The Stickler Weekly 131

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 131
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 131
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 130
  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 131 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



14-across


21-across

23-across

25-across

27-across

28-across



4-down




13-down

15-down

16-down

18-down




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.
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.
The entire answer can be discovered by mixing up letters. An appropriate anagram 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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
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 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 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 using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
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The Stickler Weekly 131 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.

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The Stickler Weekly 130 Solution

I’ve done a piece on my clue for LOUNGE, a word that appears to have options and not hard to clue, but presented me with a few problems. A bit of time and effort produced a good clue that I knew was lurking. It’s an ordinary word, but not one that turns up as an option to include all that often when I’m grid-filling. However, some words that are 3 and 4 letters in length turn up all the time, and these words can be just as tough to clue for the tenth time as any difficult word. Modern software tends to lead a setter down a grid of least resistance path, trying to make the grid-filling process as easy as possible. This means words with common letters pop up regularly as the common letters get used as the crossing letters with other words. The more common letters in the intersections, the more word options there are going forward. This can be controlled by the setter to some degree by picking less optimum words down the recommended words list, but common 3 and 4 letter words tend to fill those last spots regardless.
Tackling a common short word for the umpteenth time can be daunting. There’s a tendency to fall back to hiddens or double definitions, and some words have obvious breakdowns to exploit, but these approaches get taken up early on, so new clues for the same words aren’t that easy to find.
A few weeks ago REST turned up as a word choice. I’ve clued this 12 times before and have a bit of a love/hate relationship with it. On one hand it’s perfect for hiding in multiple ways, but there are no anagrams, charade options are limited and there are no container-type clues available. The big plus seems to be that REST has true double-definition possibilities, but it’s one of those that I have reservations about, as REST = OTHERS/REMAINDER is rarely used without “the” in front. Try using REST with this meaning without the “the”. As a result, using it in a double-definition clue, even though I have done before and no-one would actually care, doesn’t sit well with me. So what’s left? It happens that I’ve used “OR” inside “REST” to clue RESORT before and this combination came to mind as a option to work with this time around. Although 2-letter words are notoriously hard to work with in container/contents and therefore subtraction situations, the English language came through this time and the resultant clue: Take a break, or not, in holiday centre (4)  is one I’m very happy with. Not difficult, but there’s enough deception through language and punctuation to disguise what has to happen, and the surface is a perfect match of definition and wordplay. So I think there’s a lesson here: no matter how many times a word has been clued, there are always more clues to be found.

