AFR Cryptic (21/10/2023) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CORRESPOND
Run in hearts added to pool tally (10) R inside CORES + POND
6 CHIT
Leading member of choir reached note (4) (C)hoir + HIT
10 RADICAL
Basic form of carbon used in composition of tyre (7) C inside RADIAL
11 GLOBULE
Luminous appearance almost ruined blue bead (7) GLO(w) + anagram of BLUE
12 ANNUL
Cancel yearbook lacking a section towards the back (5) ANNU(a)L
13 ANTARCTIC
An approach cut by river near the south pole (9) AN + TACTIC outside R
14 EXIT POLL
“Exploit wavering head of Labor” – it’s what the voters think (4,4) Anagram of EXPLOIT + (L)abor
15 RECIPE
Price varied in line with drug’s formula (6) Anagram of PRICE + E
18 BUNKUM
Junk with no capital value included in worthless garbage (6) (j)UNK inside BUM
19 COMATOSE
Sleeping partner occupied by overseas company at the start (8) (MATE outside OS) after CO
22 LIMITLESS
Undefined time left in development of missile (9) (T + L) inside anagram of MISSILE
24 ENEMA
Hostile force almost completed a process to ensure evacuation (5) (ENEM)y + A
25 TANGENT
Touching line, one close to peg, in tent (7) [AN + pe(G)] inside TENT
26 SHIP OUT
Transport military personnel hit mostly in jet (4,3) (HI)t inside SPOUT
27 ROSY
Optimistic group returned from enemy sortie (4) enemY SORtie reversed
28 TRANSLATED
Time scheduled after service is explained (10) T + (SLATED after RAN)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CARNAGE
Murder annoying one in charge (7) NAG inside CARE
2 RED ENSIGN
Flag secluded places in command (3,6) DENS inside REIGN
3 EUCALYPTUS TREE
A cute pet surely chewed gum (10,4) Anagram of A CUTE PET SURELY
4 PALPABLE
Concrete Picasso mostly painted in white (8) (PABL)o inside PALE
5 NIGHTS
Times when people find it hard to see things at sea (6) Anagram of THINGS
7 HAUNT
Frequently visit hospital with a member of the family (5) H + AUNT
8 TREACLE
Last bit of breakfast cereal, mixed with syrup (7) breakfas(T) + anagram of CEREAL
9 SOURCE MATERIAL
Original documents friend and show-off recalled after changing course (6,8) [MATE + (LAIR reversed)] after anagram of COURSE
16 IRONED OUT
Put right function in rewritten routine (6,3) DO inside anagram of ROUTINE
17 ROUSES ON
Reprimands wake up junior family member (6,2) ROUSE + SON
18 BOLSTER
Support one who takes off maintaining heading of south (7) BOLTER outside S
20 ENACTED
A court, in need, reorganised and legislated (7) (A + CT) inside anagram of NEED
21 HEATER
Hard consumer could be warmer (6) H + EATER
23 MANUS
Staff employed by country area of PNG (5) MAN + US

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 21/10/2023, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (14/10/2023) 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 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.

