AFR Cryptic (7/12/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SCRAPES
Vessel with cargo of inferior ecstasy hits rock bottom? (7) SS outside (CRAP + E)
5 BITUMEN
Big contracted trade union workers tarred road (7) BI(g) + TU + MEN
9 INTRAVENOUS DRIP
Drug supplier, in drug-induced state, pushed around greedy detective (11,4) (IN + TRIP) outside (RAVENOUS + D)
10 GROVEL
Small wood facing large fawn (6) GROVE + L
11 ADHESION
Firm contact had switched sound around (8) Anagram of HAS + (NOISE reversed)
13 OVER THE TOP
Brazen male, with backing of corporation, is flamboyant (4,3,3) OVERT + HE + (POT reversed)
15 BEAT
Defeat brutal person without weapons ultimately (4) BEAST minus weapon(S)
18 ROOK
Cheat is caught – given up by criminal (4) CROOK minus C
19 FRANCHISEE
Authorised dealer from large farm is in charge (10) (RANCH + IS) inside FEE
21 SWEARING
Promising auditor buoyed by a change of fortune (8) EAR inside SWING
22 PERSIA
Is agent withdrawn by a part of Asia once? (6) (IS + REP) reversed + A
25 TRANSFIGURATION
Change to form replaced unfair GST with fixed allowance (15) Anagram of UNFAIR GST + RATION
26 DREADED
A deed falsely initiated by doctor is awful (7) Anagram of A DEED after DR
27 SCENTED
Time put into display by head of department featuring perfume (7) T inside SCENE + (D)epartment
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SWING DOOR
Flapper’s gown is tossed around party room initially (5,4) Anagram of GOWN IS outside DO + (R)oom
2 RATIO
Operation not limited by unrestricted correspondence (5) OPERATION without OPEN on the outside
3 PLACENTA
Political group raised money given by a supplier in development (8) ALP reversed + CENT +A
4 SEEK
Look for outspoken member of Hindu sect (4) Sounds-like SIKH
5 BLOODHOUND
Detective left hood beaten up in vault (10) (l + anagram of HOOD) inside BOUND
6 TOSSER
One having a fling ordered roses after short time (6) Anagram of ROSES after T
7 MERCILESS
Hard relic fractured in hot water (9) Anagram of RELIC inside MESS
8 NIP IN
Form of identification needed after Northern Ireland visit (3,2) PIN after NI
12 BEAR IN MIND
Remember drunken marine wearing tie (4,2,4) Anagram of MARINE inside BIND
14 EXONERATE
Clear old friend, one found with speed (9) EX + ONE + RATE
16 THE DAMNED
Condemned people hated men converted by reverend at the end (3,6) Anagram of HATED MEN + reveren(D)
17 SHOELACE
Holes fixed by fine line used to secure footwear (8) Anagram of HOLES + ACE
20 PRISED
Used leverage to lift end of floorboard behind piano (6) [RISE + floorboar(D)] after P
21 SITED
Having vision, it’s said, put in place (5) Sounds like SIGHTED
23 STINT
Period pieces collected by Justin Trudeau (5) juSTIN Trudeau
24 GUNS
Weapons, compact, turned up (4) SNUG reversed

