AFR Cryptic (1/11/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DEBITED
Small amount listed in property document is taken away (7) BIT inside DEED
5 PUSHING
Energetic dog biting part of a leg (7) PUG outside SHIN
9 MUSIC
Last part edited out of simulcast messed up orchestral work (5) Anagram of SIMULCAST minus LAST
10 FORMATTER
Program that prepares disks for whatever occupies space (9) FOR + MATTER
11 CENTENARY
Canteen exploited all leaving rally for a long time (9) Anagram of CANTEEN + (RALLY minus ALL)
12 PELT
Throw missiles and hide (4) Double Definition
14 LISBON
Lives in pound close to Portuguese port (6) IS inside LB + ON
15 ENTIRE
Middle section of trench and drain should be full (6) tr(EN)ch + TIRE
18 PIECES
Unusual species with no tail or segments (6) Anagram of SPECIE(s)
19 NEURON
Inert gas used to seal centre of pure nerve cell (6) NEON outside p(UR)e
22 RORT
Underlings controlled by mobster or triad commit fraud? (4) mobsteR OR Triad
23 TRANSMUTE
Change trains, taking no notice of one mum (9) TRAINS minus I + MUTE
25 TANTALISE
Lead on bronze is featured in report (9) TAN + (IS inside TALE)
26 ADULT
Sealed section of road ultimately could be fully developed (5) roAD ULTimately
27 DERWENT
Tasmanian flower turned red and died (7) RED reversed + WENT
28 SCENERY
View credentials leaving residency abroad (7) Anagram of RESIDENCY minus ID
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 DOMICILE
I’m taking retirement in manageable home (8) IM reversed inside DOCILE
2 BUSINESS PARTNER
Associate coaches carrying in box and opening up (8,7) BUSES outside IN + SPAR + (RENT reversed)
3 TICKED OVER
Watch, say, engraved with an emblem of peace, was inactive (6,4) TICKER outside DOVE
4 DEFRAY
Pay rate cut by 50% during challenge (6) RA(te) inside DEFY
5 PARTYING
Father and mother finally connecting and having a good time (8) PA + mothe(R) + TYING
6 SLAT
Strip of wood or trimmed stone (4) SLAT(e)
7 IN THE NEAR FUTURE
Before long her uneaten fruit rotted (2,3,4,6) Anagram of HER UNEATEN FRUIT
8 GYRATE
Guys oddly value spin (6) (G)u(Y) + RATE
13 FIRE ESCAPE
Emergency exit, one in open space strangely (4,6) I inside FREE + anagram of SPACE
16 RESTRICT
Trick not completed within a relaxed time limit (8) (TRIC)k inside REST
17 ANCESTRY
Family estate included in an urgent appeal (8) EST inside (AN + CRY)
20 ORATED
Leader of Opposition, well-respected, made a speech (6) (O)pposition + RATED
21 HAVENS
Shelters consist of poles (6) HAVE + (N+S)
24 FARE
Cost of transport is reasonable by the sound of it (4) Sounds like FAIR

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (1/11/2025) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 1/11/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (25/10/2025) Worked Solution

(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.











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 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.

