Archive for February, 2008
Posted by neildubya on 29th February 2008
I thought this was a terrific crossword, witty, entertaining and erudite. The bad news was that though I solved it I feel that sometimes I had answers without full understanding. So, more than usual, I look forward to comments and explanations from those that have them and would be good enough to post them.
Across
1 SEANCES – amusing clue which was just the start of a really entertaining puzzle.
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Posted in Guardian | 9 Comments »
Posted by neildubya on 29th February 2008
| Across |
| 1 |
(WAS)* in DON – Les DAWSON, my favourite comedian when I was young. |
| 10 |
WING,C,HAIR |
| 11 |
TO[-l]KE[-i]N – Tolkein was the first name that sprung to mind when I saw “fantasy writer” but I thought that “bumping off a couple of characters” meant taking two from the beginning or end of the clue so I dismissed it and started thinking of alternatives. |
| 13 |
NOT in MOO,NOUS – MONOTONOUS doesn’t look like a word you could do an awful lot with so I think Phi has done really well here: “Dull, low intelligence, not internalised”. |
| 15 |
MATE in AU,R |
| 16 |
A,PEELS< – another good clue with a smooth surface reading. |
| 19 |
OR in MASS – we’re used to seeing “men” indicate OR but “standard servicemen” does the job and also helps with the deception in “bog standard”. |
| 25 |
PI[-p]ER |
| 29 |
(EVEN)* in NERD |
| |
| Down |
| 1 |
DOWN,O in LAD – shouldn’t the definition be “podcast, say” as a podcast in one of many types of DOWNLOAD? |
| 2 |
(NEW IN)*,BAG,O |
| 5 |
(O,A[-s],A,RULE)* – AUREOLA. Looks easy now but at the time I had all sorts of problems parsing this. |
| 14 |
(DANE I REACT)* – DERACINATE. Not an easy anagram. |
| 17 |
[-cr]EDIBILITY – another one I had problems with as I thought I was looking for a word beginning C,R followed by something meaning “lacking in confidence” |
| 21 |
I,C in POLY |
| 22 |
BIG (going up),BON[-e] |
| 26 |
hidden in “capitaL IM Assured”. |
Posted in Independent | 4 Comments »
Posted by neildubya on 29th February 2008
I have a number of crossword wishes waiting to be carried out by the crossword genie and one of them is for Scorpion puzzles to appear more often. Yes, they are very tough but I find them very satisfying to solve. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every Scorpion puzzle I’ve solved and this was no exception. Lots of great clues to savour here but, for me, 14d is simply brilliant, and brilliantly simple. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 4 Comments »
Posted by duncanshiell on 28th February 2008
The title – Proceedings – alludes to ‘Carry on’, so this crossword was an entertaining romp down the history of ‘Carry On …….’ films, of which there were twenty-nine original and one compilation made between 1958 and 1978.
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Posted in Inquisitor | No Comments »
Posted by nmsindy on 28th February 2008
An excellent puzzle, with great manipulation of letters in anagrams in many cases to give &lit clues where the whole clue, as well as providing the wordplay, also gives the definition of the answer. The highish proportion of anagrams made it a reasonably fast solve for me, 22 mins.
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Posted in FT | 2 Comments »
Posted by tilsit on 28th February 2008
Solving time: 25 minutes.
Quite devious from young Nimrod today with a couple of ambiguous solutions until you get the intersecting answers. Very enjoyable with a couple of forehead slapping moments.
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Posted in Independent | 8 Comments »
Posted by nmsindy on 28th February 2008
The usual pleasing puzzle from Quixote. Quite easy, I found, solving time, 14 mins. Would recommend these puzzles to beginners, clues self-contained with little cultural knowledge required (either classical or modern) to solve.
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Posted in Independent | No Comments »
Posted by neildubya on 28th February 2008
… the Hispanic Welshman who would have been insulted by both 9a and 4d.
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Posted in Guardian | 12 Comments »
Posted by Pete Maclean on 28th February 2008
An easier-than-usual Mudd this week.
Across
1. SHELLAC – HELL (very hot) in SAC (bag)
5. MINARET – ERA (time) reversed in MINT (perfect)
9. GRUFF – [ribbin]G + RUFF (frill)
10. REPUGNANT – UP backwards in REGNANT (ruling)
11. AMPERSAND – [h]AMPERS + AND
12. TOTAL – TOT (little one) + AL[l]
13. REAR-VIEW MIRROR – REAR (bring up) + VIEW (opinion) + MIRROR (newspaper)
18. OUT OF ONES DEPTH – double definition
20. ORDER – double definition
22. SHORTHORN – THOR (God) in SHORN (no wool)
24. STAINLESS – anagram of SALTINESS
25. READY – READ (US major) + [arm]Y
26. LOTTERY – OTTER (swimmer) in LY (limits of lucky)
27. NOWHERE – double definition
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Posted in FT | No Comments »
Posted by nmsindy on 27th February 2008
A very, satisfying, toughish, puzzle with the puzzle number used thematically. Solving time, 29 mins.
