Never knowingly undersolved
John The usual (nowadays) sound and satisfactory crossword from Everyman. Because of the time of year, there is a bit of a fireworks theme and 4dn and 9dn don’t rhyme, as in the past, but are related in their subject matter.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (anagram, homophone, hidden, reversal etc.) in italics. Anagram indicators indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green.
I found this rather difficult, and several held out for a long time. The left-hand answer to 12dn resolutely escapes parsing: I hope someone tells us how it works. The rather odd format … Read more >>
Everyman has given us more this time than he usually does: two first letters clues (not just one), the usual rhyming pair, and two symmetrically-placed answers both of which are fruits. Probably more, but I can’t see anything. With these limitations he has, as is now customary, provided us with a good sound crossword (I think, although 18dn still troubles me).
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (anagram, homophone, hidden etc) in italics. Anagram indicators shown *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green.
The usual good crossword from Everyman, all sound so far as I can see, and the usual rhyming pair, the self-referential clue, and the first letters one. Quite a task to produce these grids every time. You’d think he’d run out of rhyming pairs eventually.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (homophone, anagram, reversal etc) in italics, Anagrams shown (like this)* or *(like this), depending on where the indicator comes. Link-w0rds in green.
The usual display of words which are either completely unknown or have a sense that is hidden away in the depths of the entry in Chambers, but all of which seem to be explicable. How on earth Azed produces them without electronic aids (as I think is the case) always amazes me.
I think six of the clues are of the form ‘xxxx? yyyy’, an Azed characteristic. Usually (but not always) the xxxx is the definition.
Definitions in italics, underlined in crimson. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*, depending on whether the anagram indicator precedes or follows.
Generally an enjoyable crossword, with one or two very nice clues, but in more places than usual I was a bit doubtful of the parsing. However, this may well be my own failing and no doubt I shall be corrected. I can’t find any rhyming answers but possibly 4dn and 7dn are related since they both refer to parts of the body. One might argue that six double definitions is too many.
Definitions underlined, in crimson. Indicators (reversal, anagram, containment, etc.) in italics. Anagrams shown (like this)* or *(like this). Link-words in green.
What one expects from Azed: sound clueing, lots of crazy words that need a copy of Chambers, and all very enjoyable.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics and shown *(like this) or (this)*
Everyman has done all the right things here so far as I can see. Nice surfaces, sound clues, and all within the restrictions of the rhyming pair, the self-referential clue and the first letters clue. When history is written I suspect this Everyman will bear comparison with some of the greats of the past.
Definitions underlined, in crimson. Indicators (hidden, anagram, homophone, reversal etc.) in italics. Anagrams indicated like (this)* or *(this). Link-words in green.
It’s convenient that The Observer is today carrying an article about the Everyman which lists the setters — it says it started with Ximenes, who was Colin Macnutt: in fact he was Derrick Macnutt, which Everyman knows because he’s in the grid; there was Alec Robins, Dorothy Taylor, Allan Scott (who is there as ASCOT, also Alan Connor himself perhaps) and Colin Gumbrell. Because of the need to fit these names in, Everyman has apparently missed out on the usual rhyming clues and the self-referential clue. Can anyone say who Philippa is?
I thought this was trickier than usual, but it was a good crossword and there are no major gripes.
Definitions in italics, underlined. Indicators (homophone, hidden, reversal, etc.) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green.
The usual sound offering from Azed. I don’t think there is any clue that I question.
Definitions underlined in crimson. Anagram indicators in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*.
I always seem to be saying this, but Everyman’s crosswords get better and better. Apart from my doubts over the STRADIVARI clue, which I may well be wrong on, he has produced a set of sound clues with good surfaces and also managed to include all the trademarks seamlessly: the rhyming pairs, the self-referential clue and the first letters clue.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (homophone, reversal, missing letters, etc.) in italics. Link-words in green. Anagrams indicated (like this)* or *(like this).
Azed produces these every year or two and they are very clever and great fun, but when I saw that it was a P.D. my heart sank, as they take me a long time to do and I wasn’t sure that I’d finish in time. However, having done several of these over the years I’m probably finding them easier. Why it should be that they appeal to the majority of solvers goodness knows, but they do, and the names of the prizewinners in Azed’s lists are much the same names as in his regular crosswords. They divide opinion a bit, and a few don’t like them at all. Personally I enjoy them despite their difficulty: the moment of realisation when what was a slightly clunky and incomprehensible sentence reveals itself is very nice.
The instructions I find pretty incomprehensible and it’s only by learning from various other sources that I know what to do. Why Azed bothers to say ‘Preference is given to…’ I can’t understand, since all the clues that I’ve ever seen quoted have been ‘correct’. Should he not make it a rule?
Not a lot to say about this crossword: Everyman seems to get better every time I blog. I have slight misgivings in places, but will no doubt be corrected.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (homophone, reversal, anagram, juxtaposition, etc) in italics. Link-words in green. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*.
I found some of this rather difficult and my apologies, from time to time I’m a bit vague. But I’m sure someone will explain things and then, as always, it will be quite obvious.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Anagram indicators in italics.
A nice crossword from Everyman. The surfaces are better than they used to be. There seemed to be quite a lot of link-words, something that for some reason doesn’t happen much with the very best setters. The grid below shows the answers where there were initial letters or self-reference. I wasn’t sure whether to highlight 12ac and 20ac, since they are a bit similar.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (anagram, juxtaposition, homophone, reversal, etc.) in italics. Link-words in green. Anagrams indicated like this *(anagram) or this (anagram)*.