AFR Cryptic, Saturday 23/5/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (16/5/2026) 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 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.

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.
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 pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

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

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

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

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.

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 23/5/2026, Clue Hints

AFR Cryptic (16/5/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RUINOUS
One after Rugby Union talent is extremely harmful (7) (I after RU) + NOUS
5 DEFIANT
I gave food to retired worker ready for a fight (7) [(I + FED) reversed] + ANT
9 PUPIL
Mouthpiece excited about one with class? (5) (LIP + UP ) reversed
10 AEGEAN SEA
Age affected each couple transporting Poles in part of the Mediterranean (6,3) Anagram of AGE + [(EA + EA) outside N+S]
11 FORWARDS
People who play football for local areas (8) FOR + WARDS
12 AT HEEL
Athlete, losing time, manoeuvred close behind (2,4) Anagram of ATHLETE minus T
14 DIRECTORS CHAIR
Rich actors shifted following terrible seating arrangement (9,5) Anagram of RICH ACTORS after DIRE
17 MULTIPLICATION
Leader of major political unit organised expansion (14) (M)ajor + anagram of POLITICAL UNIT
21 SELECT
Choose love’s restrictions embraced by religious group? (6) (L)ov(E) inside SECT
23 ELLIPTIC
Oval pill used in quote the wrong way (8) (PILL inside CITE) reversed
25 IMAGINARY
Grain reprocessed in one month – that’s unreal (9) Anagram of GRAIN inside (I + MAY)
26 OMAHA
Some from a happy place in Nebraska (5) frOM A HAppy
27 GAS JETS
Burners start to jam in different stages (3,4) (J)am inside anagram of STAGES
28 RANGERS
Conclusion of hiker greatly annoys park officers (7) hike(R) + ANGERS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RIP-OFF
Pop mostly used in repeated music scam (3-3) (PO)p inside RIFF
2 IMPARTIAL
One joined with power bound by military objective (9) I + (P inside MARTIAL)
3 ON LEAVE
Stewed veal eaten by one having a holiday (2,5) Anagram of VEAL inside ONE
4 STANDSTILL
Stop two saints in a bad way? (10) (ST AND ST) + ILL
5 DOGS
Setters, say, fill in empty grids? (4) DO + G(rid)S
6 FRANTIC
Wild songbird briefly spotted in French capital once (7) TI(t) inside FRANC
7 AISLE
Supermarket section is taken up by alcohol (5) IS inside ALE
8 TRAILERS
Means of transport featured in concise, abbreviated advertising (8) RAIL inside (TERS)e
13 BRICKLAYER
Builder’s first stack upset early worker on site (10) (B)uilder + RICK + anagram of EARLY
15 ABOUT-FACE
Turn around mismanaged cafe after a fight (5-4) Anagram of CAFE after (A + BOUT)
16 SMASHING
Great serving of Paris mash in gravy (8) pariS MASH IN Gravy
18 INCLINE
Lean mince’s contents kept on file? (7) m(INC)e + LINE
19 TRICORN
Hat we pinched from distracted town crier? (7) Anagram of TOWN CRIER minus WE
20 OCEANS
Canoes handled rough seas (6) Anagram of CANOES
22 LIARS
Storytellers so ignored by sailors at sea (5) Anagram of SAILORS minus SO
24 GAPS
Piano played in wonderful openings (4) P inside GAS

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (16/5/2026) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 16/5/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (9/5/2026) Worked Solution

(click on the clue number to see the hint)

Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.

Need more hints for these or other clues? Just leave a reply below.















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

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

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.
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.
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 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 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 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.

