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. In 2024 David and his wife Linda secured a weekly cryptic and quick slot in The SMH and The Age. David has also been published in the NYT, the UK's FT and Church Times.
Tag Archives: crosswords
AFR Cryptic (3/2/2024) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 SOCIAL LEPER Outcast has kept away from representation of local Pharisees? (6,5) Anagram of LOCAL PHARISEES minus HAS 7 SUB Replacement coach given backing (3) BUS reversed 9 AGENT A fellow worker in the … Continue reading
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (3/2/2024) Solution
AFR Cryptic (Oz Day 2024) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 ANGUISH An outburst admitting one’s suffering (7) (AN + GUSH) outside I 5 TYPISTS Psychiatrist, giving up chair, distracted key workers (7) Anagram of PSYCHIATRIST minus CHAIR 9 EXACT Court, going after hacker, sent … Continue reading
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (Oz Day 2024) Solution
AFR Cryptic (20/1/2024) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 BUSINESS Trade vehicles transporting in scaffolding primarily (8) BUSES outside [IN + (S)caffolding] 5 SPUR Impulse items included in cosmetics purchases (4) cosmeticS PURchases 10 TRAIT Narrow channel with no original feature (5) (s)TRAIT … Continue reading
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (20/1/2024) Solution
AFR Cryptic (13/1/2024) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 PREPARED Piano salesman, with a bottle of wine, is all set (8) P + REP + A + RED 5 SLALOM All tumbled in some shortened ski race (6) Anagram of ALL inside SOM(e) … Continue reading
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (13/1/2024) Solution
AFR Cryptic (6/1/2024) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 CRASH COURSE Utter abuse about adventurous company’s intensive programme of instruction (5,6) CURSE outside (RASH + CO) 7 ROT Tripe and bread not finished (3) ROT(i) 9 SOLID Upstanding one bound by auctioneer’s call … Continue reading
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (6/1/2024) Solution
AFR Looking Ahead 2024 Solution
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Looking Ahead 2024 Solution
AFR Cryptic (New Year 2024) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 HOTHOUSE Delicate tube with core measuring one thousandth of an inch (8) HOSE outside THOU 5 STRESS A spinster’s dislocation is relieved of pain and tension (6) Anagram of A SPINSTERS minus PAIN 9 … Continue reading
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (New Year 2024) Solution
AFR New Year 2024 AJ Solution
The PDF contains the worked solution
AFR Cryptic (Christmas 2023) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 BUSTLE Hurried activity fixed underwear worn by old lady (6) Double Definition 4 PROPOSED Recommended footballer does broadcast (8) PROP + anagram of DOES 9 FOUNDATION STONE Building block discovered by station implicated individual … Continue reading
Posted in AFR Cryptic
Tagged AFR Cryptic, crosswords
Comments Off on AFR Cryptic (Christmas 2023) Solution