AFR Cryptic (15/11/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 COCKTAIL
Fluffy duck, say, changed tack in wind (8) Anagram of TACK inside COIL
5 PSALMS
Pastor originally slams rewritten religious book (6) (P)astor + anagram of SLAMS
9 SEASONED
Hardened grain separated by a boy (8) SEED outside (A + SON)
10 BOUNCE
Oz after end of superb spring? (6) OUNCE after super(B)
12 OCKER
Australian musicians knowing no bounds (5) r)OCKER(s
13 PREVALENT
Stop carrying a large current (9) PREVENT outside (A + L)
14 ANTICIPATION
An excited optician, holding it, recalled prediction (12) AN + [anagram of OPTICIAN outside (IT reversed)]
17 ESCORT AGENCY
Carbon, factored into distribution of energy, cost a company supplier (6,6) C inside anagram of ENERGY COST A
22 STRANGLER
Murderer left in the custody of person unknown (9) L inside STRANGER
23 BRAKE
Check a place overgrown with bushes and shrubs (5) Double Definition
24 DODGEM
EV car company with capital from Musk (6) DODGE + (M)usk
25 OVERPASS
A highway? Possibly (8) Cryptic Definition
26 PUT OUT
Turned up to strongly recommend broadcast (3,3) UP reversed + TOUT
27 BRITTANY
European first to trounce any region of France (8) BRIT + (T)rounce + ANY
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 COSMOS
Business text about centre of known universe (6) CO + [SMS outside kn(O)wn]
2 CRANKY
It’s replaced by a number of taxis in city full of bends and turns (6) C(RANK for IT)Y
3 TWO IRON
One spotted in town or drunken club (3,4) I inside anagram of TOWN OR
4 INEXPLICABLE
At home, defective pixel displayed by pay TV is mystifying (12) IN + anagram of PIXEL + CABLE
6 STOMATA
Holes in leaves, say, largely covering pruned fruit plant (7) (SA)y outside TOMAT(o)
7 LINGERIE
Cover for one contemplating retirement that is available after delay (8) IE after LINGER
8 SHEETING
Metal covering that woman, say, inlaid with tin (8) SHE + (EG outside TIN)
11 DEVICE DRIVER
Computer program I’d received somehow containing origin of virus, right? (6,6) Anagram of ID RECEIVED outside (V)irus + R
15 MESSED UP
Seems deranged fool, not all there, made a mistake (6,2) Anagram of SEEMS + DUP(e)
16 ACCREDIT
Recognise rough cider served in one part of Australia (8) Anagram of CIDER inside ACT
18 RONDEAU
Creative work available in mixture of red and gold (7) ON inside anagram of RED + AU
19 CABARET
Court limiting a nude floor show (7) CT outside (A + BARE)
20 CANADA
Dismiss a lawyer in the US part of the world (6) CAN + A + DA
21 FEISTY
Spirited one locked in iron farm structure (6) I inside (FE + STY)

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 15/11/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (8/11/2025) 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.
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 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.
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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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AFR Cryptic (8/11/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 REPOSITORY
Store replaced rope, one featured in write-up (10) Anagram of ROPE + (I inside STORY)
6 SCUM
Problem about copyright matter that surfaces (4) SUM outside C
9 CARGO
Load vehicle and leave (5) CAR + GO
10 ESSENTIAL
Vital broadcast, one offered in tailored sale (9) (SENT + I) inside anagram of SALE
12 LANDLORD
A block letter, maybe? (8) Cryptic Definition
13 CHASTE
Decent swatch of fabric has texture? (6) fabriC HAS TExture
15 SCREE
Steep mass of rocks shortened long passage (5) SCREE(d)
16 STARLING
Famous fish and bird (8) STAR + LING
18 PRESENCE
Company’s resolution adopted in British capital (8) RES inside PENCE
20 STOUT
Tough, small plug (5) S + TOUT
23 RAN DRY
River located in hot environs ceased to flow (3,3) R inside RANDY
24 PARAKEET
A gardening tool swallowed by pet bird (8) (A + RAKE) inside PET
26 VIEWPOINT
Compete against power roped in to win revamped position (9) VIEW + P inside anagram of TO WIN
27 RANCH
Large farm looked after cows and heifers primarily (5) RAN + (C)ows + (H)eifers
28 REST
Take it easy, or not, in holiday centre (4) RESORT minus OR
29 REPRODUCED
Had young professional included in cut (10) PRO inside REDUCED
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RECKLESS
Inattentive clerk messed up e-sales with alcohol discounted (8) Anagram of CLERK + (ESALES minus ALE)
2 PARTNER
Team-mate opening up after typical score (7) RENT reversed after PAR
3 SHOULDER STRAP
Baggage carrier should rest for a change before strike (8,5) SHOULD + anagram of REST + RAP
4 THEORISING
The head of OPEC group outside is speculating (10) THE + (O)pec + (RING outside IS)
5 ROSE
Shower fixture increased in price (4) Double Definition
7 CRIMSON
Crook family member is flushed (7) CRIM + SON
8 MALLET
Everybody inside gathered croquet equipment (6) ALL inside MET
11 NO HOLDS BARRED
Red Baron ordered around nine carriers without restraint or inhibition? (2,5,6) Anagram of RED BARON outside HOLDS
14 MALEFACTOR
Offender’s manly characteristic (10) MALE + FACTOR
17 STITCHED
Sewn shirt’s sleeves caused irritation? (8) (S)hir(T) + ITCHED
19 RINGERS
They call station hands (7) Double Definition
21 OCEANIC
Marine repaired canoe, one found by entrance to cove (7) Anagram of CANOE + I + (C)ove
22 DRIVER
Club or diamond, the last community card in poker (6) D + RIVER
25 NICE
Subtle part of the Bible deleted from notice (4) NOTICE minus OT

