Goliath provides an entertaining challenge this morning.
Month: April 2020
Guardian Cryptic 28,121 by Picaroon
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28121. An amusing diversion from Picaroon. Very nice. ACROSS 1 TOUPEE Why one visits bathroom without posh rug (6) An envelope (‘without’) of U (‘posh’) in TO … Read more >>
Independent 10,467 by Wiglaf
Gosh that was hard. Usually with a clue, you know more or less where you stand: you just have to make an anagram of certain obvious letters, or jiggle about with the letters … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,454 by Redshank
Non-prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of April 19, 2020
Financial Times 16,463 by GAFF
A fab puzzle, and not an easy one. Thank you Gaff. The anniversary in the title is of Alfred Hitchcock’s death. See Stephen’s comment @4 for some pointers. ACROSS 1 SESAME Oil man … Read more >>
Guardian 28,120 / Boatman
It’s Boatman providing the mid-week challenge on another wet morning – we’d got quite unused to those. I found this generally straightforward to solve but I need help with the parsing of 5dn. … Read more >>
Independent 10,466 by Eccles
It’s Eccles again today – we’re in for a fun solve! ….and we weren’t disappointed. As usual, some great surfaces and several big smiles. 17ac was a new word for us but with … Read more >>
Independent 10,465 / Atrica
Atrica, of whose work I have little experience to date, has provided us with a themed treat to delight us this Tuesday. My apologies for posting the blog so late. I found this … Read more >>
Inquisitor 1643: Two’s Company by P I N K
Two’s Company by P I N K The initially-filled grid contains only one letter (say X) that appears exactly twice. Solvers must select from each clue a letter separated by one other … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,462 by CHALMIE
A brisk solve, squarely in the FT Tuesday tradition. Chalmie gives us a neatly-themed puzzle this morning. Very satisfying. Thanks to him. ACROSS 1 CRICKET Painfully twist alien insect (7) CRICK (‘painfully twist’) … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,119 by Pasquale
A quick start with the longer clues all falling early, then got stuck for a while in the North-West. Favourites were 13ac, 17ac, 1dn, 2dn, 15dn, and 18dn. Thanks Pasquale
Guardian Quiptic 1067 Matilda
Thanks to Matilda. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Shed first tear in court over writing (6) SCRIPT : 1st letter of(… first) “Shed” + [RIP(to tear away forcibly) contained in(in) … Read more >>
Independent 10,464/Gila
It’s nearly two years to the day since I last blogged a Gila puzzle. He (at least I think it’s a he) has produced a pleasing, Monday-style, nothing-to-frighten-the-horses cryptic here, with some thoughtfully … Read more >>
Financial Times 16,461 by ARMONIE
A gentle ARMONIE eases us into another week of lockdown… Mostly plain sailing* here though 4d was a new one for me. Also, in 15d, I’d never come across “gated” in that sense … Read more >>
Guardian 28,118 – Carpathian
My previous Monday blog was of Matilda’s first Cryptic, and now Carpathian makes the same step up from the Quiptic. This puzzle could easily have been a Quiptic, with lots of helpful anagrams … Read more >>