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 Christmas 2025 Clueless Solution
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AFR Cryptic (13/12/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 FREE-FOR-ALL Go down outside bar or fight (4-3-3) FALL outside (REEF + OR) 6 LIST Write down orderly’s tip (4) Double Definition 10 ALTER Modify components in general terms (5) generAL TERms 11 SUCCESSOR … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (6/12/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 HURTS Inflicts injuries on regiment primarily occupying small buildings (5) (R)egiment inside HUTS 4 FLATTERED Fine coffee and wine should be praised (9) F + LATTE + RED 9 DOUBLE CREAM High-fat dairy product … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (29/11/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 DISGRACEFUL Shocking cold caught by out-of-shape lifeguards (11) C inside anagram LIFEGUARDS 9 HOLDING Mercury plugged by veteran in stocks and shares (7) HG outside (OLD + IN) 10 LIE-DOWN Acted deceptively to have … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (22/11/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 SAT-NAV Guidance system positioned by reversing vehicle (3-3) SAT + (VAN reversed) 4 CLEAR-CUT Copper infiltrating corrupt cartel is definite (5-3) CU inside anagram of CARTEL 9 COASTAL A stone found coated in fossil … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (15/11/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 COCKTAIL Fluffy duck, say, changed tack in wind (8) Anagram of TACK inside COIL 5 PSALMS Pastor originally slams rewritten religious book (6) (P)astor + anagram of SLAMS 9 SEASONED Hardened grain separated by … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (8/11/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 REPOSITORY Store replaced rope, one featured in write-up (10) Anagram of ROPE + (I inside STORY) 6 SCUM Problem about copyright matter that surfaces (4) SUM outside C 9 CARGO Load vehicle and leave … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (1/11/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 DEBITED Small amount listed in property document is taken away (7) BIT inside DEED 5 PUSHING Energetic dog biting part of a leg (7) PUG outside SHIN 9 MUSIC Last part edited out of … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (25/10/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 RIGHT ANGLE Part of a square rig tied with hard knot (5,5) RIG + H + TANGLE 6 MULE Shoe uppers might be carried by one (4) Double Definition 9 MASON Builder is well … Continue reading
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AFR Cryptic (18/10/2025) Solution
Across Answers and Clues Explanations 1 ROSTRUM Support for speaker rose mostly with Trump releasing pressure (7) (ROS)e + (TRUMP minus P) 5 DRASTIC Drive with a puncture briefly? That’s desperate (7) DR + A + STIC(k) 9 CHEAP Initial … Continue reading
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