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)
Like to add something I’ve missed to help others, or comment on a meaning, term or expression? Please leave a reply below.
| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | BASKET | |
| Unsentimental stickybeak changed goal? (6) | Anagram of ST(icky)BEAK | |
| 4 | LAMBASTE | |
| Meat stew mostly containing a roast (8) | [LAMB + (STE)w] outside A | |
| 9 | EXILED | |
| Old friend and I managed in a foreign country not by choice (6) | EX + I + LED | |
| 10 | LAST WORD | |
| Commander moved around as two detailed the final decision? (4,4) | LORD outside [AS + (TW)o] | |
| 12 | TIGHTROPE WALKER | |
| Cryptic Telegraph work – it is being tested on line? (9,6) | Anagram of TELEGRAPH WORK IT | |
| 13 | RAID | |
| Pressure released by speedy attack (4) | RAPID minus P | |
| 15 | STABLEMATE | |
| Companion’s bishop played in no-win situation (10) | B inside STALEMATE | |
| 18 | BEAR IN MIND | |
| Remember drunken marine wearing tie (4,2,4) | Anagram of MARINE inside BIND | |
| 19 | KELP | |
| Substance found in possession of Garfunkel, perhaps, is weed (4) | garfunKEL Perhaps | |
| 22 | STRAIGHTENED OUT | |
| The reading rewritten in bold should be corrected (12,3) | Anagram of THE READING inside STOUT | |
| 25 | AWAITING | |
| A comedian holding it in is expectant (8) | (A + WAG) outside (IT + IN) | |
| 26 | BLOUSE | |
| Top opening to book, a contemptible one (6) | (B)OOK + LOUSE | |
| 27 | DESERTED | |
| Strange structure of dead trees, with a part missing, is empty (8) | Anagram of DEAD TREES minus A | |
| 28 | INVENT | |
| Come up with trendy outlet (6) | IN + VENT | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | BLEATER | |
| Lamb, say, left sitting in kitchen appliance (7) | L inside BEATER | |
| 2 | STING | |
| Deceptive ruse is starting without public hanging (5) | STARTING minus ART | |
| 3 | EVENTS | |
| Recluse finally airs matters (6) | RECLUS(E) + VENTS | |
| 5 | AGATE | |
| Opening found behind a rock (5) | GATE after A | |
| 6 | BETRAYED | |
| Revealed corrected rate put in by top journalist (8) | Anagram of RATE inside BY + ED | |
| 7 | SHOCK WAVE | |
| Blast white workers primarily involved in rescue (5,4) | [HOCK + (W)ORKERS] inside SAVE | |
| 8 | ENDORSE | |
| Finish on horse tossing head back (7) | END + h(ORSE) | |
| 11 | BOTTOM | |
| Foundation is time and time again featured in expansion (6) | (T + T) inside BOOM | |
| 14 | IN ARREARS | |
| Outstanding one ran over closing of ledger with auditors (2,7) | I + (RAN reversed) + LEDGE(R) + EARS | |
| 16 | BONDED | |
| Stuck on last part of crossword in bed (6) | [ON + CROSSWOR(D)] in BED | |
| 17 | MINISTER | |
| Fellow checking in government bigwig (8) | MISTER outside IN | |
| 18 | BASTARD | |
| Name adopted by wicked, despicable person (7) | STAR inside BAD | |
| 20 | PATIENT | |
| Sick person is clear about onset of illness (7) | PATENT outside (I)LLNESS | |
| 21 | BERLIN | |
| Capital city in Switzerland filled with cyclists at the centre (6) | BERN outside CYC(LI)STS | |
| 23 | HINGE | |
| Turning point is part of something extraordinary (5) | sometHING Extraordinary | |
| 24 | OF USE | |
| Ring attached with solder is effective (2,3) | O + FUSE |
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 247 |
 |
Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 247 |
 |
Solution to The Stickler Weekly 246 |
 |
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!
(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.
Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.
Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.
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.
