AFR Cryptic, Saturday 20/1/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (13/1/2024) 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 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 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 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 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.

Punctuation generally should be ignored - always consider how a clue reads without punctuation.
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 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 (13/1/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PREPARED
Piano salesman, with a bottle of wine, is all set (8) P + REP + A + RED
5 SLALOM
All tumbled in some shortened ski race (6) Anagram of ALL inside SOM(e)
10 ONSET
Start working as an actor (5) Double Definition
11 ABRASIONS
One playing in a section of an orchestra scrapes (9) (I + ON) inside (A + BRASS)
12 POWER PLANT
One who has to pay money to design, in platinum, a generator (5,5) (OWER + PLAN) inside PT
13 ASIA
Heavily populated area – one located in a state of Australia (4) I inside (A + SA)
15 BEHOLD
Observe the man reversing in Valiant (6) HE reversed inside BOLD
16 HOLY SEE
Married one leaving homily to visit papal court (4,3) HOMILY minus (M + I) + SEE
19 SHEARED
Fleeced sheep are inside farm building (7) ARE inside SHED
21 CHANCE
Part of a church without large opening (6) CHANCEL minus L
23 EAST
Banquet not beginning with main course (4) (f)EAST
25 CAPITALISE
Fund’s maximum amount is placed in one account (10) CAP + [IS inside (I + TALE)]
27 CARTAGENA
Transport agent contracted by a place in Spain (9) CART + AGEN(t) + A
28 TUNED
Turned down river running well (5) TURNED minus R
29 SEE RED
Drove, not having time to blow a gasket (3,3) STEERED minus T
30 BODY SLAM
Sadly, mob mishandled manoeuvre in ring (4,4) Anagram of SADLY MOB
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PROMPT
Fun time in gym is executed without delay (6) ROMP inside PT
2 ELSEWHERE
The Spanish do needlework here and in another place (9) EL + SEW + HERE
3 AFTER HOURS
Our father’s terribly late (5,5) Anagram of OUR FATHERS
4 E-MAILED
The writer, withdrawn and troubled, sent a message (1-6) ME reversed + AILED
6 LIST
Roll is lean (4) Double Definition
7 LIONS
Some with pride, for example, leaving army units (5) LEGIONS minus EG
8 MISLAYER
Mass murderer providing refuge for one loser (8) (M + SLAYER) outside I
9 BRUNCH
Starter of rabbit featured in group meal (6) (R)abbit inside BUNCH
14 PLEASANTLY
Layer containing sealant moulded well (10) PLY outside anagram of SEALANT
17 SECTIONAL
Battered stretch of coastline is divided (9) Anagram of COASTLINE
18 ESSENCES
Contents of vessel once deficient in oxygen and sulphur concentrates? (8) v(ESSE)l + (ONCE minus O) + S
20 DEADEN
Dull idea not supported by one study (6) (IDEA minus I) + DEN
21 CHICAGO
Smart move made behind a hang-out frequented by gangsters (7) CHIC + (GO after A)
22 SELDOM
Passengers on board vessel do meet occasionally (6) vesSEL DO Meet
24 SERVE
Work for American camper during visit (5) RV inside SEE
26 CARE
Keeping manual, say, close to phone (4) CAR + phon(E)

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 13/1/2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (6/1/2024) 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.
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.
All words can be validly written with a leading capital without changing their meaning. Hence, the capitalisation of a word may present a different picture than is intended.
The 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.
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 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 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.
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.

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AFR Cryptic (6/1/2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CRASH COURSE
Utter abuse about adventurous company’s intensive programme of instruction (5,6) CURSE outside (RASH + CO)
7 ROT
Tripe and bread not finished (3) ROT(i)
9 SOLID
Upstanding one bound by auctioneer’s call (5) I inside SOLD
10 TUMBLE-DRY
Diseased myrtle bud is free of moisture (6-3) Anagram of MYRTLE BUD
11 MARE’S TAIL
A break formed in protective covering and cloud (5,4) (A + REST) inside MAIL
12 SHOWN
The way something is done in tin is demonstrated (5) HOW inside SN
13 RAN AMOK
Class running around a short time, went wild (3,4) RANK outside (A + MO)
15 DRIP
Drain’s primary rupture is a plumber’s problem (4) (D)rain + RIP
18 EROS
God of love is tender in a different way (4) SORE reversed
20 PIGMENT
Paint grand people during depression (7) (G + MEN) inside PIT
23 AROMA
A tomato’s smell (5) A + ROMA
24 AIRSTREAM
Current racer’s first in new Maserati (9) (R)acer inside anagram of MASERATI
26 BAR USEFUL
Hotel worker’s fun ended early volatile Belarus (3,6) FU(n) inside anagram of BELARUS
27 TRACE
Mark left with time to fly (5) T + RACE
28 EYE
Part of a needle, yes? (3) needlE YEs
29 NERVE CENTRE
HQ’s section of “bible” held in extraordinary reverence (5,6) NT inside anagram of REVERENCE
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CASHMERE
Crocheter primarily has knitted with pure and simple wool (8) (C)rocheter + anagram of HAS + MERE
2 ALLURING
Desirable university checked by everyone with phone (8) U inside (ALL + RING)
3 HADES
He has written about commercial hell (5) HES outside AD
4 OUTBACK
Taxi trade union set up in very good part of Australia that’s remote (7) (CAB + TU) reversed inside OK
5 RAMBLED
Sheep ran and wandered (7) RAM + BLED
6 ENLISTING
Line loosely wound for securing support (9) Anagram of LINE + STING
7 RED-HOT
Very excited horde scrambled back to fort (3-3) Anagram of HORDE + for(T)
8 TRYING
Difficult dignitary worked without aid (6) Anagram of DIGNITARY minus AID
14 MORTAL SIN
A very bad offence – it’s normal in a perverted way (6,3) Anagram of ITS NORMAL
16 RELEVANT
Proper division seizing contaminated veal (8) RENT outside anagram of VEAL
17 STAMPEDE
Charge impressed England’s opener (8) STAMPED + (E)ngland
19 STAFFER
Unlimited offer accepted by leading employee? (7) o)FFE(r inside STAR
20 PAROLEE
Prisoner conditionally released from a job in gym (7) (A + ROLE) inside PE
21 GARBLE
Type of roof accommodating right slant (6) GABLE outside R
22 COWRIE
Marine creature that is following female whale, right? (6) (IE after COW) + R
25 TITHE
One tenth initially included in the biblical offering (5) [I + (T)enth] inside THE

