AFR Cryptic (26/7/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 GAPING
Joke about pressure in Open (6) GAG outside (P + IN)
5 FORT
Military outpost defended soundly (4) Sounds like FOUGHT
9 RONDO
Musical composition is right before performing act (5) R + ON + DO
10 CONGRUENT
Members of public on Gruen topic should be agreeing (9) publiC ON GRUEN Topic
13 FIELDER
Fine one senior member of a cricket team (7) F + I + ELDER
14 DESCENT
Pole secured by reasonable line (7) S inside DECENT
15 RATE
Trade adversely impacted without diamonds to value (4) Anagram of TRADE minus D
16 CALCULATOR
Call about copper at work endlessly in summer? (10) CALL outside CU + AT + w)OR(k
19 GO-BETWEENS
Grand English award disconcerted newest agents (2-8) G + OBE + anagram of NEWEST
20 LIVE
Endure depravity in retreat (4) EVIL reversed
23 AWAKENS
A snake, twisted around tail of cow, comes to life (7) Anagram of A SNAKE outside co(W)
25 IN PRINT
She dropped out of internship not properly documented (2,5) Anagram of INTERNSHIP minus SHE
26 DREAM TEAM
The best people rate me poorly in block (5,4) Anagram of RATE ME inside DAM
28 CONDO
Pro’s opposing side provide a place in America (5) CON + DO
29 BEAR
Put up with growth of hair to a great extent (4) (BEAR)d
30 MODERN
Novel way of working, right, inside study? (6) MO + (R inside DEN)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 AVOIDS
Ducks enthusiastic about egg starting to split (6) AVID outside O + (S)plit
3 INCARNATE
Human transporter engaged by native (9) CAR inside INNATE
4 GONAD
Sex gland’s activity connected to mutated DNA (5) GO + anagram of DNA
5 FIRE SALE
Clearance of damaged goods affected lease after large growth (4,4) Anagram of LEASE after FIR
6 TIN
Large amount of colour roofing material (3) (TIN)t
7 PREFER
Sporting official protected by agent returned favour (6) REF inside (REP reversed)
8 INVERTEBRATE
Indecisive person, wearing green, adjusted a beret (12) IN + VERT + anagram of A BERET
11 ELECTRICIANS
Tradies fashioned nice articles (12) Anagram of NICE ARTICLES
12 TUTOR
Express disapproval or give individual instruction (5) TUT + OR
17 CONFIRMED
Proven case of fraud dismissed for male (9) (CON + FIRED) outside M
18 STREAMER
Ship carrying right flag (8) STEAMER outside R
19 GUARD
Drug turned up in possession of a sentry (5) DRUG reversed outside A
21 EFTPOS
Payment option left, possibly, with shortcomings? (6) lEFT POSsibly
22 SPACER
Small horse – it maintains a steady gap (6) S + PACER
24 STEAM
Move fast left-winger of steady squad? (5) (S)teady + TEAM
27 ROB
Hold up probe with ends missing (3) p)ROB(e

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 26/7/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (19/7/2025) 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.

















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.
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.

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 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 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.

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.

