The Stickler Weekly 181 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


12-across

13-across


18-across

20-across

23-across

24-across

26-across



29-across


2-down

3-down

4-down


7-down

8-down




22-down

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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.

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 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 butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

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

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 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 type of clue where the WHOLE clue defines the answer, and the WHOLE clue also is the wordplay (a mechanism to derive the answer through various cryptic devices). "&lit" is short for "and literally".

To qualify as an &lit, a clue must have no unused components either in the definition or the wordplay - it must be readable one way as a definition, and another as the wordplay.

The answer is found by 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.
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 181 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)


24-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 180 Solution

A few weeks ago, while constructing a grid of words for The Stickler Weekly, the phrase “one in a thousand” came up in the list as an option. Over the years my process of choosing words to clue has changed from a general “it looks ok, so use it” to “I must have a clueing idea before including it”. I’ve had too many cases where a word proved hard to clue, slowing me down, and the result was often an inferior clue. By giving just a little consideration to how a word or phrase might be clued, a much better grid results and the clueing process (having been partially done) is much easier. In this case there’s good anagram potential (7 consonants and 7 vowels), so there’s a fallback clueing option if other constructions don’t work out. I can also see a number of words (ON, AT, US, AN, THOU, SAND, AND) that can be used as is or with synonyms, so a container/anagram clue might also be possible. It was while I was thinking about all this that I realised the phrase, when considered cryptically, “created” a word. One (I) in [A + M (Roman numerals for a thousand)] = AIM. By itself, AIM doesn’t define “One in a thousand” (the answer forms the wordplay, rather than the wordplay forming the answer), and even with a suitable definition, AIM needs more wordplay to actually give the solver a chance of unravelling it. I’m happy to use this kind of thing, with wordplay that tells the solver what’s going on, so I added this to the list of possible clueing options and moved on to the definition side of the equation. The phrase must have good coverage across my references (as an international cryptic I want to see it in at least one English, one US, and one Australian reference) and have enough and appropriate synonyms so that there’s choice when trying to seamlessly join with the wordplay. It was at this point I hit a snag. I found the term in Chambers and Macquarie only, and no US references had it. There was plenty of good synonyms available, but just not enough coverage. It was close though. Then a revelation: the term “one in a million” popped up as the more common term (inflation over time, I suppose), and I realised my AIM idea worked for both terms (M = million). Being not unique, I abandoned the AIM idea completely and picked a different word for the grid altogether.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PERMAFROST
Hard, icy ground farmer cultivated in station (10) Anagram of FARMER inside POST
6 CLAP
Applaud competitor’s first run round a track (4) (C)OMPETITOR + LAP
10 DEFACED
Abbreviated fact included in legal document is made illegible (7) (FAC)T inside DEED
11 CONSUME
Go through problem admitted by traffic director (7) SUM inside CONE
12 EXIGENCY
Emergency exit 21? No thanks! (8) (EXIT + AGENCY) minus TA
13 ILIAD
Long story is involved with young boy? (5) (I + I) mingled with LAD
15 IN STIR
Corrupt minister, with me out of the picture, is locked up (2,4) Anagram of MINISTER minus ME
16 AGA KHAN
A king in a part of West Africa cut off Muslim leader (3,4) (A + K) inside [A + (GHANA minus A)]
18 AID
Support one stuffing promotion (3) I inside AD
19 PIANIST
One is sitting in a part of the theatre reserved for musicians? (7) (AN + IS) inside PIT
21 AGENCY
Get old head of communications put into New York bureau (6) AGE + [(C)OMMUNICATIONS inside NY]
24 COVET
Desire most of surplus identified in court (5) (OVE)R inside CT
25 CASTANET
Clicker set a trap (8) CAST A NET
27 AIRCREW
Agitated social worker, ignoring looks, assembled flyers (7) Anagram of SOCIAL WORKER minus LOOKS
28 CARTOON
Actor worked on animation (7) Anagram of ACTOR + ON
29 EVEN
Fair contest finished just before the end (4) (EVEN)T
30 STORM SURGE
Effect of cyclone, perhaps, and deterioration, recalled in communication by press (5,5) (ROT reversed) inside SMS + URGE
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PADDED
Picture’s primary extra could be redundant (6) (P)ICTURE + ADDED
2 RUFFIAN
Collar one linked to an individual with a bad reputation (7) RUFF + I + AN
3 ANCIENT HISTORY
Recollection of North Sea city in the past? (7,7) Anagram of NORTH SEA CITY IN
4 REDECORATE
Red and green standard paint, say (10) RED + ECO + RATE
5 SICK
Excellent version of The Stickler not using letter “H” (4) Anagram of THE STICKLER minus LETTER H
7 LOUDISH
Quite rowdy and aggressive youth missing time with good-looker (7) (LOUT minus T) + DISH
8 PLEADING
Parishioner, at the front, presiding over supplication (8) (P)ARISHONER + LEADING
9 ANGINA PECTORIS
Heart condition creating pain so badly (6,8) Anagram of CREATING PAIN SO
14 MADAGASCAR
Island republic’s bananas delivered by a gas vehicle (10) MAD + A + GAS + CAR
17 SPACE-AGE
Highly sophisticated clip filmed by master (5-3) PACE inside SAGE
20 ADVERSE
Hostile serve played poorly following advantage (7) Anagram of SERVE after AD
22 CONTOUR
Kid before trip highlighted feature on a map (7) CON + TOUR
23 AT ONCE
Climbing not restricted by expert right away (2,4) (TON reversed) inside ACE
26 TWIT
Fool leader of Taliban with intelligence (4) (T)ALIBAN + WIT

 

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The Stickler Weekly 180

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 180
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 180
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 179
  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 180

The Stickler Weekly 180 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



12-across

13-across


16-across



25-across



30-across


3-down

4-down


7-down

14-down

17-down

22-down

23-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.
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.
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 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.