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

Did you have trouble working out the New Year Cryptic crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (New Year 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.
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 entire answer is found by reversing part of the clue, or a synonym for part of the clue. A suitable reversal indicator will be present.
A type of clue 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.
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.
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.

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 question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.

Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
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AFR Looking Ahead 2024 Solution

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AFR Cryptic (New Year 2024) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HOTHOUSE
Delicate tube with core measuring one thousandth of an inch (8) HOSE outside THOU
5 STRESS
A spinster’s dislocation is relieved of pain and tension (6) Anagram of A SPINSTERS minus PAIN
9 MOLECULE
Atomic group’s spy deciphered clue (8) MOLE + anagram of CLUE
10 OPIATE
Habit-forming drug, one ingested after surgical procedure (6) (I + ATE) after OP
12 EAGLE
Each golfer regularly recorded shot on course (5) EA + (G)o(L)f(E)r
13 CALLED OUT
Caught, a hoodlum receiving shiner, yelled (6,3) (C + A + LOUT) outside LED
14 BATTEN
Come in down the order with a piece of wood? (6) BAT TEN
15 NEW YEAR
Holiday time organised anywhere with no hotel (3,4) Anagram of ANYWHERE minus H
18 ATHWART
What rebuilt facility is in opposition to (7) Anagram of WHAT + ART
20 CARBON
Element, rubidium, combined with oxygen inside container (6) (RB + O) inside CAN
22 STRATAGEM
Famous guitar fitted with a rock device (9) STRAT + A + GEM
24 PROSE
Experts heard a tedious speech (5) Sounds like PROS
25 BUNDLE
Bread deal arranged without a package (6) BUN + anagram of DE(a)L
26 BAHRAINI
Arab recalled Arab moving around hospital in one (8) ARAB reversed outside H + IN + I
27 EVEN SO
Rewired ovens, charged with energy, should be all the same (4,2) Anagram of OVENS outside E
28 VERY WELL
Healthy expression of agreement (4,4) Double Definition
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HAMPER
Endless bubbly and food selection? (6) c)HAMPER(s
2 TELEGRAPH
Support criminal charge in the distributed communication system (9) LEG + RAP + inside anagram of THE
3 ORCHESTRA STALLS
Great seats or box all stars reserved? (9,6) OR + CHEST + anagram of ALL STARS
4 SILICON
Element twisted in coils (7) Anagram of IN COILS
6 TUPPERWARE PARTY
Set up, for each state representative, creative function designed to sell stuff (10,5) PUT reversed + PER + WA + REP + ARTY
7 ERATO
A time of significance to a Greek goddess (5) ERA + TO
8 SEE STARS
Atrocious actresses without class primarily suffer from a big blow (3,5) Anagram of ACTRESSES minus (S)lass
11 FLAN
Large portion of side dish (4) (FLAN)k
16 ECONOMISE
Green one is upset about minister’s initial budget (9) ECO + [anagram of ONE IS outside (M)inister]
17 PASSABLE
Father’s fur coat is not too bad (8) PAS + SABLE
19 TAGS
Hollow things containing silver marks? (4) T(hing)S outside AG
20 COMPARE
Approach taking into account score in golf match (7) COME outside PAR
21 REFILL
Sports official dealt with ailing replacement (6) REF + ILL
23 RINSE
An amount of water in sewer? (5) wateR IN SEwer

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AFR New Year 2024 AJ Solution

The PDF contains the worked solution

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AFR Cryptic, New Year Jigsaw 2024, 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.

Answer ending with…



















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.
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.

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.
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 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, New Year 2024, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out the Christmas cryptic? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (Christmas 2023) 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 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 question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.

Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.

A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.

Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.

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

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

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 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.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.

Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The 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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