The Stickler Weekly 172

Posted on April 5, 2017 by David Stickley

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 172
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 172
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 171
  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 172 Clue Hints

Posted on April 5, 2017 by David Stickley

(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

10-across

12-across

13-across

16-across

19-across

23-across

25-across

27-across

28-across

29-across

30-across

2-down

3-down

5-down

6-down

7-down

9-down

17-down

18-down

19-down

21-down

22-down

24-down

26-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.
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 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.
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.
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 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 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.

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The Stickler Weekly 172 Overseas Help

Posted on April 5, 2017 by David Stickley

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)


26-down

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 171 Solution

Posted on April 5, 2017 by David Stickley

Back in 2001 I was asked to adjudicate a competition where multiple people or groups supplied clues for a set grid, the resultant combined effort destined to be published in The Daily Telegraph. I received the go ahead from the powers that be in News Ltd and agreed to be involved and get the collaborative cryptic crossword, once adjudicated and polished, submitted in The Daily Telegraph. It took a while from inception to finishing, and during that time things changed. The prize was the actual publishing of the crossword and some kind of acknowledgement, but the people in charge of the paper decided it could only be published as a Stickler, and no space for a blurb was available either. This didn’t work for anyone, and the finished crossword never saw the light of day and I had to break my promise and disappoint a lot of people.
As adjudicator, I was asked to lay down some basic “rules” to guide those who wanted to participate. Among the suggestions of what should be included was whether the use of noun anagram indicators was acceptable. Obviously using nouns as anagram indicators (eg XXXX arrangement or YYYYYY organisation) is seen as a preference of the setter, and not one that everyone subscribes to. I think it was one of the first times I had to ponder this issue as up to then I hadn’t really thought about it and just mimicked what I’d seen used in other crosswords. At the time I saw no problem with it, and that view hasn’t changed much accept I only use it when I feel I have to, and there aren’t any other options. So, a “flower arrangement” can be seen as the same as an “arrangement of flower” and a “huge organisation” can be seen as an “organisation of huge”. Note, however, the position of the nounal anagram indicator must work: a “organisation huge” simply doesn’t work for me and not all nouns that have anagram word-form cousins will work either.

I’m happy to hear what you think…

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CATCHES UP
Draws level at chess – almost – in tournament (7,2) (AT CHES)S inside CUP
6 BLIND
Screen left in wrap (5) L inside BIND
9 RAMUS
Barb is rather amusing to some extent (5) ratheR AMUSing
10 OBSERVING
Short boy, returning (playing tennis), is attentive (9) (BO)Y reversed + SERVING
11 TOADYISM
Lackey’s work day is complicated with cat running around (8) Anagram of DAY IS inside TOM
12 PARADE
Clip about commercial display (6) PARE outside AD
14 BEAM
Fish down river glow (4) BREAM minus R
16 ROOMINESS
Mob members keeping explosives in available space (9) ROOS outside MINES
18 ASSURANCE
Conviction university handled in different cases (9) (U + RAN) inside anagram of CASES
20 NAVE
No one in green part of church (4) NAIVE minus I
23 PLOVER
Bird fancier after photos primarily (6) LOVER after (P)HOTOS
24 BARBARIC
Cruel one caught behind bars? (8) (I + C) after (BAR x 2)
27 SCRAPHEAP
Quarter with low-cost housing? Blame waste build-up (9) [S(outh) + CHEAP] outside RAP
28 SHIPS
Spanish at sea losing an armada (5) Anagram of SPANISH minus AN
29 SEDAN
One after all but the front-end of used vehicle (5) AN after U(SED)
30 STEAMSHIP
Small crew’s in an old boat (9) S + TEAMS + HIP
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CURATE
Take care of museum’s clerical assistant (6) Double Definition
2 TIMBALE
Pastry with diced lamb eaten by couple (7) Anagram of LAMB inside TIE
3 HASTY
Fleet Street in need of stock (5) ST inside HAY
4 SHOESTRING
Translation of the SOS call is barely adequate (10) Anagram of THE SOS + RING
5 PEST
Irritation caused by sulphur in particular (4) S inside PET
6 BARBADIAN
Evil one spotted in public house with an islander (9) (BAD + I) inside (BAR + AN)
7 IMITATE
Take off numbers not used in rough estimation (7) Anagram of ESTIMATION minus NOS
8 DEGREASE
Get rid of oily build-up, for instance, inside range (8) AS inside DEGREE
13 FOR EXAMPLE
Foreign exchange of great size, say (3,7) FOREX + AMPLE
15 MARKER PEN
Writer and author hanging onto right to shut up (6,3) MAKER outside R + PEN
17 CAMPUSES
Different parts of a university affected applications (8) CAMP + USES
19 SCOURED
Scout, greatly embarrassed, searched thoroughly (7) (SCOU)T + RED
21 VARNISH
Exit soaking up render’s first coat (7) VANISH outside (R)ENDER
22 ACTS UP
A superior outside court does the wrong thing (4,2) A + SUP outside + CT
25 BOSOM
Chest in crash is squashed at the front (5) BOOM outside (S)QUASHED
26 BEES
Character following a witness backed social events (4) B + SEE reversed

 

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The Stickler Weekly 171

Posted on March 29, 2017 by David Stickley

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 171
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 171
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 170
  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 171

The Stickler Weekly 171 Clue Hints

Posted on March 29, 2017 by David Stickley

(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

6-across

11-across

12-across

14-across

16-across

18-across

20-across

24-across

27-across

28-across

29-across

30-across

2-down

3-down

4-down

6-down

7-down

8-down

13-down

15-down

17-down

19-down

21-down

22-down

25-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.
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 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.
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 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 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.
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 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 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 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 loss of one letter at the start or end of a word or string of letters.