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 ANTISOCIAL
Reserved and retiring company kept by crooked Italians (10) CO reversed inside anagram of ITALIANS
6 IPOD
Encrypted term extracted from imported music player (4) IMPORTED minus anagram of TERM
9 REPEL
Drive off one who’s not wanted back (5) LEPER reversed
10 ALLEGEDLY
“Colleague pushed around member,” editor stated briefly according to report (9) ALLY outside (LEG + ED)
12 DISCOMFORT
Bother male for short time at end of dance (10) (M + FOR + T) after DISCO
13 LIE
Line lacking in precision ultimately? (3) LINE minus PRECISIO(N)
15 VEGANS
Vehicles carrying, say, particular consumers (6) VANS outside EG
16 IN CHORUS
Measure that’s imperial or American at the same time (2,6) INCH + OR + US
18 RADIATOR
Cooling unit fixed road-train with missing bearing (8) Anagram of ROADTRAIN minus N
20 AMUSER
One who listens to one band on the radio is a delightful person (6) AM-USER
23 HUB
Spouse dropping by a centre of activity (3) HUBBY minus BY
24 NEEDLESSLY
Injections done with artful dexterity without any point (10) NEEDLES + SLY
26 DOCUDRAMA
Manage sheep consuming processed food – a true-to-life story (9) [(DO + RAM) outside CUD] + A
27 ADOBE
Live behind a complete house made of mud-bricks (5) BE after (A + DO)
28 WHET
Starter of walnuts served with the cooked appetiser (4) (W)ALNUTS + anagram of THE
29 FLESH-EATER
Identity brought back boiler, say, for chicken-lover no doubt (5-5) SELF reversed + HEATER
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 AIRY
Brownie, with leader away, is sprightly (4) F(AIRY)
2 TAPPING
Recording containing soft sound with a rhythmic beat (7) TAPING outside P(iano)
3 SELF-CONTAINED
Independent kid chasing Santa’s helper dressed in black (4-9) (CON after ELF) inside STAINED
4 CLAIMS
Collects seafood contaminated with iodine (6) CLAMS outside I
5 ALL-ROUND
Versatile international forum restricted by fluctuating dollar (3-5) UN inside anagram of DOLLAR
7 PADDLER
Canoeist, say – one who doesn’t mind getting their feet wet (7) Double Definition
8 DRY MEASURE
Durum’s primary mass in grain – a guaranteed unit of capacity (3,7) (D)URUM + (M inside RYE) + A + SURE
11 GET THE MESSAGE
Understand odd bits of great topics presented by scholar (3,3,7) (G)R(E)A(T) + THEMES + SAGE
14 OVERSHADOW
Movers, starting late, had centre of town to shelter from the sun (10) M(OVERS) + HAD + T(OW)N
17 DOVETAIL
Vet brought in to treat trouble with joint (8) VET inside (DO + AIL)
19 DEBACLE
Middle part of modern cable broadcast is a complete failure (7) MO(DE)RN + anagram of CABLE
21 SELL-OUT
Site vacated and left by Yahoo is a commercial success? (4-3) S(it)E + L + LOUT
22 ALWAYS
Law, say, broken on every occasion (6) Anagram of LAW SAY
25 REAR
Grow back (4) Double Definition

 

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The Stickler Weekly 131 Delayed

Due to computer problems (thanks Microsoft for rendering my computer useless after a Windows update) the Stickler Weekly will be delayed.

A new Stickler Weekly and last week’s solution will appear tomorrow.

The Stickler

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The Stickler Weekly 130

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 130
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 130
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 129
  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 130 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.





10-across

12-across



18-across



26-across

27-across



3-down

5-down


8-down

11-down

17-down

21-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 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 found by reversing part of the clue, or a synonym for part of the clue. A suitable reversal indicator will be present.
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 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 found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
The entire answer is the result of removing the first or last letter from part of the clue or its synonym. A truncation indicator will be present.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
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 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.
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.

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The Stickler Weekly 130 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 130 Overseas Help

The Stickler Weekly 129 Solution

I’ve talked before about the dangers of offending people through the content and clues of a cryptic crossword. A cryptic clue isn’t meant to be taken as a whole phrase, as it’s generally a two-part puzzle, usually presented in a seamless way. However, a clue can still impart something that people might not like even if the answer isn’t related at all to the meaning of the entire clue. Regular solvers usually look past this, but casual readers may not understand the workings of a clue and take it the wrong way. Similarly some words trigger negative responses in their own right, in both clues and as answers, so setters try to steer clear of obvious sensitive words. Setters often write their crosswords weeks, sometimes months, ahead and don’t have control over unforeseen events like deaths or disasters, and so can fall foul of readers through unlucky timing.
Last Friday, David Astle included a number of detention centres in his cryptic, what we setters would call a theme crossword. In this case, one answer is referred to by a number of others. There are lots of other types of theme crosswords, but this style is a common one and can be applied to everything from movie characters to former PMs to ingredients in a recipe. A letter appeared in The Age the following day (“No basis for a game”) criticising David Astle for his theme, especially considering the related events that were reported in the news that week. I think it’s important to note that apart from a reference in the main clue (for DETENTION CENTRE) which had the definition “grim shelter” (which personally I think is a perfect summation), there’s no attempt by the setter to state any opinion and make any judgements – the crossword simply contains a related collection of facts. It would have been possible to include other entries and/or define answers in such a way that the reader would know exactly how the setter feels about the situation – effectively writing an opinion piece – but this wasn’t done. He could have included a hidden message, but that wasn’t done either.
Of course the use of this theme is a statement in its own right – read into that what you will. Also the theme was presumably sanctioned by the newspaper since they published it, so they saw nothing wrong with its use. As mentioned before, it’s likely the crossword was constructed and teed up for publication a long time before the publication date, so David Astle would have had no idea of what might happen during the preceding weeks, which you might say was a potentially risky approach.
A second letter appeared the next day (“Full Marks to DA”) applauding David Astle for using the detention centre theme, so I guess the use of the theme can be viewed in different ways. We will never know how many letters to the editor were for or against in this case, as newspapers print according to their own agenda, but I’m guessing most people wouldn’t consider David Astle’s use of this theme offensive. What about you?

