Observer

Azed No. 2,533 Plain

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A very pleasing selection of unusual words, with one fiendish clue and one rather puzzling one. Thank you Azed. ACROSS 1 SLANTINGWAYS Way t’ inn glass is swirled round obliquely (12) anagram (is … Read more >>

Everyman 3,872

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The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3872. When this blog comes out, we will be in the New Year, so let us hope for something a little better (can’t get much worse). Everyman, … Read more >>

Everyman 3,871

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The Observer crossword from Dec 20, 2020 Everyman in a festive mood – food and drink aplenty! I counted 14 clues with a ‘culinary’ surface. Apart from the four long ones around the … Read more >>

Everyman 3,870/13 December

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I found this puzzle unsatisfactory on the whole, mainly because of some dubious definitions and unclear wordplay. Your experience may have differed.       Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad … Read more >>

Azed 2531

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The last Azed of 2020 before the Christmas special, and quite a gentle one, I thought. Thanks as always to Azed.             Across 1. POGGE Hard-plated fish from … Read more >>

Everyman 3,869

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Perhaps a slightly trickier Everyman this week, though there are still some easy clues to get started. As usual, Everyman takes liberties with some rather 21a anagram indicators, and similarly the definitions are … Read more >>

Azed No 2,529

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A puzzle with a distinct French character this week. Two French phrases and one word of French extraction as well as some Scottish terms in a generous grid with no fewer than four … Read more >>

Everyman 3,868

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The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3868. I found this considerably easier than last week’s Everyman, but with rather too many questionable details. ACROSS 1 TRENCH COAT Hector can’t change into outerwear (6,4) … Read more >>

Everyman 3,867

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The Observer crossword from Nov 22, 2020 Another Sunday, another Everyman. And I am not complaining. But once again I’ll ask the question “Is it just me who thinks that our Sunday setter … Read more >>

Azed 2528

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A plain puzzle this week requiring a fair bit of general knowledge.       I wonder when this puzzle was compiled as AMBER Rudd who features in the wordplay for 27 across, … Read more >>

Everyman 3,866/15 November

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I think we need to give credit to Everyman – and I don’t at all mean this in a ‘faint praise’ way – for producing a tractable but entertaining puzzle week in and … Read more >>

Azed No. 2,527 Plain

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My weekly fix of interesting words and phrases. Thank you Azed. ACROSS 1 MUSS Millions start of revolution purged from Russia in conflict once (4) M (millions) then Revolution (first letter, start of) … Read more >>

Everyman 3,865

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Another fun puzzle from Everyman, with most of the usual features we’ve come to expect. The clues range from pretty straightforward to quite complex, which I think is what Everyman intends (to give … Read more >>