AFR Cryptic, Saturday 4/5/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (27/4/2024) 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. 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 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 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 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.

There is only one part to this clue, a definition, and it's usually a play on words. There aren't any indicators.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
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 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 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 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 (27/4/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ORCHARDS
They grow fruit or vegetables (8) OR + CHARDS
5 STRAIN
Direction given by coach to try really hard (6) S(outh) + TRAIN
10 TENET
Teaching elements of forgotten etiquette (5) fogotTEN ETiquette
11 CRIME BOSS
Microbes cultivated by small supplier of narcotics maybe? (5,4) Anagram of MICROBES + S
12 FRENCH DRESSING
Disgruntled diners ring chefs dropping starter with incredible vinaigrette (6,8) Anagram of DINERS RING CHEFS minus (I)ncredible
14 HILL
Fell in hospital needing medical attention (4) H + ILL
15 DAIRYMAN
Large number backed an agriculturalist (8) MYRIAD reversed + AN
18 RIP
Opening a stretch of turbulent water (3) Double Definition
19 PEDAL BIN
Cutter turned around inside secure waste disposal unit (5,3) BLADE reversed inside PIN
20 OREO
Biscuit filled with cream or lemon evenly (4) OR + l(E)m(O)n
23 MACARONI CHEESE
One ice cream has spoilt pasta meal (8,6) Anagram of ONE ICE CREAM HAS
26 AUTHENTIC
Trustworthy relative embracing the one heading to court (9) AUNT outside THE + I + (C)ourt
27 RAITA
Ordered pastrami, not spam – a side dish (5) Anagram of PASTRAMI minus SPAM + A
28 GARISH
Showy centre removed from decoration (6) GAR(n)ISH
29 ESCARGOT
Freight in established delicacy (8) CARGO inside EST
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 OUT OF SHAPE
Heats up food mostly cooked in a poor way (3,2,5) Anagram of (HEATS UP FOO)d
2 CONCEALED
Recompilation of clean code is kept secret (9) Anagram of CLEAN CODE
3 ATTACH
A chat deteriorated after time with associate (6) A + (anagram of CHAT after T)
4 DECIDE
Last month I had energy and resolve (6) DEC + ID + E
6 TREASURE
Adjusted rate with fixed value (8) Anagram of RATE + SURE
7 ADORN
Deck trouble fixed by Royal Navy (5) ADO + RN
8 NOSE
Hooter, one lacking in sound? (4) NOISE minus I
9 WIRETAP
Waitperson somehow not catching child’s bug (7) Anagram of WAITPERSON minus SON
13 INTOLERANT
At home, unruly lot aren’t uncharitable (10) IN + anagram of LOT ARENT
15 DIN
Eat mostly with a continuous noise (3) (DIN)e
16 MARKETING
Label can used in, for example, distribution of goods (9) MARK + (TIN inside EG)
17 FLOATERS
Viewing spots are lost at sea after closing of reef (8) Anagram of ARE LOST after ree(F)
18 RISOTTO
Italian meal made from root – it’s produced in a special way (7) Anagram of ROOT ITS
21 CIRCUS
Entertaining show about ignoring a superpower (6) CIRCA minus A + US
22 SHERPA
Mountain guide, perhaps, worked without pressure once (6) Anagram of PERHAPS minus P
24 ALTAR
A large rodent overturned table in church (5) A + L + (RAT reversed)
25 TANG
Insect picked up a distinctive smell (4) GNAT reversed

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 27/4/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (20/4/2024) 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 answer is hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.

Examples: part of, associated with, types of.

