AFR Cryptic, Saturday 11/4/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crosswords? Check out the worked solutions here:
AFR Cryptic (Easter 2026) Worked Solution

AFR Cryptic AJ (Easter 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 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.
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 a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation 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 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 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.
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.

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 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.
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.
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AFR Cryptic AJ (Easter 2026) Solution

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AFR Cryptic (Easter 2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 GIVE UP THE GHOST
Go and get huge VIP prepared to put on a show (4,2,3,5) Anagram of GET HUGE VIP + HOST
9 FLAT STRAP
Units backed member very quickly (4,5) FLATS + (PART reversed)
10 LATTE
Coffee cart with no wheels entering behind schedule (5) (CART minus CAR) inside LATE
11 ODIUM
Dislike platform with front section removed (5) (p)ODIUM
12 SAY CHEESE
Easy speech delivered unusually without soft smile (3,6) Anagram of EASY SPEECH minus P
13 THEOLOGIAN
The occultist’s original journal, one found by an academic interested in religion (10) THE + (O)ccultist + LOG +I + AN
14 MOLE
Spot an infiltrator (4) Double Definition
17 RISE
Upward slope is in middle of street (4) IS inside st(RE)et
19 DISTRESSED
Dish, mostly sweet, turned over and cut up (10) (DIS)h + (DESSERT reversed)
22 FINANCIER
One who loves carrying in money bags (9) FANCIER outside IN
23 DENIM
I am after study material (5) IM after DEN
24 CHASE
Follow a groove (5) Double Definition
25 AESTHETIC
Tasteful marine recalled the nervous complaint (9) SEA reversed + THE + TIC
27 SPECTATOR SPORT
Top actress drunkenly left much-watched activity (9,5) Anagram of TOP ACTRESS + PORT
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 IMAGINE
Suspect that is taking publication in (7) IE outside (MAG + IN)
3 ENSEMBLE
Company selected elements of Holden’s emblem (8) holdENS EMBLEm
4 PAR
Expected time not taken up by actor’s role (3) PART minus T
5 HAPPY EASTER
They appear upset about introduction of seasonal greeting for now (5,6) Anagram of THEY APPEAR outside (S)easonal
6 GALAHS
American girl has ordered Australian birds (6) GAL + anagram of HAS
7 ON THE GO
Very busy ethnologist messed up short list (2,3,2) Anagram of ETHNOLOGIST minus LIST
8 THEME
The central point of commerce essay (5) THE + com(ME)rce
9 FLOATER
Look after losing very good, cooked Australian fare (7) Anagram of LOOK AFTER minus OK
12 SIGNIFICANT
Important instructions regarding power of attorney? (11) SIGN IF I CANT
15 ENDEMIC
Indigenous mice tortured beyond extreme limit (7) Anagram of MICE after END
16 HEADSHIP
The fellow notices trendy position of chief (8) HE + ADS + HIP
18 SUNBAKE
Get brown bun cooked in rice wine (7) Anagram of BUN inside SAKE
20 SENATOR
A number of these NATO representatives elected politician (7) theSE NATO Representatives
21 INFECT
Corrupt court replaced after re-issuing of fine? (6) CT after anagram of FINE
22 FOCUS
Concentration of mounted copper is reduced by half (5) OF reversed + CU + i(S)
26 SIR
Military address is fixed up, right? (3) IS reversed + R

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AFR Cryptic AJ, Easter 2026, Clue Hints

(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 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 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.
There is only one part to this clue, a definition, and it's usually a play on words. There aren't any indicators.
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 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 the loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.

Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.

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AFR Cryptic, Easter 2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (28/3/2026) 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 word or phrase that defines the answer. All cryptic clues usually have a minimum of one definition which will be located at the beginning or end of the clue.
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 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.
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 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 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.

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

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

A word or series of words that signify the position of wordplay elements in the answer.

Examples: before, after, leading, in the middle of, under (down only) 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.
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 (28/3/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STANDING ORDERS
Involved strangers in odd parliamentary rules (8,6) Anagram of STRANGERS IN ODD
10 OWNER
One who has unlimited supply of sedatives? (5) d)OWNER(s
11 MOONSHINE
Hair and bone found in one’s rubbish (9) MO + (SHIN inside ONE)
12 STIPEND
Mines backed to terminate regular clerical payment (7) PITS reversed + END
13 COPS IT
Greek character, resting in bed, gets into trouble (4,2) PSI inside COT
15 WOLF
Playboy issue withdrawn (4) FLOW reversed
16 RAISE CAIN
Returning fighter pilots, following turbulent air home, create trouble (5,4) (ACES reversed after anagram of AIR) + IN
19 GAS HEATER
Consumer going after split system that provides air-conditioning (3,6) EATER after GASH
20 TOPS
Wonderful location for retirement (4) SPOT reversed
23 INTACT
Unimpaired in judgement (6) IN + TACT
25 PEERAGE
Lords and ladies visit ladies, say, with style (7) PEE + RAGE
27 ARMADILLO
Equip a party transporting sick species that’s protected (9) ARM + A +(DO outside ILL)
28 CLICK
Get on with race’s third lap (5) ra(C)e + LICk
29 SPRING-CLEANING
Special group caught liking a refreshing seasonal activity (6-8) SP + RING + C + LEANING
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 TANGIBLES
Burglar initially caught inside stealing assorted items of property (9) (B)urglar inside anagram of STEALING
3 NERVES
Tension shown by Novak’s first misdirected serve (6) (N)ovak + anagram of SERVE
4 IMMODERATE
Excessive time in the middle obtaining practice against pace (10) t(IM)e + MODE + RATE
5 GOOF
Spirit of a clown (4) GO + OF
6 RISSOLES
River is stocked with fish food (8) (R + IS) outside SOLE
7 EDITS
Checks upset minor, swollen, with temperature (5) (SIDE reversed) outside T
8 SWEETEN
Sugar bags turned up with little inside (7) NETS reversed outside WEE
9 BOWSAW
Cutter was steered back behind front of ship (6) WAS reversed after BOW
14 MICROPHONE
Collect hydrogen and oxygen in mine with sound converter (10) (CROP + H + O) inside MINE
17 ADORATION
Praise a director’s first speech (9) A + (D)irector + ORATION
18 FENCED IN
Crooked reseller connected to racket is locked up (6,2) FENCE + DIN
19 GUITARS
Sawn-off gun is taken apart by Jack’s instruments? (7) GU(n) + (IS outside TAR)
21 SNEAKY
Slippery snake meandered back to shrubbery (6) Anagram of SNAKE + shrubber(Y)
22 DEACON
Deal mostly with crook church official (6) (DEA)l + CON
24 TIMER
Clock-watcher’s area of responsibility in recession (5) REMIT reversed
26 BLOC
Union group shortened stoppage (4) (BLOC)k

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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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