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 7/12/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (30/11/2024) 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 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 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 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 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.
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.
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 answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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 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 (30/11/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ASPECT
Space altered astronaut’s final outlook (6) Anagram of SPACE + astronau(T)
4 UP STICKS
International carrier checks move to a new location (2,6) UPS + TICKS
10 PUT ACROSS
Backing up, co-stars prepared to communicate successfully (3,6) UP reversed + anagram of COSTARS
11 TOP-UP
A boost to new plant (3-2) TO + PUP
12 INNARDS
A road, cutting through public houses, works (7) (A + RD) inside INNS
13 EARLIER
Invention, right, put behind ear in the first place (7) (LIE + R) after EAR
14 TIARA
Crown’s pieces returned from Carrara, Italy (5) carrARA ITaly reversed
15 ARGUMENT
A letter’s due about adhesive’s claim (8) (A + RENT) outside GUM
18 CATHETER
Provide stuff containing the medical tube (8) CATER outside THE
20 SPOON
Consumer’s assistant quietly slipped in without delay (5) P inside SOON
23 CHAPLIN
Famous comedian’s place enclosed by a mountain range (7) PL inside CHAIN
25 ROUTINE
Conventional defeat in lacrosse right at the end (7) ROUT + IN + lacross(E)
26 LARGE
Serving of regular gelato is substantial (5) reguLAR GElato
27 PRIMITIVE
Prudish one against wearing tie lacking in refinement (9) PRIM + I + (V inside TIE)
28 DUMPSTER
Cleaner taking care of politician’s bin (8) DUSTER outside MP
29 REGENT
Governor, for example, restricted by cost of living (6) EG inside RENT
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 APPOINTS
Chooses software overseas gaining interest (8) APP + (OS outside INT)
2 PETUNIA
Favourite place in which to study a funnel-shaped flower (7) PET + UNI + A
3 COCKROACH
Ocker dropping E in bus is a pest (9) (OCKER minus E) inside COACH
5 PASSENGER TRAIN
People mover’s gears parents modified at home (9,5) Anagram of GEARS PARENTS + IN
6 TATER
Partakers of banquet ate red vegetable (5) banqueT ATE Red
7 CAPTION
One contributing to top cricket score is a legend (7) I inside (CAP + TON)
8 SUPERB
Retired salesperson travelling in bus is fine (6) (REP inside BUS) reversed
9 CONSTANTINOPLE
Firm relocated Pole in old European capital (14) CONSTANT + anagram of POLE IN
16 MASCULINE
Strong mast greatly supported by copper wire (9) (MAS)t + CU + LINE
17 INDECENT
Popular mix of teen CD is gross (8) IN + anagram of TEEN CD
19 ANAGRAM
My device possibly, a worrying person linked to computer component (7) A + NAG + RAM
21 ORIFICE
Mouth and ear infection treated without an ENT (7) Anagram of EAR INFECTION minus AN ENT
22 SCALED
Like a fish mounted? (6) Double Definition
24 LEEDS
English football team’s star players should be announced (5) Sounds like LEADS

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 30/11/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (23/11/2024) 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 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.
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 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 pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

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

A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) 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.
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 word or series of words that signify the loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.

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

A 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 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 using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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AFR Cryptic (23/11/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 COMPLICATION
Canberra’s primary politician in Coalition corrected problem (12) (C)anberra + MP inside anagram of COALITION
9 LINEN
Threads of material in English fabric? (5) materiaL IN ENglish
10 SORTILEGE
Character that is crossing stage is magic (9) SORT + (IE outside LEG)
11 PLEASE
Want parking linked to rental agreement (6) P + LEASE
12 VEGEMITE
Spread vegetables and throw out last of manure (8) VEG + EMIT + manur(E)
13 OH DEAR
Ring judge about defendant’s initial statement of regret (2,4) (O + HEAR) outside (D)efendant
15 DEAD LIFT
Lad worked with one in skilful strongman’s exercise (4,4) (Anagram of LAD + I) inside DEFT
18 BRACELET
Handcuff celeb nearly punching naughty child (8) CELE(b) inside BRAT
19 DANGER
Drive round the bend past back of sand hazard (6) ANGER after san(D)
21 SECURITY
Leading selection of residents in city use modified safety measures (8) (R)esidents inside anagram of CITY USE
23 UNUSED
Re-write of Dune distributed across America is still available (6) Anagram of DUNE outside US
26 IN RESERVE
One with courage checking resolution set aside (2,7) (I + NERVE) outside RES
27 SALSA
Dance mix that’s spicy (5) Double Definition
28 INCANDESCENT
In container, dip is brilliant (12) IN + CAN + DESCENT
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CALYPSO
Song transformed plays, in view of company (7) Anagram of PLAYS inside CO
2 MANGE
Fellow gets 50% off problem with hair-loss (5) MAN + GE(ts)
3 LANDSCAPE
Large and small promontory – the work of an artist, maybe (9) L + AND + S + CAPE
4 CASE
A doctor looks after one’s chest (4) Double Definition
5 TARGETED
Contract used in development of trade is given special attention (8) GET inside anagram of TRADE
6 ON ICE
Waiting rooms at the centre swell (2,3) ro(O)ms + NICE
7 DECIDING
Principal with cold brought up minor accident (8) ICED reversed + DING
8 DETECT
Brief put off court to undertake discovery (6) DETE(r) + CT
14 DRAWCARD
Green car in middle of puddle is a crowd puller (8) (RAW + CAR) inside pu(DD)le
16 DIAGNOSIS
Spoke about one song raised with determination (9) [SAID outside (I + SONG)} reversed
17 REST AREA
Street in behind each motorist’s stopping place (4,4) ST inside REAR + EA
18 BUSKIN
Perform on the street in old footwear (6) BUSK + IN
20 RADIANT
Bright helper stood up in talk, in a self-important way (7) AID reversed inside RANT
22 RISEN
Contribution of donor is enormously increased? (5) donoR IS ENormously
24 SOLVE
Work out one divided by five (5) SOLE outside V
25 READ
Understand what’s written on public notice (4) RE + AD

