Archive

A smooth and enjoyable ride this week   dd = double definition      ( )* = anagram      { } = omit      < = reverse   ACROSS 1 Start … Read more >>

A very tough week for me. It wasn’t long before I hit the books. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 RENVERSEMENT – (VERSE + MEN) in RENT. 10 EXUL … Read more >>

As usual rich vocabulary and diverse clue styles… love the original word in 23d … grrrr   ( )* = anagram       { }  =  omitted      < = reversed … Read more >>

A satisfying Sunday puzzle as always. With a bit of patience I managed all but one entry (4dn) before reaching for help. I think I’ve explained everything this week, but do ask if … Read more >>

Pretty smooth run this week   ACROSS 1 Support given to cut in board game gets opposing current BACKDRAUGHT      BACK + DRAUGHT{S} 10 Commotion – flight has one falling out STIR  … Read more >>

A top quality puzzle of medium difficulty this week, I found. Just one question from me at 10dn, which is a shame because I’ve a feeling it’s the best clue here. *=anag, []=dropped, … Read more >>

ACROSS 1 Most of peers into suppressing attitude that’s plain PRAIRIE     AIR in PRIE{S} 7 Article not seen in best funerary venture CREM      CRE{A}M 11 Continues to study, skipping … Read more >>

A rare occasion where I can explain every clue, I think. Not to suggest that this was easy, rather it was classic Beelzebub, I thought. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. … Read more >>

Could not have got poet at 23a without recourse to google. Indian word in 3d is spelt differently in Chambers. 8d was a very hard nut to crack.   ACROSS 4  Bard’s not … Read more >>

A solve of two halves for me this week, comprised of a first session where I made very slow progress and solved only a handful, followed a few days later by a second … Read more >>

Never a week goes by without this setter coming up with some extraordinary stuff – like 1ac   ACROSS 1  Kitchen wizard, say, to try something hard    SPELL BAKER    tichy 10 … Read more >>

A very tough puzzle that had me pecking away at it for most of the week, though it was very satisfying when I did manage to work things out! There were a lot … Read more >>

Pretty straightforward this week. Some very clever surface readings eg 28 and 31 across.   ACROSS 1  Fools rolled back ceiling formerly blocking the light  STARPROOF  PRATS< ROOF 11 Old colleague mostly satisfied … Read more >>

A fairly tough week, I found. Completed this in several bouts over the course of the week, finally hitting the books in order to get the puzzle blogged today. I can’t quite see … Read more >>