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AFR Cryptic (19/7/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HABIT
High somewhat? That’s addiction (5) H + A BIT
4 ETRUSCANS
Old Italians converted true digital images (9) Anagram of TRUE + SCANS
9 INSWING
Movement of delivery from one state in Germany’s western part (7) I + NSW + IN + (G)ermany
10 SURGEON
Strong desire held by son’s doctor (7) URGE inside SON
11 READERS DIGEST
Disagreed with new layout in leisure publication (7,6) Anagram of DISAGREED inside REST
14 LANK
Long and thin pieces of wood with trimmed ends (4) p)LANK(s
15 TURFED OUT
Trade union, given food in disorderly retreat, may be expelled (6,3) TU + (FED inside ROUT)
18 SMELT A RAT
Suspected something from faulty alarm test (5,1,3) Anagram of ALARM TEST
19 OR SO
Front piece ripped from trunk roughly (2,2) (t)ORSO
21 INSUBORDINATE
Recalcitrant is in navy vessel to speak about commotion (13) IN + SUB +(ORATE outside DIN)
24 ECONOMY
Thrifty management company involved in distribution of money (7) CO inside anagram of MONEY
26 ECHIDNA
Spiky creature sought refuge in field of scattered cane (7) HID inside anagram of CANE
27 STRANGERS
Park officers at end of street with foreigners (9) RANGERS after ST
28 DRY UP
Become unproductive as doctor committed to casual agreement (3,2) DR + YUP
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 HAIR
Filament is hot when in contact with gaseous mixture (4) H + AIR
2 BUSHRANGERS
Coach employed by personnel angers Raiders, perhaps (11) BUS + HR + ANGERS
3 TRIBAL
Blood group found in test related to people of common descent (6) B inside TRIAL
4 EGG-BEATER
Kitchen appliance, for example, used by consumer from Great Britain? (3-6) EG + GB-EATER
5 RUSES
Leader of rebellion takes advantage of cunning manoeuvres (5) (R)ebellion + USES
6 STRAINED
Side’s opener practised under pressure (8) (S)ide + TRAINED
7 ATE
A number heard what consumers did (3) Sounds like EIGHT
8 SANITATION
Large farm around a home fixed up drainage system (10) STATION outside [A + (IN reversed)]
12 ECO-FRIENDLY
Cultivated rye field once mostly green (3-8) Anagram of (RYE FIELD ONC)e
13 FLASHINESS
Fine girl possessing sparkle and flamboyance (10) (F + LASS) outside SHINE
16 RETAILERS
Merchants regarding realist in an unusual way (9) RE + anagram of REALIST
17 STUBBORN
Small tub, delivered, is not flexible (8) S + TUB + BORN
20 HASHED
He had fencing wood chopped up (6) HED outside ASH
22 RHYME
Religious song abbreviated in the middle of free verse (5) HYM(e) inside f(RE)e
23 WASP
Stinger was first to pounce (4) WAS + (P)ounce
25 OAR
One rowing boat in the middle, right? (3) b(OA)t + R

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 19/7/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (12/7/2025) 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 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 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.
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.
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 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 answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.
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) 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.

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AFR Cryptic (12/7/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STAMPS
Collectables stay mostly with house-sitters? (6) (STA)y + MPS
4 MORASS
Primitive growth found on banks of river and a bog (6) MOSS outside (R + A)
8 AWAIT
Look for it east of a state of Australia (5) IT after (A +WA)
9 OBSTACLES
Drunken constable is not counting in bars (9) Anagram of CONSTABLE IS minus IN
11 PACIFIC
A client’s initial condition, shown in picture, is mild (7) [A + (C)lient + IF) inside PIC
12 NIOBIUM
Nickel ring and iodine encased in worthless metal (7) NI + O + (I inside BUM)
13 RAYS
Pick up sound beams (4) Sounds like RAISE
14 PROPERTY
Quality veteran forward playing in the centre (8) PRO + PERT + pla(Y)ing
17 PLATINUM
A can coated with excellent metal (8) (A + TIN) inside PLUM
19 WELL
Oil supplier in good condition (4) Double Definition
23 ERODING
Section of tie rod in general is wearing away (7) tiE ROD IN General
24 TEEMING
Falling heavily and crawling (7) Double Definition
25 DESPERADO
Reckless person distributed speed right before a party (9) Anagram of SPEED + R + A +DO
26 SPENT
Writer set in stone is shattered (5)
27 TEXTAS
Sign that something’s wrong in a test troubled markers (6) X inside anagram of A TEST
28 WRITER
A character in war replaced by ceremonial author (6) W(RITE for A)R
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SWAPPERS
They trade weapons primarily secured by soldiers (8) (W)eapons inside SAPPERS
2 ANARCHY
Chief needed in any revolution (7) ARCH inside ANY
3 PUT OFF
Blast directed outside to cause distress (3,3) PUFF outside TO
4 MISINFORMATION
Mini’s remodelled shape is nonsense (14) Anagram of MINIS + FORMATION
5 REASONED
A child in a rush thought logically (8) (A + SON) inside REED
6 SOLOIST
Single performer, as reported, is supported by group (7) SO +(IS inside LOT)
7 PORCUPINE GRASS
Growth in outback harvest lifted using pears of an unusual variety (9,5) CROP reversed + anagram of USING PEARS
10 SUMS
Arithmetical problems university included in text (4) U inside SMS
15 STRIDENT
Spiteful gossip, served up in broadcast, is harsh (8) DIRT reversed inside SENT
16 BLIGHTER
Fire starter, seen behind bush initially, is a despicable person (8) LIGHTER after (B)ush
18 LOOK-SEE
Misplace end of article about very good and brief inspection (4-3) [LOSE + articl(E)] outside OK
20 EXIGENT
General entering outlet is demanding attention (7) GEN inside EXIT
21 SEND
Direct point next to boundary (4) S + END
22 TEASER
Prisoners of state – a serious problem? (6) staTE A SERious

