A pleasant Everyman this week.
Definitions in crimson, underlined. Indicators (homophone, hidden, containment, anagram, juxtaposition, etc) in italics. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*. Link-words in green.
Azed No. 2,771 plain – competition puzzle
A slightly odd grid in that there are the usual straddling 12-letter answers and sixteen 4-letter ones. But this apart we have a perfectly pleasant crossword with many of the usual nice clues. Sometimes Azed has just relied for difficulty on strange words, it being fairly obvious what is happening in the wordplay, but he is also as one would expect clever from time to time.
Definitions underlined, in crimson. Anagrams indicated *(like this) or (like this)*.
Guardian Quick Cryptic 80 by Chandler
This week’s 11 x 11 crossword from the Guardian, mark 2, intended to teach cryptic crosswords, found here
Independent 12,171 by Twin
A tricky puzzle from Twin today.
Guardian Quick Cryptic 80 by Pasquale
This week’s 11 x 11 crossword from the Guardian, intended to teach cryptic crosswords, found here
Guardian Saturday Prize Crossword 29,817 by Brendan (4 October 2025)
I’ve blogged some interesting and challenging Prize puzzles by Brendan in the last couple of years, usually with a theme or a twist to the tale…so what does this one hold for us?…
Cyclops 814 – Apoplectic Diplomat
Do not adjust your sets! Due to an administrative and logistical c0ck-up I forgot to blog Eye 813, for which my abject apologies, but beermagnet kindly filled in for me, to whom my eternal thanks, and I am now on even-numbered puzzles – at least until the Christmas Special messes around with our schedule…
Listener 4886: Using Better Words by Paddock
Welcome back to Paddock, whom we last met in March when we played with Scrabble tiles. This time we are Using Better Words …
Guardian 29,822 – Fed
A welcome return for Fed after a couple of months’ absence. After yesterday’s puzzle from Paul I hope this will prove less controversial, though it was no less tricky, with a couple of very ingenious constructions. Many thanks to Fed
Independent 12170 / Phi
Eccles may have appeared on an unusual day this week, but Phi is here as expected on Friday.
Financial Times 18,183 by MUDD
Double def galore from MUDD in today's challenge!
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Guardian 29,821 – Paul
The scheduled blogger is not available, so here’s a very quick write-up of today’s puzzle, for which thanks to Paul.
Independent 12,169 by Eccles
We’re more used to seeing Eccles on a Wednesday, but I’m quite happy to meet him on a Thursday instead.
Financial Times 18,182 by GURNEY
A near pangram from Gurney this morning.