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 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 entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram 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 (14/10/2023) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 POPEDOM
Catholic leader’s office procedure Father knocked back (7) (MODE + POP) reversed
5 DEBATES
Top performer turned around club’s formal discussions (7) SEED reversed outside BAT
9 ISLAM
Religion is liturgy, primarily, and a mass (5) IS + (L)iturgy + A + M
10 TIMESHARE
Drain containing mesh adjoining a jointly owned property (9) TIRE outside (MESH + A)
11 SURVIVOR
Virus affected three characters in the middle of “Divorce”, a reality TV show (8) Anagram of VIRUS + di(VOR)ce
12 EASE UP
Slow down vehicle finally, and pause for a change (4,2) vehicl(E) + anagram of PAUSE
14 TECHNICALITIES
At clinic he varied restrictions and literal rule interpretations (14) Anagram of AT CLINIC HE + TIES
17 CARDINAL NUMBER
Eccentric Melburnian maligned a valued figure (8,6) CARD + anagram of MELBURNIAN
21 ERASED
Letters collected by worker as editor should be removed (6) workER AS EDitor
23 INITIATE
Enjoying success, I had a meal with new member (8) IN IT + I + ATE
25 TOP BANANA
Important person to lead a family member back to Australia (3,6) TO + PB + A + NAN + australi(A)
26 ELITE
Selected “E” letter in Scrabble put down the wrong way (5) (E + TILE reversed)
27 DELUDES
People generally adopting the Spanish kids (7) DUDES outside EL
28 LESSEES
Tenants, without notice, returned (7) LESS + (SEE reversed)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PRIEST
Minister asks a lot of questions before closing of parliament (6) PRIES + parliamen(T)
2 POLAR BEAR
Soft sort of arboreal animal used to a cold climate (5,4) P + anagram of ARBOREAL
3 DAMPISH
A little wet politician, one dressed in style (7) (MP + I) inside DASH
4 METHODICAL
Drug overdose, one caught by a large orderly (10) METH + OD + I + C + A + L
5 DAMN
Criticise nuts sent up north (4) MAD reversed + N
6 BASMATI
Rice left out of lamb as it stewed (7) Anagram of (l)AMB AS IT
7 TEASE
Time spent with moderate guy (5) T + EASE
8 STEEPISH
Soak is hot and quite high (8) STEEP + IS + H
13 CANNONBALL
Fired one can not shortly head to nearby dance party (10) CAN + NO(t) + (N)earby + BALL
15 ITERATIVE
Repetitious item not completed by four in class (9) ITE(m) + (IV inside RATE)
16 ACCEPTED
Regular performed outside clubs with record (8) ACTED outside (C + EP)
18 ICELAND
I caught African antelope where it’s very cold (7) I + C + ELAND
19 MATTERS
Temperature recorded in polluted stream makes a difference (7) T inside anagram of STREAM
20 BEGETS
Fathers, for example, featuring in plays for money (6) EG inside BETS
22 APPAL
A friend experiencing internal pressure and shock (5) P inside (A + PAL)
24 CANS
Light meal mostly served up in tins (4) (SNAC)k reversed

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 14/10/2023, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (7/10/2023) 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 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 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 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 structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
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.
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AFR Cryptic (7/10/2023) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ROCK-BOTTOM
Low music, time and time again used in big sound (4-6) ROCK + (TT inside BOOM)
6 FANG
Drive fast propeller connected to back of rig (4) FAN + ri(G)
9 SHAWL
Wash ruined large woman’s wrap (5) Anagram of WASH + L
10 AMENDMENT
Change commercial about men – men heading to town (9) (AD outside MEN) + MEN + (T)own
12 MINISERIES
They are pessimistic about popular TV program (10) MISERIES outside IN
13 TOP
Trump’s misguided post lacking substance primarily (3) Anagram of POST minus (S)ubstance
15 POETRY
Morbid short-story writer to judge metrical composition (6) POE + TRY
16 RECOURSE
Access is concerning company with new user (8) RE + CO + anagram of USER
18 ERUPTION
Rash virgin retired and turned it on (8) PURE reversed + IT reversed + ON
20 ENSURE
Certify nurse reappointed after end of course (6) Anagram of NURSE after cours(E)
23 DID
Arranged degree with credentials (3) D + ID
24 BAKING SODA
Academic leaders bother about raising agent (6,4) BA + KINGS + (ADO reversed)
26 CORRECTOR
Reformist centre not completed by minister (9) (COR)e + RECTOR
27 ON AIR
Deborah pulled out of stylish broadcasting (2,3) DEBONAIR minus DEB
28 SHOT
Items of rubbish others threw out (4) rubbiSH OThers
29 PROSPECTUS
Share plan with working group wearing specialist glasses (10) TU inside (PRO + SPECS)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 REST
Take a break, or not, in holiday centre (4) RESORT minus OR
2 CHALICE
Chap mostly left very cold water in drinking cup (7) (CHA)p + L + ICE
3 BILLIARD TABLE
Expert, starting with a drill bit, fixed pool equipment (8,5) ABLE after anagram of A DRILL BIT
4 THAWED
Kibbled wheat bread finally defrosted? (6) Anagram of WHEAT + brea(D)
5 ONE-SIDED
Partisan is indeed so messed up (3-5) Anagram of INDEED SO
7 ABETTER
One who illegally helps a superior (7) A + BETTER
8 GO TO PIECES
Caught cop is roughed up in possession of two lots of ecstasy and crack (2,2,6) GOT + (anagram of COP IS outside E twice)
11 DISCOUNT STORE
Scouts not prepared in terrible place that’s cheap (8,5) Anagram of SCOUTS NOT inside DIRE
14 APPENDICES
Writer, after a page, chops up supplements (10) PEN after (A + P) + DICES
17 ROCK STAR
Entertainer’s precious gems are devalued after little time? (4,4) ROCKS + [AR(e) after T]
19 UNDERGO
Bear is urged on in an agitated state (7) Anagram of URGED ON
21 UNDEALT
Contract exchanged with one in unit is not handed out (7) DEAL replacing I in UN(i)T
22 SNARES
Small nasal passages – they catch things (6) S + NARES
25 IRIS
One trimmed wax plant with showy flowers (4) I + RIS(e)