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 8/11/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (1/11/2025) 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.











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.
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 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 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.

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AFR Cryptic (1/11/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DEBITED
Small amount listed in property document is taken away (7) BIT inside DEED
5 PUSHING
Energetic dog biting part of a leg (7) PUG outside SHIN
9 MUSIC
Last part edited out of simulcast messed up orchestral work (5) Anagram of SIMULCAST minus LAST
10 FORMATTER
Program that prepares disks for whatever occupies space (9) FOR + MATTER
11 CENTENARY
Canteen exploited all leaving rally for a long time (9) Anagram of CANTEEN + (RALLY minus ALL)
12 PELT
Throw missiles and hide (4) Double Definition
14 LISBON
Lives in pound close to Portuguese port (6) IS inside LB + ON
15 ENTIRE
Middle section of trench and drain should be full (6) tr(EN)ch + TIRE
18 PIECES
Unusual species with no tail or segments (6) Anagram of SPECIE(s)
19 NEURON
Inert gas used to seal centre of pure nerve cell (6) NEON outside p(UR)e
22 RORT
Underlings controlled by mobster or triad commit fraud? (4) mobsteR OR Triad
23 TRANSMUTE
Change trains, taking no notice of one mum (9) TRAINS minus I + MUTE
25 TANTALISE
Lead on bronze is featured in report (9) TAN + (IS inside TALE)
26 ADULT
Sealed section of road ultimately could be fully developed (5) roAD ULTimately
27 DERWENT
Tasmanian flower turned red and died (7) RED reversed + WENT
28 SCENERY
View credentials leaving residency abroad (7) Anagram of RESIDENCY minus ID
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DOMICILE
I’m taking retirement in manageable home (8) IM reversed inside DOCILE
2 BUSINESS PARTNER
Associate coaches carrying in box and opening up (8,7) BUSES outside IN + SPAR + (RENT reversed)
3 TICKED OVER
Watch, say, engraved with an emblem of peace, was inactive (6,4) TICKER outside DOVE
4 DEFRAY
Pay rate cut by 50% during challenge (6) RA(te) inside DEFY
5 PARTYING
Father and mother finally connecting and having a good time (8) PA + mothe(R) + TYING
6 SLAT
Strip of wood or trimmed stone (4) SLAT(e)
7 IN THE NEAR FUTURE
Before long her uneaten fruit rotted (2,3,4,6) Anagram of HER UNEATEN FRUIT
8 GYRATE
Guys oddly value spin (6) (G)u(Y) + RATE
13 FIRE ESCAPE
Emergency exit, one in open space strangely (4,6) I inside FREE + anagram of SPACE
16 RESTRICT
Trick not completed within a relaxed time limit (8) (TRIC)k inside REST
17 ANCESTRY
Family estate included in an urgent appeal (8) EST inside (AN + CRY)
20 ORATED
Leader of Opposition, well-respected, made a speech (6) (O)pposition + RATED
21 HAVENS
Shelters consist of poles (6) HAVE + (N+S)
24 FARE
Cost of transport is reasonable by the sound of it (4) Sounds like FAIR