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 12/7/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (5/7/2025) 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.
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.
The answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.
Part or all of the answer is found by replacing a section in a word (or its synonym) with a word (or its synonym), letters, or letter. An appropriate indicator like "for a", replacing, switching etc 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 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.
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 a mixing-up of letters.

Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.

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 (5/7/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SOFT COPY
Item stored on disk of Tasmania’s head company pinched by spy (4,4) [OF + (T)asmania + CO] inside SPY
5 TANDEM
Members of management and employees, one behind the other (6) managemenT AND EMployees
10 BARCELONA
Boozer, left in canoe, demolished Spanish port (9) BAR + (L inside anagram of CANOE)
11 TENTS
Heard anxious occupants of a camping ground (5) Sounds like TENSE
12 RAT
Teller reduced charge (3) RAT(e)
13 HOUSE GUESTS
Use guide without identification in case of hosts and visitors (5,6) [USE + (GUIDE minus ID)] inside HOSTS
14 PLAN
One not part of simple design (4) PLAIN minus I
15 STORM SURGE
Effect of cyclone, perhaps, and deterioration, recalled in communication by press (5,5) ROT reversed inside SMS + URGE
18 ADDITIONAL
Odd Italian ordered extra (10) Anagram of ODD ITALIAN
19 ACTS
Religious book, for instance, probed by court (4) AS outside CT
22 JAMIE OLIVER
Cook preserve that is fruit and sugar ultimately (5,6) JAM + IE + OLIVE + suga(R)
24 ATE
Pasties regularly consumed (3) p(A)s(T)i(E)s
25 SALAD
Blue glaze coating aluminium dish (5) SAD outside AL
26 NOSTALGIC
Long act is terribly emotional (9) Anagram of LONG ACT IS
27 SCALER
Mountain man’s fishing equipment (6) Double Definition
28 ORTHOEPY
“Study of correct pronunciation is poor,” they corrected (8) Anagram of POOR THEY
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SOBER UP
US probe re-programmed to come back to Earth (5,2) Anagram of US PROBE
2 FIRST-HAND
Hydrogen detected in large plant stand from the original source (5-4) H inside (FIR + STAND)
3 CRECHE
Section employed by academic, rechecked nursery (6) academiC RECHEcked
4 PRODUCTION LINE
Building system’s master channel, one connected to the internet (10,4) PRO + DUCT + I + ONLINE
6 ALTRUISM
A trite statement about large charity (8) (A + TRUISM) outside L
7 DENTS
Time put into studies makes an impression (5) T inside DENS
8 MUST-SEE
Think about set repaired for essential viewing (4-3) MUSE outside anagram of SET
9 CAREERS ADVISER
Job consultant is keeping server’s aid subject to arrangement (7,7) CARE + anagram of SERVERS AID
16 RECTANGLE
Confusion following record figure (9) TANGLE after REC
17 ATTENDEE
One who turns up at driving spot checking target (8) (AT + TEE) outside END
18 ADJUSTS
Objective used in promotional material fits (7) JUST inside ADS
20 SKETCHY
Unfinished sailing vessel pulled into empty slipway? (7) KETCH inside S(lipwa)Y
21 BREACH
Stretch out a hand after bishop’s transgression (6) REACH after B
23 MULGA
A gum twisted around large acacia (5) Anagram of A GUM outside L