Examples: taken from, decreased by, less.
Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.
Examples: part of, associated with, types of.
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.
| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | SCATTY | |
| Slightly unpredictable animal kept in farm enclosure (6) | CAT inside STY | |
| 4 | PHASE OUT | |
| Gradually get rid of drunken characters from taphouse (5,3) | Anagram of TAPHOUSE | |
| 10 | UNDER-THE-COUNTER | |
| Illegal matter admitted by wild deer hunter (5-3-7) | COUNT inside anagram of DEER HUNTER | |
| 11 | TACKLERS | |
| Footballers veer left and right in middle of test (8) | TACK + L + [R inside t(ES)t] | |
| 12 | FREEZE | |
| Independent zone missing out on cold snap (6) | FREE + (ZONE minus ON) | |
| 13 | RUIN | |
| Defeat one in lead (4) | I inside RUN | |
| 14 | OSTENSIBLE | |
| Professed leader of organisation realistic about time (10) | (O)RGANISATION + (SENSIBLE outside T) | |
| 18 | CANTILEVER | |
| A moulding of tin forming part of ingenious extended bracket (10) | (A + anagram of TIN) inside CLEVER | |
| 19 | NEWS | |
| Bulletin’s four main points (4) | N + E + W + S | |
| 22 | AERIAL | |
| A regular show not needing initial broadcaster (6) | A + S(ERIAL) | |
| 24 | PRONATOR | |
| Specialist treated a torn muscle (8) | PRO + anagram of A TORN | |
| 26 | CONFIDENTIALITY | |
| Secrecy regarding India felt wrong in large place (15) | (ON + anagram of INDIA FELT) inside CITY | |
| 27 | RELATION | |
| Family member’s second to try ecstasy (8) | T(R)Y + ELATION | |
| 28 | LEGGED | |
| Sporting members led around baby carrier (6) | LED outside EGG | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | SHUTTER | |
| Part of a camera that’s quiet, say (7) | SH + UTTER | |
| 2 | ADDICTION | |
| A dealer’s primary way of expressing dependence (9) | A (D)EALER + DICTION | |
| 3 | THRILL | |
| Blast personnel department after time laid up (6) | (HR after T) + ILL | |
| 5 | HACK | |
| Cut jade (4) | Double Definition | |
| 6 | SQUARISH | |
| A little old hat, right, one worn in sport (8) | (R + I) inside SQUASH | |
| 7 | OUTRE | |
| Extraordinary tourer docked in different places (5) | Anagram of (TOURE)R | |
| 8 | TERRENE | |
| Mundane blunder accepted by wayward teen (7) | ERR inside anagram of TEEN | |
| 9 | PHARISEE | |
| Hypocrite upset parish and meek at heart (8) | Anagram of PARISH + M(EE)K | |
| 15 | EXECRATE | |
| Abhor board member and judge (8) | EXEC + RATE | |
| 16 | BREATHING | |
| Bear savaged by creature is alive (9) | Anagram of BEAR + THING | |
| 17 | BIGAMIST | |
| Huge cloud hanging over a two-timing unionist (8) | (BIG + MIST) outside A | |
| 18 | CHANCER | |
| Opportunist is hard at work in house (7) | H inside CANCER | |
| 20 | SPRAYED | |
| Head of surgery talked to a higher authority for dispensed drops (7) | (S)URGERY + PRAYED | |
| 21 | ON TAPE | |
| Recorded copy not starting badly (2,4) | APE after anagram of NOT | |
| 23 | RENAL | |
| Doctor finally recalled passage connected to the kidneys (5) | DOCTO(R) + (LANE reversed) | |
| 25 | HERO | |
| Prepared horse, not running second, is a champion (4) | Anagram of HORSE minus S |
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 246 |
|
Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 246 |
|
Solution to The Stickler Weekly 245 |
|
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!
(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.
Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.
Examples: holding, keeping, embracing - anything that creates the image of containment.
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.
