The Observer crossword from Feb 14, 2021
Another Sunday, another Everyman.
Never knowingly undersolved
A pleasing puzzle from Everyman which hits the spot of being tractable but still of interest to more experienced solvers. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram … Read more >>
Quite a challenge in places, with some nice clues. I found fault with a bit, as explained in the blog, but these were small criticisms and overall it was enjoyable.
All indicators (anagram, hidden, homophone, deletion, reversal etc) in italics. Definitions inderlined.
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3876. A couple of unusual parsings and some byways of general knowledge made this perhaps more difficult than many an Everyman. ACROSS 1 PENCIL-PUSHERS Clerks, chipper unless … Read more >>
The Observer crossword from Jan 17, 2021 A fine crossword that we enjoyed just a bit more than the one from the week before. Everyman’s puzzles may somewhat vary in difficulty and tightness … Read more >>
The Everyman is a puzzle that is meant to be easy-end, and tractable enough for newish or less experienced solvers. This particular example was a step – or several steps – too far … Read more >>
The Everyman used to be excellent. Then its setter retired and it went through a short period of being rather unsatisfactory. Now it seems to be returning to its previous standard — harder, … Read more >>
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3872. When this blog comes out, we will be in the New Year, so let us hope for something a little better (can’t get much worse). Everyman, … Read more >>
The Observer crossword from Dec 20, 2020 Everyman in a festive mood – food and drink aplenty! I counted 14 clues with a ‘culinary’ surface. Apart from the four long ones around the … Read more >>
I found this puzzle unsatisfactory on the whole, mainly because of some dubious definitions and unclear wordplay. Your experience may have differed. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad … Read more >>
Perhaps a slightly trickier Everyman this week, though there are still some easy clues to get started. As usual, Everyman takes liberties with some rather 21a anagram indicators, and similarly the definitions are … Read more >>
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3868. I found this considerably easier than last week’s Everyman, but with rather too many questionable details. ACROSS 1 TRENCH COAT Hector can’t change into outerwear (6,4) … Read more >>
The Observer crossword from Nov 22, 2020 Another Sunday, another Everyman. And I am not complaining. But once again I’ll ask the question “Is it just me who thinks that our Sunday setter … Read more >>
I think we need to give credit to Everyman – and I don’t at all mean this in a ‘faint praise’ way – for producing a tractable but entertaining puzzle week in and … Read more >>
Another fun puzzle from Everyman, with most of the usual features we’ve come to expect. The clues range from pretty straightforward to quite complex, which I think is what Everyman intends (to give … Read more >>