of A MODERN
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 START OFF
Employees checking right to go ahead (5,3) STAFF outside (R + TO)
2 LATTICE
Trellis at back of unit covered in insects (7) [AT + uni(T)] inside LICE
3 STREET THEATRE
Play outside and test earth scattered around tree (6,7) Anagram of TEST EARTH outside TREE
4 HYPOTHESIS
Needle family member about the proposition (10) (HYPO + SIS) outside THE
5 ROTS
Animal lair, free of rodents, falls apart (4) RODENTS minus DEN
7 ON A DIET
Do eat in irregularly, eating particular foods (2,1,4) Anagram of DO EAT IN
8 SPEWED
Woman at the front in expedition was sick (6) (W)oman inside SPEED
11 OUTER MONGOLIA
University term planned inside igloo transformed a really remote location (5,8) (U + TERM + ON) inside anagram of IGLOO + A
14 DIDGERIDOO
Instrument finished German identification with nothing duplicated (10) DID + GER + ID + OO
17 ON-STREAM
Shifted tons, a large quantity of paper, in production (2-6) Anagram of TONS + REAM
19 HARPOON
US talk-show host turned on whale killer (7) OPRAH reversed + ON
21 TRAINED
Conditioned cadet finally fell down (7) cade(T) + RAINED
22 RAMSES
Egyptian king hits hard emperors on both sides (6) RAMS + (E)mperor(S)
25 HOLE
Digger used on the perimeter of large excavation (4) HOE outside L

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 7/9/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (31/8/2024) 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.





















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.
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 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.
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.

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 entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram 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 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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (31/8/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STEP INTO
Unexpectedly enter remodelled set with horse (4,4) Anagram of SET + PINTO
5 CLOSER
Cold person who doesn’t succeed should be more intimate (6) C + LOSER
9 ON THE DANGER LIST
One in Netherlands got treated not very well (2,3,6,4) I inside anagram of NETHERLANDS GOT
11 TERMINATOR
Call in a degenerate about killer (10) TERM + IN + A + (ROT reversed)
12 FLUE
Smoker rushed through speech (4) Sounds like FLEW
13 PUSHED
Backed up in front of storage unit in a hurry (6) UP reversed + SHED
15 DECLINED
Deed covering vacated council home is rejected? (8) DEED outside [C(ounci)L + IN]
18 SWAN SONG
AFL team dealing with grand final appearance (4,4) SWANS + ON + G
19 LAPSES
Page discovered in forged sales slips (6) P inside anagram of SALES
22 LEER
Bless rebel returning stare? (4) (REBEL minus B) reversed
23 FAIR-SPOKEN
Smooth-tongued writer accepting endorsement after shows (4-6) (PEN outside OK) after FAIRS
26 COMPUTER SCIENCE
IT company put in representation of crime scene? (8,7) CO + (PUT inside anagram of CRIME SCENE)
27 TANGLE
Time to fish for catch (6) T + ANGLE
28 INITIALS
Endorses new design of sail after taking part (8) Anagram of SAIL after IN IT
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SHOOT UP
Sheep, after frightening cry, jump (5,2) TUP after SHOO
2 ENTER
Tenant stripped of initial right to take possession (5) (r)ENTER
3 ITEMISERS
They list it alongside drug people that are mean (9) IT + E + MISERS
4 TO A MAN
Development of anatomy almost without exception (2,1,3) Anagram of (ANATOM)y
6 LURE
Participants in Aussie Rules returned inducement (4) aussiE RULes reversed
7 SKI-PLANES
Snow vehicles avoid transport routes (3-6) SKIP + LANES
8 RETREAD
Go through book about pruned tree’s recycled material (7) READ outside (TRE)e
10 GLOWER
Shiner’s black look? (6) Double Definition
14 STATESMAN
Respected political leader recollected names after the fact (9) Anagram of NAMES after STAT
16 LEAD PAINT
Manage glass containing a former colouring agent (4,5) LEAD + (PINT outside A)
17 ON SALE
Son ordered alcohol going cheap (2,4) Anagram of SON + ALE
18 SOLICIT
Son shortened lawful proposition (7) SO(n) + LICIT
20 SUNLESS
Head to seaside except when cloudy (7) (S)easide + UNLESS
21 ARISEN
Transmission of car is entirely developed? (6) cAR IS ENtirely
24 KENYA
Pole entering important capital of Asian country (5) N inside KEY + (A)sian
25 BURL.
Try bank’s primary internet location (4) (B)ank + URL