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

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

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.
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 removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The 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 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.
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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (20/4/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STUPID
Dull boss probed by private investigator (6) PI inside STUD
5 PEPPERS
Famous sergeant, close to targets, attacks with missiles (7) PEPPER + target(S)
9 CLIMATE CONTROL
Air-conditioning ruined art collection containing original piece from Monet (7,7) Anagram of ART COLLECTION outside (M)onet
11 UNITED
Intruder, giving up rights, toyed with one (6) Anagram of INTRUDER minus (R+R)
12 AFFLUENT
Social worker smoking fine pipe is well-off? (8) ANT outside (F + FLUE)
14 EDGE
Fringe leader not committed to club (4) (w)EDGE
15 BLACKSMITH
Forger is missing millions invested in a little hotel (10) (LACKS + M) inside (BIT + H)
18 PROSTHESIS
Artificial part in expert’s proposal (10) PROS + THESIS
19 CLUB
One in pack featuring leaf primarily? (4) CUB outside (L)eaf
22 REGULARS
Shooter retreated while holding hostage right ordinary customers (8) LUGER reversed + (AS outside R)
24 BARBIE
Tavern that is hosting club’s last meal (6) (BAR + IE) outside clu(B)
26 STATIONMASTERS
Railway officials stop steam trains badly losing pressure (14) Anagram of STOP STEAM TRAINS minus P
27 DREDGES
Doctor sharpens devices used to extract waste matter from the bottom (7) DR + EDGES
28 HANDLE
Deal with serving of lunch and leftovers (6) luncH AND LEftovers
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 TALKING-TO
Lecture leader involved in presentation of wrong total (7-2) KING inside anagram of TOTAL
3 PAMPER
Chart set up for each baby (6) MAP reversed + PER
4 DATE
See something growing on a palm tree (4) Double Definition
5 PACIFIC RIM
Coastal group raised limit provided by one lawbreaker (7,3) CAP reversed + IF + I + CRIM
6 PENALISE
Fine pen is carried by porter, say (8) PEN + (IS inside ALE)
7 EERIE
Guinness, say, with no head? That is weird! (5) (b)EER + IE
8 SPLOTCH
Mark story line developed in school (7) PLOT inside SCH
10 DUPE
Page checked by outstanding kid (4) P inside DUE
13 BLUEPRINTS
Detailed plans replaced pier restricted by rounded pole (10) Anagram of PIER inside (BLUNT + S)
16 ILLIBERAL
Mean crook uncovered bible containing piece of history? (9) ILL + [b)IBL(e outside ERA]
17 STALLING
Everyone involved in hustle is playing for time (8) ALL inside STING
18 PERUSED
Deception adopted by page editor should be closely examined (7) RUSE inside (P + ED)
20 BRED
Produced staple with sound quality (4) Sounds like BREAD
21 FASTEN
Bolt of lightning, say, bent in the middle (6) FAST + b(EN)t
23 GRAVE
Weighty stones mostly (5) (GRAVE)l
25 BACH
German composer’s time not put into collection (4) BATCH minus T

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 20/4/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (13/4/2024) 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. 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 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 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 butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
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 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 entire answer is the result of removing the first or last letter from part of the clue or its synonym. A truncation indicator will be present.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
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 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.

