Everyman No 3,350
Apart from one (or perhaps two) less well-known personages, there seems to be little to complain about. ACROSS 1 CORDON BLEU Anagram (‘somehow’) of ‘old bouncer’. The definition refers to a graduate of … Read more >>
PeterO
Guardian Cryptic No 25,186 by Rufus
Rufus’ usual gentle start to the week, with a couple of quibbles. ACROSS 1 MISHAPS Anagram (‘anyway’) of ‘pass him’. 5 ACCEDES Charade of AC (‘bill’) + CEDES (gives way’). 10 CHIT Double … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic No 577 by Orlando
A grid with a fair number of unchecked first letters, but straightforward clue construction overcame that potential hazard. ACROSS 8 MEMSAHIB Charade of MEMSA – anagram (‘possibly’) of ‘Emmas’ – + HI (‘greeting’) … Read more >>
Guardian 25,172 by Araucaria – A Labour of Love
The luck of the draw gives me an Araucaria for my first Cryptic blog. Not vintage Araucaria, perhaps, and nothing too difficult (thankfully). It is always satisfying when I can look at 1 … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic no. 573 by Nutmeg
I found this one more difficult than many a Guardian Cryptic. Several of the entries seemed at first to have far too much clue for the answer, which is generally a sign that … Read more >>
Everyman 3,344
Mostly straightforward; a couple of plant names which are reasonably common, but which might give trouble to those who are non compost mentis (apologies all round). Notably smooth surfaces. ACROSS 1 STRIFE Charade … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 569, by Arachne
I found the bottom half of this puzzle went smoothly, but the top half was more challenging. Most of the clues are of exemplary Ximenean form, with clear dictionary definitions; the relatively few … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 565 by Nutmeg
Mostly straightforward, with a few less usual definitions, and a couple of more elaborate wordplays Across 1 BEEF UP Reversal (‘setback’) of FEE (“what’s earned’) in PUB (‘bar’). 5 AUBRETIA Charade of AUBRE[y] … Read more >>