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 16/5/2026, Clue Hints

AFR Cryptic (9/5/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 APPLICANTS
Captains at sea holding place for candidates (10) Anagram of CAPTAINS outside PL
6 HELP
Come to the aid of young dog without lead (4) (w)HELP
9 SLOOP
Sailing vessel joins forces heading west (5) POOLS reversed
10 DAREDEVIL
US lawyer embarrassed immoral hothead (9) DA + RED + EVIL
12 FINANCIERS
Enthusiasts taking in investors (10) FANCIERS outside IN
13 LOT
Share half of red wine (3) mer(LOT)
15 ON-SITE
One ringing model located at a particular place (2-4) ONE outside SIT
16 COME UPON
Find the writer in possession of voucher (4,4) ME inside COUPON
18 SETSCREW
Stitch around edges of tailored crest with groovy metal fastener (8) SEW outside anagram of CREST
20 SPICES
Special treats popular on a hot day – they’re full of flavour (6) SP + ICES
23 OWN
Keep formal dresses with no sleeves? (3) g)OWN(s
24 BASKET CASE
Nervous wreck’s set-back treated as routine ultimately (6,4) Anagram of SETBACK + AS + routin(E)
26 PRIME RATE
Banking figure is a little explosive at start of engagement (5,4) PRIMER + AT + (E)ngagement
27 FRILL
Gathering crowd assembled on banks of river (5) FILL outside R
28 RAGE
Right time of life to party (4) R + AGE
29 PESTILENCE
Upright member in British capital is a morally harmful influence (10) STILE inside PENCE
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 APSE
Area of church collapsed partly (4) collAPSEd
2 PROFITS
Expert attacks money made in business (7) PRO + FITS
3 IMPRACTICABLE
Useless right in effect, one on line (13) R inside IMPACT + I + CABLE
4 ADDICT
Part of a play, staged outside, did upset aficionado (6) ACT outside anagram of DID
5 TURNED ON
Rugby union back, restricted by ruptured tendon, is tripped (6,2) (RU reversed) inside anagram of TENDON
7 ENVELOP
New edition of novel slipped inside record cover (7) Anagram of NOVEL inside EP
8 POLITENESS
Poet’s lines translated with refinement (10) Anagram of POETS LINES
11 DISRESPECTFUL
Purists feel CD with a typical arrangement is fresh? (13) Anagram of PURISTS FEEL CD
14 GOBSTOPPER
Retired salesperson plants marshy area with sucker (10) (REP + POTS + BOG) reversed
17 MESSMATE
One who joins a friend to eat gum? (8) Double definition of sorts
19 TINTING
Two cans with green’s primary colouring (7) TIN + TIN + (G)reen
21 CUSHION
Copper replaced his working shock absorber (7) CU + anagram of HIS + ON
22 DESERT
Leave high and dry place of solitude (6) Double Definition
25 FLEE
Leave head of logistics in charge (4) (L)ogistics inside FEE

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (9/5/2026) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 9/5/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (2/5/2026) 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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.

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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 9/5/2026, Clue Hints

