The Stickler Weekly 255 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.

The clues listed here may contain a component not familiar to all outside of Australia.

(click on the clue number to see the inside information)


18-down

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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The Stickler Weekly 254 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MEGASTAR
Big celebrity game excited retired whistle-blowers (8) Anagram of GAME + (RATS reversed)
5 FATHOM
Get to the bottom of large dwelling not quite finished (6) FAT + (HOM)E
9 SPARE
Inclusions offered by ISP aren’t free (5) iSP AREnt
10 COMMANDER
A person in charge mostly, as well as the Queen? (9) (COMM)A + AND + ER
12 INITIATION
Debut, it is cut short in one race (10) (ITI)S inside (I + NATION)
13 BOIL
See red, inflamed swelling (4) Double Definition
15 HEADLOCK
Hold moulding of lead with white coating (8) Anagram of LEAD inside HOCK
17 I’LL SAY
Medical problems? Any not connected to heart? Yes, indeed! (3,3) ILLS + A(n)Y
20 CERISE
Red ace played, ignoring a financial reward (6) (ACE minus A) + RISE
22 FIREWOOD
Food containing broken pieces of wire – it should be burnt (8) FOOD outside anagram of WIRE
26 TEAT
Milky substance usually obtained by opening of the nipple (4) TEA + (T)HE
27 INDECISION
Hesitancy duet oddly displayed during opening (10) (D)U(E)T inside INCISION
29 APOCRYPHA
A Father, about to weep, has not finished religious books (9) (A + POP) outside CRY + (HA)S
30 TRAIT
Narrow channel with no original feature (5) S(TRAIT)
31 LITANY
Long recital fired up some (6) LIT + ANY
32 HEAD LICE
Treat very cold water containing 500 parasitic bugs (4,4) (HEAL + ICE) outside D
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MESSIAH
Expected deliverer is set up by one operating in network (7) [(IS reversed) + A] inside MESH
2 GRANITA
Coarse sand mixed with an aggregate, primarily, and broken ice (7) GRIT outside AN + (A)GGREGATE
3 SPECIALIST
Moulded plastic is probed by energy expert (10) Anagram of PLASTIC IS outside E
4 ASCETICS
Reformed caste is infiltrated by leader of Christian monks, say (8) Anagram of CASTE + [IS outside (C)HRISTIAN]
6 AFAR
A passenger who pays to travel mostly from a great distance (4) A + (FAR)E
7 HIDEOUS
Monstrous shelter built by occupants of house? (7) HIDE + h(OUS)e
8 MORALLY
Fairly short time to recover (7) MO + RALLY
11 MOON
Growth of hair on bare behind? (4) MO + ON
14 ALLEVIATED
Everyone fed in sleazy place turned up relieved (10) ALL + [ATE inside (DIVE reversed)]
16 EYE
Part of a needle, yes? (3) needlE YEs
18 ADO
Trouble caused by a gathering (3) A + DO
19 AIREDALE
Dog publicised beer (8) AIRED + ALE
20 CATCALL
Something designed to deal with anything except hard criticism (7) CATCHALL minus H
21 READ-OUT
Information retrieved by each detective in hiding (4-3) (EA + D) inside ROUT
23 ORIGAMI
Styling of paper – Times – not accepted by distracted mitigator? (7) Anagram of MITIGATOR minus (T + T)
24 DINETTE
Unruly characters in detention missing out on a place to eat (7) Anagram of DETENTION minus ON
25 SNAP
Follows an object with a camera, coming back with photograph (4) PANS reversed
28 GRIN
Mill shortened beam (4) (GRIN)D

 

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The Stickler Weekly 254

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 254
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 254
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 253
  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 254 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


10-across

12-across


15-across

17-across



31-across

32-across

1-down

3-down

6-down

20-down


23-down



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 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 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 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 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.
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.

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.
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 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 found by reversing part of the clue, or a synonym for part of the clue. A suitable reversal indicator will be present.
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The Stickler Weekly 254 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.

The clues listed here may contain a component not familiar to all outside of Australia.

(click on the clue number to see the inside information)


