The Stickler Weekly Insights 195 – It’s Not That Simple

I think it’s just about impossible to set well-written cryptic crosswords that are easy to solve. Continue reading

Posted in Crosswords General, Stickler Weekly General, Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | 2 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 195

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 195
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 195
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 194
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 195

The Stickler Weekly 195 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.




9-across


14-across


20-across




27-across


1-down

5-down




12-down


17-down

26-down

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 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.
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 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.

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.
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 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 195 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 195 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 194 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BUSYBODIES
Disruptive boy in coach stops troublemakers (10) Anagram of BOY inside (BUS + DIES)
6 SMSS
Electronic communications yet to be deleted from reconfigured systems (4) Anagram odf SYSTEMS minus YET
10 MALADMINISTERED
Master providing housing for lad with little education managed poorly (15) MASTER outside (LAD + MINI) + ED
11 PAVEMENT
Walk quietly with people guarded by a returned soldier (8) P + (MEN inside A VET)
12 AGLOW
Silver, soft and luminous (5) AG + LOW
14 HOISTS
One, surrounded by accommodating people, uses an elevator (6) I inside HOSTS
16 ADHESION
Bond had changed sound around (8) Anagram of HAD + (NOISE reversed)
18 ANNALIST
One who records what happened with an inventory containing sodium (8) (AN + LIST) outside NA
20 GYRATE
Guys oddly value spin (6) GuYs + RATE
22 RITES
Admission of culprit established customary practices? (5) culpRIT EStablished
24 PORTRAIT
Left deserter clinging to one picture (8) PORT + (RAT outside I)
27 CHEMICAL WARFARE
A few claim archer organised fighting using destructive agents (8,7) Anagram of A FEW CLAIM ARCHER
28 LOPE
Cut off end of line bound (4) LOP + LIN(E)
29 DOWNPLAYED
Complete pad, newly redecorated, is understated (10) DO + anagram of PAD NEWLY
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BOMB
Retreating throng head from battlefield with explosive (4) MOB reversed + (B)ATTLEFIELD
2 SALVATION
Tub, one included in beauty parlour’s restoration (9) (VAT + I) inside SALON
3 BUDGE
Push financial plan with time lacking (5) BUDGET minus T
4 DRIVER
Club record initially claimed by one entering pool, perhaps? (6) (R)ECORD inside DIVER
5 EVICTED
Temperature showing in faulty device should be put out (7) T inside anagram of DEVICE
7 MURAL
A strange, mounted, large wall decoration (5) (A + RUM) reversed + L
8 SIDEWINDER
Missile is sent up by axis, say, filled with gas (10) IS reversed + (WIND inside DEER)
9 STRATEGY
Contract not put forward in odd plan of action (8) GET reversed inside STRAY
13 THEATRICAL
Reviewed article that greatly exaggerated? (10) Anagram of (ARTICLE THA)T
15 TALL SHIP
Everyone keep quiet boarding crown’s sailing vessel (4,4) (ALL + SH) inside TIP
16 ACT
A cabaret dropping a naked performance (3) A + (CABARET minus A BARE)
17 IMAGINARY
A spirit dwelling in the body of one biblical character is not real (9) (A + GIN) inside (I + MARY)
19 SOPRANO
Singer is very taken by new rap number (7) SO + anagram of RAP + NO
21 DRAW IN
Reduce waste primarily lodged in outlet (4,2) (W)ASTE inside DRAIN
23 TIE UP
Tether that is bitten by ram (3,2) IE inside TUP
25 RURAL
Country regular worked less, for example (5) Anagram of REGULAR minus EG
26 NEED
Want what a masseuse can do orally (4) Sounds like KNEAD

 

Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 194 Solution

The Stickler Weekly Insights 194 – Trailing Numbers

One of the dilemmas for crossword writers and publishers is how to indicate to solvers the length and format of answers. Continue reading

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

The Stickler Weekly 194

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 194
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 194
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 193
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 194

The Stickler Weekly 194 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

16-across



24-across

29-across

2-down




8-down

9-down


15-down

17-down

19-down

23-down


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 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 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.

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 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 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.
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.

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.
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 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 Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 194 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)


7-down

23-down

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 194 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 193 Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STRIPPED
Cleared head of security set off (8) (S)ECURITY + TRIPPED
5 PASS UP
Ignore small dog biting American’s backside (4,2) PUP outside ASS
9 REMAINED
Wine produced around northern US state didn’t go anywhere (8) RED outside MAINE
10 FORMER
Old shaping tool (6) Double Definition
12 PUNCTUATION MARK
Mountain track up for restoration say ? (11,4) Anagram of MOUNTAIN TRACK UP
13 ROTATE
Go round bull at opening of exhibition (6) ROT + AT + (E)XHIBITION
15 SOILAGE
Greasy liquid detected in herbaceous plant fodder given to livestock (7) OIL inside SAGE
18 SPENCER
Sail south on river leaving English capital (7) S + (R after PENCE)
20 DUG OUT
Producer’s heart disease is unearthed (3,3) PRO(DU)CER + GOUT
22 ANTEPENULTIMATE
Line up a tent shifted by companion third from the end (15) Anagram of LINE UP A TENT + MATE
25 ACIDIC
Sharp one played twice in Australian rock band (6) I twice inside ACDC
26 EMULSION
Paint crested Australian animal with wild lions? (8) EMU + anagram of LIONS
27 ENSIGN
Standard elements of tradesmen’s ignorance (6) tradesmENS IGNorance
28 TASMANIA
Island continent harbouring soldier with time at the front (8) (ASIA outside MAN) after T
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STRIPY
Tabby’s claw found in animal enclosure (6) RIP inside STY
2 ROMAN NOSE
Prominent sensor man switched on in plant known for making perfume (5,4) [MAN + (ON reversed)] inside ROSE
3 PAINT
Describe one wearing short trousers (5) I inside (PANT)S
4 ELEVATE
Bring up 11 – 2 + 8 as suggested by auditor? (7) (ELEV)EN + sounds like EIGHT
6 ABOUNDING
Rich one making great leaps forward (9) A + BOUNDING
7 SAMOA
Small NZ bird once spread around a Pacific island group (5) (S + MOA) outside A
8 PARAKEET
A gardening tool swallowed by pet bird (8) (A + RAKE) inside PET
11 KISS
Peck is seen, in some respect, as a sign of affection (4) pecK IS Seen
14 ACCEPTING
Compliant substitute containing mushroom (9) ACTING outside CEP
16 ADULATION
Praise mature person keeping a leader of industry on (9) ADULT outside A + (I)NDUSTRY + ON
17 ESCALATE
Escape a recent increase in intensity (8) ESC + A + LATE
19 RING
Phone’s digital attachment (4) Double Definition
20 DILEMMA
Two million invested in repackaging of ideal puzzle (7) M+M inside anagram of IDEAL
21 HERNIA
The girl turned in with a muscular problem (6) HER + (IN reversed) + A
23 TRIES
Goes with English politicians giving nothing away (5) TORIES minus O
24 ISLAM
Religion is liturgy, primarily, and a mass (5) IS + (L)ITURGY + A + M

 

Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler | Tagged , , | 2 Comments