AFR Cryptic (2/5/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PARAPET
Standard placed next to a special wall used for protection (7) PAR + A + PET
5 AROUSE
Turn on circuit in a device (6) O inside (A + RUSE)
8 RESISTANT
Is possible result of exposure in time off withstanding adverse conditions? (9) (IS + TAN) inside REST
9  See 21-down
11 EARLY
Advanced at great cost east of front (5) d(EARLY)
12 COMPETENT
Qualified company representative restated tenet (9) CO + MP + anagram of TENET
13 DISABLED
Tax form ID on return was first invalidated (8) (BAS + ID) reversed + LED
15 BISTRO
Selection offered in club is troubling food provider (6) cluB IS TROubling
17 CASHEW
Use teeth eating a small nut (6) CHEW outside (A +S)
19 NEHEMIAH
Saint, not associated with heathenism, translated a book of the Bible (8) Anagram of HEATHENISM minus ST
22 LEASEHOLD
Holes repaired in main rented property (9) Anagram of HOLES inside LEAD
23 ASSAM
A religious service backed an India state (5) A + (MASS reversed)
24 RABAT
Boozer turned back at important place in Morocco (5) BAR reversed + AT
25 APOSTOLIC
Papal stool roughly drawn in a picture (9) Anagram of STOOL inside (A + PIC)
26 ADORED
Drink after a party is liked a lot (6) RED after (A + DO)
27 MONGREL
Hybrid variety of lemon stuffed by Greek (7) Anagram of LEMON outside GR
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PERPENDICULAR
Upright salesperson reversed and lined up car somehow (13) REP reversed + anagram of LINED UP CAR
2 RESORTS
Entertainment centres are missing a computer programmer’s routines (7) (ARE minus A) + SORTS
3 PESKY
Power drawn by small type of refrigerator is annoying (5) P + ESKY
4 THATCHER
Provider of top cover that caught the girl (8) THAT + C + HER
5 ASTHMA
Remains with mother checking temperature and respiratory problem (6) (ASH + MA) outside T
6 ON THE RISE
Moulded sheet iron is going up (2,3,4) ANagram of SHEET IRON
7 STUDENT
Apprentice died oddly in a dare-devil act (7) (D)i(E)d inside STUNT
10 PETROCHEMICAL
Representatives, primarily in OPEC, claim the converted output of the refining process (13) (R)epresentatives inside anagram of OPEC CLAIM THE
14 BEEFEATER
Old guard’s raised fee accepted by striker (9) FEE reversed inside BEATER
16 HEADROOM
He replaced a door with half millimetre clearance? (8) HE + anagram of A DOOR + (M)m
18 STABBED
Cricketers turned up on ground in an injured state (7) BATS reversed + BED
20 INSULAR
Urinals out of order should be closed (7) Anagram of URINALS
21 & 9-across DONALD TRUMP
“Don’t bum around, lad” ordered leader (6,5) (DONT + RUMP) outside anagram of LAD
23 ACTIN
Muscle protein and carbon absorbed by a metal (5) C inside (A + TIN)

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (2/5/2026) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 2/5/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (25/4/2026) 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 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 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) 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 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.
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 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.
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.

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 2/5/2026, Clue Hints

AFR Cryptic (25/4/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 WESTERNS
Movies strangely weren’t screening Saturday and Sunday (8) Anagram of WERENT outside S + S
5 CASH UP
Remains in competition to work out money taken (4,2) ASH inside CUP
10 GOVERNMENT ISSUE
Displaced men get souvenirs provided by the authorities (10,5) Anagram of MEN GET SOUVENIRS
11 RUN THE SHOW
Small person – he has manner to take charge (3,3,4) RUNT + HES + HOW
12 MESS
Superstar football player losing out on final spot (4) MESSI minus I
14 FELONS
Guys carrying on for low criminals (6) FEL(ON for LOW)S
15 MOORHEN
Bird, a tailless bird, detected in range of satellite (7) RHE(a) inside MOON
18 PENDENT
Writer, to make a small impression, is leaning over (7) PEN + DENT
20 TREATY
Formal agreement to address hunger secured by judge (6) EAT inside TRY
21 NAME
Call retired fellow before heading to England (4) MAN reversed + (E)ngland
23 SPECIALIST
Moulded plastic is probed by energy expert (10) Anagram of PLASTIC IS outside E
26 TANTANOOLA TIGER
Fabulous cat (brown lion) ate goat mutilated close to river (10,5) TAN + anagram of LION ATE GOAT + R
27 RESCUE
Save time leaving rest with pool stick (6) REST minus T + CUE
28 DREDGERS
They are employed to dig out drive with gardening tools (8) DR + EDGERS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 WAGER
Put money on period of time needed in setting of world record (5) AGE inside WR
2 SEVENTEEN
A number less than 20 may be visited about incident (9) SEEN outside EVENT
3 EARTHMOVER
The army mostly worked with accomplished digger, say (10) Anagram of (THE ARM)y + OVER
4 NEMESIS
Great rival is after recalled seed (7) IS after (SEMEN reversed)
6 AVID
Passionate biblical king beheaded (4) (d)AVID
7 HASTE
Expedition features team reduced by half (5) HAS + TE(am)
8 PHEASANT
Game bird scattered heaps created by insect (8) Anagram of HEAPS + ANT
9 INFORM
Pass on knowledge to residents of cabin for money? (6) cabIN FOR Money
13 FORECASTED
Expected call from errant golfer distracted cadets (10) FORE + anagram of CADETS
16 HIT SINGLE
Sex appeal described in version of English popular song (3,6) IT inside anagram of ENGLISH
17 SPINSTER
Single lady turns heads of teenagers, executives and retirees (8) SPINS + (T)eenagers + (E)xecutives + (R)etirees
19 TIPTOP
Excellent suggestion about progressive instruction given by writer (6) TIP outside PTO
20 TICKLER
Puzzle perfectionist lacking in originality? (7) (s)TICKLER
22 MINUS
Weakness in America after opening of markets (5) (IN + US) after (M)arkets
24 TARTS
Tangy topping of special flans (5) TART + (S)pecial
25 OAHU
Part of Borneo, a huge island in the Pacific (4) borneO A HUge

