Never knowingly undersolved
I found this one really quite challenging for a Wednesday, but there were some very good clues in there, and some impressive anagrams. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 … Read more >>
A very quick solve for me today, and probably also for most others. A couple of answers (27ac & 8dn) may have been unfamiliar to some but the wordplay was glaringly obvious in most … Read more >>
It’s only three weeks since the last Arachne puzzle and, according to Andrew’s review of the year, we had only seven of hers in 2009, so this is a welcome early return. There’s … Read more >>
My fastest Inquisitor ever. About an hour to solve all the clues. Quick shufti in Google to find the quotation attribution. Short pause to mow the lawn, then search for “directions”. Find them, … Read more >>
Don Manley has posted on the Crossword Centre forum the sad news that Rover has died. His full text can be seen here.
A typically brilliant puzzle from the master of the themed daily, cleverly using the idea of multiple word ‘see x‘ grid entries as the basis for some diocesan double definition deception. This exposed … Read more >>
A tough week, I found. I’m still a little 34ac with regard to explanations for 22ac. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Across 1 TASK – T AS K. Clever one, … Read more >>
Quite straightforward today, nothing obscure or contentious and decent surfaces in the main. Across 1 INVOCATION IN (trendy) VOCATION (career) 7 DHOW D (departs) HOW (in what manner) 9 ISIS [cr]ISIS (trouble loses … Read more >>
Brummie presented yet another very Ximenean puzzle which is not as difficult as one under his other alter ego in the Private Eye. Shorn of risque references, it is not quite as entertaining … Read more >>
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, CD=cryptic def, DD=double def, sp=spoonerism A moderately challenging puzzle by Hypnos. There were no real stand-out clues for me but everything was well constructed. One or two of the … Read more >>
Very easy Bank Holiday fare from Rufus today, though with the usual wit and elegant surface readings. Across 1. INCURIOUS INCUR I.O.U.S 6. CAWS [MA]CAWS 8. APERITIF (FIT … Read more >>
Nick: Typically nice AZED this week which I feel was a tad more difficult than some weeks. I had to use Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable to confirm 28dn and fully understand … Read more >>
Lorraine: Nice easy plod along this week, had to look up 1 down and 7 down to confirm my guesses. Can’t say any one clue was particularly outstanding as I always enjoy all … Read more >>
Solving time: 8 mins For Araucaria this was surprisingly straightforward, but that’s probably just as well with a bank holiday special due this week. One of the reasons for the lower-than-average difficulty was … Read more >>
Well a complex preamble this week – certainly one that won’t make sense till 11 down is derived. On first reading it sounds like a puzzle based upon a literary character. Then there’s an … Read more >>