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 1/11/2025, Clue Hints

AFR Cryptic (25/10/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RIGHT ANGLE
Part of a square rig tied with hard knot (5,5) RIG + H + TANGLE
6 MULE
Shoe uppers might be carried by one (4) Double Definition
9 MASON
Builder is well accepted by people generally (5) SO inside MAN
10 WINDSWEPT
Messy twists revealed sadness (9) WINDS + WEPT
12 AGREEING
A conservationist accepting one thousand dollars for reaching a settlement (8) [(A + GREEN) outside I] + G
13 GROCER
Shop owner returned recording with noise reduction? (6) (RECORDING reversed) minus DIN
15 TIER
Drop in sound level (4) Sounds like TEAR
16 THE DOORS
US rock group’s act accepted by others? Not exactly (3,5) DO inside anagram of OTHERS
19 STOP DEAD
Despot ordered publicity freeze (4,4) Anagram of DESPOT + AD
20 VALE
Farewell drink downed after five (4) ALE after V
23 AIRBAG
It contains inflation in the event of a crash (6) Cryptic Definition
24 TREELESS
Swimmer caught in lock without trunks apparently? (8) EEL inside TRESS
26 BATTERIES
Energy needed in club troubles suppliers of electricity (9) E inside (BAT + TRIES)
27 LIMIT
Check stock of local imitations (5) locaL IMITations
28 RUSE
Get through after juggler’s last trick (4) USE after juggle(R)
29 CONDIMENTS
Seasonings working slow in small amounts of bread (10) (ON + DIM) inside CENTS
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 REMNANTS
Odd pieces strange men included in long lectures (8) Anagram of MEN inside RANTS
2 GASTROENTERITIS
Stomach problem irritates gent so badly (15) Anagram of IRRITATES GENT SO
3 TENDED
Looked after temperature all over (6) T + ENDED
4 NOW AND THEN
Potter’s tool kept inside, not used on layer sometimes (3,3,4) WAND inside NOT + HEN
5 LINT
Some material in tent? (4) materiaL IN Tent
7 USED-CAR SALESMAN
American dealer’s scam implicated an old auto dealer (4-3,8) US + anagram of DEALERS + SCAM + AN
8 EXTORT
Blackmail letters typed in text or transcript (6) tEXT OR Transcript
11 SORT OF
“Roots” rewritten by female, as it were (4,2) Anagram of ROOTS + F
14 TENDERISED
Beaten side regrouped after offer (10) Anagram of SIDE after TENDER
17 UPDATE
New information corrupted iPad – not one installed in work vehicle (6) Anagram of (i)PAD inside UTE
18 WEBSITES
We sit in live studio’s primary locations on the internet (8) WE + (SIT inside BE) + (S)tudio
21 JABBER
Maybe a boxer’s chatter (6) Double Definition
22 BEDLAM
Sidelight cut short pandemonium? (6) BEDLAM(p)
25 SILO
Military installation is returning most of consignment (4) SI reversed + (LO)t

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (25/10/2025) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 25/10/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (18/10/2025) Worked Solution

(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.



















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 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 using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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.
There is only one part to this clue, a definition, and it's usually a play on words. There aren't any indicators.
The answer is hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.

Examples: part of, associated with, types of.

The answer is 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 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 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.
Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 25/10/2025, Clue Hints

AFR Cryptic (18/10/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ROSTRUM
Support for speaker rose mostly with Trump releasing pressure (7) (ROS)e + (TRUMP minus P)
5 DRASTIC
Drive with a puncture briefly? That’s desperate (7) DR + A + STIC(k)
9 CHEAP
Initial offering from church mass is paltry (5) (C)hurch + HEAP
10 SUBSTRATE
Sort of buttress reinforced by a base (9) A inside anagram of BUTTRESS
11 INCLINED
Fashionable clubs, affected by ruling, could be bent (8) IN + C + LINED
12 BUFFER
One who polishes a ship’s fender (6) Double Definition
14 TA-TA
Length of event at auditorium is so long (2-2) evenT AT Auditorium
15 POPULACE
People generally crack a clue badly written (8) POP + anagram of A CLUE
18 DEBUTANT
New performer manoeuvred tuba in an impressive display (8) Anagram of TUBA inside DENT
19 SCAN
Focal point of telescope can record an image (4) tele(S)cope + CAN
22 APATHY
Coolness defined course in unlimited ways? (6) PATH inside w)AY(s
23 PARASITE
Hanger-on expected a position (8) PAR + A + SITE
25 HAILSTORM
Violent weather damage seen around lot is scattered (9) HARM outside anagram of LOT IS
26 BLEAT
Master occupied by learner’s complaint (5) BEAT outside L
27 SETTERS
Cluey sort of people developed testers (7) Anagram of TESTERS
28 CHEATED
Con, giving up on raging, acted deceptively (7) (CON minus ON) + HEATED
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 RECEIPTS
Items of test piece rarely returned revenue (8) teST PIECE Rarely reversed
2 SPEECH THERAPIST
Related health professional, perhaps, cites the broadcast (6,9) Anagram of PERHAPS CITES THE
3 REPAID
Minister and assistant should be compensated (6) REP + AID
4 MASTER PLAN
Flower place included in man’s grand scheme (6,4) (ASTER + PL) inside MAN
5 DIBS
Offer up small stake in a game (4) BID reversed + S
6 ARTFULLY
Variety of turf handled by associate with skill (8) Anagram of TURF inside ALLY
7 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
Crash and affect critic terribly (7,8) Anagram of AND AFFECT CRITIC
8 CLEARS
Opens defective set of Scrabble missing two identical letters (6) Anagram of SCRA(bb)LE
13 OPHTHALMIC
Operation conducted by hospital reduced the false claim relating to the eye (10) OP + H + (TH)e +anagram of CLAIM
16 DUCHESSE
A person’s right about game table that’s fancy (8) DUE outside CHESS
17 INDEBTED
Owing money actually divided up by Bankers Trust (8) INDEED outside BT
20 RASHES
Skin problems are reportedly connected to remains (6) Sounds like R + ASHES
21 BARBIE
Tavern that is hosting club’s last meal (6) (BAR + IE) outside clu(B)
24 BOWS
Bends front part of ship two different ways! (4) BOW + (S)hip

