About the Setter
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.
AFR Christmas 2025 Clueless Solution
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Christmas 2025 Clueless Solution
AFR Cryptic, Christmas Special 2025, Clue Hints
Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (13/12/2025) 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.
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.
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 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 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 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 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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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.
AFR Cryptic (13/12/2025) Solution

| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | FREE-FOR-ALL | |
| Go down outside bar or fight (4-3-3) | FALL outside (REEF + OR) | |
| 6 | LIST | |
| Write down orderly’s tip (4) | Double Definition | |
| 10 | ALTER | |
| Modify components in general terms (5) | generAL TERms | |
| 11 | SUCCESSOR | |
| Replacement has finally revitalised US soccer (9) | ha(S) + anagram of US SOCCER | |
| 12 | EARTHY | |
| They are not entirely reformed and unrefined (6) | Anagram (THEY AR)e | |
| 13 | INTAGLIO | |
| Engraving consisting of name written with refined oil (8) | IN + TAG + anagram of OIL | |
| 14 | SOLEMN | |
| Only man without a grave (6) | SOLE + M(a)N | |
| 16 | PERSONAL | |
| Exclusive perk, mostly tailored loans (8) | (PER)k + anagram of LOANS | |
| 17 | DECISION | |
| Settlement is coined strangely (8) | Anagram of IS COINED | |
| 19 | CAMEOS | |
| Small parts arrived overseas (6) | CAME + OS | |
| 21 | STRIPPER | |
| It removes stone, an excavating device that breaks up rock (8) | ST + RIPPER | |
| 22 | ACCRUE | |
| Build up a company in speech (6) | Sounds like A CREW | |
| 25 | GO THROUGH | |
| Goth with rugged face (2,7) | GOTH + ROUGH | |
| 26 | MENSA | |
| Toilet used by a group of smart people (5) | MENS + A | |
| 27 | SODA | |
| Turf laid next to a compound (4) | SOD + A | |
| 28 | BEGINNINGS | |
| Pray before time in the middle starts (10) | BEG + INNINGS | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | FRAMERS | |
| They set up one not involved in distribution of firearms (7) | Anagram of FIREARMS minus I | |
| 2 | ESTER | |
| Elements of test eradicated an organic compound (5) | tEST ERadicated | |
| 3 | FOR THE MOST PART | |
| Generally those people pastor converted in stronghold (3,3,4,4) | (THEM + anagram of PASTOR) inside FORT | |
| 4 | RASH | |
| Eruption is premature (4) | Double Definition | |
| 5 | LICENCE | |
| Sort excluded from complicated electronics certification (7) | Anagram of ELECTRONICS minus SORT | |
| 7 | INSOLENCE | |
| Popular individual, one not included in “nice” backchat (9) | IN + SOLE + (NICE minus I) | |
| 8 | TURMOIL | |
| Cocktail of rum, consumed during work, confused situation (7) | Anagram of RUM inside TOIL | |
| 9 | RENAISSANCE MAN | |
| Person of many talents looked after checking fictitious names in case (11,3) | RAN outside anagram of NAMES IN CASE | |
| 15 | LACERATED | |
| Ornamental fabric considered good is torn (9) | LACE + RATED | |
| 16 | PEN | |
| Enclosure not closed down at the front (3) | (o)PEN | |
| 17 | DOSAGES | |
| Prescribed amounts of medicine satisfy authorities (7) | DO + SAGES | |
| 18 | OVERUSE | |
| Wear out oven largely connected to device (7) | (OVE)n + RUSE | |
| 20 | SEESAWS | |
| Playground equipment was reassembled behind courts (7) | Anagram of WAS after SEES | |
| 23 | RUN-IN | |
| Rugby Union scrumhalf nearly ended fight? (3-2) | RU + (NIN)e | |
| 24 | THAI | |
| Asian cuisine that is ultimately lacking? (4) | THA(t) + I(s) |
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (13/12/2025) Solution
AFR Cryptic, Saturday 13/12/2025, Clue Hints
Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (6/12/2025) 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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.
A word or series of words that signify the removal of a letter, letters, word or words (or their equivalents) from other parts of the clue (or their equivalents).
