AFR Cryptic, Saturday 8/6/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (1/6/2024) 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.
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 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 the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

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

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 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.

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.
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.
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AFR Cryptic (1/6/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 WELL-KEPT
Clean, healthy pet, wrongly injected with potassium (4-4) WELL + anagram of PET outside K
5 STOCKS
Handle small investments (6) STOCK + S
10 NONE TOO
Group of nine rings? Hardly! (4,3) NONET + OO
11 OPEN-AIR
Outdoor operation by leader of Egypt unsettled Iran (4-3) OP + (E)gypt + anagram of IRAN
12 FORCEMEAT
The writer getting stuck into crate of cooked stuffing (9) ME inside anagram of CRATE OF
13 TALON
The stock varied in total with it left out (5) Anagram of IN TOTAL minus IT
14 RUSE
Right to take advantage of deception (4) R + USE
16 FLAGRANT
Outrageous member of the family moved into apartment (8) GRAN inside FLAT
19 DATABASE
A tax form lodged in time for computer store (8) (A + BAS) inside DATE
20 FETE
Selection of buffet, especially, is fair (4) bufFET Especially
23 AMEND
Change people starring in commercial (5) MEN insidde AD
24 TAILPLANE
Temperature linked to trouble with moulded panel’s horizontal stabiliser (9) T + AIL + anagram of PANEL
26 PROVISO
Excellent golfer against one, as stated, with qualification (7) PRO + V + I + SO
27 AIRPORT
It may be used by traveller or taken during a trip abroad (7) OR inside anagram of A TRIP
28 DINNER
Starter of duck served before private function (6) (D)uck + INNER
29 AS IT WERE
One wearing knitted sweater, so to speak (2,2,4) I inside anagram of SWEATER
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 WIND FARM
Twist arm behind the back of chief energy producer (4,4) WIND + F + ARM
2 LONER
Maverick individual right behind leader of Liberals (5) (ONE + R) after (L)iberals
3 KITTEN
Gear to catch retreating young animal (6) KIT + (NET reversed)
4 PROPER FRACTION
Football player, for certain, distracted half, say (6,8) PROP + anagram of FOR CERTAIN
6 TWEETERS
Cute, compact, cut-down speakers (8) TWEE + TERS(e)
7 CHALLENGE
Church warden at last brought in to maintain protest (9) CH + [warde(N) inside ALLEGE]
8 SARONG
Signora re-dressed, discarding one loose skirt (6) Anagram of SIGNORA minus I
9 NORTH AMERICANS
NRA: “Crime has not troubled people with the right to bear arms” (5,9) Anagram of NRA CRIME HAS NOT
15 SCALE DOWN
Shrink, like fish have (5,4) SCALED + OWN
17 HARD LINE
One restrained by handler changed an unyielding attitude (4,4) I inside anagram of HANDLER
18 PERENTIE
Monitor gym that is ending lease (8) PE + (IE after RENT)
21 WARPED
Deformed extremities of people kept in hospital section (6) (P)eopl(E) inside WARD
22 SPIRIT
Model charged with current reversed vital force (6) SIT outside (RIP reversed)
25 AWOKE
Contents of pan and wok, with last bit of spice, should be stirred? (5) p(A)n + WOK + spic(E)

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 1/6/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (25/5/2024) 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.
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.
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 a mixing-up of letters.

