The Stickler Weekly 165 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


9-across


13-across

14-across

17-across

22-across


24-across

25-across




4-down

*7-down

11-down


16-down

18-down

19-down


21-down


* online version only

The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.

Examples: part of, associated with, types of.

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

Examples: upset, reversed, retired, in withdrawal, over etc.

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.

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.
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.

The entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram 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.
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 , , , | 20 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 165 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 165 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 164 Solution

I’m going to try and clear up a couple of things this week. There were some other things, and I’ll happily talk about those as part of this solution post. Just add a reply below.
First, CUT = BURN from Stickler Weekly 163. I have to admit I found only a few references where the two terms, essentially meaning to create a disk containing music or data, are treated as equal. None of major dictionary references specifically equated the two, however there was this entry in the  Chambers Thesaurus (which I think was the one I relied on):
cut v, n
verb

9 cut a recording
record, make, tape, tape-record, videotape, burn

(In case you were wondering, the colours used match those in my Chambers Thesaurus software through WordWeb)

Upon further review it seems that this is one of those occasions where one term may be used to replace the other in almost all cases, that is, it is probably ok to say “cut” where “burn” is used (in context) but not the other way round.
In highsight, I don’t believe they have absolute equation and therefore the original clue is faulty.
The second thing I want to clear up is equation of “recognised” (note, not “(something that) is recognised”) and “standard” in the answer to 1 across in this crossword. One of the many tricks crossword setters employ is the use of “word form shift”, that is a word appears to have one word form in the clue (the clue is constructed in sentence form with normal nouns, adjectives etc) but in reality a different word form is used when finding the answer. A word that appears to be a noun actually must be viewed as an adjective, and one that appears to be a verb is actually a noun, and so on. This trickery is all fine as long as the word in the clue doesn’t have words around it that make it a particular class of word. For example, if a clue contained “to run”, and “to” had no role in the clue, then “run” has to be a verb. In the clue in question, “is” is an linking word, and although “recognised” looks to be verbal in nature, it’s actually being used as an adjective, and translates to the adjective “standard”. Thus: “Stickler’s cryptic clueing always uses recognised/standard devices”.
Now, something very important: if the equation doesn’t seem right by applying what appears to be a particular nature of a word, then you are probably missing something and there’s a need to dig a little deeper. Not always that easy, like in this case, as “recognised” doesn’t stand out obviously as an adjective, but worth exploring to feel comfortable with the parsing of a clue. Be assured that with any Stickler cryptic clue, there will ALWAYS be a direct relationship between clue part and answer, and at no time will I require solvers to make assumptions or insert missing components to make things work. It’s simple, if it doesn’t quite work you’ve missed something or I’ve made a flat-out mistake. I can’t say this is the case for all setters, but in general I would call it a rule.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 STAND GUARD
Act as sentry is recognised clutching sawn-off gun? (5,5) (GU)N inside STANDARD
6 BUFF
Smooth person who’s considered an expert (4) Double Definition
9 RUINS
Archaeological site manages with one stationed internally (5) I inside RUNS
10 RASPBERRY
File by accepting goof’s rude outburst (9) (RASP + BY) outside ERR
12 ARSONIST
Criminal family member is involved in “creative” work (8) (SON + IS) inside ART
13 PLAITS
Soft, intertwined tails? (6) P + anagram of TAILS
15 SCENE
Part of a play viewed by audience (5) Sounds like SEEN
16 REPAIRED
Agent before broadcast is put right (8) REP + AIRED
18 EMERGENT
Distributed agreement, with a section missing, is calling for immediate action (8) Anagram of AGREEMENT minus A
20 ROBIN
Club’s last member, in possession of iron, contrived a birdie (5) CLU(B) inside anagram of IRON
23 INGOTS
Blocks shaped in stone turned up east of pass (6) IN + (ST reversed after GO)
24 CAST DOWN
Leader of conservatives wasn’t upset about party crushed (4,4) (C)ONSERVATIVES + (anagram of WASNT outside DO)
26 BOARDROOM
Cleaner carrying a rod transformed high-level meeting area (9) BROOM outside anagram of A ROD
27 BUSTS
Sculptured artwork of important people breaks (5) Double Definition
28 RHEA
Bird that’s flightless and tailless, heard in various places (4) Anagram of (HEAR)D
29 HATCHET MAN
The match arranged by an enforcer (7,3) Anagram of THE MATCH + AN
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SARGASSO
So a grass at sea is…? (8) Anagram of SO A GRASS
2 AT ISSUE
A paper under consideration (2,5) A + TISSUE
3 DISINTEGRATED
Inert gas, affected by temperature inside, dwindled and decayed (13) (Anagram of INERT GAS + T) inside DIED
4 UNRESERVED
Open a French wine holding function (10) UN + (RED outside SERVE)
5 RISK
Chance is taken within the confines of racetrack? (4) IS inside (R)ACETRAC(K)
7 UKRAINE
Wet weather in country bordered by East European republic (7) RAIN inside (UK + E)
8 FLY ASH
Yttrium detected in expensive power station’s discharge (3,3) Y inside FLASH
11 BILLIARD TABLE
Expert, starting with a drill bit, fixed pool equipment (8,5) ABLE after anagram of A DRILL BIT
14 OPHTHALMIC
Operation conducted by hospital reduced the false claim relating to the eye (10) OP + H + (TH)E + anagram of CLAIM
17 IN UNISON
Together one sister and I sat with child (2,6) I + NUN + I + SON
19 MAGNATE
Powerbroker may cut off corrupt agent (7) (MA)Y + anagram of AGENT
21 BLOSSOM
Mature group of people upset about money not recovered (7) MOB reversed outside LOSS
22 LIMBER
Flexible military transporter (6) Double Definition
25 SODA
Turf laid next to a compound (4) SOD + A

 

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The Stickler Weekly 164

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 164
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 164
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 163
  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 164 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



10-across

12-across





20-across

23-across

24-across

26-across



3-down

5-down

7-down


11-down

14-down

17-down

19-down

21-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.
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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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 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 using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
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 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.
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.