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 31/8/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (24/8/2024) 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.




















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 turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

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

The answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.
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 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 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 a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation indicator will be present.
The answer is 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 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 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 a mixing-up of letters.

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

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AFR Cryptic (24/8/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SUBSTITUTE
Its vehicle returned with class deputy (10) (ITS + BUS) reversed + TUTE
6 BLAB
Brisbane’s first research centre let the cat out of the bag (4) (B)risbane + LAB
9 TRAIN
Time to shower and prepare for a particular event (5) T + RAIN
10 RETRACTOR
Retired stage performer after right theatre item (9) RET + (ACTOR after R)
12 IN THE RED
Some skinflint here died owing money (2,3,3) skinflINT HERE Died
13 WRITHE
He signed at the end of a legal document with a twist (6) HE after WRIT
15 CUTS
Iodine not applied to skin lacerations (4) CUTIS minus I
16 TERRIBLE
Bad blunder by one replacing a part of table (8) TABLE with (ERR +I) replacing A
19 HEARINGS
He is holding a syndicate’s judicial investigations (8) HES outside (A + RING)
20 SHUN
Deliberately avoid bright light outside hospital (4) SUN outside H
23 ROTATE
Degenerate bolted down switch (6) ROT + ATE
24 VIOLENCE
Caught in the throes of one evil, depraved act of cruelty (8) C inside anagram of ONE EVIL
26 BREACHING
Every individual conveyed by transport is opening up (9) EACH inside BRING
27 COOKS
Company says yes to kitchen workers (5) CO + OKS
28 DOTS
Stood back, ignoring orator’s initial points (4) STOOD reversed minus (O)rator
29 LAUNCESTON
Institute mostly concerned with finishing established Tasmanian location (10) (LAUNC)h + (ON after EST)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SET PIECE
Move damaged step that is noticeably in the middle (3,5) Anagram of STEP + IE + notiCEably
2 BEAUTY TREATMENT
Dizzy brunette may eat first piece of this parlour’s offering (6,9) Anagram of BRUNETTE MAY EAT + (T)his
3 TENTER
Time to join framework for stretching cloth (6) T + ENTER
4 TORMENTING
To many primarily involved in leasing, it’s annoying (10) TO + [(M)any inside RENTING]
5 TA-TA
Length of event at auditorium is so long (2-2) evenT AT Auditorium
7 LET IT ALL HANG OUT
Relax and laugh a little, not needing treatment (3,2,3,4,3) Anagram of LAUGH A LITTLE NOT
8 BARBER
Live in public house, right, with hairdresser? (6) BE inside (BAR + R)
11 ADROIT
Clever piece of marketing one tossed in rubbish (6) AD + (I inside ROT)
14 PRESSING ON
Turn maintained by spinners out of form is continuing (8,2) GO inside anagram of SPINNERS
17 EROTIC
Lustful one tore back and front of clothing (6) (I + TORE) reversed + (C)lothing
18 IN SEASON
Freely available accommodation occupied by marine very much (2,6) INN outside (SEA + SO)
21 BRIBED
Paid off guy employed in foundation (6) RIB inside BED
22 CLICHE
Commonplace types of prolific lichen (6) prolifiC LICHEn
25 VISA
Outlook not getting Microsoft’s final endorsement (4) VISTA minus microsof(T)

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