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

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 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 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) 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 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 (25/5/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 FORMAT
Arrangement beneficial to friend isn’t quite complete (6) FOR + (MAT)e
5 PICK
Player of strings is a ground-breaker (4) Double Definition
9 OUTED
Versatile vehicle used in middle of flooding may be exposed (5) UTE inside flo(OD)ing
10 CATARACTS
Vehicle turns around at waterfalls (9) (CAR + ACTS) outside AT
13 TREATED
Extremes of temperature in walk must be managed (7) (T)emperatur(E) inside TREAD
14 SYRINGA
Mock orange, say, replanted around enclosure (7) Anagram of SAY outside RING
15 MITE
A very small person in power given voice (4) Sounds like MIGHT
16 IMMOBILISE
Freeze one ruptured embolism injected with iodine (10) I + anagram of EMBOLISM outside I
19 HEAVY-LADEN
Burdened lady transformed in heaven (5-5) Anagram of LADY inside HEAVEN
20 PEAT
Vegetable matter is soft to chew (4) P + EAT
23 AMASSED
Racked up 500 following a difficult billiards shot (7) D after (A + MASSE)
25 SAUSAGE
Practice required after saw reduced butcher’s output (7) USAGE after SA(w)
26 DETERMINE
Discover explosive at end of check (9) MINE after DETER
28 MOLAR
Damage on outside of old, decayed tooth? (5) MAR outside OL(d)
29 EARS
Auditors are replaced by computers finally (4) Anagram of ARE + computer(S)
30 LOSING
Shutting down clubs not making money (6) CLOSING minus C
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 ODDITY
They’d do it all wrong without input from the misfit (6) Anagram of THEYD DO IT minus THE
3 MACADAMIA
Nut married the first man imprisoned by a US spy network (9) M + [ADAM inside (A + CIA)]
4 TITUS
Religious book titles – used – both 50% off (5) TIT(les) + US(ed)
5 PORTRAIT
Photograph train nearly inside transit terminal (8) TRAI(n) inside PORT
6 KIT
Common types of skirt and kilt in outfit (3) The letters shared by SKIRT and KILT
7 BOTTOM
Foundation is time and time again featured in expansion (6) (T + T) inside BOOM
8 STREETS APART
Repeats broadcast in institute may be very different (7,5) Anagram of REPEATS inside START
11 CONSIDERABLE
Large line drawn around area where batters may score runs (12) CABLE outside (ONSIDE + R)
12 STALE
Ending of this story is lacking originality (5) thi(S) + TALE
17 OVERSEERS
Supervisors love writing about clerks at the centre (9) O + [VERSES outside cl(ER)ks]
18 EYESORES
Climbing types of Japanese rose, yellowing, may be ugly looking things (8) japanesE ROSE YEllowing reversed
19 HEARD
Picked up drug inside complex (5) E inside HARD
21 THEORY
Speculation male outlined initially in essay (6) [HE + (O)utlined] inside TRY
22 SUMMON
Call child occupied by distracted mum (6) SON outside anagram of MUM
24 DRILL
Instruction tool that gets a bit used (5) Double Definition
27 EWE
Sheep and stock farmed in New England (3) nEW England

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 25/5/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (18/5/2024) 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 loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.

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

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
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 using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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 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 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.
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.
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.