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 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.

A type of clue where the WHOLE clue defines the answer, and the WHOLE clue also is the wordplay (a mechanism to derive the answer through various cryptic devices). "&lit" is short for "and literally".

To qualify as an &lit, a clue must have no unused components either in the definition or the wordplay - it must be readable one way as a definition, and another as the wordplay.

The 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 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.
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.

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 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.

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.

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The Stickler Weekly 180 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 180 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 179 Solution

A while back I mentioned the son of a former neighbour who contacted me asking for advice regarding setting cryptics. He is now in his late 20s and was looking to learn more about the art of setting after solving a local cryptic for many years. He had created a number of cryptics for review and also wanted to correspond about common cryptic crossword issues. Some of these issues I have used as a basis for some of these cryptic spiels. I recommended two books:
Crosswords (Teach yourself books) by Alec Robins and Chambers Crossword Manual by Don Manley, both of which he has now digested and come to this conclusion:
“I revisited the clues I sent you last year, with an eye out for syntactically correct wordplay, and quickly identified about two thirds of them as invalid or at least controversial.”
There’s a couple of lessons here. It’s different when you are on the receiving end. All you have to do is find the answer: when you are a setter you have to construct clues that lead the solver to the answer, and that means fully understanding how clues work, and what’s considered acceptable and not. (I’m always surprised when solvers have a go at setting and they use something in a clue that they have never seen used before in their go-to crossword – why would they do that?) It’s crucial for anyone who wants to set to learn how to do so by reading books, talking to setters and studying the best crosswords out there. Learning to set by solving a lot simply doesn’t work. Not all crosswords are created equal. Don’t assume that because your amateur crossword is similiar to the one in a local paper that it will be acceptable everywhere – all the more reason to spread your solving wings and use best parts from many different cryptics to create your own style.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 COMPLIMENT
Pay tribute to place, one used in observation (10) (PL + I) inside COMMENT
9 INTERBRED
Mixed tribe shuffled around pole the colour of blood (9) Anagram of TRIBE outside N + RED
10 SENSE
Be aware of auditor’s assessment of working capital (5) Sounds like CENTS
11 TIEPIN
Ornamental fastener, tin-plated, that is soft? (6) TIN outside (IE + P)
12 STIRRERS
Disorganised terrorists surrendering to troublemakers (8) Anagram of TERRORISTS minus TO
14 SKIM
Quickly go through milk (4) Double Definition
15 DOMAIN NAME
Discharge principal linked to corruption of mean website location (6,4) DO + MAIN + anagram of MEAN
17 THEME PARKS
Record set in the old German capital’s entertainment centres (5,5) EP inside (THE + MARKS)
18 CHEW
Champ is first to chop with axe (4) (C)HOP + HEW
21 COHESION
Commanding Officer – he’s one concerned with solidarity (8) CO + HES + I + ON
22 CAMERA
Shooter from America missing one abroad (6) Anagram of AMERICA minus I
24 OCEAN
Green recalled an expanse of water (5) ECO reversed + AN
25 IMPERFECT
Iron and carbon included in amended permit may be inadequate (9) (FE + C) inside anagram of PERMIT
26 ELIMINATES
Decrypted email in coordinated group backed axes (10) Anagram of EMAIL IN + (SET reversed)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 CATHERINE WHEEL
Car, one new on list, sporting the round window (9,5) (CAR + I + NEW + HEEL) outside THE
2 MARGIN
Play card game after return of heavy-hitter (6) GIN after (RAM reversed)
3 LORD
Peer’s share pinched by earl or duke (4) earL OR Duke
4 MADE TRACKS
Left unbalanced rackets requiring a re-string? (4,6) MAD + anagram of RACKETS
5 NOSE-RING
Head of Nabisco ignores confused stock controller (4-4) (N)ABISCO + anagram of IGNORES
6 HIATUS
Friendly greeting at American opening (6) HI + AT + US
7 UNDERACHIEVERS
Poor performers never had cruise at sea (14) Anagram of NEVER HAD CRUISE
8 LESSEE
Tenant doesn’t tell the truth without the support of one witness (6) LIES minus I + SEE
13 MORATORIUM
Stay tight-lipped about public speaker and the writer (10) MUM outside (ORATOR + I)
16 PERSONAL
Exclusive perk, mostly tailored loans (8) (PER)K + anagram of LOANS
17 TYCOON
Captain of industry, far away from factory, worked on (6) Anagram of FACTORY minus FAR + ON
19 WRAITH
Spook, one consumed by anger (6) I inside WRATH
20 PARROT
Go down hill after par and birdie (6) ROT after PAR
23 SPAN
Reach one deported from Mediterranean country (4) SPAIN minus I

 

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The Stickler Weekly 179

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 179
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 179
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 178
  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 179

The Stickler Weekly 179 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.




11-across


15-across

17-across

21-across


24-across

26-across

1-down

2-down

4-down

5-down

8-down

13-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 answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.

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 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 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.
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 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 , , , | 8 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 179 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)


16-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 179 Overseas Help