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Posted in Independent | 6 Comments »
Posted by ilancaron on 27th February 2008
Many clues with the parts of speech and/or meanings in the wordplay and surface surprisingly different which made this quite an enjoyable puzzle. Quite a few single letter abbrevs as well — not all of which I was comfortable with.
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Posted in Guardian | 4 Comments »
Posted by linxit on 26th February 2008
Solving time 16:22
Another feast of libertarianism from Paul, but I thought the long answer starting at 17 was just brilliant. Some rather whimsical answers too today – 21D had me scratching my head for a while.
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Posted in Guardian | 11 Comments »
Posted by John on 26th February 2008
Rather harder than usual for Dac, I thought, but as usual it’s full of very nice clues. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 2 Comments »
Posted by diagacht on 26th February 2008
| Across |
| 1 |
SECOND THOUGHTS: SECOND (back) THOUGHTS (ideas) |
| 9 |
ERSATZ: anagram of RATES + Z (last letter) |
| 10 |
BANDSMAN: &Lit |
| 13 |
ARCANE: CAN in anagram of ERA |
| 15 |
SHED: double definition |
| 16 |
CROUTON: anagram of COUNT OR |
| 25 |
AMATOL: hidden in drAMA TO Liven |
| 26 |
BRICKBAT: RICK (stack) in BBAT (f-flier) |
| 28 |
RETAINER: double definition |
| 29 |
CRUISE: I in CRUSE (vessel) |
| 30,31 |
WRONGFUL ARREST: &Lit |
|
| Down |
| 1 |
SEEDCASE: SEE (observe) + DC (current) + anagram of SEA |
| 2 |
COSTLIER: anagram of STORE L (left) I (one) C (about, circa) |
| 3 |
NOTIFY: anagram of IF TONY |
| 5 |
HEAR: approval might be indicated by HEAR-HEAR |
| 6 |
UNDERDOG: anagram of grounded |
| 7 |
HYMNAL: &Lit |
| 8 |
SINKER: StINKER (difficult task). Take out ‘t’ (time) to get a SINKER, a US doughnut. |
| 11 |
REPROOF: REP (traveller) + ROOF (on top) |
| 17 |
ENCODING: CO (commanding officer) in ENDING |
| 18 |
BOMB SITE: anagram of I BET MOBS |
| 19 |
MALTREAT: MALT (liquor) + anagram of RATE |
| 22 |
BARROW: double definition |
| 23 |
TATTOO: double definition |
| 27 |
MENU: MEN (people) + U (university) |
Posted in FT | No Comments »
Posted by NealH on 25th February 2008
* = anag, < = reversed, () = dropped letter
A good mixture of clues, with some quite tough ones (like 8 across) and some fairly easy. I quite enjoyed it, but it might require a bit too much general knowledge for some people. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 12 Comments »
Posted by diagacht on 25th February 2008
| Across |
| 1 |
TESTAMENT: the male organ is presumably STAMEN but I can’t get offensive from TET |
| 9 |
THE BEGGARS OPERA: anagram of A BERG’S GREAT HOPE |
| 10 |
ROUT: gROUT firing German (g) |
| 14 |
DIARRHOEA: anagram of A HORRID + EA (is EA an abbreviation for enema?) |
| 16 |
SASHA: SAS and HA (Hawaii); I think this must be right but I thought the abbreviation for Hawaii is HI |
| 18 |
TOLERANCE: anagram of TO CLEANER |
| 20 |
EGO IDEAL: EGO + ID (physchological concepts) + EA (each) + L (last letter of theoretical) |
| 25 |
PUT ON A BRAVE FACE: &Lit |
| 26 |
REEVE: hidden in raRE EVErglades |
| 27 |
TIGERS EYE: TIGERS (those who are determined) + EYE (to look); tiger’s eye is a chatoyant gemstone (apparently) |
|
| Down |
| 1 |
TUTOR: TUT + OR (ordinary ranks) |
| 2 |
SPECULA: U (head of urology) in anagram of PLACES |
| 5 |
THREE BALLS: clearly right as it is the pawnbroker’s sign but ‘over half shunned’? |
| 6 |
MOONRAKERS: MOONRAKER (Bond film) + S (singular); moonrakers are sails that fly above the skysail |
| 7 |
SLEDGED: SL (Sri Lankan openers) + EDGED (to play a poor stroke in cricket) |
| 8 |
STARSTONE: STARS + T (ultimately covet) + ONE (a particular kind) |
| 12 |
BREAK DANCE: anagram of BAD NECK EAR |
| 13 |
PORT TALBOT: PORT (left) + TALBOT (breed of dog) |
| 14 |
DISTEMPTER: D (doctor) + IS (lives) + TEMPER (alleviate) |
| 17 |
SCOTTIE: S (small) + COT (bed) + TIE (like perhaps a dicky bow) |
| 19 |
NEONATE: NEON (gas) + ATE (corrosive) |
| 22 |
THEME: T (time) + HEM (edge) + E (energy) |
| 23 |
YANG: hidden in malaYAN Gkossary |
Posted in Guardian | 11 Comments »
Posted by rightback on 24th February 2008
Solving time: 10 mins, one missing (13dn), one wrong (18ac)
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Posted in Guardian | 4 Comments »
Posted by tilsit on 24th February 2008
Solved in three sittings totalling over 75 minutes.