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AFR Cryptic (18/5/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RECAP
Top performer in public relations returned review (5) (ACE inside PR) reversed
4 DEPOSITOR
Editor mistaken about pressure applied to overseas investment banker (9) Anagram of EDITOR outside (P + OS)
9 TALLIED
Opportunist finally joined as agreed (7) opportunis(T) + ALLIED
10 TASTERS
People who sample spuds cut with spades (7) TATERS outside S
11 AT THE SAME TIME
Still distributed steam heat with discharge flowing back (2,3,4,4) Anagram of STEAM HEAT + (EMIT reversed)
14 LOOP
Ring fund in recession (4) POOL reversed
15 INSISTENT
One of the family, bound by plan, is persevering (9) SIS inside INTENT
18 STAYING ON
Guy with leave, accommodated by inn, is going nowhere (7,2) STAY + (GO inside INN)
19 JUJU
Charm – it’s not needed in Japanese martial art (4) JUJITSU minus ITS
21 PRESSURE POINT
Control of bleeding upset prisoner undergoing treatment (8,5) Anagram of UPSET PRISONER
24 PARTIAL
Unfinished creative work, one pocketed by friend (7) (ART + I) inside PAL
26 PLIABLE
Piano, open, is easily moved around (7) P + LIABLE
27 REGISTRAR
Doctor’s substance, right, ingested by parent? (9) (GIST + R) inside REAR
28 SPENT
Weary stock holder sat in middle of street (5) PEN inside ST
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RITE
Foremost part of religious item to a great extent? (4) (R)eligious + (ITE)m
2 COLLABORATE
Company and political group, entering at the last minute, work together (11) CO + (LABOR inside LATE)
3 PLINTH
Phone about soft material in architectural support (6) PH outside LINT
4 DODDERING
Feeble stranger involved in minor accident (9) ODDER inside DING
5 PATNA
Occupants of camp at natural place in northern India (5) camP AT NAtural
6 SUSPENSE
Writers, in short, primarily use a feature of all good thrillers (8) PENS inside [(S)hort + USE]
7 TEE
A golfer hits from here and there alternately (3) (T)h(E)r(E)
8 RESPECTFUL
Papa, trapped by curse, felt strangely humble (10) P inside anagram of CURSE FELT
12 INEQUITABLE
Trendy and quite disturbed expert is prejudiced (11) IN + anagram of QUITE + ABLE
13 GLASS PAPER
Doctor, holding female parrot, right, could be smoother? (5,5) GP outside LASS + APE + R
16 SANDPIPER
Bird and related disease featured in series (9) (AND + PIP) inside SER
17 TINSNIPS
Tool that cuts metal isn’t adapted to turn around (8) Anagram of ISNT + (SPIN reversed)
20 DIXIES
Stamps found on the outside of nine big pots (6) DIES outside IX
22 RULER
One responsible for stock losses – no saint or leader (5) RUSTLER minus ST
23 PELT
Coat with batter (4) Double Definition
25 RUG
Hair replacement medicines with no restrictions? (3) d)RUG(s

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 18/5/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (11/5/2024) 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 structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters, then the entire result is reversed. The type of container clue involved is determined by an appropriate containment 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 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.
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 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.

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

Examples: part of, associated with, types of.

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 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 (11/5/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MOTHER LODE
Main vein remaining close to normal during procedure (6,4) [OTHER + norma(L)] inside MODE
7 GLAD
Happy place in a forest that’s clear mostly (4) (GLAD)e
10 HELLENIC
Hot spot excited nice Greek (8) HELL + anagram of NICE
11 UGANDA
Land dug and aerated to some extent (6) dUG AND Aerated
12 USEFUL
American developed fuel of great importance (6) US + anagram of FUEL
13 SEAMLESS
Marine left in dining area with no apparent interruptions (8) SEA + (L inside MESS)
14 GEAR
Parts connected to engage a rotating mechanism (4) engaGE A Rotating
15 WHOLEGRAIN
Who left, for example, source of water with seeds? (10) WHO + L + EG + RAIN
18 ARNHEM LAND
Opening of new hospital inside reappointed alderman’s indigenous region (6,4) [(N)ew + H] inside anagram of ALDERMAN
21 VETO
Rule out letters written in native tongue (4) natiVE TOngue
22 TRAIN SET
Wet weather, interrupting test, set back small railway system (5,3) RAIN inside (TEST reversed)
24 SERVER
Computer unit part with resistance installed (6) SEVER outside R
25 SCAMPI
Devil one seafood dish (6) SCAMP + I
26 BOILOVER
Young man largely dealt with one partner’s surprising result (8) (BO)y + I + LOVER
27 SHED
The woman had a place to keep things outside (4) Double Definition
28 FREIGHTERS
Soldiers taking on merchant ships (10) FIGHTERS outside RE
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 OVERSTEER
Support at back of servo corrected right turning problem (9) (TEE after anagram of SERVO) + R
3 HOLD FORTH
Lecture in ancient garrison built between two hotels (4,5) (OLD + FORT) inside (H + H)
4 RUNS LOW
Dodgy urn, heating gently, becomes depleted (4,3) Anagram of URN + SLOW
5 OCCASIONAL TABLE
So, a local cabinet, fully restored, is ornamental furniture? (10,5) Anagram of SO A LOCAL CABINET
6 EDUCATE
A teacher initially brought in to develop school (7) [A + (T)eacher] inside EDUCE
8 LUNGE
Suddenly come forward with ring lost in sitting-room (5) LOUNGE minus O
9 DRAGS ON
University fellow checking newspapers seems to take forever (5,2) DON outside RAGS
16 RIVER BOAT
Vessel arranged to arrive around opening of bar (5,4) Anagram of TO ARRIVE outside (B)ar
17 IN THE REAR
Rescheduled train carrying present is behind (2,3,4) Anagram of TRAIN outside HERE
18 ARTISTS
Creative people sit around splitting up parts without piano (7) SIT reversed inside (PARTS minus P)
19 MASTIFF
Mother’s pet dog (7) MAS + TIFF
20 DASHING
Odd character, nursing part of leg, is competing in a sprint (7) DAG outside SHIN
23 AWAKE
Come to a watery track (5) A + WAKE