Examples: beheaded, cut short, endless, nearly, largely 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.
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 171 Overseas Help

Posted on March 29, 2017 by David Stickley

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)


16-across

Like to add something I’ve missed to help others, or comment on a meaning, term or expression? Please 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.
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Stickler Weekly 171 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 170 Solution

Posted on March 29, 2017 by David Stickley

It seems 15-down caused a few of you some issues. It’s no wonder, really, as the last thing you would expect is a complete reversal clue with a 15-letter answer. In all the time that I’ve written cryptics, I’ve never seen a reversal that long, but I’ll have to admit that was the furthest thing from my mind when I started writing the clue. The STRESSED/DESSERTS association has been used countless times in cryptic circles, so when I saw DESSERTS I wondered straight away whether I could use reverse STRESSED somehow. Imagine my delight when I realised the remaining part of the answer, POONS, was itself a reversed word! More, SNOOP, can be a noun or a verb, so plently to work with. I think reversals, like hiddens and sounds-like clues, tend to be the most obvious clue types due to a relatively limited set of acceptable indicators available, but luckily there are a couple of reversal indicators that are common words (like ABOUT, AROUND and OVER) with multiple cryptic uses and ABOUT suited perfectly in this case. The more natural the clue in flow, the easier it is for the solver to miss elements of the wordplay. Trickiness isn’t necessary when simplicity is available.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MAGISTRATE
Publication is first to truly appraise judge (10) MAG + IS + (T)RULY + RATE
6 WAND
Staff pale and sickly died (4) WAN + D
9 DEATH
Departure date changed by hospital (5) Anagram of DATE + H
10 SALAD DAYS
Youth speaks about schoolboy lawyer in the US (5,4) SAYS outside (LAD + DA)
12 EXTROVERT
Newspaper edition ignoring a public figure who is not retiring (9) (EXTRA minus A) + OVERT
13 SHELL
Hard structure to attack with bullets (5) Double Definition
14 RAMP
Drive hard down last bit of steep slope (4) RAM + STEE(P)
15 FORENSIC
Thief’s offsider corrupted cronies connected with courts of law? (8) THIE(F) + anagram of CRONIES
18 OVERSEAS
Exotic introduction to odes and poetry, for instance (8) (O)DES + VERSE + AS
20 STUB
Worn-out writer, perhaps, backed objections (4) BUTS reversed
24 TOILE
Ladies, say, trimmed transparent fabric (5) (TOILE)T
25 SHARPENER
Distributor accepting stockholder’s steel, for instance? (9) SHARER outside PEN
26 TIMESHARE
Drain containing mesh adjoining a jointly owned property (9) TIRE outside (MESH + A)
27 OVARY
Ring to change egg supplier (5) O + VARY
28 PASS
I have pulled out of non-violent sanction (4) PASSIVE minus IVE
29 RECONSIDER
Take another look at equestrian going around scattered cones (10) RIDER outside anagram of CONES
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 MIDGET
Slow up to pick up small person (6) DIM reversed + GET
2 GO AFTER
Words from screaming oaf terrified dog (2,5) screaminG OAF TERrified
3 SCHOOLMASTERS
Teachers rearranged the classrooms (13) Anagram of THE CLASSROOMS
4 RUSHER
River guide is one in a hurry (6) R + USHER
5 TELETHON
Interrupted service fixed up on the broadcast fund raiser (8) LET reversed + anagram of ON THE
7 AMADEUS
Biopic of a composer produced in a foreign country (7) MADE inside (A + US)
8 DISPLACE
Shift clasp badly wedged in sink (8) Anagram of CLASP inside DIE
11 DESSERTSPOONS
Busybody highly strung about consumer products (13) (SNOOP + STRESSED) reversed
16 FOOTSTEP
Fine favourites extremely upset with pace (8) F + (PETS + TOO) reversed
17 NAUSEATE
A union’s leader in Senate stirred up revolt (8) [A + (U)NION] inside anagram of SENATE
19 ENIGMAS
Puzzling problems developed in games (7) Anagram of IN GAMES
21 BANDAID
Plaster and adhesive originally included in tender (7) [AND + (A)DHESIVE] inside BID
22 GAZEBO
Watch boat docked at summerhouse (6) Gaze + (BOAT minus AT)
23 PRAYER
Petition got yanked away from drunken partygoer (6) Anagram of PARTYGOER minus GOT

 

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The Stickler Weekly 170

Posted on March 22, 2017 by David Stickley

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 170
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 170
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 169
  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 170

The Stickler Weekly 170 Clue Hints

Posted on March 22, 2017 by David Stickley

(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

12-across

13-across

15-across

18-across

20-across

24-across

25-across

26-across

28-across

29-across

2-down

5-down

8-down

11-down

16-down

21-down

22-down

23-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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
A word or series of words that signify the removal of a letter, letters, word or words (or their equivalents) from other parts of the clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: taken from, decreased by, less.

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 , , , | 16 Comments