Examples: taken from, decreased by, less.
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR, Crossword, cryptic
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 13/12/2025, Clue Hints
AFR Cryptic (6/12/2025) Solution

| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | HURTS | |
| Inflicts injuries on regiment primarily occupying small buildings (5) | (R)egiment inside HUTS | |
| 4 | FLATTERED | |
| Fine coffee and wine should be praised (9) | F + LATTE + RED | |
| 9 | DOUBLE CREAM | |
| High-fat dairy product could be reviewed by paper? (6,5) | Anagram of COULD BE + REAM | |
| 10 | ABS | |
| Muscles may be so evenly spaced (3) | mAy Be So | |
| 11 | EPILEPSY | |
| Nervous disorder may be written down in records close to surgery (8) | (PILE inside EPS) + surger(Y) | |
| 12 | RENTER | |
| Leaseholder’s right to go in (6) | R + ENTER | |
| 14 | OVER | |
| Off-side fielder not starting a short bowling spell (4) | (c)OVER | |
| 15 | VERTEBRA | |
| Green support for woman taking on head of experimental spinal unit (8) | (VERT + BRA) outside (E)xperimental | |
| 18 | SPRAINED | |
| Injured spy almost fell down (8) | SP(y) + RAINED | |
| 20 | SAGO | |
| Pudding ingredient, say, reduced vitality (4) | SA(y) + GO | |
| 24 | EARTHS | |
| Grounds are prepared by one leaving this (6) | Anagram of ARE + TH(i)S | |
| 25 | SCREW-TOP | |
| Type of bottle a group of workers sealed with plug (5-3) | STOP outside CREW | |
| 27 | ROT | |
| Tripe and bread not finished (3) | ROT(i) | |
| 28 | BARBITURATE | |
| Drug distributor that sells alcohol, organised a tribute (11) | BAR + anagram of A TRIBUTE | |
| 29 | PENETRATE | |
| Trap rat in sewer waste with probe (9) | (NET + RAT) inside PEE | |
| 30 | NITRE | |
| Contents of can – it really is saltpetre (5) | caN IT REally | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | HEDGEROW | |
| How about a garden tool used to trim a line of shrubs or trees? (8) | HOW outside EDGER | |
| 2 | ROUTINE | |
| Way left open to retain batting order (7) | ROUTE outside IN | |
| 3 | SILVER | |
| Money is rolled over and left very briefly (6) | IS reversed + L + VER(y) | |
| 4 | FACE-SAVING | |
| Maintaining prestige, cafe mixed French wine in dip (4-6) | Anagram of CAFE + (VIN inside SAG) | |
| 5 | AXES | |
| A male, say, recalled choppers (4) | A + (SEX reversed) | |
| 6 | TEMPERED | |
| Hardened agent met retired journalist (8) | (REP + MET) reversed + ED | |
| 7 | REACTOR | |
| Church leader harnessing a source of power, perhaps (7) | RECTOR outside A | |
| 8 | DESIRE | |
| Fancy term used to address someone in abridged legal document (6) | SIR inside DEE(d) | |
| 13 | PRODUCTIVE | |
| Conduit, one used in test, should be efficient (10) | (DUCT + I) inside PROVE | |
| 16 | BAD HABIT | |
| Character flaw bishop had corrected slightly (3,5) | B + anagram of HAD + A BIT | |
| 17 | COMPLETE | |
| Fill in parking permit in advance (8) | (P + LET) inside COME | |
| 19 | PURITAN | |
| Fanatic turned up on rescheduled train (7) | UP reversed + anagram of TRAIN | |
| 21 | ATTRACT | |
| Pull a pamphlet containing twaddle primarily (7) | (A + TRACT) outside (T)waddle | |
| 22 | BEER-UP | |
| Be straight over for drinking party (4-2) | BE + (PURE reversed) | |
| 23 | TEA URN | |
| Switch around each beverage supplier (3,3) | TURN outside EA | |
| 26 | PROA | |
| Old hand seen on a Malay sailing boat (4) | PRO + A |
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (6/12/2025) Solution
AFR Cryptic, Saturday 6/12/2025, Clue Hints
Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (29/11/2025) 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.
Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR, Crossword, cryptic
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 6/12/2025, Clue Hints
AFR Cryptic (29/11/2025) Solution

| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | DISGRACEFUL | |
| Shocking cold caught by out-of-shape lifeguards (11) | C inside anagram LIFEGUARDS | |
| 9 | HOLDING | |
| Mercury plugged by veteran in stocks and shares (7) | HG outside (OLD + IN) | |
| 10 | LIE-DOWN | |
| Acted deceptively to have rest (3-4) | LIED + OWN | |
| 11 | LEGATE | |
| Messenger, say, entering after the expected time (6) | EG inside LATE | |
| 12 | OBEDIENT | |
| Dutiful and on time carrying last pass (8) | (ON + T) outside (BE + DIE) | |
| 14 | TUTE | |
| Like being not part of intelligent university class (4) | ASTUTE minus AS | |
| 15 | STEAMSHIPS | |
| They transported crews in wearing smalls? (10) | (TEAMS + HIP) inside (S+S) | |
| 18 | BODYSURFER | |
| One who hopes to take a break lying down? (10) | Cryptic Definition | |
| 19 | BUFF | |
| Smooth person who’s considered an expert (4) | Double Definition | |
| 22 | OUTRAGED | |
| Angry members of tour scrambled over the hill (8) | Anagram of TOUR + AGED | |
| 24 | MAGNUM | |
| A sort of gun owned by thousands? (6) | (A anagram of GUN) inside (M+M) | |
| 26 | DENMARK | |
| Study target area in Europe of national importance (7) | DEN + MARK | |
| 27 | UGANDAN | |
| Some bug and annoy a person from Africa (7) | bUG AND ANnoy | |
| 28 | OVER THE MOON | |
| Open home arranged by one mostly extremely happy (4,3,4) | OVERT + anagram of HOME + (ON)e | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | DELIGHTED | |
| Very happy person who stands out in act (9) | LIGHT inside DEED | |
| 2 | SHIFTY | |
| Hydrogen, if stored in dump, may be resourceful (6) | (H + IF) inside STY | |
| 3 | RUGS | |
| Refuges, waiving fee, distributed blankets (4) | Anagram of REFUGES minus FEE | |
| 4 | CALIBRATED | |
| College’s leading character, a politician thought highly of, graduated (10) | (C)ollege + A + LIB + RATED | |
| 5 | FIENDISH | |
| Monstrous marlin, say, possessing one purpose (8) | FISH outside (I + END) | |
| 6 | LOOSE | |
| Local toilets are ultimately free (5) | LOOS + ar(E) | |
| 7 | THE LOT | |
| Closing of restaurant by hotel ruined everything (3,3) | restauran(T) + anagram of RUINED | |
| 8 | UNITES | |
| Centre section of launch site somehow comes together (6) | la(UN)ch + anagram of SITE | |
| 13 | STARTER-KIT | |
| Big shot arranged trek with IT equipment crucial to initial success (7-3) | STAR + anagram of TREK + IT | |
| 16 | IGUANODON | |
| Dinosaur droppings collected by one university fellow (9) | GUANO inside (I + DON) | |
| 17 | ESCAPADE | |
| Risky venture unsettled space cadet inside borders? (8) | Anagram of SPACE + c(ADE)t | |
| 18 | BROODS | |
| Boatman’s opening assorted doors and hatches (6) | (B)oatman + anagram of DOORS | |
| 20 | FOMENT | |
| Promote development of the writer in script (6) | ME inside FONT | |
| 21 | HAS A GO | |
| Tries a cereal introduced by hospital (3,1,2) | (A + SAGO) after H | |
| 23 | TANGO | |
| Dance beat with oomph (5) | TAN + GO | |
| 25 | CUBE | |
| Copper: “Live or die” (4) | CU + BE |
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (29/11/2025) Solution
AFR Cryptic, Saturday 29/11/2025, Clue Hints
Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (22/11/2025) 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.
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 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.
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.
