Guardian 24,788 – Enigmatist
OK I have to admit defeat today – I really enjoyed the novelty of the elaborately long down clues but ended up unable to explain 16ac or completely nail 7dn. Across 8. SPACEMAN. … Read more >>
Independent 7,133 by Dac
Seamless clueing as always. Mostly straightforward, but there were a few terms, or at least definitions, I wasn’t familiar with. Still, everything came together nicely as expected. I was particularly taken with one … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,165 / Monk
A most enjoyable challenge from Monk today though I wasn’t too happy with the clue for 1d which seemed a little lazy. There are many words consisting of only the first seven letters … Read more >>
Azed 1,942
Apologies for the late appearance of this analysis and for the lack of any real comment. I cannot remember too much about this puzzle having completed many more crosswords in the time between … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,164 / Jason
I had a number of questions or quibbles here. Across 1 GOSSIP-WRITER *(I REPORT SWIGS) 10 REELING EEL (fish) in RING (bell) 11 VANILLA AN in VILLA (home in Rome). Vanilla is an … Read more >>
Independent 7132 by Punk
A themed puzzle on the punk group SEX PISTOLS (2 down). The associated answers are titles of some of their best-known hits. I found it very tough indeed. Solving time, … Read more >>
Guardian 24,787 – Brendan
dd = double definition cd = cryptic definition rev = reversed or reversal ins = insertion cha = charade ha = hidden answer *(fodder) = anagram Thank you, Brendan for yet another of … Read more >>
Independent 7131 by Mordred
I am standing in today for a regular blogger who is on holiday. I am not a regular Independent solver and my dictionary of choice tends to be Chambers. It is clear however that The … Read more >>
Guardian 24786 / Chifonie
I thought this was easier than normal for a Chifonie puzzle, but a good level of difficulty for a Monday and satisfying to solve. [Links to the puzzle as HTML, PDF and Java … Read more >>
Everyman No. 3281 (16th August)
Lorraine: Yet again an easy crossword this week. I only had to look up Buffo, and although I knew the word I didn’t know the meaning. Legend to solution comments: * = anagram. … Read more >>
Beelzebub 1,017 (16/08/09)
A slightly late posting, on account of a fascinating day’s cricket. I can’t quite make the wordplay for 26ac work, if anyone fancies clearing it up for me. *=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic … Read more >>
Guardian 24,779 / Puck – Peace, man!
I’m standing in on this puzzle for Rightback, who is away. The 40th anniversary that was celebrated was the Woostock festival, which opened on 15 August 1969. There were also some links to … Read more >>
Enigmatic Variations No. 875 – No Complaints by Hypnos
A reasonably quick solve for this one, then a lot of head scratching trying to parse 17d and 26d. This was greatly helped once I had realised the theme and could complete the … Read more >>
Independent 7,129 by Phi
*=anag, []=dropped, <=reversed, hom=homophone, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition. Top quality as always from Phi. There’s something of a cricket theme going on, for obvious reasons, and “RE” comes up a lot – I’m … Read more >>
Financial Times 13,161 / Alberich
A toughie today! Lots of clever wordplay, deliciously misleading definitions. A treat to solve. Across 1 SALMAN RUSHDIE &lit. Wonderful anagram to start the puzzle with. 9 MUSTARD STAR (the Sun) in MUD … Read more >>