Financial Times 13,206 / Phssthpok
An interesting variety of clues today, and some unusual words. Across 1 SHISH KEBAB *(KISS BABE H H) H H is “H[ard] twice” 7 SACK dd 9 FREE d&cd 10 BUDGERIGAR BUDGE (shift) … Read more >>
Independent 7174 by Radian
Themed puzzle on the six counties of Northern Ireland which all appear in the grid. This made it fairly easy once theme was spotted, solving time, 19 mins. Enjoyable puzzle. * = anagram … Read more >>
Guardian 24829 – Fiore
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Quite an interesting puzzle from a setter … Read more >>
Azed 1949
Another occasion when I have to cast my mind back eight days to try and remember how I originally parsed these clues. My recollection is that I had a little difficulty with one … Read more >>
Independent 7173 by Punk
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism An extremely enjoyable offering with a high proportion of spoonerisms. I was held up a bit by being convinced that 1 across must be … Read more >>
Guardian 24,828 – Rufus
As usual, some clever clues, plenty of cryptic definitions and nothing too difficult from Rufus. Across 1 PLATEAU =”highrise flat”. TEA in (Paul)* 5 BEARING double def 10 EGGS cryptic def with “clutch” … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 401 – John and Jimmy
Thomas and Riddle of course. Who else would inhabit an Eye crossword … Not Tom Riddle, that would be … frightening. Perhaps as frightening as … Cyclops himself <Ta Da!> who visited … Read more >>
Everyman 3288
Not all that easy this week with quite a few less well known names, titles and phrases (for me at least!) Anyway, once it got going it was actually pretty plain sailing, but … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,024 (01/10/09)
This seemed a bit tougher than in recent weeks, but it all fell into place in the end. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 5 DEFLATER – DEF + LATER. … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 882 – Two Extremes by Oxymoron
As seems usual for me these days the preamble turned out to be harder to follow than the puzzle. In the end it was a fairly straightforward puzzle once the penny had dropped. … Read more >>
Guardian 24,821/Brummie – Ars est celare artem
Solving time: 14 mins, 4 of which on 21dn (HALE-BOPP) and 31ca (PIPER). Brummie gave us another art-themed puzzle, following Araucaria’s epic jumbo last month. This time the artists were more traditional, but … Read more >>
Guardian 24,826 – Paul
An interesting Paul puzzle today with some tricks up its sleeve. Across 1. WARM-UP. WAR(MU)P. Mu is a greek character, so used in the Cyclades. 5. ERRANTRY. E.R. + RAN + TRY. 9. … Read more >>
Independent 7,171 by Phi
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Perhaps a slight sense of bitterness that this one was not finishable for those of us with no interest in Tolkien, but apart from that … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,203 / Falcon
This was quite easy and pleasant. It helped to get the two long ones at 1,9 and 8,28 quickly. There’s a slight ‘floral inclination’ in the bottom-right (17D, 21D), the checking and wordplay … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,202 / Bradman
Here is a belated analysis of yesterday’s puzzle. Apologies for the delay but I didn’t notice that the scheduled blogger had gone AWOL until this morning. I found this a most enjoyable puzzle … Read more >>