Archive

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. This seemed to come together a little more quickly than in recent weeks, so I’d be interested to hear how other solvers found this. There … Read more >>

Hello again, everyone. I’d like to re-introduce Beelzebub to Fifteensquared, as I think it’s a splendid – yet often overlooked – crossword. For the uninitiated, Beelzebub is published in the Independent on Sunday’s … Read more >>

Across 11 PROO[-f] – PROOfing something is a form of protection and PROO (or “pruh”) is a Scottish word used to direct or summon cattle. 13 E,MEN in EAST 14 (POTTER A GENIE)* … Read more >>

A very enjoyable puzzle from a very reliable setter. It might be my imagination but there seemed to be a few more obscure words than there usually are in Beelzebub puzzles but I … Read more >>

Across 1 L in BASH – I hesitated over this at first because I couldn’t see why “go” = BASH. Then I remembered “have a bash at [something]”. 11 (SIGN BLOOMERS)* – REBLOSSOMING. … Read more >>

Across 1 RUM,GUM,(IN TOP)* – RUMGUMPTION can mean common sense or native wit. I’d heard of plain old “gumption” (which can mean the same thing) but thought it only meant nerve or courage. … Read more >>

Apologies for the longer than expected break in blogging these puzzles – normal service should be resumed from now on. Across 1 SUBS,TANTIV[-i]ES – a “tantivy” is a hunting cry (took me a … Read more >>

I found this very easy – no Chambers or Bradford needed. There were some difficult words in the puzzle (31A,19D) but I was helped on these by checking letters and the straightforward clueing. … Read more >>

I thought this was pretty tricky but I struggled with all but one of the long answers that form the perimeter of the grid, so that will have prevented me from really getting … Read more >>

This was probably one of the easiest advanced puzzles I’ve ever completed but it was a very satisfying solve. I only needed Chambers on a couple of occasions and there were some great … Read more >>

This was definitely trickier than the last few Beelzebub puzzles but still very enjoyable. Not sure about the wordplay for 11A though. Across 5 N in UP,LACE – LACE can be a verb … Read more >>

I found this is a bit trickier than the last couple of Beelzebub puzzles and I even had to use Bradford’s on a couple of occasions. There are a couple of clues – … Read more >>