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 7/10/2023, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (30/9/2023) 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.


1-across



15-across

16-across

18-across

24-across

26-across


29-across



3-down

4-down

8-down

11-down

17-down


25-down

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 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.
Punctuation generally should be ignored - always consider how a clue reads without punctuation.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

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

A word or 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 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.

Part or all of the answer is found by replacing a section in a word (or its synonym) with a word (or its synonym), letters, or letter. An appropriate indicator like "for a", replacing, switching etc will be present
A word or series of words that signify the loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.

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

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AFR Cryptic (30/9/2023) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DISADVANTAGES
Wrongly advised against giving up one’s weak points (13) Anagram of ADVISED AGAINST minus I
9 STARTED
Prominent detective turned set off (7) STAR + (DET reversed)
10 ALL-TIME
Outstanding lieutenant revealed in decoded email (3-4) LT inside anagram of EMAIL
11 RULED
Ordered rum mostly went first (5) (RU)m + LED
12 CAESAREAN
Care about sea receding before an operational manoeuvre to effect delivery (9) CARE outside (SEA reversed) + AN
13 SKILLETS
Cooking equipment butcher collected in sets (8) KILL inside SETS
15 BIG TOE
I got flustered making an appearance in live digital projection (3,3) Anagram of I GOT inside BE
18 TREATY
Formal agreement to address hunger secured by judge (6) EAT inside TRY
19 FIRE DOOR
One red circle used inside for emergency exit (4,4) (I + RED + O) inside FOR
22 ENCOURAGE
Comfort innocent cousin consumed by anger? (9) (COUSIN minus SIN) inside ENRAGE
24 SAPID
Savoury guacamole, say, when offered around (5) (DIP + AS) reversed
25 ORDINAL
Vocal about start of doxology in service-book (7) ORAL outside [(D)oxology + IN]
26 PLACATE
Appease a leader from Turkey entering venue (7) [A + (T)urkey] inside PLACE
27 REARRANGEMENT.
Rear troops in service of Australia get new order (13) REAR + [MEN inside (RAN + GET)] .
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DESERTS
Rewards regions with low growth potential (7) Double Definition
2 SNAIL-LIKE
Sick one in wind is very slow (5-4) (ILL + I) inside SNAKE
3 DATED
Square is late getting up, taking time (5) DEAD reversed outside T
4 AUDACITY
Daring US lawyer found in gold centre where a lot of business is done (8) DA inside (AU + CITY)
5 TRAVEL
Become confused after time touring (6) RAVEL after T
6 GALVANISE
Van is engulfed by strong wind and fire (9) (VAN + IS) inside GALE
7 SHIRE
Staffer’s first to take on an administrative area (5) (S)taffer + HIRE
8 MEANIE
Malicious person that is finishing off design (6) IE after MEAN
14 LITHUANIA
Unfinished hut found in unsettled Italian part of Europe (9) HU(t) inside anagram of ITALIAN
16 TOOK PLACE
Happened to approve soft ornamental fabric (4,5) TO + OK + P + LACE
17 FINE-SPUN
Diversion around home, especially, is not practical (4-4) FUN outside (IN + ESP)
18 THE DON
Great Aussie batsman – he had one hundred runs in boundaries (3,3) HED inside TON
20 RED MEAT
Drunk dreamt about English beef, for example (3,4) Anagram of DREAMT outside E
21 PALLOR
Lack of colour everybody spotted in reduced port (6) ALL inside POR(t)
23 CIDER
Wine, one knocked back after cold drink (5) (RED + I) reversed after C
24 SPACE
Special serve that wins play (5) SP + ACE

