Category: Quick Cryptic

Introduction DNF, as I had the wrong kind of food (and dog) at 16 Across. But it was a medium-ish sort of solve, no great difficulties, and some guesswork at the end that may have … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1372 by Orpheus”

Just crept within ten minutes although LOI 2dn made it mighty close. I think I got it ‘the wrong way round’ but it had to be the answer. Otherwise all plain sailing. Here’s how I … Read more “Time’s Quick Cryptic 1371 by Teazel.”

My solving time was 11 minutes. Regulars may know that I always include parsing in my stated times and it was that that took me over my target 10 minutes today; the answer at 21dn … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1370 by Breadman”

I find Pedro has the knack of combining the straightfoward clues needed to get you going with some that need a bit more thought, and today’s crossword did just that for me. Nothing too obscure … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1369 by Pedro”

A bit easier than average, I’d say, and certainly so for an Izetti: I came in with a bit of change from eight-and-a-half minutes, and that included a minute staring dumbly at 2d, for no … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 1368 by Izetti”

I was not on the wavelength for this one, just escaping my personal red zone, although in retrospect there’s nothing really hard. Even the unusual word at 19dn was quite generously signposted (and preceded by … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1367 by Mara”

Like yesterday, this flowed quickly to start with but then slowed for the final tussle – with 8ac, 3dn and, finally, 17ac. Happily, all completed a few seconds inside 10 minutes.A small change to the … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 1366 by Hurley”

Hmmm. Another Tracy. My second in a row. And for me this was definitely another Tracy. The last one I found quite straightforward. I didn’t set any records on my own terms but everything went … Read more “QC 1365 by Tracy”

A mixed bag of write-ins and more obscure ones. Not sure I am happy with the rule-breaking 2d, especially in the quickie. Favourite has to be the elegant 9a, LOI (last one in) 14d Across … Read more “Quick Cryptic 1364 by Joker”

I made a bit of a hash of this tough puzzle (my stamp of Friday approval is ungrudgingly bestowed) by bunging UNDERWEAR in optimistically for 7dn and then not being able to make much more … Read more “Times 27,365: Candy Is Dandy But Knickers Are Quicker”