AFR Cryptic (16/9/2023) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HIPPODROME
Fashionable school located next to Rome’s music hall (10) HIP + POD + ROME
6 LEWD
Substance retrieved from contaminated well is blue (4) contaminateD WELl reversed
10 THEFT
Stealing from the vacated flat? (5) THE + F(at)T
11 MESMERISE
Viral phenomenon crossing small hill to entrance (9) MEME outside S + RISE
12 CHILEANS
Greeting accepted by righteous leader of some South American people (8) HI inside CLEAN + (S)ome
13 MENACE
Threaten people linked with big club, say (6) MEN + ACE
15 SHORTS
Clothing orders filled by haberdasher primarily (6) SORTS outside (H)aberdasher
16 MEAT PIE
Masterchef’s original cooked pate that is one of Australia’s favourite foods (4,3) (M)asterchef + anagram of PATE + IE
18 CAP
Cover a quantity of drugs (3) Double Definition
19 PORTAGE
Cost of shipping or time taken by attendant (7) (OR + T) inside PAGE
21 RAPPER
One who knocks a modern musician (6) Double Definition
24 TICKLE
Please mark off clues alternately (6) TICK + c(L)u(E)s
25 OVERCOAT
Coax mostly sealed in plain protective layer (8) (COA)x inside OVERT
27 ENTANGLES
Fish caught in assorted nets and traps (9) ANGLE inside anagram of NETS
28 ORIEL
Back half of door that is connected to large bay window (5) do(OR) + IE + L
29 SEAM
Marine heading to military joint (4) SEA + (M)ilitary
30 COURGETTES
Get inside plaza with load of best vegetables? (10) GET inside COURT + b(ES)t
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HI-TECH
Sophisticated drug nabbed in hold-up (2-4) E inside HITCH
2 PEEVISH
Irritable writer not completely over treatment of hives (7) PE(n) + anagram of HIVES
3 ON THE BREADLINE
Banned hotelier, going through adjustment, is just surviving (2,3,9) Anagram of BANNED HOTELIER
4 REMINISCED
Last lot of nuclear medicines, manufactured wrongly, may be recalled (10) nuclea(R) + anagram of MEDICINES
5 MASS
Large-scale celebration at church (4) Double Definition
7 EPICARP
Piece of fruit pie cooked and served with fish (7) Anagram of PIE + CARP
8 DEEPENED
Part of pool fencing close to house should be strengthened (8) DEEP END outside hous(E)
9 GENERAL-PURPOSE
New design of regular pen put forward is very useful (7-7) Anagram of REGULAR PEN + POSE
14 IMPROVISER
Inventive person is embraced by one getting better (10) IS inside IMPROVER
17 SPOTTERS
Whale watchers, possibly, do very little on board vessel (8) POTTER inside SS
20 RICOTTA
Slices of apricot tart and cheese (7) apRICOT TArt
22 EGOTIST
Contracted one engaged by established show-off (7) (GOT + I) inside EST
23 STILLS
Suppliers of alcohol not moving back to basics (6) STILL + basic(S)
26 ALTO
High elements of dial tone (4) diAL TOne

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 16/9/2023, Clue Hints

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


10-across

11-across

12-across

15-across




24-across



30-across

2-down


8-down

9-down



22-down

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.
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 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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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 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 entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram indicator will be present.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) around the OUTSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

