The Stickler Weekly 230 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STARTING POINT
Major can race it on redeveloped base (8,5) STAR + TIN + GP + anagram of IT ON
9 TITANIC
Sunken vessel is intact strangely, apart from bow of ship (7) Anagram of IS INTACT minus (S)HIP
10 SOLOMON
Unaccompanied monk losing support of king, a wise man (7) SOLO + (MONK minus K)
11 LOOSE
Promiscuous ladies, say, curtailed sex (5) LOO + (SE)X
12 OVERTHROW
Crush resistance in obvious manner (9) R inside (OVERT + HOW)
13 DIAGNOSE
Prod proboscis pierced by a pinpoint (8) (DIG + NOSE) outside A
15 CAMPER
Recreational vehicle arrived, taking parking next to river (6) CAME outside P + R
18 PATINA
Bit of butter in a shallow Roman pan (6) PAT + IN + A
19 COVETOUS
Small bay, in our opinion, is wanting (8) COVE + TO US
22 WENT AHEAD
We disrupted heat and took the lead (4,5) We + anagram of HEAT AND
24 ACUTE
A copper tube hollowed out is sharp? (5) A + CU + T(ub)E
25 RETREAT
Go back to doctor again (7) Double Definition
26 NIT-PICK
Be unduly critical returning metal tool (3-4) TIN reversed + PICK
27 SILENT PARTNER
Passive investor, loaned a standard amount in rent, is given backing (6,7) (LENT + PAR) inside [(RENT IS) reversed]
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SETTLED
Test requiring a rewrite was first worked out (7) Anagram of TEST + LED
2 ASTRONAUT
One relocated to Saturn? (9) A + anagram of TO SATURN
3 TENSE
A character ejected from unruly Senate is unable to relax (5) Anagram of SENATE minus A
4 NECROPSY
Treatment of corpse in main mortuary ultimately? (8) Anagram of CORPSE inside [MAI(N) + MORTUAR(Y)]
5 PISCES
Sign reformed members of Spice Girls at the end (6) Anagram of SPICE + GIRL(S)
6 ILL AT EASE
Strange guy found behind villa with head cut off (3,2,4) TEASE after V(ILLA)
7 TIMER
Clock-watcher’s area of responsibility in recession (5) REMIT reversed
8 ANSWER
A cross-section of Australians were solvent (6) australiANS WERe
14 NONPAREIL
Nothing limiting about clip is unique (9) NIL outside (ON + PARE)
16 PROFUSION
Abundance of uranium stored in refurbished prison (9) (OF + U) inside anagram of PRISON
17 COLD SNAP
Old vessels tied up following onset of cyclonic period of wintry weather (4,4) [OLD + (PANS) reversed] after (C)YCLONIC
18 POWERS
Influential authorities pressure those in debt? (6) P + OWERS
20 SPEAKER
Orator came away from peacemakers confused (7) Anagram of PEACEMAKERS minus CAME
21 NEWTON
Scientist not familiar with nitrogen? (6) NEW TO + N
23 NATES
Bum had a meal served in tin sent back (5) ATE inside (SN reversed)
24 ALTER
Modify components in general terms (5) generAL TERms

 

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The Stickler Weekly Insights 230

The next two Wednesdays will see a couple of original Sticklers appearing instead of The Stickler Weeklys. This will give me a short break to get a couple of important things done.
It was with some trepidation that I opened the crossword files in the Daily Telegraph (DT) folder labelled ds3023 and ds3024. The last time these crosswords were accessed is listed in my DT book as 19/11/2007. Back then I sent a week’s worth of Sticklers the Monday before the week they were published, and these two crosswords were published on the 30/11/2007 and 1/12/2007 respectively. The process involved checking over the next week’s crosswords before the final publishing files were created and sent to the paper. They had been written and initially checked 6 weeks before, so the break before the final sending was enough time for me to “forget” what I’d done and allow for an independent re-checking of sorts. After all, I had written almost 1000 clues in-between. They say you should never check your own work, but I think it’s OK if you can’t remember what you’ve done.
These two (and thousands like them) have sat dormant on successive computers, having done their job at the time. They were never syndicated or put together in crossword collections – just used that once. So when I decided to revisit a couple to cover The Stickler Weekly‘s absence for a short time, I was a little nervous about what I would find. I had been through this before when I put the Stickler Boxed Set together, which gathered crosswords from 2004, but somehow this felt different. How much difference had three years made? How similiar are ds3023 and ds3024 to the crosswords I set today? We are talking about a different type of crossword, as those written today are international and weekly, but fundamentally they should be the same, shouldn’t they?
I’m pleased to say that I have been rather buoyed by revisiting these crosswords – they were done at lightning speed and as part of a huge body of work that continually drained the creative juices, yet I think they still stand up.