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 30/9/2023, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (23/9/2023) 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.



9-across

10-across

11-across

12-across


18-across

19-across

22-across

24-across



27-across


2-down

3-down

4-down

6-down

16-down

23-down

A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

A word or series of words that signify the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

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

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

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

A word or series of words that signify the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

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

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
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 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 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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (23/9/2023) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 FORECAST
Prophecy supporting a sect experiencing conversion (8) FOR + anagram of A SECT
5 GROTTO
Source of glow-worms possibly reached crossing river (6) GOT TO outside R
10 SECOND-IN-COMMAND
Deputy condemns nomadic wandering (6-2-7) Anagram of CONDEMNS NOMADIC
11 SEPARATION
Split peas spoiled a small amount of food (10) Anagram of PEAS + RATION
12 MESA
Entries in scheme’s actuarial table (4) scheMES Actuarial
14 SURGED
Cocktail of drugs containing ecstasy caused a rush (6) Anagram of DRUGS outside E
15 SEEDBED
See head of newspaper about database environment that’s needed for development (7) (SEE + ED) outside DB
18 SCEPTIC
Scoffer’s cold contracted by pussy (7) C inside SEPTIC
20 TWENTY
Run of Cabaret went years – quite a few (6) cabareT WENT Years
21 ACES
Flying war heroes, a short time back (4) A + (SEC reversed)
23 OPERATIONS
A surgical team works on these alternatives, taking time into account (10) OPTIONS outside ERA
26 AMBULANCE CHASER
Cuban male mixed drink for lawyer looking for work (9,6) Anagram of CUBAN MALE + CHASER
27 ERRAND
Make a mistake with joiner’s commission (6) ERR + AND
28 FLAT SPIN
Confused state fellow connected with changing of last access code (4,4) F + anagram of LAST + PIN
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 FISTS
One’s restricted by small feet and small rounded hands (5) IS inside FT + S
2 RECAPTURE
Care arranged time in sterile recovery (9) Anagram of CARE + (T inside PURE)
3 CONGREGATE
Kid, for example, brought in to annoy rally (10) CON + (EG inside GRATE)
4 STILTED
Wooden pole put on an angle (7) S + TILTED
6 RAMS
Sheep hit hard by start to spring (4) RAM + (S)pring
7 TEASE
Wind up when in a part of a golf course (5) AS inside TEE
8 OLD HANDS
Experienced workers sprayed hold as well as bow of ship (3,5) Anagram of HOLD + AND + (S)hip
9 ACTORS
They play parts or part described in extract or script (6) extrACT OR Script
13 DESERT CHAT
Leave small potato for gibber bird (6,4) DESERT + CHAT
16 BOTTOMS UP
Saying raised in pubs all over the place! (7,2) MOTTO reversed inside anagram of PUBS
17 ESCALADE
Mount extraordinary case against lad with drugs (8) Anagram of CASE + LAD + E
19 COPING
Managing brickie’s top course (6) Double Definition
20 TARSEAL
Temperature associated with a laser affected surface (7) T + anagram of A LASER
22 EMBER
Five of them berated old flame (5) thEM BERated
24 SIREN
Father now at the front is a charmer (5) SIRE + (N)ow
25 PLAN
Flyer detailed a proposal? (4) PLAN(e)

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 23/9/2023, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (16/9/2023) 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.


5-across




23-across

27-across

2-down

3-down


7-down



16-down

20-down

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 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 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.

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 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.
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