Beelzebub

This was somewhat different – could maybe be another compiler – devices such as subtractive anagram at 3d not seen here before – and 9d …..         Across 5 Strained … Read more >>

A reasonably smooth solve this week, perhaps due to some relatively uncomplicated wordplay in parts, and generally more accessible vocabulary than some weeks. Still there were a few to check in Chambers, and … Read more >>

Tough and a pleasure         Across 1 One damaged pair I observed in Washington area, resembling pierced rocks DIAPIRIC  I (one) (PAIR)* I in DC (District of Columbia) 7 Expel … Read more >>

A relatively swift solve at first, though with plenty to check in Chambers before I could quite finish, let alone prepare a blog. Lots of abbreviations and reversals this week. 28ac partly escapes … Read more >>

32across is highly original         Across 1 Plunder old equipment, seizing pot stick SWAGGER CANE SWAG plunder CAN (pot) in GERE (old equipment) 11 Crude denunciation in use no longer … Read more >>

Whilst I’d hesitate to ever use the word “easy” about a Beelzebub puzzle, this one certainly seemed to reside at the more tractable end of the spectrum. I managed to finish unaided in … Read more >>

Highest quality as usual         Across 1 Irritation about good dog pinching my waste disposal device BILGE PUMP G (good) in BILE (irritation) M (my) in PUP (dog) 7 Complexity … Read more >>

Fiendish and witty with ingenious misdirections         Across 1 No longer burdensome limiting warp in quantity of wood DECASTERE CAST (warp) in DEERE (burdensome – old) 11 Paper money cut … Read more >>

First-rate         Across 1 Watched, including Question Time, and following item SEQUENT QU (question) in SEEN (watched) T (time) 7 Different article secured by soldiers OTHER THE (article) in OR … Read more >>

A good tough week, I found, though everything fell into place in the end. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 SECONAL – CON in SEAL. 6 NAPPA – NAP … Read more >>

Excellent as usual         Across 1”You’re another,” said Aberdonian in old cap TU QUOQUE (Latin) QUO (said Scots) in TUQUE (Canadian cap) 7 American money keeping American in step PEAG … Read more >>

Post number 350 for me, and a tough week indeed. I made a very quick start, but ground to a halt with about a dozen entries down. Even taking Beelzebub to the pub … Read more >>

A nifty design where the perimeter is comprised of four hyphenated repeats         Across 1 Spa’s private room asked for during Prohibition BADEN-BADEN DEN (private room) BADE (asked) all in … Read more >>

This seemed a very tough week for me, though on blogging I’m not sure why, as everything seems to make sense. I suspect it was a combination of some tough vocabulary plus a … Read more >>

Ingenious and deftly crafted         Across 1 Birth defect – mostly with sameness, I fancy SIAMESE TWINS (MOSTLY SAMENESS I)* 10 Emperor finally clothed in new, brilliant, shiny stuff NACRE … Read more >>