The Stickler Weekly 217 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

4-across

9-across


15-across


25-across

28-across



1-down


4-down


7-down

8-down

16-down

17-down



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 using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.

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 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 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 , , , | 28 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 217 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)


25-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 217 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 216 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MARSHMALLOW
Hurt male nursed by superficial, sweet thing (11) MAR + (M inside SHALLOW)
9 CHAMBER
Light colour painted at far end of church room (7) AMBER after CH
10 PLOTTER
Crafty person acquiring large drawing machine (7) POTTER outside L
11 LEDGER
Flat horizontal slab of stone left by trimmer (6) L + EDGER
12 FINE ARTS
Creative subjects may be close by wearing suits (4,4) NEAR inside FITS
14 TORT
Associates of administrator tackled a civil wrong (4) administraTOR Tackled
15 CADAVEROUS
Haggard wretch, for instance, keeping five euro with change (10) CAD + [AS outside (V + anagram of EURO)]
18 MODERATELY
Tempo in melody varied to some extent (10) RATE inside anagram of MELODY
19 TINT
Ingredient of paint in tin? (4) painT IN Tin
22 CURTSIED
Dog, secured by rope around pole, showed respect (8) CUR + TIED outside S
24 HAMPER
Cured meat and fruit lacking in a selection of food (6) HAM + (PEAR minus A)
26 OIL WELL
Ring one left rightly for gusher, say (3,4) O + I + L + WELL
27 EDIBLES
Food from deli best cooked without salt ultimately (7) Anagram of DELI BEST minus sal(T)
28 DISENTANGLE
Resolve is needed in depression – a point of view (11) IS inside DENT + ANGLE
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MEANDERED
Solicitor’s conclusion in malicious legal document is twisted (9) SOLICITO(R) inside (MEAN + DEED)
2 RUBBER
Match material with some flexibility (6) Double definition
3 HARM
Do damage to hospital wing (4) H + ARM
4 APPLICABLE
Computer company shortened one wire fitting (10) (APPL)E + I + CABLE
5 LOOSENED
What a guide did about noose incorrectly untied (8) LED outside anagram of NOOSE
6 WATER
Drink, possibly, one taken from restaurant worker (5) WAITER minus I
7 SCULPT
Pressure in small religious group to do creative work (6) P inside (S + CULT)
8 FRISKS
Head of forensics jeopardises searches (6) (F)ORENICS + RISKS
13 EAST BERLIN
Old Russian section liberates tortured leader of Norway (4,6) Anagram of LIBERATES + (N)ORWAY
16 ON IMPULSE
Phosphorus put into emulsion exploded spontaneously (2,7) P inside anagram of EMULSION
17 FRESHENS
Lowly worker, lifting layers, grows in strength (8) SERF reversed + HENS
18 MACROS
Computer instructions from Apple product improved greatly (6) MAC + (ROS)E
20 THRUST
Stab hooligan initially held in custody (6) (H)OOLIGAN inside TRUST
21 FADING
Commotion concealed by smoke is on the decline (6) DIN inside FAG
23 RULED
Ordered rum mostly went first (5) (RU)M + LED
25 MEGA
Big man reduced housing, for example (4) (MA)n outside EG

 

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

The Stickler Weekly Insights 216

Recent comments on this blog regarding &lits (…and literally) has made me think a little deeper about cryptic crossword concepts and the difference between a solver’s mindset and a setter’s mindset. Continue reading

Posted in Crosswords General, Stickler Weekly General, Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | 3 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 216

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 216
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 216
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 215
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

Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 216

The Stickler Weekly 216 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


15-across

18-across

22-across

24-across

26-across


28-across





13-down

16-down

17-down

18-down

23-down

25-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.

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 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.

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.

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.
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 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 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) 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.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 216 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 216 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 215 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 OFFICE
Cancelled illegal drug charge (6) OFF + ICE
4 ATTRACTS
A time listed in religious literature has an enticing effect (8) A + (T inside TRACTS)
9 PLANNER
One who arranges bearing fitted into aircraft right (7) N inside PLANE + R
11 RUMBLED
Exposed suspect showed signs of being injured (7) RUM + BLED
12 SUCCINCT
Dodgy credit accounts not including date or summary (8) Anagram of CREDIT ACCOUNTS minus DATE OR
13 AS WELL
To boot a balloon (2,4) A + SWELL
16 MISINFORMATION
Mini’s remodelled shape is nonsense (14) Anagram of MINIS + FORMATION
19 UNCONSCIONABLE
Kid, a young member of a family, abducted by impotent criminal (14) (CON + SCION) inside UNABLE
21 CODERS
Corrupted docs are cleared of a computer company’s workers (6) Anagram of DOCS ARE minus A
22 SIGHTSEE
Show disappointment with second in part of golf course tour (8) SIGH + (S inside TEE)
25 AGNOMEN
Dwarf pencilled in an alternative name (7) GNOME inside AN
27 GUMBOIL
Fool using mirror to see red mouth abscess (7) MUG reversed + BOIL
28 EJECTION
One travelling in jet once involved with deportation (8) I inside anagram of JET ONCE
29 ASHRAM
Six behind a quiet religious retreat? (6) RAM after (A + SH)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 OPPOSE
Challenge attitude after theatre work (6) POSE after OP
2 FRANC
Old European buyer is plain spoken (5) Sounds like FRANK
3 CONDITIONER
Fitness coach operating in different direction (11) ON inside anagram of DIRECTION
5 TORN
Part of bolt or nut may be split (4) bolT OR Nut
6 RAM
It’s inclined, with pressure released, to hit hard (3) RAMP minus P
7 COLLEGIAL
Company left one in judiciary relating to shared responsibility (9) CO + L + (I inside LEGAL)
8 SIDELINE
Contaminated diesel spread across popular branch track (8) Anagram of DIESEL outside IN
10 ROCK FACE
Music cafe arranged abrupt appearance of The Stones? (4,4) ROCK + anagram of CAFE
14 STAY-AT-HOMES
Unadventurous types that some say must be demented? (4-2-5) Anagram of THAT SOME SAY
15 GROOMING
Stable work group occupying consulting room in government (8) consultinG ROOM IN Government
17 INCIDENCE
Degree included study in “State of Water” (9) INC + (DEN in ICE)
18 PURCHASE
Winnings keeping fellow not entirely secure (8) PURSE outside (CHA)P
20 BEDLAM
Sidelight cut short pandemonium? (6) (BED LAM)P
23 SPOOR
Head from station on inferior track (5) (S)TATION + POOR
24 UNDO
Wipe out contents of fund overseas (4) fUND Overseas
26 MAT
Final move on board docked coaster (3) (MAT)E

 

Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The Stickler Weekly Insights 215

When Greg C announced that he had given up “conventional” solving techniques and reverted to electronic helpers after just 3 days of The Stickler Weekly 215 being released, my heart sank. Continue reading

Posted in Crosswords General, Stickler Weekly General, Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | 7 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 215

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 215
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 215
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 214
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

Posted in Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 215