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (18/10/2025) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 18/10/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (11/10/2025) Worked Solution

(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.













Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A pointer that signifies the placing of one or more parts of a clue (or their equivalents) 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.

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.
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 inside the clue in reverse order. There are two indicators: one to signify that a hidden word is present; the other to reverse the letters.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.

A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.

The 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 AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 18/10/2025, Clue Hints

AFR Cryptic (11/10/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PARLANCE
Standard number of shots fired with weapon in a manner of speaking (8) PAR + LANCE
5 ABACUS
A coach fitted with air-conditioning for summer (6) (A + BUS) outside AC
9 CUISINE
Head of university is surrounded by nice cooked food (7) [(U)niversity + IS] inside anagram of NICE
10 SPANNER
Tool – one picked from nine in box (7) (NINE minus I) inside SPAR
11 DECORATING
Honouring code developed by class (10) Anagram of CODE + RATING
12 WEKA
NZ rail passengers returned from Lake Wakatipu? (4) lAKE Wakatipu reversed
13 RAT RUN
Right turn taken out of control after a short cut (3,3) R + (anagram of TURN after A)
14 DESCRIBE
Bishop bound by creed is ordered to report (8) B inside anagram of (CREED IS)
17 REACHING
Evangelism, without initial pressure, is penetrating (8) PREACHING minus P
18 FIENDS
Wicked people, right, lacking in mates? (6) FRIENDS minus R
21 FADE
Decline an ironclad promotion? (4) FE outside AD
22 SQUARE MEAL
Frisky mare tucked into grass with substantial nourishment (6,4) Anagram of MARE inside SQUEAL
24 STORAGE
Space for keeping stuff held by publicist or agent (7) publiciST OR AGEnt
25 BALLOON
Everyone involved in benefit is swell (7) ALL inside BOON
26 DISMAY
Consternation is beginning to mount in set time (6) [IS + (M)ount] inside DAY
27 BEGRUDGE
Resent move on the banks of, for example, river (8) BUDGE outside (EG + R)
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 PICADOR
“Find a way in,” stated bullfighter on horseback (7) Sounds like PICK A DOOR
2 RAIN CATS AND DOGS
Pour sand into carton as dig relocated (4,4,3,4) SAND inside anagram of CARTON AS DIG
3 A BIT ROUGH
Contents of cabin next to channel is lacking taste? (1,3,5) c(ABI)n + TROUGH
4 CREATE
Coin and euros found in strongbox (6) E inside CRATE
6 BRAN
Health food, Uncle Tobys say, reduced by 20% (4) BRAN(d)
7 CONVENIENCE FOOD
Person imprisoned on evidence of badly prepared grub (11,4) CON + anagram of ON EVIDENCE OF
8 SURFACE
The best board rider to emerge? (7) SURF-ACE
10 SINKER
Weight problem that’s difficult when short on time (6) STINKER minus T
15 CHISELLER
Vital energy supplier is a cheat (9) CHI + SELLER
16 UNIQUE
Incomparable place to study, quite deficient in IT (6) UNI + (QUITE minus IT)
17 REFUSED
Denied sports official took drugs regularly (7) REF + USED
19 SILENCE
Small niece ordered around large mum (7) S + anagram of NIECE outside L
20 GAMBLE
Walk past opening of gate to punt (6) AMBLE after (G)ate
23 GALA
There’s no end to bird festival (4) GALA(h)

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (11/10/2025) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 11/10/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (4/10/2025) Worked Solution

(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.
















