Category: Quick Cryptic

I’m standing in for Nick today, with this relatively easy puzzle, especially compared to yesterday. I was slow on the uptake at 1ac (clunky definition?), and the excellent 10ac was my LOI, which meant that … Read more “Quick Cryptic Number 592 by Tracy”

As Jackt said yesterday, the QC should cater for varying levels of solver skill but I feel that Teazel has teased us a little too much today. On their own, several unusual vocabulary/pieces of general … Read more “Quick Cryptic 591 by Teazel”

Despite blogging Quick Cryptics every week since Day One in 2014 this is only the 5th occasion I have been on duty for one of Izetti’s puzzles which are often amongst the most interesting offerings. … Read more “Quick Cryptic 590 by Izetti”

A lot of really good surfaces here, I thought, with COD 21d. 5d a tricky one to parse, 25a a long time coming, and not sure if a ferret and a polecat are the same … Read more “Quick Crossword 589 by Grumpy”

A tough but rewarding puzzle, with the left hand side taking a bit of work. I don’t recall seeing the grid layout before – 11ac and 18ac could both be completed without so much as … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 588 by Orpheus”

Some great anagrams, devilish hidden words, and several less common abbreviations all make for a Goldilocks-difficulty QC. I got 1ac from the wordplay alone, which is always nice, but enjoyed 20ac and 12dn even more. … Read more “Quick Cryptic Number 587 by Hurley”

It took me a long time to click into this one and then I mistyped a letter so didn’t get a time – but I’d guess about 15 minutes. I expect some fast times from … Read more “Quick Cryptic 586 by Alconiere”

A gentle start to the week, I think, with no recondite vocabulary or complex constructions. No doubt solvers will be grateful to have an all-correct under their belts as a confidence booster for the stiffer … Read more “Quick Cryptic 585 by Mara”

Some entertaining surfaces here, and nothing too tricky, except an unknown word for me at 5d. Thank you Flamande. Across 1 Marc is surprisingly showing prejudice: RACISM Anagram (surprisingly) of MARC IS 4 Boss right … Read more “Quick Crossword 584 by Flamande”

15 minutes, so at the harder end of the spectrum for me, with a couple of more difficult or unusual words to grapple with.  It is also unusual that this grid contains no 7-letter words … Read more “Quick cryptic No 583 by Pedro”