There is only one part to this clue, a definition, and it's usually a play on words. There aren't any indicators.
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 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 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.
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.
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR, Crossword, cryptic
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 29/11/2025, Clue Hints
AFR Cryptic (22/11/2025) Solution

| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | SAT-NAV | |
| Guidance system positioned by reversing vehicle (3-3) | SAT + (VAN reversed) | |
| 4 | CLEAR-CUT | |
| Copper infiltrating corrupt cartel is definite (5-3) | CU inside anagram of CARTEL | |
| 9 | COASTAL | |
| A stone found coated in fossil fuel near the seaside (7) | (A + ST) inside COAL | |
| 11 | STEAMER | |
| A midshipman’s first in to guide vessel (7) | [A + (M)idshipman] inside STEER | |
| 12 | DELIRIUM | |
| Ecstasy one consumed in alcohol behind food store (8) | (I inside RUM) after DELI | |
| 13 | IDEALS | |
| Island occupied with agreement’s ethics (6) | IS outside DEAL | |
| 16 | BREATHING SPACE | |
| Each matter’s quietly handled by couple for rest (9,5) | (EA + THINGS + P) inside BRACE | |
| 19 | SENTIMENTALITY | |
| Treacle shipped by one character (14) | SENT + I + MENTALITY | |
| 21 | ELEVEN | |
| Team 12’s centre square? (6) | tw(EL)ve + EVEN | |
| 22 | INFANTRY | |
| Group of soldiers in cooler put to the test (8) | IN + FAN + TRY | |
| 25 | SLIPS UP | |
| Course taken by students in retreat goes wrong (5,2) | S inside (PUPILS reversed) | |
| 27 | TRUMPET | |
| Instrument representative played in perfect time (7) | MP inside TRUE + T | |
| 28 | NEGATIVE | |
| Hostile, for example, trapped in home (8) | EG inside NATIVE | |
| 29 | WEBCAM | |
| A few of us redirected cab with minute computer monitor (6) | WE + anagram of CAB + M | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | SECEDE | |
| Withdraw witness bagging criminal’s primary education (6) | SEE outside [(C)riminal + ED] | |
| 2 | TRAWL | |
| Picked pieces of bait, raw liver, to catch fish (5) | baiT RAW Liver | |
| 3 | ALTERNATIVE | |
| Change local’s choice (11) | ALTER + NATIVE | |
| 5 | LAST | |
| Survive at the end (4) | Double Definition | |
| 6 | ALE | |
| Occupants of local expected an alcoholic beverage (3) | locAL Expected | |
| 7 | COME APART | |
| Break a score in golf sporting a heavenly body (4,5) | (A + PAR) inside COMET | |
| 8 | THRASHER | |
| Flood accepted by the river bird (8) | RASH inside THE + R | |
| 10 | LAUGHTER | |
| Butcher, starting late, expressed delight (8) | (s)LAUGHTER | |
| 14 | DISPLEASURE | |
| Bent pedal is certainly a cause of irritation (11) | Anagram of PEDAL IS + SURE | |
| 15 | INSTINCT | |
| Gut reaction isn’t recollected in court (8) | Anagram of ISNT + IN + CT | |
| 17 | RENDERING | |
| Finish edges of exterior in enclosure’s coat of plaster (9) | [END + (E)xterio(R)] inside RING | |
| 18 | USHERS IN | |
| Introduces drug dealer, ignoring pressure and offence (6,2) | (PUSHER minus P) + SIN | |
| 20 | SYSTEM | |
| Procedure, say, without a check (6) | SAY minus A + STEM | |
| 23 | TOPIC | |
| Detective in hospital bed recalled question (5) | PI inside (COT reversed) | |
| 24 | SPIV | |
| Important people sent back idler (4) | VIPS reversed | |
| 26 | SET | |
| Scheduled examination largely given backing (3) | (TES)t reversed |
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (22/11/2025) Solution
AFR Cryptic, Saturday 22/11/2025, Clue Hints
Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (15/11/2025) 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.
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 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 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 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 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.
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR, Crossword, cryptic
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 22/11/2025, Clue Hints