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AFR Cryptic (13/4/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RECESSED
Leader of sect, bound by decrees, reformed and broke up (8) (S)ect inside anagram of DECREES
5 ADONIS
A mafia boss is a handsome young man (6) A + DON + IS
9 PROVE
Test experienced vet short on time (5) PRO + (VET minus T)
10 PARENTING
Father, paying money for accommodation, is taking care of children (9) PA + RENTING
12 NAIL POLISH
Protective coating sprayed on a pill is hard (4,6) Anagram of ON A PILL + IS + H
13 SHOE
Ring concealed by the woman’s trainer, for example (4) O inside SHE
15 DO-GOODER
Well-intentioned person relocated rodeo at end of trail (2-6) Anagram of RODEO after DOG
16 IMPOST
Supporting member’s duty (6) Double Definition
18 CLERKS
Stickler taking on development without IT office workers (6) Anagram of STICKLER minus IT
19 BALLARAT
Victorian city’s social event attended by a person with a bad reputation (8) BALL + A + RAT
22 TEES
Guy heard golfers use them (4) Sounds like TEASE
23 NEUTRALITY
One drafted into an utterly devastated detachment (10) I inside anagram of AN UTTERLY
25 PIONEERED
Established individual tucked into pie and wine (9) ONE inside PIE + RED
26 AREAS
Pieces of ground are grassy in the middle (5) ARE + gr(AS)sy
27 WAY OUT
Excellent course needed when taking leave (3,3) Double Definition
28 IN PERSON
Sniper manipulated operative face to face (2,6) Anagram of SNIPER + ON
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RIPENED
Seasoned one, escorted by writer, dressed in a vibrant colour (7) (I + PEN) inside RED
2 CLOSING CEREMONY
Rider’s first in cycling – someone prepared for Olympic event (7,8) (R)ider inside anagram of CYCLING SOMEONE
3 SHEEP COCKY
Cheeky cops messed with small farmer (5,5) Anagram of CHEEKY COPS
4 ESPALIER
Slip up that is fixed by right training method for plants (8) LAPSE reversed + IE + R
6 DENT
Press in study time (4) DEN + T
7 NEIGHBOURLINESS
Telephone connections in bush region transformed hospitality (15) LINES inside anagram of BUSH REGION
8 SUGGEST
Intimate guests sorted out time (7) * *
11 REST
Employees of welfare state take a break? (4) welfaRE STate
14 AMALGAMATE
Combine seaweed harvested by a male friend (10) ALGA inside (A + M + MATE)
17 WAITED ON
Served a prepared diet in South Korean capital (6,2) (A + anagram of DIET) inside WON
18 CATS-PAW
Light breeze’s power harnessed by vessel, a cutter (4-3) P inside (CAT + SAW)
20 TRYPSIN
Test stick carrying stomach’s primary enzyme (7) TRY + [PIN outside (S)tomach]
21 JEER
Laugh at jeweller dropping spring (4) JEWELLER minus WELL
24 BEAU
Sweetheart, outspoken, tied knot (4) Sounds like BOW

* Erroneous clue. My apologies.

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 13/4/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (6/4/2024) 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 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 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 using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.
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 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 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 answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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AFR Cryptic (6/4/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SUBTRACT
Dock area east of naval vessel (8) TRACT after SUB
5 SMALLS
Items of a personal nature, all listed in text (6) ALL inside SMS
10 GLEAM
Flash part of Kyogle? A motel? (5) kyoGLE A Motel
11 MOONLIGHT
Way of working on delicate work at a secondary job (9) MO + ON + LIGHT
12 ENDEAVOURED
Tried to complete and do a revue in a new sequence (11) END + anagram of DO A REVUE
13 LOP
Cut record with a hole in the middle (3) LP outside O
14 WHIPPERSNAPPER
Cheeky young lad’s weight disconcerted nipper, perhaps (14) W + anagram of NIPPER PERHAPS
18 IMPRESSIONABLE
Sensitive urchin research is withdrawn, concerning expert (14) IMP + RES + (IS reversed) + ON + ABLE
22 LOT
Share half of red wine (3) mer(LOT)
23 ILLUSTRATOR
Sick American deserter giving up one artist (11) ILL + US + (TRAITOR minus I)
26 OUTFITTER
Ring trade union backing trimmer and tailor (9) O + (TU reversed) + FITTER
27 GAINS
Gets gas disconnected outside home (5) GAS outside IN
28 SUPPER
Starter of prawns included in great meal (6) (P)rawns inside SUPER
29 ADULTERY
True lady’s incongruous action? (8) Anagram of TRUE LADY
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SIGNED
Endorsed study taken by American soldiers returning (6) (DEN + GIS) reversed
2 BREADTH
Sourdough, for example, served with nearly all of the spread (7) BREAD + (TH)e
3 RUMBA
Couple from band behind strange dance music (5) (BA)nd after RUM
4 COMMONERS
Cold men’s room unsettled ordinary people (9) C + anagram of MENS ROOM
6 MELODRAMA
Model prepared to push a theatrical production (9) Anagram of MODEL + RAM + A
7 LEG SLIP
Lancashire’s opener, for example, cutting for one close to the keeper (3,4) (L)ancashire + EG + SLIP
8 SET APART
Isolated source of water, listed in rates, varied (3,5) TAP inside anagram of RATES
9 SOAR
The sound made by annoyed fly (4) Sounds like SORE
15 PRECIPICE
Pimm’s original recipe, served mostly with ice, is a great drop (9) (P)imm + (RECIP)e + ICE
16 SPONSORED
Cross embedded in small body of water should be supported (9) SORE inside (S + POND)
17 MILLIONS
Factory is carrying on with a lot of money (8) MILL + (IS outside ON)
19 PIT STOP
Break in trip – it’s to pause? (3,4) triP ITS TO Pause
20 LATRINE
Variety of rat spotted in rank toilet (7) Anagram of RAT inside LINE
21 CRUSTY
Brittle fungus seen in outskirts of city? (6) RUST inside (C)it(Y)
24 LITE
Ingredients of nutritional items low in calories (4) nutritionaL ITEms
25 REGAL
Magnificent beer tipped over (5) LAGER reversed