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)
Like to add something I’ve missed to help others, or comment on a meaning, term or expression? Please leave a reply below.
| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | PLAIN CLOTHES | |
| All the cops, out of uniform, moved around wearing…? (5,7) | Anagram of ALL THE COPS outside IN | |
| 9 | COVERED | |
| Wine stored behind sheltered place is insured (7) | RED after COVE | |
| 10 | LINKAGE | |
| King Lear greatly manipulated connection (7) | Anagram of (KING LEA)r | |
| 11 | AGREED | |
| A desire to acquire more is established (6) | A + GREED | |
| 12 | ETHEREAL | |
| Energy sustained by the true light (8) | E + THE + REAL | |
| 14 | MISSIONARY | |
| Evangelist is one accepted by son carried by Mary (10) | [IS + (I inside SON)] inside MARY | |
| 16 | BOND | |
| Frequently visited Sydney site missing one link (4) | BONDI minus I | |
| 18 | VAIN | |
| One spotted in vehicle without real importance (4) | I inside VAN | |
| 19 | EARTHLINGS | |
| It hears things eating large people here (10) | EAR + (THINGS outside L) | |
| 22 | SITTINGS | |
| Tells all about it before start of trial sessions (8) | SINGS outside [IT + (T)RIAL] | |
| 23 | SCORIA | |
| Refined rock is lacking potassium – a smelter’s waste (6) | Anagram of ROCK IS minus K + A | |
| 26 | TROTTER | |
| Leading part of the swine? (7) | (T)HE + ROTTER | |
| 27 | TENANTS | |
| One staying in camp accommodated people (7) | AN inside TENTS | |
| 28 | KOMODO DRAGON | |
| Monitor spoilt good mark taking gathering on (6,6) | Anagram of GOOD MARK outside DO + ON | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 2 | LIVER | |
| Organ handed over without ownership of external legal documentation (5) | DELIVERED minus DEED | |
| 3 | ISRAELIS | |
| Lives repeatedly disrupted by real upset Middle Easterners (8) | Anagram of REAL inside (IS + IS) | |
| 4 | CEDE | |
| Qualities of rice determined yield (4) | riCE DEtermined | |
| 5 | OBLITERATE | |
| Completely get rid of oxygen ignited in blast (10) | O + (LIT inside BERATE) | |
| 6 | HINDER | |
| Check sample of flesh in dermatology (6) | flesH IN DERmatology | |
| 7 | SCALE DOWN | |
| Reduce in size, like fish have (5,4) | SCALED + OWN | |
| 8 | SEALED | |
| Certain marine acted as a guide (6) | SEA + LED | |
| 9 | CHARM | |
| Monarch giving up on unsettled appeal (5) | Anagram of (MONARCH minus ON) | |
| 13 | ENDANGERED | |
| Threatened termination caused outrage (10) | END + ANGERED | |
| 15 | SHIFTWORK | |
| Fine pair, standing in, avoid job with regular hours (9) | (F + TWO) inside SHIRK | |
| 17 | PLACENTA | |
| Site not contracted by a supplier in development (8) | PLACE + N(o)T + A | |
| 18 | VISITS | |
| Travel document not finalised? It is needed for stopovers (6) | (VIS)A + ITS | |
| 20 | STAYS | |
| Braces remain in place solidly at the front (5) | STAY + (S)OLIDLY | |
| 21 | VICTIM | |
| Sufferer’s vitality demonstrated outside court one (6) | VIM outside (CT + I) | |
| 24 | RONDO | |
| Musical composition is right before performing act (5) | R + ON + DO | |
| 25 | STUD | |
| Boss curtailed researcher’s work (4) | (STUD)Y |
David Stickley has been writing crosswords professionally since 1995. His cryptic puzzle, The Stickler, reached number 4786 before being axed in July 2013 due to cutbacks. In 2024 David and his wife Linda secured a weekly cryptic and quick slot in The SMH and The Age. David has also been published in the NYT, the UK's FT and Church Times.
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