Observer

Azed 2531

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The last Azed of 2020 before the Christmas special, and quite a gentle one, I thought. Thanks as always to Azed.             Across 1. POGGE Hard-plated fish from … Read more >>

Everyman 3,869

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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 >>

Azed No 2,529

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A puzzle with a distinct French character this week. Two French phrases and one word of French extraction as well as some Scottish terms in a generous grid with no fewer than four … Read more >>

Everyman 3,868

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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 >>

Everyman 3,867

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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 >>

Azed 2528

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A plain puzzle this week requiring a fair bit of general knowledge.       I wonder when this puzzle was compiled as AMBER Rudd who features in the wordplay for 27 across, … Read more >>

Everyman 3,866/15 November

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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 >>

Azed No. 2,527 Plain

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My weekly fix of interesting words and phrases. Thank you Azed. ACROSS 1 MUSS Millions start of revolution purged from Russia in conflict once (4) M (millions) then Revolution (first letter, start of) … Read more >>

Everyman 3,865

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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 >>

Azed No. 2,526 Plain

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A mostly straightforward puzzle this week, although I am missing one parsing. I can’t parse 27 dn, but apart from that, this effort didn’t pose too many difficulties, which has more to do … Read more >>

Azed 2525

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A fairly typical Azed experience for me on this one, with most of the answers going in fairly quickly and a few stragglers holding out longer. It’s always good to solve a long … Read more >>

Everyman 3,864

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The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3864. Much as we have come to expect from Everyman, including the rhyming pair at 3D and 11D, and the ‘primarily’ clue at 6A. There are a … Read more >>

Everyman 3,863

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The Observer crossword from Oct 25, 2020 Enjoyable stuff again, although not squeaky-clean. Even a bit dotty because Everyman gives us no less than four clues-with-dots. Unfortunately, I don’t really see the need … Read more >>

Azed No. 2,524 Plain

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Plenty of familiar words in here for me, but I didn’t find it much easier than the obscure offerings. Thank you Azed. ACROSS 1 CHLORDAN Something to zap bugs after hospital peer kept … Read more >>