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After a fairly brisk start, this became quite a tough puzzle for me. Still, the usual top qualty crossword with lots of interesting words. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across … Read more >>

A real vocabulary enhancer       Across 1 Like grapevines, possibly making four figures FRUGIFEROUS (fruit-bearing) (FOUR FIGURES)* 10 Top money secured by expert ACME  M (money) in ACE (expert) 11 Horse … Read more >>

Quite a tough week, with lots of good vocabulary to discover. Perhaps a grid we haven’t seen before, as I don’t remember ever blogging a Beelzebub with quite so many across clues. *=anag, … Read more >>

Another fiendishly clever challenge       Across 1 Sensitive plant, one very demure, retiring MIMOSA (sensitive plant) A  (one) SO (very) MIM (demure) < (retiring) 5 Phone working two ways when fixed … Read more >>

A fairly tough week here, I think. I made a reasonably sprightly start, but soon had to reach for the dictionary. There are some cracking words in there, all the same. 14dn has … Read more >>

Fiendishly challenging       Across 1 Got on without last of stage make-up FARD (make-up) [stag]E from FARED (got on) 6 Thin bit of vaulting in moulded steel SVELTE (thin) V[aulting] in … Read more >>

This was an interesting solve. I started off very smoothly indeed, thinking this would be an “easy” week, but ground to a halt about halfway through, and eventually had to adopt a very … Read more >>

Easier end of the Beelzebub spectrum but still a satisfying challenge       Across 1 Not entirely direct about direct debit’s former function STEDDE (function obs) DD (direct debit) in STEE[r] (direct) … Read more >>

I’d hesitate to say this was an especially easy week for Beelzebub, but I did manage to complete the puzzle unaided, in one sitting, which is something of a rarity. It would be … Read more >>

This was a very hard nut to crack       Across 1 Fair girl is past her prime, acting ISOLDA (girl’s name meaning fair) IS OLD (past her prime) A (acting) 6 … Read more >>

Apologies that this one seemed to fall through the cracks. Whilst interest may have passed, here it is for completeness. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 2 SYMMETRICAL – (MY … Read more >>

Cracking challenge       Across 3 Promising mischief beside Luxembourg border IMPLEDGING (promising) IMP (mischief) L (Luxembourg) EDGING (border) 9 Head away from frightening light AIRY (light) [h]AIRY (frightening) 10 Subdued question … Read more >>

A slightly rushed post as I’m fairly late with this. One that I’m not sure about at 1dn. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 DABBLER – A B[i]BLE in … Read more >>

Worthy adversary provides a light touch of wit       Across 1 Wood a problem for golfer, mostly limiting success SHITTIM (wood) HIT (success) in STIM[y] (golfing problem on putting green, almost) … Read more >>

This felt like a relatively mid-paced week, but a handful took quite some effort to explain. 10ac still has me beaten, so I’ve reproduced the clue in the hope that a passing reader … Read more >>