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (25/4/2026) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 25/4/2026, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (18/4/2026) 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.
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
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.

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.

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 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.

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

AFR Cryptic (18/4/2026) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 REASSIGNED
Was king, say, riding donkey, given a new job? (10) REIGNED outside ASS
6 AGES
Passengers in carriage sat a long time? (4) carriAGE Sat
10 FORUM
Public meeting in favour of sharing a letter with spirit (5) FO(R/R)UM
11 EVENTUATE
Give rise to fair trade union at opening of exhibition (9) EVEN + TU + AT + (E)xhibition
12 STALLING
Everyone involved in swindle is playing for time (8) ALL inside STING
13 ACQUIT
Release most of English money listed in deed (6) (QUI)d inside ACT
15 SEE FIT
Choose it after returning service charges (3,3) IT after (FEES reversed)
16 RESOLVE
Lovers lacking cohesion and energy break up (7) Anagram of LOVERS + E
18 ONE
A single person came through in speech (3) Sounds like WON
19 TERRAIN
Land turtle giving up quietly (7) TERRAPIN minus P
21 ABODES
A builder primarily does renovated dwellings (6) A + (B)uilder + anagram of DOES
24 AUDITS
“Our currency is holding” – head of Treasury’s account inspections (6) AUD + [IS outside (T)reasury]
25 GRUESOME
Awful rogues tortured men before the end (8) Anagram of ROGUES + (ME)n
27 EXCURSION
Cruise upset about kiss on pleasure trip (9) Anagram of CRUISE outside X + ON
28 HORSE
Mount is rough according to report (5) Sounds like HOARSE
29 SOLE
The Sound of Music alone (4) Sounds like SOUL
30 TELEGRAPHY
Revolutionary therapy supporting leg – it’s all done with wires (10) Anagram of THERAPY outside LEG
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 REFUSE
Junk is put back together? (6) Double Definition
2 ACREAGE
Sabotaged gear found buried in great area of land (7) Anagram of GEAR inside ACE
3 SIMPLE FRACTURE
Femur particles complicated break in bone (6,8) Anagram of FEMUR PARTICLES
4 GREENSTONE
Geologist initially enters broadcast with one variety of jade (10) (G)eologist + anagram of ENTERS + ONE
5 EYES
They look east, no doubt (4) E + YES
7 GRADUAL
Reappointed guard given a little latitude is slow (7) Anagram of GUARD + A + L
8 SHEATHED
Part of race held in building outside should be covered (8) HEAT inside SHED
9 STICKS TOGETHER
Pieces of wood got packaged up with three different glues (6,8) STICKS + (GOT reversed) + anagram of THREE
14 PREARRANGE
Organise early start for paratroopers behind mountains (10) (P)aratroopers + REAR + RANGE
17 STEAMERS
Pilots guided around a thousand ships (8) STEERS outside (A + M)
20 RADICAL
Revolutionary form of carbon used in composition of tyre (7) C inside RADIAL
22 EGO-TRIP
Self-indulgence with drugs got linked to split (3-4) E + GOT + RIP
23 REMEDY
Medication, moderately treated, lacking a lot (6) Anagram of MODERATELY minus (A LOT)
26 MINE
Dig out quantity of aluminium in excavation (4) aluminiuM IN Excavation

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (18/4/2026) Solution