Guardian Quiptic

Thank you to Carpathian. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Difficult prisoner loudly taking drugs (9) CONFUSING : CON(short for “convict”/prisoner) + F(abbrev. for “forte”, musical instruction to play loudly) + … Read more >>

This offering from Anto did not appear on the Grauniad website till mid morning, so I am afraid because of work commitments I have not been able to write and post a blog … Read more >>

Thanks to Pan for our entertainment today. The Quiptic’s brief is “for beginners and those in a hurry”. This one perhaps stretches the definition a little, with a few less familiar words and … Read more >>

Matilda has produced a pleasing Quiptic this morning, which I think meets the brief – ‘for beginners, and those in a hurry’ – pretty well. For those in the former category, additional explanation … Read more >>

Thank you to Hectence for this tricky Quiptic. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1. Luxury extension can perhaps ruin housing (12) EXTRAVAGANCE : EXT(abbrev. for “extension”) + [anagram of(… perhaps) CAN … Read more >>

A carefully and concisely clued Quiptic from Carpathian, with nothing to frighten the reindeers. As it should be. It only remains for me to send my best wishes for 2021 to fellow Quiptic … Read more >>

As usual, Anto operates towards the trickier end of the Quiptic range, but there are some straightforward clues that should (I hope) get beginners started here. We have some classic crossword tricks (sign, … Read more >>

Beale was one of the original setters way back in the day when the Quiptic launched over twenty years ago before disappearing from the scene, but has reappeared recently. Whether he or she … Read more >>

Thank you to Pasquale. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 4. Fellow one met at church in tight garment (6) BODICE : BOD(informal term for a “fellow”/person) + I(Roman numeral for “one”) … Read more >>

Hectence has given us a lot of bra-stretching this morning.       An interesting Quiptic, probably on the hardish side (at least from the parsing point of view), and a pangram to … Read more >>

Thanks to Carpathian for an enjoyable Quiptic as ever: not always easy, but always fair. Some of the definitions took a bit of thought, but that’s part of the fun; everything makes sense … Read more >>

A sound and entertaining Quiptic from Matilda this morning, with a good variety of subject matter for our delectation and delight. As always, if there is something that I haven’t explained properly or … Read more >>

Thank you to Pasquale. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 7. Put out of action on account of dreadfully bad lies (7) DISABLE : Anagram of(dreadfully) BAD LIES. 8. Wasted time and … Read more >>

Anto divides his time these days (or the editor does it for him) between the Quiptic and the daily Grauniad cryptic. This was a fine example of the former, with some pleasing anagrams … Read more >>

An enjoyable solve from Pan this morning: mostly “easy when you know how”. As always, Pan provides concise clues with some lovely surfaces: my favourite was 1d. There are lots of common crossword … Read more >>