A breezy outing with Paul.
Guardian
Cryptic crossword No 25,439 The Guardian by Orlando
An enjoyable mix of fairly obvious anagrams plus some more obscure definitions and answers to keep me on my toes. Unfortunately, the explanation for one of the latter eludes me. To see links … Read more >>
Guardian 25,438 – Brendan
What a tour de force by this Master. (spoiler space to prevent a mild reproof as suggested by NeilW … thanks) He used the mini-theme of lexicography to bring to light … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 619 Pan
This is a typical Quiptic, thanks to Pan. All quite straightforward. Definitions are underlined in the clues. There are hidden connections in the 3 picture sets. Across 7 Place to sleep has floor covering … Read more >>
Guardian 25,437 / Rufus
It’s Monday, it’s Rufus and I’m saying no more today, except,’Thank you, Rufus’! Across 7 SOFT PEDAL: cryptic definition Edit: I completely missed the anagram [‘regulating’] of ADOPT SELF [thanks, Neil and Geoff] … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 25,430 / Araucaria
If I hadn’t seen the name on this puzzle, I think I’d have been rather hard put to it to guess that it was an Araucaria, let alone a Prize [though the appearance … Read more >>
Guardian 25,435 / Araucaria
When I agreed to stand in today I was hoping that I would be solving a puzzle that I could get my teeth into and I have not been disappointed. My progress was … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 25434 Chifonie
Thanks Chifonie for a not too difficult, but nevertheless enjoyable, puzzle. I liked 14A, 2D and 20D for their surfaces. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Hidden connections are in 2 of the … Read more >>
Guardian 25,433 / Gordius
My second blog of a Gordius puzzle in less than two weeks – and it’s another rather mixed bag … Across 1 REPEATING: REP [agent] EATING [having lunch] 6 EACH: contained in tEACHing … Read more >>
Guardian 25,432 – Bonxie
This is very much an alcoholic puzzle centred around the pub and various drinks which can make you feel quite thirsty. Bonxie has taken some minor liberties with his clues but then they … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 618 / Beale
A pleasant puzzle which was made more difficult by the incorrect enumeration of 14 down. Most of the definitions given are from Chambers 11th Edition. Most of the standard abbreviations used in the … Read more >>
Guardian 25,431 – Rufus
A very quick and easy one from Rufus today, with plenty of cryptic definitions (of varying degrees of crypticity) for those that like them, and the usual smooth surface readings. Only 3dn had … Read more >>
Guardian 25424 / Crucible
This was a delightful crossword, with a theme of Last Night of the Proms (which was in the evening of the day the crossword came out) and every clue having a musical theme. … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic crossword No 25,429, by Brendan
A pleasantly intricate puzzle, the rather mixed theme being presented at 16ac, and with some more straightfoward clues to set the ball rolling. Other than 21d, all theme people are also common words. … Read more >>
Guardian 25,428 / Orlando
An Orlando puzzle with the usual good variety of clues and some brilliantly misleading surfaces, with a number of smiles to boot. ‘Wit’ and ‘elegance’ are the epithets that most naturally spring to … Read more >>