Guardian

Not much to say about today’s, fairly straightforward with a couple of niggles. * = anagram cd = cryptic definition Across 1. FISHWIFE. FISH + W(IF)E.  I’ve never been sure why this is … Read more >>

Solving time: 28:59 My times this week have been dreadful, and this was no exception – I really don’t think this was particularly harder than normal, but after 5 minutes I’d solved only … Read more >>

Later than normal, due to me spending an hour or so on the Genius before realising I’d clicked on the wrong puzzle! dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition * = anagram … Read more >>

This was quite a fast puzzle to do, despite some of the vocabulary or meanings being unfamiliar to me, particularly in the north-east corner. There are couple of clues I wasn’t wild about, … Read more >>

I think I’m fortunate to have been allocated a reasonable puzzle for my first blog – straightforward and fair without being too easy to be interesting. A couple of old crossword favourites, 12ac … Read more >>

dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram An enjoyable set of clues which were … Read more >>

I found this harder than the average Rufus, with the SE corner (especially the 24s) causing some delays. Key: dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition * = anagram < = reverse … Read more >>

Solving time: 10:10 Not too difficult a puzzle this week, with few obscurities and some moments of brilliance. * = anagram, “X” = sounds like ‘X’. Across 1 PRE + C-IN-C + T … Read more >>

Quite a tough one from Brendan today, I thought. I was lucky to guess the two long, cleverly cross-referenced, downs early on from some crossing letters, which was a big help, but it … Read more >>

A very well-designed grid today, with all of the two-word clues ‘lining up’ either horizontally or vertically. It seemed fairly hard, and I didn’t finish a couple of the clues, marked with a … Read more >>

An excellent crossword today with a Wagner theme and some great wordplay. (Apologies that this is later than usual; it was slightly more complicated than most to ‘blog about and I got up … Read more >>

dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram What a lovely puzzle that is both … Read more >>

Nice and easy start to the week, with quite a few hidden or similar clues. Across 1 DUTCH COURAGE I didn’t know the various meanings of Dutch wife, but still got this easily … Read more >>

Solving time: 18:46, two mistakes (16ac and 6dn) Very good this week, I thought, and maybe a little harder than usual. Chambers defines ‘haggard’ as intractable and the title refers to the clue, … Read more >>

Didn’t find this easy and am still unsure about 9a Across 9 RANCOROUS: ANCOR in anagram of SOUR; but why ANCOR? (is it a homophone of ANCHOR) 12,3 WONDERFUL COPENHAGEN: WONDERFUL (modern meaning … Read more >>