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 1/11/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (25/10/2025) 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 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 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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AFR Cryptic (25/10/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RIGHT ANGLE
Part of a square rig tied with hard knot (5,5) RIG + H + TANGLE
6 MULE
Shoe uppers might be carried by one (4) Double Definition
9 MASON
Builder is well accepted by people generally (5) SO inside MAN
10 WINDSWEPT
Messy twists revealed sadness (9) WINDS + WEPT
12 AGREEING
A conservationist accepting one thousand dollars for reaching a settlement (8) [(A + GREEN) outside I] + G
13 GROCER
Shop owner returned recording with noise reduction? (6) (RECORDING reversed) minus DIN
15 TIER
Drop in sound level (4) Sounds like TEAR
16 THE DOORS
US rock group’s act accepted by others? Not exactly (3,5) DO inside anagram of OTHERS
19 STOP DEAD
Despot ordered publicity freeze (4,4) Anagram of DESPOT + AD
20 VALE
Farewell drink downed after five (4) ALE after V
23 AIRBAG
It contains inflation in the event of a crash (6) Cryptic Definition
24 TREELESS
Swimmer caught in lock without trunks apparently? (8) EEL inside TRESS
26 BATTERIES
Energy needed in club troubles suppliers of electricity (9) E inside (BAT + TRIES)
27 LIMIT
Check stock of local imitations (5) locaL IMITations
28 RUSE
Get through after juggler’s last trick (4) USE after juggle(R)
29 CONDIMENTS
Seasonings working slow in small amounts of bread (10) (ON + DIM) inside CENTS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 REMNANTS
Odd pieces strange men included in long lectures (8) Anagram of MEN inside RANTS
2 GASTROENTERITIS
Stomach problem irritates gent so badly (15) Anagram of IRRITATES GENT SO
3 TENDED
Looked after temperature all over (6) T + ENDED
4 NOW AND THEN
Potter’s tool kept inside, not used on layer sometimes (3,3,4) WAND inside NOT + HEN
5 LINT
Some material in tent? (4) materiaL IN Tent
7 USED-CAR SALESMAN
American dealer’s scam implicated an old auto dealer (4-3,8) US + anagram of DEALERS + SCAM + AN
8 EXTORT
Blackmail letters typed in text or transcript (6) tEXT OR Transcript
11 SORT OF
“Roots” rewritten by female, as it were (4,2) Anagram of ROOTS + F
14 TENDERISED
Beaten side regrouped after offer (10) Anagram of SIDE after TENDER
17 UPDATE
New information corrupted iPad – not one installed in work vehicle (6) Anagram of (i)PAD inside UTE
18 WEBSITES
We sit in live studio’s primary locations on the internet (8) WE + (SIT inside BE) + (S)tudio
21 JABBER
Maybe a boxer’s chatter (6) Double Definition
22 BEDLAM
Sidelight cut short pandemonium? (6) BEDLAM(p)
25 SILO
Military installation is returning most of consignment (4) SI reversed + (LO)t

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 25/10/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (18/10/2025) 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 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 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 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.
There is only one part to this clue, a definition, and it's usually a play on words. There aren't any indicators.
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 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 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.
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AFR Cryptic (18/10/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ROSTRUM
Support for speaker rose mostly with Trump releasing pressure (7) (ROS)e + (TRUMP minus P)
5 DRASTIC
Drive with a puncture briefly? That’s desperate (7) DR + A + STIC(k)
9 CHEAP
Initial offering from church mass is paltry (5) (C)hurch + HEAP
10 SUBSTRATE
Sort of buttress reinforced by a base (9) A inside anagram of BUTTRESS
11 INCLINED
Fashionable clubs, affected by ruling, could be bent (8) IN + C + LINED
12 BUFFER
One who polishes a ship’s fender (6) Double Definition
14 TA-TA
Length of event at auditorium is so long (2-2) evenT AT Auditorium
15 POPULACE
People generally crack a clue badly written (8) POP + anagram of A CLUE
18 DEBUTANT
New performer manoeuvred tuba in an impressive display (8) Anagram of TUBA inside DENT
19 SCAN
Focal point of telescope can record an image (4) tele(S)cope + CAN
22 APATHY
Coolness defined course in unlimited ways? (6) PATH inside w)AY(s
23 PARASITE
Hanger-on expected a position (8) PAR + A + SITE
25 HAILSTORM
Violent weather damage seen around lot is scattered (9) HARM outside anagram of LOT IS
26 BLEAT
Master occupied by learner’s complaint (5) BEAT outside L
27 SETTERS
Cluey sort of people developed testers (7) Anagram of TESTERS
28 CHEATED
Con, giving up on raging, acted deceptively (7) (CON minus ON) + HEATED
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RECEIPTS
Items of test piece rarely returned revenue (8) teST PIECE Rarely reversed
2 SPEECH THERAPIST
Related health professional, perhaps, cites the broadcast (6,9) Anagram of PERHAPS CITES THE
3 REPAID
Minister and assistant should be compensated (6) REP + AID
4 MASTER PLAN
Flower place included in man’s grand scheme (6,4) (ASTER + PL) inside MAN
5 DIBS
Offer up small stake in a game (4) BID reversed + S
6 ARTFULLY
Variety of turf handled by associate with skill (8) Anagram of TURF inside ALLY
7 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
Crash and affect critic terribly (7,8) Anagram of AND AFFECT CRITIC
8 CLEARS
Opens defective set of Scrabble missing two identical letters (6) Anagram of SCRA(bb)LE
13 OPHTHALMIC
Operation conducted by hospital reduced the false claim relating to the eye (10) OP + H + (TH)e +anagram of CLAIM
16 DUCHESSE
A person’s right about game table that’s fancy (8) DUE outside CHESS
17 INDEBTED
Owing money actually divided up by Bankers Trust (8) INDEED outside BT
20 RASHES
Skin problems are reportedly connected to remains (6) Sounds like R + ASHES
21 BARBIE
Tavern that is hosting club’s last meal (6) (BAR + IE) outside clu(B)
24 BOWS
Bends front part of ship two different ways! (4) BOW + (S)hip

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 18/10/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (11/10/2025) 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.
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 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 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 answer is hidden inside the clue in reverse order. There are two indicators: one to signify that a hidden word is present; the other to reverse the letters.
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 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.
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