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Click on underlined text for explanation of terms.
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The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
A type of clue where the WHOLE clue defines the answer, and the WHOLE clue also is the wordplay (a mechanism to derive the answer through various cryptic devices). "&lit" is short for "and literally".
To qualify as an &lit, a clue must have no unused components either in the definition or the wordplay - it must be readable one way as a definition, and another as the wordplay.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters, then the entire result is reversed. The type of container clue involved is determined by an appropriate containment indicator.
A question mark has been used to indicate "language abuse", that is, a word or words in a clue are used in a technically incorrect way, but the meaning can be still inferred.
Example: A indeed (?) could mean to insert A inside deed.
A word or series of words that signify the removal of a letter, letters, word or words (or their equivalents) from other parts of the clue (or their equivalents).
Examples: taken from, decreased by, less.
The answer is hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.
Examples: part of, associated with, types of.
A type of clue where the WHOLE clue defines the answer, and the WHOLE clue also is the wordplay (a mechanism to derive the answer through various cryptic devices). "&lit" is short for "and literally".
To qualify as an &lit, a clue must have no unused components either in the definition or the wordplay - it must be readable one way as a definition, and another as the wordplay.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
A word or series of words that signify the position of wordplay elements in the answer.
Examples: before, after, leading, in the middle of, under (down only) etc.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.
A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.
The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
Clues for 5a and 7d anyone, please? Stuck in this corner.
5a Christine – I’m thinking (p)lace + shelf – creative parsing tho…
Stick on 7d too, along with most of rest of North half.
There’s a word for small cubes (7d) but can’t work it.
I have the second word for 7d but not the first. Just cannot parse it. Got everything else, what are you stuck on?
Gradually ticking them off Christine.
Have words for 12a & 1d which don’t seem to fit cluing.
Totally ‘clueless’ with 10a, 7d & 10d.
Have been into Clue Hints – may assist.
& No Wonder Christine.
Some absolute Gems amongst that selection.
‘concordia’ 12a & ‘caress’ 1d – were NEVER going to cut it.
Seem to have a spare ‘t’ in 14d needs some attention then
time to consider Picks of the Week. There are many…..
Richard it is early days for me,with initial struggles with 5a. I started with your suggestion, but the parsing did not work. So I went for (pl)ace+slight advantage to get the word I think you have.
correct
my Parsing was rather ‘creative’ Arthur
That’s the way I did it. Still working on it slowly-have a Scout camp this weekend, so may be next week before I finish.
Got them both and have finished it. Yay! Shelf is a good clue for 5a. Think of a noun meaning split and you will get 7d. Put this word in another meaning cubes.
Like 23a and 21d this week. Simple, with hindsight, but very good.
Only just started!
Woke up early still puzzling with 7d and 12a – then bingo. These are my pick of the week. Full support for Christine’s choices of 23a and 21d.
I spent a lot of time trying to fit Paul into the answer for 3d mainly because of the recent blog about the London Marathon. The only connection is that he did make it.
The hint for 12a took me part way, while the hint for 26a was critical for me.
Picks of the Week? Let’s just say All-of-the-Above…….
Well OK –
10a (knew THAT four had to be in there somewhere), 23a (just brilliant)
1d (very cute) & 7d (exceptionally tricky)
Thank You – David
I would go with 7d, 3d. Also liked 23a-nice.
Phew! Made it. About 18 months ago, I fell a few weeks behind, and I’ve been trying to catch up ever since. Doing the Stickler is always enjoyable, but it’s even better when I can participate in the forum.
One thing has changed while I’ve been away: These days, it looks like all the cool kids hang out on the “Clue Hints” page. I’m happy to look at the forum here, but it’s a personal rule that I never look at the actual hints.
Three clues stood out for me: 12ac, 7dn, and 23ac – which to me is a perfect clue. Congratulations, David.
Agree with your three Picks of the Week, Greg –
also amongst mine especially 23ac
Much chat goes on here but Yes – no peeking until absolutely stuck fast…….