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Posted in Azed | 1 Comment »
Posted by neildubya on 22nd February 2008
I ended up feeling slightly deflated by this puzzle. There were a couple of clues which I really liked, and several that I thought were a bit pedestrian. Maybe it was me that was flat and not the puzzle. Any clarification on 7 down would be welcome.
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Posted in Guardian | 5 Comments »
Posted by diagacht on 22nd February 2008
| Across |
| 1 |
CONSCRIPTS: CON (study) + SCRIPTS |
| 7 |
SEAN: SEdAN being heartless |
| 10 |
DOLLS HOUSE: anagram of HULL DOES SO |
| 11 |
CARPAL: CARP + ALl (almost all) |
| 12 |
TWITCHER: WITCH in TER |
| 13 |
ARMAGNAC: A RM (jolly) + A G (good) + CAN (reversed) |
| 15 |
AIDE: A sIDE with the leader sacked |
| 19 |
LOATHING: LO + A THING |
| 22 |
COUPLETS: COUP + LETS (sanctions) |
| 23 |
LEGION: LEG (on in cricket) + I + ON |
| 28 |
TEMPORISES: TEMPO RISES |
|
| Down |
| 2 |
OPEN-AIR: OP + E (last letter of done) + anagram of RAIN |
| 3 |
SCRAP: double definition |
| 4 |
REDOLENT: REDO LENT |
| 5 |
POLITICAL ASYLUM: anagram of A PLUM LOCALITY IS |
| 7 |
SLOWCOACH: WC (John) in anagram of A SCHOOL |
| 14 |
A CAPELLA: A CAPP (being Andy Capp) + ELLA |
| 16 |
WALLAROO: WALL + A ROOm (a space mostly is room without last letter) |
| 18 |
MOOCHER: MOO + CHER |
| 20 |
NEONATE: NEON + ATE |
| 21 |
JET SET: double defintion |
| 24 |
GENII: As in Gen (short for Genesis, the first book of the scriptures) Chapter 1, Verse 1, which is the first verse |
Posted in FT | 3 Comments »
Posted by John on 22nd February 2008
Nothing very controversial I think – the usual excellent crossword from Phi. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 4 Comments »
Posted by neildubya on 22nd February 2008
A puzzle of two halves for me; the Downs were all pretty easy but the Acrosses less so. All good fun though. No Nina or theme that I can see but I might be missing something subtle. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Independent | 2 Comments »
Posted by petebiddlecombe on 22nd February 2008
Solving time: no recorded – let’s call it 90 minutes
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Posted in Inquisitor | 4 Comments »
Posted by diagacht on 21st February 2008
| Across |
| 1 |
JETSAM: SAM (American) after JET |
| 8 |
ITCHIER: anagram of RICH TEa + I; you need to replace the “a” with an “i” (one for a) |
| 9 |
HACKSAW: HACK (reporter) + SAW (has a point) |
| 11 |
SWEEPING REFORMS: &Lit |
| 13 |
SUPERSONIC: SIC (so) around U (classy) and PERSON |
| 17 |
IDLE GOSSIP: anagram of PIGS SOILED |
| 18 |
ESAU: USE (reversed) around A |
| 20 |
CARBON FOOTPRINT: FOOT in CARBON PRINT |
| 23 |
PINTADO: PINT (beer) + ADO (trouble); a pintado is a kind of sea bird |
| 24 |
IN FANCY: a kind of double definition; to dream is to hold in fancy |
| 25 |
BETTER: double definition |
| 26 |
LAYMEN: anagram of MEANLY |
|
| Down |
| 2 |
ECCLESIAL: I don’t get this one. I think it is ECCLESIAL; it fits and is connected to church. |
| 3 |
STIRPS: STRIPS with the “I” and “R” swapped to follow the change of heart |
| 4 |
MERINGUES: anagram of MINERS + GUESs (without the final “S”) |
| 5 |
EPHOR: EP (record) + H (hard) + OR (other ranks?). An ephor was a magistrate in ancient Greece. |
| 6 |
PACIFIST: CAP (reversed) + I FIST |
| 8 |
ITS A FAIR COP: &Lit |
| 10 |
WEST COUNTRY: anagram of COWS YET TURN |
| 14 |
EDITORIAL: sounds like EDDY and TORY and AL (does it?) |
| 15 |
NESCIENCE: anagram of NICE SCENE, meaning ignorant |
| 16 |
IGNORANT: I GRANT around NO |
| 19 |
SPIFFY: SP (childless, sine prole) + IFFY (dubious) |
| 21 |
RONTE: presumably referring to Bramwell Bronte, a brother of Anne, Emily, and Charlotte. The initial “B” needs to be dropped. Ronte is another word for runt, although it’s a new one on me. |
| |
|
Posted in Guardian | 16 Comments »
Posted by nmsindy on 21st February 2008
Some very good and varied material here – quick progress early on, but slow to finish.
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Posted in Independent | 4 Comments »