About the Setter
David Stickley has been writing crosswords professionally since 1995. His cryptic puzzle, The Stickler, reached number 4786 before being axed in July 2013 due to cutbacks. David has been published in the NYT and the UK's FT.
Tag Archives: AFR Cryptic
AFR Cryptic (18/11/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 STAPLE Principal is to join paper (6) Double definition 4 REVERSAL Odd bits of rust appearing in display switch (8) (R)u(S)t inside REVEAL 10 BUILDING SOCIETY Barrister’s first guilty decision ruined prominent lender (8,7) … Continue reading
AFR Cryptic (11/11/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 CLERIC Divine relic excited head of church (6) Anagram of RELIC + (C)hurch 5 HABITAT Natural environment is rather active in Panama possibly (7) (A BIT) inside HAT 9 FORTUNE-TELLERS Timber gatherers collecting erratically … Continue reading
AFR Cryptic (4/11/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 INCISE Cut segments from CSI, NCIS etc (6) csI NCIS Etc 4 ACADEMIC A person studying a rat and mutated mice (8) A + CAD + anagram of MICE 9 SAMOA Small NZ bird … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (28/10/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 LOG CABIN Register when taxi returns home (3,5) LOG CAB IN 5 UTTERS Speaks total sense at the start (6) UTTER + (S)ense 10 TRAPEZE Swing part pulled back with ease by the sound … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (21/10/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 CORRESPOND Run in hearts added to pool tally (10) R inside CORES + POND 6 CHIT Leading member of choir reached note (4) (C)hoir + HIT 10 RADICAL Basic form of carbon used in … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (14/10/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 POPEDOM Catholic leader’s office procedure Father knocked back (7) (MODE + POP) reversed 5 DEBATES Top performer turned around club’s formal discussions (7) SEED reversed outside BAT 9 ISLAM Religion is liturgy, primarily, and … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (7/10/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 ROCK-BOTTOM Low music, time and time again used in big sound (4-6) ROCK + (TT inside BOOM) 6 FANG Drive fast propeller connected to back of rig (4) FAN + ri(G) 9 SHAWL Wash … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (30/9/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 DISADVANTAGES Wrongly advised against giving up one’s weak points (13) Anagram of ADVISED AGAINST minus I 9 STARTED Prominent detective turned set off (7) STAR + (DET reversed) 10 ALL-TIME Outstanding lieutenant revealed in … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (23/9/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 FORECAST Prophecy supporting a sect experiencing conversion (8) FOR + anagram of A SECT 5 GROTTO Source of glow-worms possibly reached crossing river (6) GOT TO outside R 10 SECOND-IN-COMMAND Deputy condemns nomadic wandering … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (16/9/2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 HIPPODROME Fashionable school located next to Rome’s music hall (10) HIP + POD + ROME 6 LEWD Substance retrieved from contaminated well is blue (4) contaminateD WELl reversed 10 THEFT Stealing from the vacated … Continue reading
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