The Stickler Weekly 177 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

5-across

9-across

10-across

11-across

13-across

19-across



25-across


3-down

5-down


12-down

14-down

16-down

17-down

20-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) 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 a mixing-up of letters.

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

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.
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 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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The Stickler Weekly 177 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)


10-across

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 176 Solution

Recently cryptic crossword setter John Halpern (aka Paul in The Guardian) ran the London marathon in a time of 5 hours 57 minutes, or about 13 minutes a mile. This was a marathon with a difference: at the start of every mile, John was shown a new word to clue by a volunteer, based on a grid designed by a crossword-setting colleague Richard Browne (aka Imogen) that John had not seen before. This was all about raising money for charity. With the aid of an Apple watch, John recorded his thoughts and clues on the run, with the aim to clue an entire crossword by the end of the race. It’s really hard to explain just how difficult this would be, as John had no references, lists of indicators, or anagram generating software – it all had to be done in his head. He would also have to keep a mental note of the types of clues he’d constructed to ensure a well-balanced crossword at the end. All amazingly difficult, but let’s not forget he was putting his body through physical torture at the same time!
A few concessions would have to be made. The words in the grid would be picked especially for the event, giving John the best chance of coming up with viable clues. For instance, if John didn’t know the meaning of just one of the answer words, the whole thing’s a bust. Imogen no doubt picked wisely to ensure this wouldn’t happen. The bit that’s most difficult is joining definition and wordplay as seamlessly as possible, usually only doable with lots of choices that multiple references give you. Without those, options are limited and roadblocks appear. It would be fascinating to hear John talk about what went through his head as he ran.

Read about John’s effort here.
Have a look at the actual crossword here.
Sneak a look at the blog of the crossword here.
To complete the picture, John’s fundraising page is here.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ARCHER
Missile launcher decapitated person on parade? (6) M(ARCHER)
4 OPERETTA
Musical drama’s toe-tapper not usually played without piano accompaniment (8) Anagram of TOE TAPPER minus P
10 PROXIMATE
Nearest ox captured by man, for example (9) OX inside PRIMATE
11 FINER
Penalty imposed for doing something wrong and right could be better (5) FINE + R
12 NUPTIAL
Wedding finished in translation of Latin (7) UP inside anagram of LATIN
13 OVERATE
Consumed too much time in changing vote (7) ERA inside anagram of VOTE
14 INDIA
Country concerned with recalled relief money (5) IN + (AID reversed)
15 WITHDREW
Funny person cut along sides of drive and stepped back (8) WIT + (HEW outside DR)
18 ATTENDEE
One who turns up at tee checking target (8) AT + (TEE outside END)
20 SPACE
Room’s small step (5) S + PACE
23 PLANTER
Grower’s scheme concluded by territory (7) PLAN + TER
25 EYESORE
State finally agreed valuable rock could be a blot on the landscape (7) STAT(E) + YES + ORE
26 UNITE
Link a number of fun items (5) fUN ITEms
27 UNLEASHED
Uncle losing cool, primarily with a cast, let loose (9) UNCLE minus C + A + SHED
28 EYESHADE
Members of progressive Yes had enjoyed peak? (8) progressivE YES HAD Enjoyed
29 MOORED
Low cherry, for example, is tied up (6) MOO + RED
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 APPENDIX
A paper’s original pictures encapsulating death in supplement (8) A + (P)APER + (PIX outside END)
2 CHOPPED
Got rid of cold and jumped about (7) C + HOPPED
3 ELIMINATE
Lie upset friend swallowing popular drop (9) Anagram of LIE + (MATE outside IN)
5 PEER OF THE REALM
Lord’s number one returned for those people holding true (4,2,3,5) PEE + (FOR reversed) + (THEM outside REAL)
6 RIFLE
General carrying large gun (5) RIFE outside L
7 TINWARE
Metal objects made of tungsten are filed under “T” (7) (IN + W + ARE) after T
8 AGREED
A mortal sin is OK (6) A + GREED
9 HALLOWED GROUND
Wells in a ring bordering sanctioned sacred place (8,6) (HG + ROUND) outside ALLOWED
16 DESPERADO
Wild ruffian speared crooked cheat (9) Anagram of SPEARED + DO
17 DEFENDED
Justified government employee rolled over (8) FED reversed + ENDED
19 TEATIME
Nipple that is primed with milk, primarily in feeding period (7) (TEAT + IE) outside (M)ILK
21 ANOTHER
A second not grabbed by a female (7) NOT inside (A + HER)
22 SPRUCE
Well-dressed timber (6) Double Definition
24 TEETH
Golfer’s equipment reduced the power (5) TEE + TH(E)

 

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The Stickler Weekly 176

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 176
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 176
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 175
  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 176 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.



