Category: Quick Cryptic

Thanks to Mara for an enjoyable puzzle. Probably towards the easier end of the spectrum, but with plenty of wit and a nice variety of clue types. 4d was particularly good I thought – the … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 252 by Mara”

I was not able to complete the crossword on iPad using Safari (as I usually do) as the keyboard entry has stopped working. In a second blow of fate, when my ancient laptop eventually started, … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 251 by Felix”

At 13 minutes I found this puzzle quite testing but reviewing it just now whilst rereading the blog I can’t see what delayed me unless it was the two long Down answers that needed so … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 250 by Tracy”

A shade harder than my Wednesday challenge, I thought, and a couple (22a, 5d) I am still rather uncomfortable with (q.v.). Nevertheless an enjoyable puzzle with some smart clueing. Across 1 LATEST – LA = … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 249 by Orpheus – a few tricky bits”

Solving time: Above average Morning all Apologies for missing last week. Some very kind contractors were removing some tree roots from the car park of the sheltered housing complex I live in and severed a … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic No 248 by Teazel”

A steady write-in for me in 10 minutes, with an extra minute or two to parse 15d; nothing very controversial I hope. Across 1 COMBAT – Hidden in Sit(COM BAT)hetic; def. fight. You don’t even … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 247 by Hurley”

Watch out for a smattering of question marks, some not-so-QC vocabulary and a tree which wouldn’t normally spring to mind. I rather enjoyed this but it didn’t seem like a newbie-friendly puzzle. It felt like … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 246 by Izetti”

Today in 1921 John Galbraith Graham was born. He’s better known in Crosswordland as the Guardian compiler Araucaria. Though he is sadly no longer with us, he was a prominent exponent of the “libertarian” style … Read more “Quick Cryptic 245 by Mara”

Our blogger for today, william_j_s, is unfortunately competely tied up at work. Being on a roll after filling in yesterday, here is my latest instalment. Hoping that you aren’t getting too bored with my scratchings … Read more “Quick Crytpic No 244 by Tracy”

I agreed to stand in for macavity123 on 26th Feb and 6th March but there’s every chance I’ve messed the dates up. So with apologies for being late – and that you have only the … Read more “Quick Cryptic No 243 by Flamande”