Everyman

The grid is almost 90 degree symmetrical: would be if 3D and 15D were both 15 letter lights. And we encounter Orlando Di LASSO again. I searched high and low for a Scots, … Read more >>

This would have been a pretty quick solve were it not for 5D; I also hesitated for a while over 19D as I didn’t fully understand the clue. Across 1 AB,DUCT – “seaman” … Read more >>

Solving time: 12’ Fastest solve for me ever – I think. Even managed to spell AUF WIEDERSEHEN correctly the first time. I recognized SHREVEPORT pretty quickly as well probably because it figured as … Read more >>

Solving time: 30’ Good solid wordplay – no quibbles and a reminder that I really must pay more attention to Sean Connery’s films if I’m to continue my relationship with Everyman. Across 1 … Read more >>

Solving time: 20′ Another rather fast solve for me… though spent a couple of minutes at first staring until the first clue (EVITA) succumbed. VP Spiro Agnew shows up again, proving that he’s … Read more >>

Solving time: 15’ Rather fast solve for me… nothing really held me up with the long clues falling almost on first read. I think this means that I’m no longer an Everyman GREENHORN. … Read more >>

Solving time: pretty quickly except for one clue I went through this at a pretty good clip but I’m still befuddled by the wordplay for 5D (CARGOSHIP) : I suspect I’ve completely missed … Read more >>

Solving time: pretty quickly Not sure how long I took to solve this since I was multi-tasking at the time but I don’t recall any untoward hold-ups. In retrospect not much to comment … Read more >>

Solving time: 45’ I actually fell asleep solving this – not because the puzzle was boring, simply due to jet-lag (or as my aunt would say, let-jag). Probably unintended but a couple of … Read more >>

Solving time: 20’ except for one answer This puzzle number as printed in the paper is No. 00. So even The Observer isn’t free of Graudian Gremlins. I did this in a minicab … Read more >>

Solving time: 25′ Good puzzle with strong clear wordplay leading unequivocally to the right answer: pleasant diversion over morning tea (even coffee) Across 4 WAG,E SLAVE – leaves* follows WAG for “jocular type”. … Read more >>

Solving time: intermittent Solved on and off on the tube last Sunday with only 18A refusing to yield until I got home. Not sure I’ve fully worked out the wordplay for EXTRAVAGANZA. Across … Read more >>

At first I thought there might be a King Lear theme since he showed up along with one of his daughters. But then it petered out. 25A (TELAMON) was new to me and … Read more >>

Solved last week before I left for Sicily. Solved again today as I write this up upon return from Italy – where my only exposure to crosswords, let alone cryptics, was Un Mot … Read more >>

This Everyman was harder for me than the run of the mill. Me or the puzzle? Not sure why: no “dictionary words” per se. Only one reference that I needed to look up … Read more >>