I’m sure you’ll tell me if they don’t.

Look out for them in coming weeks.

The Stickler

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The Stickler Weekly 230

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 230
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 230
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 229
Insights for this week
  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 230 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


12-across

13-across

15-across

19-across

24-across


27-across

2-down


4-down

5-down

6-down


8-down

14-down


17-down


21-down


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 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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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.

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 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.

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.
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.

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 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 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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The Stickler Weekly 230 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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The Stickler Weekly 229 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PURSER
Ship’s officer is not taken by surprise at sea (6) Anagram of SURPRISE minus IS
4 THUMBS-UP
Bus involved in crash is OK (6-2) Anagram of BUS inside THUMP
10 PSALTER
Note added to letter to change devotional book (7) PS + ALTER
11 TODDLER
Small child left in the care of tense stranger (7) L inside (T + ODDER)
12 ROMAN CATHOLICS
Christ, a cool man, transformed believers (5,9) Anagram of CHRIST A COOL MAN
14 REPRESENTS
Agent doesn’t like displays (10) REP + RESENTS
17 WOMB
One part of woman taken over by baby primarily? (4) WOMAN with AN replaced by (B)ABY
19 IMAM
I am a leader of muslims (4) IM + A + (M)USLIMS
20 SOLDIERS ON
Head of state with elderly senior somehow keeps going (8,2) (S)TATE + OLD + anagram of SENIOR
24 INVESTIGATIONS
Anti-Soviet sign disrupted inquiries (14) Anagram of ANTISOVIET SIGN
27 ROISTER
One tucking into roll with swagger (7) I inside ROSTER
28 NIGHTIE
Undercover outfit’s close match (7) NIGH + TIE
29 STEADY ON
Remain calm, say, and don’t get excited taking ecstasy (6,2) Anagram of (SAY + DONT) outside E
30 ANORAK
Fabric of cardigan or a knitted jacket? (6) cardigAN OR A Knitted
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PAPER TRAIL
Boss’s offsider, fresh on attack, documented evidence linking events (5,5) PA + PERT + RAIL
2 REALM
Genuine male’s field of study (5) REAL + M
3 EXTENDED
Long message not started and finished (8) T(EXT) + ENDED
5 HATCHET
Cleaver that chef nearly tossed (7) Anagram of (THAT CHE)F
6 MODULE
Overdose taken by drug trafficker in a self-contained unit (6) OD inside MULE
7 SELECTORS
They choose to interview, mostly, readers in college (9) (SE)E + LECTORS
8 PART
Leave hazard on course raked over (4) TRAP reversed
9 URBANE
Cosmopolitan centre to cure misery (6) C(UR)E + BANE
13 T-BONE STEAK
Piece of meat cooked best on wood (1-4,5) Anagram of BEST ON + TEAK
15 PLAINTIVE
Woeful piano ain’t used in broadcast at time of performing (9) P + (AINT inside LIVE)
16 NIL
Digital screen not showing a zero (3) NAIL minus A
18 PENTAGON
Write touching play for children about regular figure (8) PEN + TAG + ON
21 ONTARIO
Place in Canada, not a mismanaged resort town (7) Anagram of NOT A + RIO
22 DUGONG
Ocean swimmer turned over on back to sting (6) DUG + ON + STIN(G)
23 NESTED
Street, in time of shortage, is settled (6) ST inside NEED
25 OUTER
Peripheral network devices with limitations removed (5) R(OUTER)S
26 PROS
Masters abbreviated ordinary language (4) (PROS)E

 

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The Stickler Weekly Insights 229

I started solving cryptics in the 1970s, a time by which firm standards and guidelines had been set regarding what was acceptable in cryptic crosswords. Continue reading

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

The Stickler Weekly 229

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 229
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 229
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 228
Insights for this week
  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 229 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.



11-across


17-across

20-across

27-across


29-across


1-down

3-down





18-down

21-down



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.
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.

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.
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 a mixing-up of letters.

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

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.

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.
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 found by reversing part of the clue, or a synonym for part of the clue. A suitable reversal indicator will be present.
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 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 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.
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The Stickler Weekly 229 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 229 Overseas Help