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 23/11/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (16/11/2024) 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.
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.

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.

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 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.
Punctuation generally should be ignored - always consider how a clue reads without punctuation.
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 (16/11/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MAKE TRACKS
Leave market without right storage units (4,6) MA(r)KET + RACKS
6 PASS
Free ticket is nearly out-of-date (4) PASS(e)
10 TUNER
Fish heard device that analyses and interprets waves (5) Sounds like TUNA
11 SARGASSUM
Problem surrounding a form of grass and seaweed (9) SUM outside (A + anagram of GRASS)
12 ARMOUR
Shield leader of rebellion involved in secret love-affair (6) (R)ebellion inside AMOUR
13 CLEANSE
Purify one greater than medium in weird seance (7) L(arge) inside anagram of SEANCE
15 OLDISH
Oil used oddly with food is not really fresh (6) (O)i(L) + DISH
16 TIME SLOT
Items rescheduled before set’s allocated interval (4,4) Anagram of ITEMS + LOT
17 TOP-GRADE
Superior dental scan used in business (3-5) (OPG) inside TRADE
20 CONDOM
Rubber, on occasion, listed in centimetres (6) (ON + DO) inside CM
23 SARACEN
Old Arab race found buried in sand mostly (7) RACE inside (SAN)d
24 ICEBOX
Cooler that is filled with cold punch (6) IE outside C + BOX
26 ABATEMENT
Team implicated in a fraudulent mitigation (9) Anagram of TEAM inside (A + BENT)
27 RODEO
Lad kicked out of El Dorado organised cowboy show (5) Anagram of EL DORADO minus LAD
28 TA-TA
Farewell members of regiment at attention (2-2) regimenT AT Ateention
29 UNDER SIEGE
Head of union, seeing red, wrongly is opposed by everyone (5,5) (U)nion + anagram of SEEING RED
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MUTE
Silent vehicle parked underneath motorway (4) UTE after M
2 KINDRED
Class embarrassed a group of relatives (7) KIND + RED
3 TERROR-STRICKEN
Kid, following mistakes found in number, is very frightened (6-8) (TRICK after ERROR) inside TEN
4 ASSURE
Guarantee, for instance, user messed up (6) AS + anagram of USER
5 KARACHI
King rebuilt arch, one south of a Pakistani city (7) K + [(anagram of ARCH + I) after A]
7 ARSENAL
Are unfinished roads fixed up for ammunition dump? (7) AR(e) + (LANES reversed)
8 SUMMERTIME
Adder found next to shed, back in a warm spell (10) SUMMER + (EMIT reversed)
9 PATE DE FOIE GRAS
Fat geese dip or a cooked appetiser, perhaps? (4,2,4,4) Anagram of FAT GEESE DIP OR A
14 CONTESTANT
Candidate from broadcast sat inside quietly happy (10) Anagram of SAT inside CONTENT
16 TIE
Secure bank closing down early (3) TIE(r)
18 PARFAIT
Usual ingredient primarily found in rich, frozen dessert (7) PAR + (I)ngredient inside FAT
19 DUNGEON
Waste a long time in prison (7) DUNG + EON
21 DO-OR-DIE
Desperate detective that is stationed behind access point (2-2-3) (D + IE) after DOOR
22 TIPTOE
Walk carefully through dump to gate at the back (6) TIP + TO + gat(E)
25 DOZE
Take a nap a bit before twelve? (4) (DOZE)n

