The Stickler Weekly 211 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




11-across




22-across

25-across

26-across

27-across


1-down

3-down

7-down

8-down

10-down

13-down

15-down

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 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.
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.

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.
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 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) 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 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.

A word or series of words that signify the loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.

Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely etc.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 211 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 Break and Clue-writing Challenge

It seems that although many people have time off over the Christmas/New Year holiday period, they don’t spend it solving cryptic crosswords. I suspect people generally take a break from what they regularly do, which is fair enough. Consequently the website stats show that most people are in catch-up mode (or still on a break), so I’m pausing for a week to hopefully let people get back into the swing of things.

Those right up-to-date might like to take on another clue-writing challenge, something that seemed to tickle the fancy of many Stickler solvers the first time round.

Here are four words:

DISCOVER

PIONEER

CONCISE

BALANCE

Submit clues here for one or more of these words, and feel free to comment on what’s posted but remember this isn’t easy, so be constructive and nice.

You’ll need:

A definition
Wordplay
Nothing else

Tip: Some of the words have obvious wordplay breakdowns – write good clues using these breakdowns BEFORE attempting other wordplays.

Best of luck.

The Stickler Weekly will return next week.

David
The Stickler

Posted in Crosswords General, Stickler Weekly General, Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | 80 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 210 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SLEDGEHAMMER
Hard hitter’s advantage hooligans primarily witnessed in jail (12) [EDGE + (H)OOLIGANS] inside SLAMMER
9 TRACHEA
Hydrogen found in search for a gas-pipe (7) H inside TRACE + A
10 PAINTER
Landscaper, perhaps, is not commonly breaking through (7) AINT inside PER
11 PROPERTY
Quality veteran forward playing in the centre (8) PRO + PERT + PLA(Y)ING
12 SLINKY
Coloured fluid used in clever children’s toy (6) INK inside SLY
14 DEED
Exploit senior reporter running back and forth (4) ED reversed + ED
15 VACCINATED
Victim’s head, impacted by a terrible accident, is protected from infection (10) (V)ICTIM + A + anagram of ACCIDENT
18 UNABRIDGED
A bun, rough and crinkly, is whole (10) Anagram of A BUN + RIDGED
19 IBIS
Wader is following one back to club (4) IS after [I + CLU(B)]
22 TOP HAT
Surgery conducted in that head gear considered first-class (3,3) OP inside THAT
24 STURGEON
Child taking time to encourage valued swimmer (8) SON outside (T + URGE)
26 LOADING
A racket noted in journal is appearing on screen (7) (A + DIN) inside LOG
27 BONFIRE
It burns wood in section of frame (7) FIR inside BONE
28 TESTOSTERONE
Investigate store changing whole production of nuts (12) TEST + anagram of STORE + ONE
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SOAP OPERA
Drama series very much appreciated by each generation (4,5) SO + A POP + ERA
2 ECHOES
Bride finally chose fashioned rings (6) BRID(E) + anagram of CHOSE
3 GIANT PANDA
Guinea interbred taipan and a vulnerable species (5,5) G + anagram of TAIPAN AND
4 HOPE
Trust employees of shop explicitly? (4) sHOP Explicitly
5 MAINLAND
Home computer system adopted by extremely enthusiastic part of a country (8) (IN + LAN) inside MAD
6 EATEN
Had something scrambled after starter (5) B(EATEN)
7 STUPID
Thickheaded boss probed by private investigator (6) STUD outside PI
8 X-RAYED
I’m clear of fresh batch of Readymix examined internally for problems (1-5) Anagram of READYMIX minus IM
13 ACCEPTABLE
PC ace reorganised data structure all right (10) Anagram of PC ACE + TABLE
16 TABLE WINE
Yarn about expert oenophile’s choice, perhaps (5,4) TWINE outside ABLE
17 ORGANIST
Love arrangement of a string instrument player (8) O + anagram of A STRING
18 UNTOLD
Great unit losing one veteran (6) UNIT minus I + OLD
20 SINNER
Wrongdoer’s small secret (6) S + INNER
21 GRINGO
Band appearing in function is Foreigner (6) RING inside GO
23 PEACE
Sound of musical composition’s harmony (5) Sounds like PIECE
25 AGES
Passengers in carriage sat a long time (4) carriAGE Sat

 

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The Stickler Weekly Insights 210 – Cryptic Equals Difficult

Recently a well-known and prolific setter, named Roger Squires (Rufus in The Guardian), announced his retirement. Continue reading

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

The Stickler Weekly 210

First, I want thank those who have recently invested in The Stickler’s future. There were a number of gifts around Christmas that lifted my spirits greatly.