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 5/7/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (28/6/2025) 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 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 found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.

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.
The clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
The entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram indicator will be present.
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 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.

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AFR Cryptic (28/6/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PHASED
Section of bookshop has editions released in stages (6) bookshoP HAS EDitions
5 CAMP BED
Stretcher arrived containing lead handles in the middle! (4,3) CAME outside [PB + han(D)les]
9 DATA PROCESSING
Reformatted discs, a top range, work on computers (4,10) Anagram of DISCS A TOP RANGE
11 EIFFEL
Designer of tower made out of iron, noted in unusual file (6) FE inside anagram of FILE
12 IN DANGER
Vulnerable independent dealt with resentment (2,6) IND + ANGER
14 TORT
Associates of administrator tackled a civil wrong (4) administraTOR Tackled
15 BIRTHRIGHT
I restricted half of this in promising inheritance (10) [I + R + (TH)is] inside BRIGHT
18 WATERTIGHT
Impregnable bow of warship hit target at sea? (10) (W)arship + nagram of HIT TARGET
19 MILK
Exploit type chasing male (4) ILK after M
22 REFLEXES
Whistleblower, left with old friends, turns back (8) REF + L + EXES
24 COTTON
Material taken from bed and not put back (6) COT + (NOT reversed)
26 ASSET-STRIPPING
When group’s initiating a corporate raider’s job (5-9) AS + SETS + TRIPPING
27 TUSCANY
Timeless art stolen from sanctuary disconcerted a region of Italy? (7) Anagram of SANCTUARY minus AR(t)
28 TRENDY
Conclusion accepted by judge now (6) END inside TRY
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 HEADFIRST
Hastily watered, in the end, trees planted in hot spell (9) [watere(D) + FIRS] inside HEAT
3 SEALED
Certain marine acted as a guide (6) SEA + LED
4 DIRE
Colourist sounded desperate (4) Sounds like DYER
5 COCONUT SHY
Companies head modest and fair game? (7,3) (CO + CO) + NUT + SHY
6 MASSACRE
Mow down heap piled next to a piece of land (8) MASS + ACRE
7 BRING
Escort follower of a band (5) B + RING
8 DOGTROT
Do great, then decline a gently paced jog (7) DO + GT + ROT
10 VENT
Opening item on a program started late (4) e(VENT)
13 DILIGENTLY
Hard cover turned around by one gradually (10) LID reversed + I + GENTLY
16 GLISTENED
Head of government took notice and shone (9) (G)overnment + LISTENED
17 GREEN TEA
Starter of goose (entree), prepared with a hot drink (5,3) (G) + anagram of ENTREE + A
18 WARRANT
Justify angry tirade on the subject of war (7) WAR RANT
20 KIND
Friendly class (4) Double Definition
21 COUPLE
Item left in car (6) L inside COUPE
23 FUSES
Fellow handles explosive attachments (5) F + USES
25 SILT
Pose holding large deposit (4) SIT outside L

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AFR Cryptic, Saturday 28/6/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (21/6/2025) 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.
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 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 word or series of words that signify the position of wordplay elements in the answer.

Examples: before, after, leading, in the middle of, under (down only) etc.

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 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.

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.
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 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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