Observer

Azed No. 2,511 Plain

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A plain puzzle with what almost amounts to a mini-theme. Unusually for Azed, not only is there one solution (16 ac) referred to in another clue (34 ac) but also another solution (14 … Read more >>

Everyman 3,849

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Yet another puzzle in Everyman’s distinctive style. The standard Everyman features are all here: a related pair of long entries (when I got the solution to 11a, I had a pretty good idea … Read more >>

Azed 2510

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A slightly differently shaped Azed grid this week with 11 rows and 13 columns       There were few Scottish references in the puzzle although TRON got a look-in at the wordplay … Read more >>

Everyman 3,848

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The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3848. As usual for Everyman, there is the ‘primarily’ clue at 27A, and the rhyming pair at 4D and 9D. This offering is notable for the several … Read more >>

Azed No. 2,509 Plain

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Easier than usual I thought, but no less enjoyable. Thank you Azed. ACROSS 1 GROWING PAINS Wound dad received in private parts causing initial problems? (12, 2 words) WING (wound) PA (dad) inside … Read more >>

Everyman 3,847

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The Observer crossword from July 5, 2020 A nice crossword, perhaps a bit chewier than usual for an Everyman? Of course, we had another Primarily clue (one that was quite amusing). Plus a … Read more >>

Azed 2507

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A quick start on this: after my first pass through the clues I found I’d solved 18. This would normally have been exactly half, but unusually this grid has 18 acrosses and 20 … Read more >>

Everyman 3,846/28 June

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Another pleasing and entertaining puzzle from Everyman. I particularly liked the range of subject matter that came up today.  The bird, natch; but it also got me looking into a few people/places/books that … Read more >>

Everyman 3,845

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Everyman’s recent run of slightly harder puzzles continues – but it’s an enjoyable one. As usual some of the definitions involve a bit of lateral thinking, and the wordplay in 25a is not … Read more >>

Azed No. 2,506 Plain

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Fewer gratuitously obscure words than usual. Azed in a gentle mood perhaps? Thank you Azed ACROSS 1 WIGHTLY German, height short, taken in by cunning swiftly (7) G (German) HT (height, short=abbrev) inside … Read more >>

Azed No. 2,505 Plain

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A relatively straightforward plain puzzle this week. It actually took me less time to solve this puzzle than it did to solve the previous day’s prize puzzle in The Guardian (by Enigmatist), but … Read more >>

Everyman 3,844

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The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/everyman/3844. Mostly simple basic clue types this week, with 16A FRIAR TUCK being conspicuous as the only real exception. Have we come to expect the ‘primarily’ clue … Read more >>

Everyman 3,843

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The Observer crossword from Jun 7, 2020. Another enjoyable Sunday offering from Everyman, perhaps a bit more demanding than usual (especially in the SE)? First one in: 6dacross (that’s a surprise!), last one … Read more >>

Azed 2504

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Azed gives us our weekly trawl through some of the little-used words in Chambers Dictionary.       I found this puzzle a bit harder than many Azeds I have blogged, but I … Read more >>