Across Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SECEDE
Withdraw witness bagging criminal’s primary education (6) SEE outside [(C)RIMINAL +ED]
4 BORDERED
Framed degree accepted by foundation (8) ORDER inside BED
10 ALIEN
False information admitted by an outsider (5) AN outside LIE
11 EXECRABLE
Board member runs competent offensive (9) EXEC + R + ABLE
12 DEBILITATED
Considered opening up for one literally weak (11) DEBATED outside (I + LIT)
13 ILL
Sick contents of blackmail letters (3) blackmaIL Letters
14 DIRECTED
Awful court journalist should be provided guidance (8) DIRE + CT + ED
15 SHOO
Leave photographic assignment ahead of time (4) (SHOO)T
18 REST
Take a break, or not, in holiday centre (4) RESORT minus OR
20 ALCOHOLS
Lab supplies a large school undergoing refurbishment (8) A + L + anagram of SCHOOL
24 AXE
Remove unlimited compulsory financial contributions? (3) T(AXE)S
25 OSTENTATION
Ring broadcaster about return of web show (11) (O + STATION) outside (NET reversed)
26 FLAGSTONE
Paving material falls off one behind back of outlet (9) FLAGS + [ONE after OUTLE(T)]
27 SCORE
Orchestrate opening of shopping centre (5) (S)HOPPING + CORE
28 LEGALISM
Support reformation of Islam’s strict adherence to law (8) LEG + anagram of ISLAM
29 TARTAN
Sharp one checked material (6) TART + AN
 Down  Answers and Clues Explanations
1 SHANDY
Nitrogen discovered in cool drink (6) N inside SHADY
2 CLIMBED
Claim all but a garden plot for rose (7) CLAIM minus A + BED
3 DANGLERS
One third of rod fishermen, perhaps? (8) RO(D) + ANGELRS
5 OVER-THE-COUNTER
Manifest male opposed is legally sold directly to customers (4-3-7) OVERT + HE + COUNTER
6 DERIDE
Laugh at line-up in murder identification? (6) murDER IDEntification
7 RUBBISH
Put down bib getting loose in race (7) Anagram of BIB inside RUSH
8 DWELLS ON
Thinks about oil suppliers owned by crime boss (6,2) WELLS inside DON
9 GESTICULATIONS
Signals, for example, upset one copper left inside police premises (14) EG reversed + [(I + CU + L} inside STATIONS]
16 DREADFUL
Doctors initially study outbreak of flu causing fear? (8) (D)OCTORS + READ + anagram of FLU
17 CORAL SEA
Leader in carcinology tests each part of the Pacific (5,3) (C)ARCINOLOGY + ORALS + EA
19 SHEBANG
Violent strike ending any ship’s business (7) BANG after SHE
21 SHIP OUT
Transport military personnel hit mostly in jet (4,3) (HI)T inside SPOUT
22 MORSEL
Coder left a bit (6) MORSE + L
23 UNSEEN
Agitated nun outside bishop’s office is not noticed (6) Anagram of NUN outside SEE

 

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The Stickler Weekly 129

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 129
  Overseas Help for The Stickler Weekly 129
  Solution to The Stickler Weekly 128
  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 , , , | 6 Comments