Never knowingly undersolved
A fairly typical Gordian mixed bag, I think – some clever clues, together with some very loose definitions and one glaring inaccuracy. Older solvers may have found this puzzle rather easier. 😉 Across … Read more >>
Phi gave me a tougher than usual workout this morning, with some teasing wordplay and some more unusual items of vocabulary. There were new words for me as entries at 1, 5 and … Read more >>
It’s been ages since I landed an Anax, no doubt because his tough puzzles usually guarantee a Saturday slot! This was no exception. You can be pretty sure that you’re in for a … Read more >>
A lovely little puzzle from Flimsy on a pretty miserable morning in north Leeds. Nothing too demanding, but a good mixture of methods and and some cute clueing (plus a scattering of general … Read more >>
The instruction “FH has the same meaning throughout” is the sort of thing that is common in Araucaria’s puzzles in the Financial Times ( as Cinephile), but less often seen in the Guardian. … Read more >>
Monday Prize Crossword/Aug 29 I am pretty sure that Bryan will qualify this crossword as ‘very enjoyable’. And if so, I fully agree with him. Not as many cryptic definitions as on some other … Read more >>
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 27 Here’s another great puzzle from Cincinnus with five clues that I think are especially good: 1A (MUDDLED), 18A (ANDROMEDA), 21A (IDOLS), 3D (LOSEY) and … Read more >>
My apologies for a very late and rushed blog today, I hope this hasn’t inconvenienced anyone. ACROSS 1 STIPENDS: S (small) TIP (gratuity) and ENDS (completes) 5 PANDAS: PAN (criticise) and SAD (moving) reversed 9 … Read more >>
Again my lot comes up with Arachne, which is fine by me. There were several clues where I was reasonably sure of the answers, but the exact wordplay came to me afterwards, and one, 15D, for which I still await enlightenment.
The usual outstanding crossword from Dac. Lovely smooth surfaces and so far as I can see nothing remotely controversial. Across 1 EMI(GRAN)T 6 FOSTER — 2 defs, one of which refers to Lord … Read more >>
Back in spring, Augeas’s first puzzle for the Listener was published, and now, before summer (?) is over, Augeas appears for the first time with an Inquisitor puzzle. Some highlighting is to be … Read more >>
I was sorry to learn from Hugh Stephenson’s latest newsletter that Shirley O’Brien, aka Auster of the Guardian, died on 12 July at the age of 79. There’s an obituary from the Brisbane … Read more >>
This was a straightforward puzzle with many surfaces to enjoy. Thanks Armonie. Definitions are underlined in the clues. There are hidden connections in one of the picture sets. Across 1 Someone expecting the mob, … Read more >>
Radian seems to be doing a French course today. . Bit of an oddity for our theme day, French words, dictionaries, Harry Potter and Tom Cruise. Oh and it’s a pangram of course, … Read more >>
Thank you Gaufrid for standing in for me so admirably. I am glad that I made the prior arrangement even though I had internet access in my hotel room in Tianjin and Beijing. … Read more >>