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 6/4/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (Easter 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 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.
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 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.

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.
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.

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AFR Cryptic (Easter Jigsaw 2024) Solution

 

 

 

 

 

For ease of producing this solution I have numbered the crossword and clues conventionally.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
7 EXPLOIT
Take advantage of scheme mostly used in evacuation (7) (PLO)t inside EXIT
8 GRANDEE
Angered drunken Spanish nobleman of the highest rank (7) Anagram of ANGERED
10 ARMING
Doing damage down at the front supplying weapons (6) (h)ARMING
11 ANACONDA
Outdoor adventure store operating in different parts of Canada (8) ON inside anagram of CANADA
12 STUN
Taser caused sharp pain mostly (4) (STUN)g
13 RABBIT EARS
Religious leader pulls apart broadcast receiver (6,4) RABBI + TEARS
14 BETTING SHOP
Gambling centre is to take place adjacent to rough nightspot (7,4) BE + anagram of NIGHTSPOT
19 TROCHANTER
Irregular crater not apparent around hard part of femur (10) Anagram of CRATER NOT outside H
22 SALT
Section of analysis altered common preservative (4) sanalysiS ALTered
23 ESTRANGE
Established area is split up (8) EST + RANGE
24 BRAISE
Sprig of basil to enhance stew? (6) (B)asil + RAISE
25 REAMERS
They bore me in lifts (7) ME inside REARS
26 PSALTER
Note added to letter to change devotional book (7) PS + ALTER
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 EXCRETA
Old Greek islander reduced waste (7) EX + CRETA(n)
2 ALLIANCE
Everybody misinterpreted a nice partnership (8) ALL + anagram of A NICE
3 SINGER
Voice recording short of length, right? (6) SINGLE minus L + R
4 TREATIES
Surprise that is added to first part of secret agreements (8) TREAT + IE + (S)ecret
5 ENCORE
Men not opening centre with an extra performance (6) (m)EN + CORE
6 READERS
Resolution breached by a revolutionary written up for university lecturers (7) RES outside [A + (RED reversed)]
9 CARBON STEEL
Moulded bracelets containing active metal alloy (6,5) Anagram of BRACELETS outside ON
15 TRAINERS
Coaches organised rest with wet weather intervening (8) Anagram of REST outside RAIN
16 OBSTACLE
A telco’s worked around hub’s final difficulty (8) Anagram of A TELCOS outside hu(B)
17 TRUSTEE
Guardian’s sign of deterioration in area of golf (7) RUST inside TEE
18 BLISTER
Second-rate celebrity’s elevated spot? (7) B-LISTER
20 CHROMA
Macro rewritten about high quality of colour (6) Anagram of MACRO outside H
21 ROBUST
Powerful coach involved in corruption (6) BUS inside ROT

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