Archive

Tricky and enjoyable puzzle although I was caught out by having limited understanding of answers at 22a and 5d       ACROSS 2 Frank cracks when accepting one’s offers to stand CANDIDACIES   … Read more >>

Apologies for the tardy blog post here, poor old Beelzebub always seems to be the first to be neglected when things get hectic. Thankfully, at least, after a run of really quite tough … Read more >>

Usual delightful variety to extend the vocabulary – 5d is one such. Once flew with 24a – there was a fly buzzing on the plane and we were served lukewarm, brown lemonade.   … Read more >>

This was certainly the most challenging Beelzebub I’ve faced in a long while. I managed one entry (27ac) during the first sitting, and a disheartening zero entries during the second. With a bit … Read more >>

Found this an enjoyable walk in the park   ACROSS 4 Daughter occupying rebuilt church in one unknown nobleman’s domain ARCHDUCHY   D in (CHURCH)* all in A Y  one unknown 11 Misplaced joke … Read more >>

A good challenge this week, with plenty of unfamiliar terms. I’m at a bit of a loss to explain 10dn, unfortunately. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 THRANG – … Read more >>

  A wonderful selection of previously unknown words amongst the answers   ACROSS 1 German certainly recalled China as source of purgative    JALAP   german yes JA + china PAL< 5 Mark … Read more >>

We’ve had rather a long time to complete Beelzebub 1,139 for several reasons. I must admit I needed it: this seemed a very challenging puzzle. Still here we are, and as the New … Read more >>

My original post here suggested that yesterday’s Beelzebub was unfortunately printed with an incorrect grid. However, and with thanks to commenters for the clarification, it turns out that while the grid was correct, … Read more >>

This compiler never disappoints – wonder how many people agree   ACROSS 2 Boozy concoction providing animation?   TOM AND JERRY  dd 10 Person across globe sporting Asiatic names?   ANTISCIAN   (ASIATIC … Read more >>

A great puzzle as always. Perhaps medium difficulty for a Beelzebub, but incorporating plenty of new words and phrases with which to wrestle. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 4 … Read more >>

Some cracking words amongst the solutions especially 1a,18a, 3d and 8d   ACROSS 1 Tepid document signed by dirty old man    LEWDSBY    LEWD S BY 6 Painter’s coloured in bull    … Read more >>

Perhaps a medium-paced week for Beelzebub, so not the easiest of puzzles by any means. Still, with a bit of persistence, I managed all but a couple of answers without resorting to aids. … Read more >>

Straightforward puzzle this week with some smashing, previously unknown words – 5a, 30a and 1d in particular   ACROSS 5 Old miser fine during botched stick-up    PUCKFIST    (F STICK UP)* 10 … Read more >>

An over-long pause between solving and blogging means that little of the solving experience remains in my memory. However, everything seems very clear and explicable. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. … Read more >>