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

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is 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 (9/9/2023) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PECANS
Open unsealed containers with nuts? (6) o)PE(n + CANS
5 PRO TEM
Habitual routine adopted by cabinetmaker for the time being? (3,3) ROTE inside PM
11 UNDERDONE
Rare sort of dune, one formed on far side of road (9) Anagram of DUNE + (ONE after RD)
12 FRIAR
Religious man from India losing mind after love, right? (5) FROM INDIA minus (MIND after O) + R
13 TERRINE
Recipe’s first used in cooking of entire meat dish (7) (R)ecipe inside anagram of ENTIRE
14 SCRUNCH
Squash clubs administered in school (7) (C + RUN) inside SCH
15 AMBLED
Took a punt leaving West Bank and wandered (6) (g)AMBLED
17 ARMENIAN
Asian men in song strain at the end (8) MEN inside ARIA + strai(N)
18 INCIDENT
Event in Australian capital checking identification (8) (IN + CENT) outside ID
21 RIALTO
Flashily dressed man returned to business centre (6) LAIR reversed + TO
24 NASCENT
Final part of mountain climb is beginning to develop (7) mountai(N) + ASCENT
25 APPLAUD
Commend software, consisting of two parts, taking a new direction (7) APP + (DUAL reversed)
27 SWANS
Central part of Tassie providing refuge for white birds (5) ta(SS)ie outside WAN
28 VANCOUVER
Uranium kept in transporter to protect Canadian city (9) U inside (VAN + COVER)
29 SHERRY
Cast admitting blunder with alcohol (6) SHY outside ERR
30 SMELLY
Stallone punched by Gibson on the nose (6) SLY outside MEL
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 ELDER
Senior metalworker with no tungsten in stock (5) WELDER minus W
3 AIRLINE
Eccentric millionaire losing limo transport business (7) Anagram of MILLIONAIRE minus LIMO
4 SHOVER
Schoolgirl’s beginning to hang around pusher (6) (S)choolgirl + HOVER
6 REFEREE
Judge replaced free roll of film before the end (7) Anagram of FREE + (REE)l
7 TRIENNIAL
Nine involved in court case lasting three years (9) Anagram of NINE inside TRIAL
8 MARCHING ORDERS
Instructions to leave animal locked up excited Schrodinger (8,6) RAM reversed + anagram of SCHRODINGER
9 AUSTRALIANISMS
Rituals in a mass affected some things we say (14) Anagram of RITUALS IN A MASS
10 LESSOR
Tenants of hellholes so resented landlord? (6) hellhoLES SO Resented
16 BACKSTAGE
Taxi pulled over with busted gasket away from public view (9) CAB reversed + anagram of GASKET
17 ACT
Work place in NSW? (3) Double Definition
19 DRESSER
Doctor sees troubled Head of Radiology with surgeon’s assistant (7) DR + anagram of SEES + (R)adiology
20 NATIVE
Local having no idea about time (6) NAIVE outside T
22 IMPROVE
Look up troublemaker before start of cruise (7) IMP + ROVE
23 CANNES
One leaving dogs in French playground (6) CANINES minus I
26 ANVIL
Small bone fragments found in Roman village (5) romAN VILlage

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Wednesday Slot in The SMH/Age (D&LS)

Hi All,

Last year my wife and I made our debut in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age with the publication of a cryptic and quick on the puzzles page in the NS slot.

We now have a permanent slot on a Wednesday replacing DP, who had faithfully contributed every week since 1992. We have a different style but will endeavour to keep DP fans happy and establish our own place at the same time.

Our designation is “D&LS”.

David & Linda Stickley

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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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The Stickler Weekly Status

The Stickler Weekly will take an indefinite break while I sort out some ongoing shoulder, back and neck issues that restrict my time working in front of a computer. These issues have been plaguing me on and off since my IT days in the 1990s, but have recently come to a head with episodes that come on me suddenly and stop me in my tracks. Various physios have tried their best to correct my bad posture that seems to be responsible for nerve damage, but nothing seems to have a lasting effect. I’ve been struggling on, but recent events have been a real cause for concern. Time to get serious.
In addition to medical remedies, I’m planning to set up a standing desk as a trial, the success of which may determine whether I ever write another crossword.

Thanks for your support in the past.