4-across

10-across

12-across

13-across

14-across

15-across

18-across


25-across

27-across



1-down


3-down

5-down


7-down


9-down

16-down

17-down

21-down

24-down

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 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.
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) 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.
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 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 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.
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.

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.

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The Stickler Weekly 176 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 175 Solution

First, thanks for all the chatter regarding the financial model going forward. I’ve been away for a week and will endeavour to digest all comments and suggestions and reply soon. Thanks.

I’ve been a member of the Australian Crossword Club since its inception in 1990. The club was started by members of former SMH/Age setter Alan Eason’s crossword club after its demise. One of these members, Alan Walter, passed away suddenly last week. Alan was a unique solver with a meticulous nature. In the early years of the club an annual function was held at his home in Mona Vale, Sydney, and I met many keen crossworders who I still meet with every year. For 5 years I worked closely with Alan to produce the club’s monthly magazine, CroZworld. I used software to produce the grids and clues, and solutions from the previous month, and Alan used a typewriter, scissors and glue to produce the rest of the magazine. It was before the days when desktop publishing software was affordable and usable by the average computer user, so Alan did an admirable job cobbling the magazine together. Alan wasn’t only a great solver (he had a stack of completed SMH crosswords in his study that was the height of a man), but, for many years, he also compiled cryptics once a week for his local paper, The Manly Daily. Alan had a reputation for never giving up when solving, and would often go over his CroZworld competition crossword answers to double-check he had everything right. It wasn’t uncommon for him to adjust his answers before the cut-off date. If ever there was a dispute about an answer, Alan would present a case that a barrister would be proud of – such was the thought that went into every submitted answer.
Every five weeks I write a crossword for The Sydney Morning Herald called The Omega. It’s a hybrid crossword that features plays on words, picture clues, straightforward clues and labelled cryptic clues. Alan always sent me an email on publishing day with a critique of my work: clues he struggled with, clues he liked and didn’t like, and an assessment of how he went overall. I looked forward to his email as he is the only one to give me feedback on this crossword that I’ve been writing since the year 2000.
I shall miss him.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BLOWS UP
Exaggerates noises made by animals in rough pub (5,2) LOWS inside anagram of PUB
5 MOSAIC
Residents of Valencia (some) brought back artistic work in pieces (6) valenCIA SOMe
8 OBESE
Large bedsore developed with doctor away (5) Anagram of BEDSORE minus DR
9 FASTNESS
Keep speed (8) Double Definition
11 HOSTELLER
Hospital overseas employed cashier, a backpacker (9) H + OS + TELLER
12 TRIBE
Be at the back of triathlon race (5) BE after TRI
13 SAIL
Announcement of marketing cruise (4) Sounds like SALE
15 SOFTWARE
Programs broadcast are about feet (8) (SOW + ARE) outside FT
18 CLOWNERY
A piece of clay replaced by owner? It’s funny stuff (8) CLAY with OWNER replacing A
19 DEBT
Foundation retrieved patient’s final financial obligation (4) BED reversed + PATIEN(T)
22 SCOOP
Small shop is exclusive (5) S + COOP
23 TO A DEGREE
Amphibian, for example, on reed, losing tail somewhat (2,1,6) TOAD + EG + REE(D)
25 FIREWALL
Twisted wire put in to trip computerised safety mechanism (8) Anagram of WIRE inside FALL
26 PLATE
Cooked liver spilling over the sides of large dish (5) PATE outside L
27 REPEAT
Old broadcast about highly organic soil (6) RE + PEAT
28 PLEASES
Rent stated in one section of letter is agreeable (7) LEASE inside PS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 BIOPHYSICIST
Life scientist is accepted by city bishop for conversion (12) IS inside anagram of CITY BISHOP
2 OVENS
Cooked venison not keeping in heated units (5) Anagram of VENISON minus IN
3 STEWED
Boiled sweet ruined start of dinner (6) Anagram of SWEET + (D)INNER
4 PIFFLE
Garbage two fellows put in a heap (6) FF inside PILE
5 MUSHROOM
Processed food range spread rapidly (8) MUSH + ROOM
6 SANCTITY
Godliness court displayed in soundness of judgement (8) CT inside SANITY
7 INSTIGATE
Launch isn’t spoilt by one on door (9) Anagram of ISNT + I + GATE
10 NEVERTHELESS
Level, elevated shelters shifted about anyway (12) EVEN reversed + anagram of SHELTERS
14 IRON OXIDE
I travel around on animal as a result of breaking down, possibly (4,5) (I + RIDE) outside (ON + OX)
16 ONE-PIECE
Record that is held by former swimmers (3-5) (EP + IE) inside ONCE
17 PROTRACT
Extend right following nonsense included in agreement (8) (R after ROT) inside PACT
20 GALLOP
Rush nerve operation (6) GALL + OP
21 TEMPLE
Mormon church’s head section (6) Double Definition
24 ROADS
Engines parts limiting a motorist’s choices (5) RODS outside A

