Comments on: Guardian Quiptic 610 / Nutmeg

By: otter

otter — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:46:36 +0000

I’m glad others found this tough. I’m usually attempting (and sometimes succeeding) to solve the cryptics, and come to the quiptic for a bit of light relief, especially if I’ve been beaten by the cryptic. I found this a lot tougher than many recent cryptics.

By: Derek Lazenby

Derek Lazenby — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:51:31 +0000

I did Brendan first. Pretty tough for me. But at least I had a few in the grid after reading all the clues once. With this one I still had an empty grid! Breaking for a few pints helped! Definitely not a Quiptic.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:52:38 +0000

Thanks, Dave. Agree with most of what’s been said – tough for an entry-level puzzle. I enjoyed it though.

Shouldn’t 10ac be Disc Jockey in the clue? I thought the current convention was to use DISC for records that are placed on the turntable and other round things; but DISK for things that spin in your computer?

By: grandpuzzler

grandpuzzler — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:47:24 +0000

Thanks Nutmeg and Big Dave. Agree that this one was harder than today’s Brendan but enjoyed it nonetheless. Tried to make MID-LEG work at 4dn for a while. Made a hash of 25ac. Didn’t know that GREYS were horses and tried to shed the odd numbered letters of ANGELS for a while although I knew the answer had to be GREYNESS.

Cheers…

By: Stella

Stella — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:16:36 +0000

No, Dave, but not what’s expected for a Monday

By: Big Dave

Big Dave — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:48:05 +0000

Having seen the comments about Brendan’s puzzle I had a go at it and didn’t find it to be as difficult as some have suggested.

By: Robi

Robi — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:28:45 +0000

Thanks Nutmeg; yes, a bit difficult for a Quiptic, but much easier than Brendan’s offering today, I thought.

Thanks Big Dave; last one in was DAZE, which I suppose is used in the sense that “I was dazed/staggered to find out that…..” I liked the PIXIES.

By: crypticsue

crypticsue — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:33:34 +0000

I am pleased to learn that others found this tough too Definitely not Quiptic level.

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:24:22 +0000

Thanks for the solutions – I too thought it was a bit hard for beginners, but noticed it’s a pangram – perhaps the problems of getting all the letters has made some of the clues a bit awkward. I’m never sure what’s the point of pangrams etc – unless you are nudged in that direction, you don’t notice them. I think I missed all such devices for many years until I started visiting this site.

By: Stella

Stella — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:02:08 +0000

Thanks BD. I agree this was a tough one, though not as much as today’s Brendan.

Hi Prolixic, don’t you mean “underestimated”?