Author: branch

A nice puzzle for a Saturday, although I’m sorry I can’t find the previous discussions of the “terms” in 9ac.

The fox appearing in 1ac put me in mind of the pangram in the headline. This isn’t one, but I wonder why pangram solutions are remarked on. Can anyone shed light?

Some vocabulary challenges in this one. I struggled to remember 9ac – a word that’s in the outer reaches of my crossword vocabulary, and definitely not for everyday use. Also, the bread sticks at 11ac definitely hadn’t stuck in my memory!

I was struck by the colloquial vocabulary scattered through (or should I say, thru) answers and wordplay.

I was a bit sceptical about 2dn describing the King as “former”. Then, now and always, surely! Still a classical Saturday challenge, with what seemed an unusual number of clues involving adding, subtracting or replacing letters.

Nice to see Champagne getting a mention in the NYE crossword. A medium difficulty puzzle, that should have left you all well set up for the evening to follow!

I remember a fascinating film years ago about how London cabbies acquire the “Knowledge” of London streets. Unlike them, I struggled with the knowledge to get through this puzzle.

This prize puzzle doesn’t close till Wednesday 4th January, so the normal blog will appear on Saturday 7th January. For now, Happy New Year!

There seemed to be some fresh cluing in here; 5ac and 5 and 6dn caught the eye quickly. Was it really a different setter? Regardless, it went fairly easily but enjoyably for me.

It stung that I took so long to see 1ac, but overall this was a regular Saturday puzzle. 18dn may be unfamiliar to some, but I think I’ve heard the word used that way before.