 

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The Stickler Weekly 175

Please read an important announcement before tackling this week’s crossword.

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 175
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 175
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 174
  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 Ideas

Recently in one of my weekly blog posts I mentioned how few people contribute on a regular basis. I received a number of emails apologising on behalf of those who enjoy the weekly challenge but aren’t inclined to give, and some even offered up ideas on different models that could help me receive more income. I must make it clear that I don’t do it for money, and there’s no complusion to give – I enjoy keeping my hand in and offering a world-class cryptic crossword to make up for the standard that has become the norm in Australian papers. There is also a faction that wish to establish an Australian cryptic style that is completely off-beam and contrary to what’s needed to help the growth of cryptics in Australia. I believe I’m the only person who is standing in the way of this faction, and, as a result, I must keep flying the cryptic flag. Having said all that, it is nice to feel appreciated whether it be in the form of contributions, blog posts or emails.

One financial model suggestion from a regular poster revolved around solvers effectively raising a prescribed amount each week to enable the publication of the next Stickler Weekly. That is, I would set a price, and if that price is given through contributions by the next publishing date the Stickler Weekly gets published. If not, it’s held over to the next publishing date where the same condition applies. Each time a Stickler Weekly gets published, the amount resets, and the process continues. It doesn’t matter how much is given, it’s just whether the goal has been reached at publishing time. How do you all feel about this idea? It has flaws (like what about contributions already given and those who contribute once a year etc) and technically might be complicated for me to implement, but it’s an idea.

A model that stemmed from this one is similiar (credit to my wife for this): If you add up all the contributions since I started the Stickler Weekly (including almost $2000 raised for the Cancer Council’s Seven Bridges Walk last year), the average contribution per Stickler Weekly is $40. Using that as a starting point, and drawing a chronological line at the start of the year, the goal would be to gradually lift the average contribution per crossword according to a schedule that would end up at a reasonable average price probably in line with that of the first model. If the average hasn’t been lifted by the planned date, the Stickler Weekly would stop until it does. This model, too, has its problems, as it could be that I’m asking too much of solvers and those faithful contributors will suffer as the result of inaction from others. It could be that the Stickler Weekly simply isn’t sustainable.

These are just ideas – I’d like SOMETHING to happen, but for the moment the Stickler Weekly will continue. Please let me know what you think either publicly through the website or privately through email. If you have another idea, feel free to let me know.

David
The Stickler

Posted in Crosswords General, Stickler Weekly General, Stickler Weekly Puzzles, The Stickler | 16 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 175 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.




8-across


15-across

19-across

23-across

25-across


27-across

28-across



4-down



7-down

10-down

14-down

16-down

17-down



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 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 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 the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over 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.
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.
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 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 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 the turning around (across & down clues), or overturning (down clues only) of letters.

Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over 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.
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 , , , | 11 Comments