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 (5/7/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 SOFT COPY Item stored on disk of Tasmania’s head company pinched by spy (4,4) [OF + (T)asmania + CO] inside SPY 5 TANDEM Members of management and employees, one behind the other (6) managemenT … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (28/6/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 PHASED Section of bookshop has editions released in stages (6) bookshoP HAS EDitions 5 CAMP BED Stretcher arrived containing lead handles in the middle! (4,3) CAME outside [PB + han(D)les] 9 DATA PROCESSING Reformatted … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (21/6/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 IMPARTED Acknowledgement by one who’s separated is passed on (8) Double Definition 5 BARBED Rail and support used for sleeper is spiked (6) BAR + BED 9 PARIS European capital is following an accepted … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (14/6/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 STRIKING Remarkable Kangaroo Island seen in series (8) KI inside STRING 5 TIPPED Leant over and provided some good advice (6) Double Definition 10 RICER Quantity of water ice rusted kitchen utensil (5) wateR … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (7/6/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 POLLSTERS They seek opinions from learners starring in advertisements (9) (L + L) inside POSTERS 6 BARED Stripped members of club are daring (5) cluB ARE Daring 9 PHARMACOLOGISTS Drug experts and academic on … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (31/5/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 ANGLO-SAXON A slogan rewritten by performing Englishman (5-5) Anagram of A SLOGAN + X + ON 6 CROC Snapper caught by fabulous bird (4) C + ROC 10 STARTER Race official organised rest at … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (24/5/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 TUNGSTEN Modified guns, 10, finishing off leader of terrorist element (8) (Anagram of GUNS + TEN) after (T)errorist 5 ADDS UP Dad made tipsy by drink makes sense (4,2) Anagram of DAD + SUP … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (17/5/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 DOCUDRAMA Manage sheep consuming processed food – a true-to-life story (9) (DO + RAM) outside CUD + A 6 INDIA Ones leaving Asian republic, a heavily-populated country (5) INDONESIA minus ONES 9 MISCAST Is … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (10/5/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 STIRRERS Disorganised terrorists surrendering to troublemakers (8) Anagram of TERRORISTS minus TO 5 FAILED Bankrupt fellow felt unwell (6) F + AILED 10 INDIVIDUALISTIC One form of identification used in civil suit and confused … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (3/5/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 BASTARDISE A celebrity, found in bed, is awfully corrupt (10) (A + STAR) inside anagram of BED IS 6 CARD Joker, perhaps, in more ways than one (4) Double Definition 10 OPERATING SYSTEM Crook … Continue reading