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 210
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 210
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 209
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 210 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


10-across

11-across


18-across

22-across

24-across

26-across

27-across

28-across

1-down


5-down



16-down

18-down



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 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 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) 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 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 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 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.

All words can be validly written with a leading capital without changing their meaning. Hence, the capitalisation of a word may present a different picture than is intended.
The answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 210 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 210 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 209 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RACER
Speedster’s rights pulled apart by expert (5) ACE inside (R+R)
4 ELICITED
Lie, wrongly used as a reference, is drawn out (8) Anagram of LIE + CITED
10 SOUTHERN COMFORT
Ordered shot from counter? (8,7) Anagram of SHOT FROM COUNTER
11 TEA PARTY
Pate dished out before stylish social gathering (3,5) Anagram of PATE + ARTY
12 BOOTHS
Show contempt for one leaving this restaurant’s dining areas (6) BOO + (THIS minus I)
14 REASON
Act of betrayal with no time to think (6) TREASON minus T
15 RESIDUE
Surplus pine product largely outstanding (7) (RESI)N + DUE
18 DOG
An extremely influential man backed setter, say (3) GOD reversed
19 TWADDLE
Pair nearly spoil uninteresting talk (7) (TW)O + ADDLE
21 ORANGE
Colour ring selection (6) O + RANGE
24 FAIRLY
Broadcast received by pilot according to the rules (6) AIR inside FLY
26 DOTTEREL
Bird and fish-eating mammal found in small wooded hollow mostly (8) OTTER inside (DEL)L
28 INTERNATIONALLY
Distributed LAN, in reality, not in every place (15) Anagram of LAN IN REALITY NOT
29 HORSEMAN
Warning device, on a vehicle outside, unsettled me as a rider (8) HORN outside anagram of ME AS
30 POSER
Model problem (5) Double Definition
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RESETS
Zeros are ultimately included in balance before the point (6) AR(E) inside REST + S(outh)
2 CRUSADE
Scab oddly embroiled in tactless campaign (7) (S)C(A)B inside CRUDE
3 REHEARSED
Cemetery regular, dressed in red, went over (9) HEARSE inside RED
5 LICK
Flog items of public knowledge (4) pubLIC Knowledge
6 CAMEO
Prominent member of company accepting a medium acting role (5) CEO outside (A + M)
7 TROTTED
Leader of troop became weak and ran at a moderate pace (7) (T)ROOP + ROTTED
8 DETESTED
Evaluation given in property document is treated with contempt (8) TEST inside DEED
9 PRETENDER
Claimant is quiet about offer (9) P + RE + TENDER
13 ERGONOMIC
Move by number in organised crime designed to maximise efficiency (9) (GO + NO) inside anagram of CRIME
16 SMARTEN UP
Superman changed, taking time to dress properly (7,2) Anagram of SUPERMAN outside T
17 STIFFISH
Quite rigid suits lifted swimmers (8) FITS reversed + FISH
20 AVIATOR
One who flies through to river south of Australia’s capital (7) (VIA + TO + R) after (A)USTRALIA
22 GARBLES
Front section of rafter used in roof sections twists (7) (R)AFTER inside GABLES
23 PLAYER
Contestant left in company of one handing out money (6) L inside PAYER
25 LARGE
Initial position of landing gear destabilised jumbo (5) (L)ANDING + anagram of GEAR
27 KAVA
Some drink, a Vanuatuan beverage (4) drinK A VAnuatuan

 

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The Stickler Weekly Insights 209 – Overseas Imports

I recently constructed two special bumper cryptics for the Australian Financial Review. The second, for New Year, was a jigsaw where answers had to be fitted into a grid with no numbers. Continue reading

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