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.

Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

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

 

Posted in Stickler Weekly Solutions, The Stickler | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

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

The Stickler Weekly 178 Solution

English can be a frustrating language, what with its multiple ways of expressing the same thing, many meanings and word forms for the same “word”, and countless variations of spelling and pronounciations. Of course, it’s most of these things that allow cryptic crosswords to exist – without synonyms crosswords simply wouldn’t have been invented. I especially like pure “luck”, when words are joined to make a completely unrelated word (like A BAND ON) or when one word is put inside another creating a magic new word. Such is the case in this crossword with 1-down, where FLESH gets put inside RIOT giving RIFLE-SHOT. It’s a joy when something like this is spotted, because it doesn’t happen that often and I know a straightforward clue construction is in the offing.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RECONCILED
Circle done out of shape is patched up (10) Anagram of CIRCLE DONE
6 POP
Music that initially appealed to the young father (3) Double Definition
8 FRAGMENT
Split up old cloth pieces measured in feet (8) (RAG + MEN) inside FT
9 CALL IN
Withdraw from start of college, exhausted (4,2) (C)OLLEGE + ALL IN
10 ETCH
Eat into piece of bittersweet chocolate (4) bittersweET CHocolate
11 INELEGANCE
Tipsy niece embracing member with an awkwardness (10) Anagram of NIECE outside (LEG + AN)
12 HOLD HANDS
Hard veterans display unity (4,5) H + OLD HANDS
14 HARSH
Hospital treated rash that’s severe (5) H + anagram of RASH
17 THERE
That place, the area in the middle (5) THE + A(RE)A
19 HYPERTEXT
Hot former partner used in pretty rotten reference material (9) H + (EX inside anagram of PRETTY)
22 FOR CERTAIN
Powerful group damaged train without doubt (3,7) FORCE + anagram of TRAIN
23 BUSH
Scrub a metal sleeve used in drilling (4) Double Definition
24 REVIEW
Assessment on contest was lacking, for instance (6) RE + VIE + (WAS minus AS)
25 NAIL-FILE
Zip around a queue with digital maintenance equipment (4-4) NIL outside A + FILE
26 SEE
Recognise marine in audience (3) Sounds like SEA
27 RESENTMENT
Bitterness projected by the writer during split (10) (SENT + ME) inside RENT
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RIFLE-SHOT
Gunfire one’s own family witnessed in mob violence (5-4) FLESH inside RIOT
2 CHANCEL
Opening large part of a church reserved for the clergy and choir (7) CHANCE + L
3 CHEMICAL
He laminated stuff in chlorine substance produced in a lab (8) (HE + MICA) inside CL
4 LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Believers translated it, say, inaccurately (6-3,6) Anagram of TRANSLATED IT SAY
5 DOCKED
Dropped anchor may be cut off (6) Double Definition
6 PULL APART
Dismantle trap totally back to front (4,5) (TRAP + ALL UP) reversed
7 PRINCES
Sovereigns to be not initially included in monetary worth (7) (N)OT inisde PRICES
13 DIRECTIVE
Sort of credit that is broken by opposing ruling (9) Anagram of CREDIT + (IE outside V)
15 HATCHMENT
Soldiers, following plan on time, armed device? (9) (MEN after HATCH) + T
16 NEON SIGN
No mingling with officer’s public promotion (4,4) NO mingling with ENSIGN
18 HOOTERS
Head office refitted store’s sirens (7) HO + anagram of STORE
20 ELUSIVE
The Spanish American I have contracted is difficult to describe (7) EL + US + IVE
21 BREWER
Beer maker’s bar doing without a large jug (6) BAR minus A + EWER

 

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

The Stickler Weekly 178

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 178
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 178
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 177
  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 178

The Stickler Weekly 178 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


11-across

19-across

24-across

25-across


27-across




6-down

7-down

13-down

The clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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.
Punctuation generally should be ignored - always consider how a clue reads without punctuation.
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.

The answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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 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 , , , | 5 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 178 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 178 Overseas Help