20-across

11-down

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

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 254 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 253 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MANIFESTO
Public declaration staff provided, established nothing (9) MAN + IF + EST + O
6 FORM
Construction beneficial to millions (4) FOR + M
10 SAUDI
Middle Easterner’s small German car (5) S + AUDI
11 LIGHT BEER
Pub’s offering fair worker water at the back (5,4) LIGHT + BEE + WATE(R)
12 IRON HAND
Go on following rhino abroad with strict control (4,4) AND after anagram of RHINO
13 SCENIC
“Weird Science” for the most part is visually impressive (6) Anagram of (SCIENC)E
15 HEARSE
Vehicle transporting people, usually late, tries heading to expressway (6) HEARS + (E)XPRESSWAY
16 OSSICLE
Small bone got taken away from excited ecologists (7) Anagram of ECOLOGISTS minus GOT
18 RAN
Standing down, king moved quickly (3) RANK minus K
19 BRIOCHE
Zest applied to half of cheese roll (7) BRIO + (CHE)ESE
21 FLOWER
Fine cow – Daisy, perhaps? (6) F + LOWER
24 UMPIRE
Leader of union corrupted prime arbitrator (6) (U)NION + anagram of PRIME
25 ADHERENT
Supporter died here in a part of Australia (8) (D + HERE) inside (A + NT)
27 TRADESMAN
Terms changed about marketing an individual who is skilled (9) Anagram of (TERMS outside AD) + AN
28 HOUSE
Store uranium in a flexible tube (5) U inside HOSE
29 DUET
Song for two outstanding tenors at the front (4) DUE + (T)ENORS
30 THE ORIENT
Theories diminished by religious writings in some Asian countries (3,6) (THEORIE)S + NT
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MASTIC
Part of yacht, one covered primarily with sealant (6) MAST + I + (C)OVERED
2 NEURONE
A deposit of nineteen ? needed for impulsive little thing? (7) nineteeN EURO NEeded
3 FLIGHT RECORDER
Aviation equipment left in freight violated captain’s first order (6,8) L inside anagram of FREIGHT + (C)APTAIN + ORDER
4 SPLINTERED
Lewinsky, originally accommodated by misguided President, is shattered (10) (L)EWINSKY inside anagram of PRESIDENT
5 ORGY
Some coming back from really gross and wild party (4) reallY GROss reversed
7 OCEANIC
Marine repaired canoe, one found by entrance to cove (7) Anagram of CANOE + I + (C)OVE
8 MIRACLES
Race not quite finished in long distance events that are amazing (8) (RAC)E inside MILES
9 STICKS TOGETHER
Pieces of wood got packaged up with three different glues (6,8) STICKS + (GOT reversed) + anagram of THREE
14 CONFIDENCE
Trust identification carried by swindler and dodgy reseller (10) ID inside (CON + FENCE)
17 ABDUCTED
Type of blood running through a pipe and carried off (8) AB + DUCTED
20 IN PLACE
A pencil with an odd shape is working (2,5) Anagram of A PENCIL
22 EXECUTE
Discharge four expelled from administration (7) EXECUTIVE minus IV
23 STREET
Road plant cutting through stone (6) TREE inside ST
26 EMIT
Throw out overturning of prison sentence (4) TIME reversed

 

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The Stickler Weekly 253

** I’m still without wired internet, so surviving on mobile data which has its limitations **

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 253
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 253
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 252
  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

Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

The Stickler Weekly 253 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

12-across


15-across



25-across

27-across

30-across

2-down

3-down




9-down




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 a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and truncation indicator will be present.
A 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.

Punctuation generally should be ignored - always consider how a clue reads without punctuation.
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.

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.

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 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 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.
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 253 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.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 253 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 252 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DEMOGRAPHY
Market researchers study this sample phone produced in dull color? (10) DEMO + (PH inside GRAY)
6 COS
Salad ingredient’s reduced price (3) (COS)t
9 BEDEVIL
Base, active, repelled trouble (7) BED + (LIVE reversed)
10 MEASURE
Meat trimmed with certain size (7) (MEA)t + SURE
11 TREMULOUS
Timid bird from Australia located primarily during tours abroad (9) [EMU + (L)OCATED] inside anagram of TOURS
12 HET UP
Male sheep is agitated (3,2) HE + TUP
13 NICETY
Sir, lacking in sincerity, mishandled a matter of fine discrimination (6) Anagram of SINCERITY minus SIR
15 GUANACO
Wild llama dung containing a trace of carbon (7) GUANO outside (A + C)
16 DON
Head of family settled a little short (3) (DON)e
18 BENEFIT
Speculation about organisation of fine fund-raiser (7) BET outside anagram of FINE
19 GELATO
It’s set at zero (6) GEL + AT + O
21 MIRTH
Fun orderly “retired” by hospital (5) TRIM reversed + H
22 OUTRIGGER
Core section of tour set off in boat (9) t(OU)R + TRIGGER
24 CANASTA
Call off all but the last part of a stag’s card game (7) CAN + (ASTA)g
25 PRESENT
It’s offered for free here (7) Double Definition
26 HUE
Colour house in an uneven way (3) (H)o(U)s(E)
27 BRANDY SNAP
Make reflection of flower with biscuit (6,4) BRAND + (PANSY reversed)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DEBUTANT
New performer manoeuvred tuba in an impressive display (8) Anagram of TUBA inside DENT
2 MIDGE
Grey mounted grey, oddly, with bug (5) DIM reversed + (G)r(E)y
3 GIVE UP THE GHOST
Go and get huge VIP prepared to put on a show (4,2,3,5) Anagram of GET HUGE VIP + HOST
4 ABLOOM
Flowering bushes initially planted behind a tower (6) [(B)USHES after A] + LOOM
5 HOMESPUN
Digger’s joke about maiden is crude (8) (HOES + PUN) outside M
6 CRUSTACEA
Film expert with a collection of sea creatures (9) CRUST + ACE + A
7 SLEEP
Takes off outside, returning for a rest period (5) PEELS reversed
8 CASH ON DELIVERY
Payment method has varied in fraud committed by deli especially (4,2,8) Anagram of HAS inside CON + DELI + VERY
14 CLEARANCE
Auditor in family group once missing out on authorisation (9) EAR inside CLAN + (ONCE minus ON)
15 GOT
Received leave ahead of time (3) GO + T
16 DINOSAUR
Is a round reshaped a square? (8) Anagram of IS A ROUND
17 DOORSTOP
Gathering troops shifted a heavy, bulky item (8) DO + anagram of TROOPS
20 STEP IN
Take action to secure material, for example, after change to set (4,2) PIN after anagram of SET
21 MICAH
Letters kept by academic, a holy part of the Bible (5) acadeMIC A Holy
23 GLEAN
Pick up angler down river in a sorry state (5) Anagram of (ANGLER minus R)

 

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