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: crosswords
AFR Cryptic (8/2/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 RACE RELATIONS Ecstasy taken by speed freaks in Ethnic Affairs (4,9) ELATION inside RACERS 9 BLASTED Terminal in base exploded (7) LAST inside BED 10 HADRIAN Wall builder has cut off broken drain (7) … Continue reading
AFR Cryptic (1/2/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 CERAMIST Potter’s backed horse is featured in court (8) (MARE reversed + IS) inside CT 5 LATHES Young girl nearly cut by the machinery (6) (LAS)s outside THE 10 BRANDY ALEXANDER Relax and be … Continue reading
AFR Cryptic (25/1/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 CHAMBERPOT Hot, orangy-yellow pee sat in bed pan (10) (H + AMBER + P) inside COT 6 GOES Turns and leaves (4) Double Definition 10 SCRUM Packed assembly room initially appearing in film (5) … Continue reading
AFR Cryptic (18/1/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 DESSERTSPOONS Busybody highly strung about consumer products (13) (SNOOP STRESSED) reversed 9 LINGO Language group entertained by liberal in Government (5) liberaL IN GOvernment 10 PORTRAITS Paintings left unfinished by extraordinary artist (9) PORT … Continue reading
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (18/1/2025) Solution
AFR Cryptic (11/1/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 PEDESTAL Friend, ringing editor, established support for a column (8) PAL outside (ED + EST) 5 DICTUM Something said about cut broadcast is obscure (6) DIM outside anagram of CUT 10 CANTO Voice part … Continue reading
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (11/1/2025) Solution
AFR Cryptic (4/1/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 IMPASSABLE One bunch admitting power expert should be blocked (10) (I + MASS) outside P + ABLE 6 HUGE “Titanic” could be grand in colour (4) G inside HUE 9 PEASANT Unsophisticated person left … Continue reading
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (4/1/2025) Solution
AFR Cryptic (New Year 2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 HECTORED Notice positioned outside court or pushed around (8) HEED outsode (CT + OR) 5 ROWING Olympic sport in dispute (6) Double Definition 9 CHANTS Church workers repeated songs (6) CH + ANTS 13 … Continue reading
AFR New Year 2025 Clueless Solution
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR New Year 2025 Clueless Solution
AFR Cryptic AJ (Xmas 2024) Solution
Please see the PDF for the worked solution
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic AJ (Xmas 2024) Solution