David
The Stickler

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The Stickler Weekly 270 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ROUGH IT
Live basically with dysfunctional group ignoring pressure to strike (5,2) Anagram of GROUP minus P + HIT
5 MUST-SEE
Think about set repaired for essential viewing (4-3) MUSE outside anagram of SET
9 LYCRA
Dressmaker’s finishing obvious in restitching of lacy material (5) dressmake(R) inisde anagram of LACY
10 ESPIONAGE
Secret service, especially one on time (9) ESP + I + ON + AGE
11 CONVEYED
Moved kid looked at end of verse (8) CON + (EYED after V)
12 UPBEAT
Uranium and boron found in organic material is encouraging (6) U + (B inside PEAT)
14 TRIP
Hallucination is nonsense largely (4) (TRIP)e
15 DOORKNOB
Handle party or bash the wrong way (8) DO + OR + (BONK reversed)
18 MISCOUNT
Wrong calculation is checked initially entering horse (8) [IS + (C)hecked] inside MOUNT
19 GENE
Protein molecule is part of oestrogen essentially (4) oestroGEN Essentially
22 AUNTIE
A free person, relatively speaking (6) A + UNTIE
23 PARLANCE
Standard number of shots fired with weapon in a manner of speaking (8) PAR + LANCE
25 HELPED OUT
Mixed up “the dole” with “supplied assistance” (6,3) Anagram of UP THE DOLE
26 GREET
Shake hands and agree, losing a little time (5) AGREE minus A + T
27 SHYSTER
Unscrupulous practitioner is ignored by sister after fling (7) (SISTER minus IS) after SHY
28 DONATED
Gifted university fellow finished a course and died (7) DON + ATE + D
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RELOCATE
Transfer associate holding company up (8) RELATE outside (CO reversed)
2 UNCONDITIONALLY
Sort of induction concerning friend without qualifications (15) Anagram of INDUCTION + ON + ALLY
3 HEATER
Hard consumer could be warmer (6) H + EATER
4 TREMENDOUS
Harassed mentor sued great (10) Anagram of MENTOR SUED
5 MOPE
Move around slowly and aimlessly in vehicle mostly (4) (MOPE)d
6 SLOWPOKE
Plodder talked about mountain-climbing gear? (8) SPOKE outside LOW
7 STATE GOVERNMENT
Strong team event transformed regional authority (5,10) Anagram of STRONG TEAM EVENT
8 EVENTS
A war lost by veteran was changing engagements (6) Anagram of VETERAN WAS minus A WAR
13 CONTRACTED
Called about worker ultimately bound by a legal obligation (10) CONTACTED outside worke(R)
16 ACCIDENT
Chance I’d taken, in a manner of speaking (8) ID inside ACCENT
17 DEMENTED
Soldiers, with time in action, cracked (8) (MEN + T) inside DEED
20 MASHES
Helium kept in large-scale pounds (6) HE inside MASS
21 FLAGON
Amount of wine and spirit put into baked dish (6) GO inside FLAN
24 SOUR
Tart, a starter, possibly, not finished right (4) (SOU)p + R

 

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The Stickler Weekly 270

The Stickler for this week is now available. Please select your preferred solving format.

The solution to this puzzle will appear next week.

  Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 270
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 270
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 269
  Invest in the Future of The Stickler

Please include comments or discussion about this crossword below.
Request help in the Clue Hints blog entry so all can see.

It’s a weekly crossword, so please don’t give/discuss any full answers until the solution is posted (such posts will be deleted/edited).

Enjoy!

The Stickler

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The Stickler Weekly 270 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.


1-across




11-across


15-across




25-across

27-across

1-down

2-down

6-down




17-down

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.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
The entire answer is 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 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 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 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.
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The Stickler Weekly 270 Overseas Help

Welcome all cryptic crossword solvers.

Some cryptic crosswords are tough purely because local lingo is used and not understood by all, especially those living outside of Australia. This post seeks to fill this vernacular gap.

There aren’t any extra hints needed this week.

Like to add something I’ve missed to help others, or comment on a meaning, term or expression? Please leave a reply below.

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