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 11/5/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (4/5/2024) 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.

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 11/5/2024, Clue Hints


















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 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 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 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 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.
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.

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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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 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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (4/5/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RACISM
Retired coach is associated with male prejudice (6) CAR reversed + IS + M
4 DEPOSE
Set down a quantity of drugs containing EPO mostly (6) DOSE outside (EP)o
8 MERIT
Value the writer, right, with it (5) ME + R + IT
9 NASHI PEAR
A vessel manoeuvred in close with exotic fruit (5,4) (A + SHIP) inside NEAR
11 METHANE
Long thick human hair penetrated by the sprayed chemical (7) MANE outisde anagram of THE
12 OIL WELL
Ring one left rightly for gusher, say (3,4) O + I + L + WELL
13 EVER
Cut down leader at any time (4) (s)EVER
14 NINEPINS
NSW’s opener playing cricket injured spine bowling (8) (N)sw + IN + anagram of SPINE
17 UNEARTHS
Discovers uranium near this with iodine not detected (8) U + [(NEAR THIS) minus I]
19 MAYO
Yam diced up with egg dressing (4) Anagram of YAM + O
23 PICCOLO
Choose short, cool, brewed black coffee (7) PIC(k) + anagram of COOL
24 OARSMAN
Person who made progress after having a stroke? (7) Cryptic Definition
25 DEEP SPACE
Pace back and forth in area filled with stars (4,5) SPEED reversed + PACE
26 MINCE
Store taking delivery of cold meat in small portions (5) MINE outside C
27 FRIDGE
Fine, raised strip of land should be cooler (6) F + RIDGE
28 PROSIT
Good luck to you specialists joining IT (6) PROS + IT
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 REMEMBER
Urge every second representative to look back (8) u(R)g(E) + MEMBER
2 CURETTE
Correct temperature recorded with the unfilled surgical instrument? (7) CURE + T + T(h)E
3 SATRAP
Old ruler, say, not closing mouth (6) SA(y) + TRAP
4 DISCOUNT STORES
Shops that sell cheap items and seconds, tourist exploited (8,6) Anagram of SECONDS TOURIST
5 PHILLIPS
Type of screw mount secured in spots (8) HILL inside PIPS
6 SHEBEEN
Queen, for instance, associated with opening of new tavern that’s cheap? (7) SHE BEE + (N)ew
7 INTERNATIONALE
One Italian tenor, short on oxygen, messed up revolutionary song (14) Anagram of ONE ITALIAN TENOR minus O
10 ROLE
Part and parcel of control experiments (4) contROL Experiments
15 CAROUSED
One leaving Cairo took drugs and had a good time (8) CA(i)RO + USED
16 DOWNBEAT
Do we, hanging around outside, take notice at flat? (8) (DO + WE) outside NB + AT
18 NUCLEAR
Peacekeepers backed fine for possessing atomic weapons (7) UN reversed + CLEAR
20 ALMONDS
Cooked salmon stuffed with last of toasted nuts (7) Anagram of SALMON outside toaste(D)
21 SPED
A group of serious pedestrians moved quickly (4) seriouS PEDestrians
22 PRIMER
Elementary book is a little explosive (6) Double Definition

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