Category: Weekend Cryptic

There was nothing 11 (down) about any of the clues here—indeed, this may be the easiest offering from Harry that I’ve blogged. However, I was spooked by seeing the first word in the first clue: … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic No 4921 by David McLean — Oh honest brain disorder it’s not”

My better half and I agreed this week that the daily sudoku puzzles in our morning paper seem to be getting easier. Is it a coronavirus thing? In similar vein, it’s been quite a while … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27774 – Saturday, 19 September 2020. Another Pleasant Puzzle Saturday.”

12:33. A characteristically witty puzzle from Bob this week. I think my favourite clues were the outrageous 2dn and the brilliant 21dn, but there’s lots of fun stuff in here. Definitions are underlined, anagrams indicated … Read more “Sunday Times 4920 by Robert Price”

A puzzle with middle of the road difficulty, but much to enjoy, including three nice homophones. Some nice hints of fate and eternity at 9ac and 3dn, but my favourite was 24ac which made me … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27768 – Saturday, 12 September 2020. Que sera, sera.”

My LOI was 13 down, as I needed all the checkers… and then some. I hope and trust others will find the definition less elusive. It had to be some kind of -ISM, so what … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic No 4919 by Dean Mayer — Chef’s surprise”

This was a smooth solve, with quite a few cluing devices that will be familiar to experienced solvers but may challenge newer hands. I am always amused by the use of “Oxford” in the style … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27762 – Saturday, 5 September 2020. Put a sock in it!”

14:57. A thoroughly enjoyable of medium difficulty, thank you Harry. And other than a few specific points on particular clues below, that’s all I have to say on the matter so I’ll just get on … Read more “Sunday Times 4918 by David McLean”

In spite of the setter’s self-deprecation in 5ac and 10ac, this was a very entertaining puzzle. The five double definitions really stood out. At first sight, I thought a couple of other clues were DDs … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27756 – Saturday, 29 August 2020. Never a dull clue.”

…leading horses nick vehicle… Some firm and full “lift and separate” (and even squeeze back together) clues here. I learned a Scottish word I’m not likely to forget, as well as what “SS” in nautical … Read more “Sunday Times Cryptic No 4917 by Robert Price — divine language, classic novel”

This puzzle was more challenging than recent Saturdays, all thanks to clever clues, not obscurities. I didn’t note the exact order, but 10ac, 4dn, 7dn and 23ac all went in quickly. When three quarters were … Read more “Times Cryptic No 27750 – Saturday, 22 August 2020. Wot’s that you zed?”