Guardian 24591 / Logodaedalus
A surprisingly easy puzzle for a Thursday, which I don’t think should have posed people any particular problems. (Although I created some for myself by writing TIGERCATS into the grid instead of STRATEGIC … Read more >>
Month: January 2009
Independent 6,936 by Radian
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Quite good fun this one, with enough food and drink references to consitute a theme, I should imagine. Other than that, not much to remark … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,961 – Crux
Monday Prize Crossword on 29 December 2008 dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,960 by Cincinnus
Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 30 Here we have a typical, charming puzzle from Cincinnus. I especially like 25A and 1D. Across 1. DAMSONS – MAD (nuts) backwards + SONS … Read more >>
Independent 6,935/Dac
Quick one from me today as I’m hella busy. Enjoyed this, though one or two may need explaining. Across 1 HAMLET – HAM,LET 4 HISPANIC – (CHAP IS IN)* 8 AMULET – A,MULE,T[-ethered] … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,968 / Aardvark
A mixed bunch today, some sports related clues, some misleading surfaces and some unusual indicators (eg ‘skin’ as an enclosure indicator in 29a). I thought this was a little more difficult than the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,590 (Pasquale)
A straightforward puzzle with some delightful clues Across 9 CONTENDER: CON (prisoner) + TENDER (fragile) 10 EMILY: MI in ELY 11 TRICKLE: R (river) in TICKLE (to pet) 12 WHOOPEE: HOOP (band) in … Read more >>
Independent 6934/Virgilius
A typically excellent crossword from Virgilius to start the new year. The two themes — anagrams of colours and some other pairs of anagrams — are no doubt related in some very clever … Read more >>
Financial Times 12,967 / Moodim
Since I started writing here, this is the first time I am encountering Moodim. I enjoyed doing the puzzle. Across 1 RAISED EYEBROWS – two def. – Pleasing clue; the arch of the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,589 – Orlando
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Not that difficult a puzzle. Quite entertaining … Read more >>
Guardian Genius 66: Animals, by Araucaria
I found this puzzle fun to do, once I got the hang of how it worked. In each across clue, the definition gives a word containing either ASS, PIG, EWE or CAT; the … Read more >>
Guardian 24,588/Rufus
My first day back at work after Christmas (boo!), and it’s back to traditional scheduling with a gentle Rufus puzzle. I’m unsure about my explanation of 19ac and unhappy about 26ac. Key: dd … Read more >>
Independent 6933 by Hypnos
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone I found this surprisingly easy, given it was littered with the sort of clues that I normally struggle with (e.g. double definitions involving the names of celebrities). Most of … Read more >>
Private Eye/Cyclops 381 – Pretentious? Moi?
This Xmas special was worth looking forward to. 27×27 grid plus usual longish Cyclops clues must be the limit for a page in the Eye. The special feature this year was that 12 … Read more >>
Azed 1909: The Frogs and The Birds
Better late than never, I hope. This was an Azed I could not have done without a dictionary, with several words I didn’t know, and a few unusual senses; but that’s the fun … Read more >>