Beelzebub

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. All back to normal this week after a couple of themed Beelzebubs, with clueing as solid as ever. The eagle-eyed may question how Beelzebub 1,001 … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. What with last week‘s excitement, and a further auspicious puzzle number, one wondered what to expect this week. What we got was an understated theme, … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. This was a very enjoyable puzzle indeed. The bank holiday weekend and an auspicious puzzle number seem to have contributed to something of a change … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. I found this tough going this week, and still haven’t managed to explain 12. There’s some splendid clueing in there though, including at least two … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A day later than usual on account of a ridiculously busy week at work. I may move these posts to Saturday anyway though, as it … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A typically excellent Beelzebub, with some especially nice surface readings. I’ve managed to explain them all this week, which may actually be a first! Across … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. This was one of my favourite Beelzebubs since I started blogging them here. It was as satisfying as ever, with lots of exciting new words, … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. I actually managed to finish this on the Sunday, which is something of a rarity for me. Still, it was a very pleasant way to … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A very good puzzle, once again. This took a little longer than usual to complete – and even longer to explain my answers – but … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. This was a welcome distraction on an 11-hour flight to California. I was surprised to manage all but four squares of this one without reference … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. A good tough one this week, offering us plenty of obscure words with which to conjur. Happily, I still managed to get most of this … Read more >>

*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. This seemed to come together a little more quickly than in recent weeks, so I’d be interested to hear how other solvers found this. There … Read more >>

Hello again, everyone. I’d like to re-introduce Beelzebub to Fifteensquared, as I think it’s a splendid – yet often overlooked – crossword. For the uninitiated, Beelzebub is published in the Independent on Sunday’s … Read more >>

Across 11 PROO[-f] – PROOfing something is a form of protection and PROO (or “pruh”) is a Scottish word used to direct or summon cattle. 13 E,MEN in EAST 14 (POTTER A GENIE)* … Read more >>

A very enjoyable puzzle from a very reliable setter. It might be my imagination but there seemed to be a few more obscure words than there usually are in Beelzebub puzzles but I … Read more >>