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.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The answer is hidden inside the clue in reverse order. There are two indicators: one to signify that a hidden word is present; the other to reverse the letters.
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 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.
The answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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 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 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.
Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic, Saturday 11/10/2025, Clue Hints

AFR Cryptic (4/10/2025) Solution

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ICECAP
Integrated circuit returned speed for a cold mass (6) IC + (PACE reversed)
5 BILLET
Metal bar or post (6) Double Definition
9 EBULLIENT
Excited male that is in care of specialist (9) (BULL + IE) inside ENT
10 STALL
Beat around the bush and animal enclosure (5) Double Definition
11 RELIEVED
Happy story, told inside, always backed by detective (8) LIE inside (EVER reversed) + D
12 BIOPIC
Big topic missing great personal story (6) BIG TOPIC minus GT
14 HOSPITABLE
Helpful shop replaced one piece of furniture (10) Anagram of SHOP + I + TABLE
15 MEAL
Trimmed beef, say, served with large quantity of food (4) MEA(t) + L
17 CHAT
Pet swallowing hot potato (4) CAT outside H
19 FLASHLIGHT
It may be needed to see rope in escape (10) LASH inside FLIGHT
22 EAGLET
Small bird’s broken leg ingested by swallow (6) ANagram of LEG inside EAT (verb)
23 GEMSTONE
It’s considered precious by most involved in DNA unit (8) Anagram of MOST inside GENE
25 CHILE
Country boy, say, cut off end of toe (5) CHIL(d) + to(E)
26 OVIPAROUS
Egg-laying duck and fat cat wake up briefly (9) O + VIP + AROUS(e)
27 THONGS
They are worn on the beach in different places (6) Double Definition
28 GET SET
Be prepared to experiment, for example, taking retirement (3,3) (TEST + EG) reversed
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
2 COUPLES
Items at a higher price in supermarket (7) UP inside COLES
3 CALLER ID
Representation of dialler after connecting initially? (6,2) Anagram of DIALLER after (C)onnecting
4 PREFERABLE
Favoured whistle-blower shown in by expert (10) REF inside (PER + ABLE)
5 BUTT
American behind an object of ridicule (4) Double Definition
6 LOST IT
One at end of street, parked in parking area, blew up (4,2) (I after ST) inside LOT
7 EXAMPLE
Test blood type removed from pale specimen (7) EXAM + (PALE minus A)
8 BLOCK LETTERS
Renters of a large group of buildings in capitals (5,7) Double Definition
9 EARTH SCIENCE
Nice teachers revised geology, for instance (5,7) Anagram of NICE TEACHERS
13 BLISTERING
Very hot tiles warped during transport (10) Anagram of TILES inside BRING
16 CLASS ACT
Distinguished performer caught by girl in front of a court (5,3) C + LASS + A + CT
18 ANGUISH
An outburst admitting one’s suffering (7) (AN + GUSH) outside I
20 GOOD ONE
Sticky stuff, cooked, that’s nice (4,3) GOO + DONE
21 SEVERN
Cut head of native English flower (6) SEVER + (N)ative
24 BOSS
One with the authority to manage stud (4) Double Definition

Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , | Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (4/10/2025) Solution

AFR Cryptic, Saturday 4/10/2025, Clue Hints

Did you have trouble working out last week’s crossword? Check out the worked solution here:
AFR Cryptic (27/9/2025) Worked Solution

(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.


















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 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 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.
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 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 butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
Posted in AFR Cryptic | Tagged , , | 2 Comments