The Stickler Weekly 250 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


9-across


13-across

15-across

19-across



28-across



4-down

14-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.

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 answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
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.
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 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.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 30 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 250 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)


29-across

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 250 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 249 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 FIREWORK
Explosive anger was lacking when in branch (8) [IRE + (WAS minus AS)] inside FORK
5 SPARSE
Boxes are, at the end, few and far between (6) SPARS + AR(E)
10 RIPEN
Get ready to pick new inspector, ignoring cost (5) Anagram of INSPECTOR minus COST
11 UNIFORMED
Tertiary institution set up and fitted out (9) UNI + FORMED
12 EYESHADOW
Department in store, yes, had own make-up? (9) storE YES HAD OWn
13 RINGS
Gymnastics apparatus buzzes (5) Double Definition
14 LEASED
Rented launch at first moved slowly (6) (L)AUNCH + EASED
15 RUSTLER
Governor checking street – one taking stock (7) RULER outside ST
18 APTNESS
Felicity retrieved broadcast in health resort (7) (SENT inside SPA) reversed
20 FRILLY
Fish, biting poorly, gathered (6) FRY outside ILL
22 TOWER
It may be used to draw a tall building (5) Double Definition
24 EVOCATIVE
Voice a vet reproduced is haunting (9) Anagram of VOICE A VET
25 CHIEFTAIN
Tribal leader that is held by feet bound by chain (9) (IE + FT) inside CHAIN
26 IRONS
Presses right on, travelling through island (5) (R + ON) inside IS
27 ENTREE
A thousand dollars given up by spoilt teenager for course (6) Anagram of TEENAGER minus (A + G)
28 TENNYSON
Any sonnet rewritten without input of a great poet (8) Anagram of ANY SONNET minus A
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 FORGET
Lose track of time completing counterfeit (6) T after FORGE
2 REPRESENT
Stand for show once more (9) Double Definition
3 WINCHESTER RIFLE
Shooter’s blunder listed in secure case file strangely (10,5) ERR inside (WIN + CHEST + anagram of FILE)
4 ROUNDED
Curved length of wood wrapping under mostly (7) ROD outside (UNDE)R
6 PROCRASTINATION
Stalling in carport is not normally seen by many people (15) Anagram of CARPORT IS + NATION
7 ROMAN
Variation of normal, abridged Italian (5) Anagram of (NORMA)L
8 END USERS
Consumers from America invested in banks, say, losing out initially (3,5) US inside L(ENDERS)
9 VIEWER
We roped in contender’s observer (6) WE inside VIER
16 LOLLIPOPS
Sticky sweets? (9) Cryptic Definition
17 CANTICLE
Pious platitudes left in cool religious song (8) CANT + (L inside ICE)
19 SEESAW
Watch cutting tool oscillate (6) SEE + SAW
20 FLOUNCE
Twist piece added on to dress (7) Double Definition
21 LESSON
Teaching without working (6) LESS + ON
23 WHIST
Bridge player transformed this card game (5) W + anagram of THIS

 

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

The Stickler Weekly 249

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

***** Note: New clue for 3-down was added at 15:14, 28/11/2018 ******

The solution to this puzzle will appear next week.

  Clue Hints for The Stickler Weekly 249
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 249
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 248
  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 249 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.






15-across


20-across




1-down


3-down


6-down


8-down



17-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 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.

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

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

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

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

A word or series of words that signify the position of wordplay elements in the answer.

Examples: before, after, leading, in the middle of, under (down only) etc.

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 a jumbling of letters except for the initial or final letter of the anagram fodder. An anagram indicator and 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.
There is only one part to this clue, a definition, and it's usually a play on words. There aren't any indicators.
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 249 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 249 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly Short Break

I’m out of action this week taking care of family responsibilities.

Thanks for doing The Stickler Weekly – it will return next week.

Best and thanks

David
The Stickler

Posted in Crosswords General, Stickler Weekly General, Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | 1 Comment

The Stickler Weekly 248 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RESTRICT
Trick not completed within a relaxed time limit (8) (TRIC)k inside REST
5 APPEAL
Head of enterprise involved in shock challenge in court (6) (E)nterprise inside APPAL
9 POLLUTED
Large instrument in school caused environmental damage (8) (L + LUTE) inside POD
10 SELDOM
Passengers on board vessel do meet occasionally (6) vesSEL DO Meet
12 LEDGE
Accounting book discounted narrow projection (5) (LEDGE)r
13 REASSURED
Users involved in study should be encouraged (9) Anagram of USERS inside READ
14 PUPPET
Seal once fixed with special tool (6) PUP + PET
16 AEROBIC
Japanese middle manager in care fluctuated depending on oxygen supply (7) OBI inside anagram of CARE
19 OLD
Traditional brave losing head (3) b(OLD)
20 YTTRIUM
Adult at the front, lacking in maturity, ruined element (7) Anagram of MATURITY minus (A)dult
21 EASE UP
Reduce pressure on car, leaving unconventional USA race open (4,2) Anagram of USA RACE OPEN minus ON CAR
23 TRIMESTER
Balance an organic compound – it’s an academic term (9) TRIM + ESTER
25 PAPER
Flimsy copy used in public relations (5) APE inside PR
26 RENDER
Coat of plaster split overly in the middle (6) REND + ov(ER)ly
27 CUT-PRICE
Temperature maintained in container with grain is reduced (3-5) T inside CUP + RICE
28 ACROSS
Game on field played without wingers throughout (6) l(ACROSS)e
29 IDOLATRY
I changed a lot surrounded by dull worshipping (8) I + anagram of A LOT inside DRY
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RIPPLE
Quiet pair, riding in Bug, wave (6) P twice in RILE
2 SELF-DOUBT
Fellow, taking part in doubles, moved close to net with uncertainty (4-5) F inside anagram of DOUBLES + ne(T)
3 ROUSE
Wake up leader of union resting in plant (5) (U)nion inside ROSE
4 CHERRY TOMATO
Vegetable salad of carrot, thyme and onion primarily (6,6) Anagram of CARROT THYME + (O)nion
6 PLEASURES
Delights in defendant’s answer to a claim suers concocted (9) PLEA + anagram of SUERS
7 EIDER
Wine that is served up with duck (5) (RED IE) reversed
8 LAME DUCK
Helpless person’s good fortune reinforced by a medium (4,4) LUCK outside (A + MED)
11 PARADE GROUND
Knock up notice, for example, on every side of marching square (6,6) RAP reversed + AD + EG + ROUND
15 PRICELESS
Ice left in crushing machine is costly (9) (ICE + L) inside PRESS
17 BLUEPRINT
Pier relocated in straightforward plan (9) Anagram of PIER inside BLUNT
18 HYSTERIA
Wild excitement is chaotic this year (8) Anagram of THIS YEAR
22 CREEPY
Disgusting liquid waste turned up inside blubber (6) (PEE reversed) inside CRY
24 INNER
Wrongdoer decapitated private (5) s(INNER)
25 PUPIL
Mouthpiece excited about one with class? (5) (LIP UP) reversed

 

Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 248 Solution

The Stickler Weekly 248

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 248
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 248
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 247
  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 , , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 248

The Stickler Weekly 248 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


9-across

12-across


14-across

16-across





27-across

28-across

29-across

2-down


4-down

8-down

11-down

22-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.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A word or series of words that signify 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.

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 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.

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.
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 structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

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

A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) on the INSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: held by, kept by, embraced by - anything that creates the image of being contained.

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

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

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments