Category: Jumbo Cryptic

Not too difficult this time, I thought. I didn’t know the historical reference in 1ac, though. 23ac is probably the most obscure answer. As always, * indicates an anagram. Across 1 BARE BONES – double … Read more “Times Jumbo 1194”

No real problems with this one. One unfamiliar word that needed checking and it was only after the event that I appreciated the setter’s intentions in 1A Across 1 ABBEY – ABBE = French priest, … Read more “Jumbo 1193”

Attempted to solve this at 5am outside a tent in the bush in WA’s south-west.  That’s the dedication required to be a TftT blogger apparently. From memory it was tougher than recent Jumbos, but that … Read more “Jumbo 1192 February 13, 2016 – Alive”

Sorry this is up later than scheduled. Let’s blame it on “technical issues”. I don’t “do” the Jumbo with any regularity and when I do I don’t time myself so I can’t say with any … Read more “Jumbo 1191”

A gentle offering this week, with the unknowns (for me) clued with little ambiguity. Solving time: 14m 49s * = anagram, {} = omission Across 1 WITH-PROFITS – PROF (Top academic) in WIT (intelligence) + … Read more “Jumbo 1190”

Fairly straightforward, I thought. Lovely word at 4dn! As always, * indicates an anagram. Across 1 ANTIPODES – it, reversed, + PO, in ANDES 6 APPEALS – APPAL S, around unclE 10 CAPER – double … Read more “Times Jumbo 1189”

Solving time of 21:57, and I generally don’t get much quicker than that, so very much to one end of the difficulty scale; it was also very concise, and more than a little cheeky in … Read more “Times Jumbo 1187”

Fairly straightforward, with any minor difficulties helped by crossing letters. 47A is interesting as, in my opinion, the solution can be made up in two different ways from the wordplay. I don’t know which was … Read more “Jumbo 1188”

I thought this one was of about average difficulty, with nothing so devious as to cause much trouble even to those who may have overindulged the previous evening. An interesting mix of clues, though, from … Read more “Jumbo 1185 (New Year’s Day)”

I had to check a couple of the answers and components as they were outside my knowledge, but the wordplay for all the clues was clear. A fair Jumbo for Boxing Day. Happy New Year … Read more “Jumbo 1183”