Punctuation generally should be ignored - always consider how a clue reads without punctuation.
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.
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.

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.

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.

The clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
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The Stickler Weekly 164 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 164 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 163 Solution

A regular poster around these parts is Arthur Maynard, a cryptic crossword junkie who spends a lot of time trying to pass on his cryptic knowledge to others. He mentioned a short time ago about his attempt to solve a Guardian cryptic by Crucible that contained a theme that wasn’t stated, and lots of slang English terms he didn’t know. It’s a dilemma for solvers in Australia, both novices and experienced ones, as there aren’t many appropriate crosswords that celebrate Australian culture and words and have a style that provides the foundation needed to tackle the celebrated more difficult crosswords. When solvers want to look beyond the locally-produced product, what choices are there? It’s not surprising that UK newspapers carry UK-centric crosswords – that’s their traditional market and there’s no need for them to try and engage the whole world. There are, of course, pockets of UK-born solvers scattered around the world who can access crosswords online and are mostly familiar with the culture and language, but very few newspapers actively seek solvers outside their local sphere. Foreign-based solvers, as such, are forced to adapt to them, rather than the other way round. One newspaper that does make an effort is the Financial Times (FT) which is described on Wikipedia as “an English-language international daily newspaper”. I wrote cryptics for the FT for a couple of years after a friend suggested that it was a potential outlet for me since they discouraged the parochial nature that dominates most of the crosswords in the UK. As it turned out, he was right, and I basically produced Stickler Weekly-style cryptics keeping the Australian references to a minimum.
The FT cryptic has two other things going for it: all the crosswords are available free online (for the time being at least) and there are many different setters, providing a great deal of variety. After you’ve finished the Stickler Weekly this week, gives some a go.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PROVINCE
Area in front of courthouse featured in show (8) [IN + (C)OURTHOUSE] inside PROVE
5 SOFTEN
Tone down opening of song again and again (6) (S)ONG + OFTEN
9 ANIMAL MAGNETISM
An enigmatic mate smiling about mother with personal charm (6,9) AN + anagram of MATE SMILING outside MA
11 ONE-MAN BAND
Soloist on label rewound tape (3-3,4) ON + (NAME reversed) + BAND
12 COPS
Catchers of prime suspects primarily? (4) (C)atchers (O)f (P)rime (S)uspects
13 ALLOWS
Large base bordered by, for instance, green lights (6) (L + LOW) inside AS
15 BEATNIKS
Head of brotherhood takes in terribly young people who are unconventional (8) (B)ROTHERHOOD + anagram of TAKES IN
18 MONEY BOX
One involved in my fight with coin collector (5,3) ONE inside MY + BOIX
19 TAUGHT
Gave lessons in expression of tense (6) Sounds like TAUT
22 TINE
Skin disease without a point (4) TINEA minus A
23 DELIBERATE
Considered food store facing censure (10) DELI + BERATE
26 BERMUDA TRIANGLE
Mature bird changed direction in mysterious Atlantic region (7,8) Anagram of MATURE BIRD + ANGLE
27 ENDING
Finish broadcasting after the conclusion of programs (6) S-ENDING
28 RECKLESS
Inattentive clerk messed up e-sales with alcohol discounted (8) Anagram of CLERK + (ESALES minus ALE)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PIANOLA
Leader of orchestra pencilled in arrangement of a plain music player (7) (O)RCHESTRA inside anagram of A PLAIN
2 OLIVE
Source of oil and oxygen burning (5) O + LIVE
3 IN A BAD WAY
I catch first of dozens breaking out suffering from serious injuries (2,1,3,3) I + NAB + [(D)OZENS inside AWAY]
4 CAME BY
Century may be incorrectly scored! (4,2) C + anagram of MAY BE
6 OVER
Four fifths of patent is completed (4) (OVER)T
7 TAILORING
Dog washer’s fitting work (9) TAIL + O-RING
8 NEMESIS
Agent of retribution is after recalled seed (7) IS after (SEMEN reversed)
10 GANNET
Large seabird is bothering person returning with catch (6) NAG reversed + NET
14 LENINGRAD
Large number lifted successful student in old Russian city (9) L + (NINE reversed) + GRAD
16 TRADEMARK
Time to comment about commercial brand (9) T + REMARK outside AD
17 BODEGA
Short boy and senior set up wine shop (6) (BO)Y + (AGED reversed)
18 MUTABLE
Changing quantity of drugs carried by smuggler (7) TAB inside MULE
20 TEETERS
Rest re-scheduled after part of course moves unsteadily (7) Anagram of REST after TEE
21 FIERCE
Ferocious wild fire gutted cottage? (6) Anagram of FIRE + C(ottag)E
24 ARGUE
A dishonest person losing round in fight (5) A + (ROGUE minus O)
25 BURN
Cut a Scottish flower (4) Double Definition

 

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The Stickler Weekly 163

**** Correction made to 28-across on 30/1/2016 ****

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 163
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 163
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 162
  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 , , , | 1 Comment

The Stickler Weekly 163 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


9-across

11-across


13-across

15-across




26-across


28-across



3-down


8-down

10-down

14-down

17-down

18-down

20-down

21-down

24-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 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.
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 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.

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 word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.

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

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

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.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) on the INSIDE of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents).

Examples: held by, kept by, embraced by - anything that creates the image of being contained.

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 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 clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
Posted in Stickler Weekly Clue Help, The Stickler | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

The Stickler Weekly 163 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)


4-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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