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 16/11/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (9/11/2024) 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 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.
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.
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 entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram indicator will be present.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

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

The 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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (9/11/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RESPONDER
Person not normally embarrassed about one with all the answers (9) Anagram of PERSON + (RED reversed)
6 SHOD
Quiet gathering returned sporting footwear (4) SH + (DO reversed)
10 SURGE
Theatre worker missing out on a significant increase (5) SURGEON minus ON
11 SEVERANCE
Cane largely involved in punishing breach (9) Anagram of (CAN)e inside SEVERE
12 EXTENDED
Long message not started and finished (8) (t)EXT + ENDED
13 OMASUM
Woman’s enlarged heart may be linked to problem with stomach? (6) w(OMA)n + SUM
15 MILES FRANKLIN
Australian author that’s outspoken, left home after a great deal (5,8) (FRANK + L + IN) after MILES
18 PRINCE OF WALES
Royal prepared for new special (6,2,5) Anagram of FOR NEW SPECIAL
22 REPLAY
Agent put down show again (6) REP + LAY
23 AS A WHOLE
Carpenter’s tool may cut this opening completely (2,1,5) Double Definition of sorts
26 ANSWERING
A state syndicate, after end of venture, may be coming back (9) (A + NSW) + [RING after ventur(E)]
27 DINER
Odd selection of red in cheap restaurant (5) Anagram of RED IN
28 HOER
Digger’s ring accepted by the girl (4) O inside HER
29 SURRENDER
Give in to rip flowing in steady river (9) REND inside (SURE + R)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RUSSET
Unwrapped brush set is light brown? (6) b)RUS(h + SET
2 SCROTUM
Scrum wheeled around to set up ball carrier (7) SCRUM outside (TO reversed)
3 OCEAN
Green recalled an expanse of water (5) ECO reversed + AN
4 DISPERSION
Mutated spider is on broadcast (10) Anagram of SPIDER IS ON
5 RAVE
Praise letters penned by engraver (4) engRAVEr
7 HANDSEL
Keeping the Spanish gift for good luck (7) HANDS + EL
8 DREAMING
Imagining a minute in the arms of doctor, for example (8) (A + MIN) inside (DR +EG)
9 CRIMINAL
Lawbreaker maligned in claim about right (8) Anagram of IN CLAIM outside R
14 BROWN SUGAR
Line sung badly in bar – it’s sweet stuff (5,5) (ROW + anagram of SUNG) inside BAR
16 LACTATED
Youngster sitting outside court consumed supplied milk (8) LAD outside (CT + ATE)
17 APPROACH
Native American not totally grasping professional’s technique (8) (APACH)e outside PRO
19 IMPASSE
Deadlock that is broken by politician, one considered a fool (7) IE outside (MP + ASS)
20 SWOONED
Passed out studies written up outside court (7) DENS reversed outside WOO
21 TERROR
Fear mistake coming from tee (6) ERROR after T
24 WEDGE
Golf club’s wide margin (5) W + EDGE
25 LIES
Stock from deli, especially pork pies (4) deLI ESpecially

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 9/11/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (2/11/2024) 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 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 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 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 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 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) 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 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.

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