ALP
@adamlp.bsky.social
Withnail bore, Fowles nut & Lib>Xim
A smug cryptic setter in the Indy (5)
A smug cryptic setter in the Indy (5)
Whoever set today’s hardcore Toughie must be heartless – there’s no end of misdirection! Blogged @ bigdave44.com/2026/02/12/3635
Look to pinch empty store's doormat? (8)
Absentee soldier, largely faithful to the crown (6)
Man aboard small boat gets emergency medical cover (4,5)
Look to pinch empty store's doormat? (8)
Absentee soldier, largely faithful to the crown (6)
Man aboard small boat gets emergency medical cover (4,5)
February 12, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Whoever set today’s hardcore Toughie must be heartless – there’s no end of misdirection! Blogged @ bigdave44.com/2026/02/12/3635
Look to pinch empty store's doormat? (8)
Absentee soldier, largely faithful to the crown (6)
Man aboard small boat gets emergency medical cover (4,5)
Look to pinch empty store's doormat? (8)
Absentee soldier, largely faithful to the crown (6)
Man aboard small boat gets emergency medical cover (4,5)
"UNLESS JUSTIFIED IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST"
Exactly that.
Exactly that.
February 6, 2026 at 8:59 PM
"UNLESS JUSTIFIED IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST"
Exactly that.
Exactly that.
Ha, I'm pretty sure I know where you're going there ... go for it!
February 6, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Ha, I'm pretty sure I know where you're going there ... go for it!
This setter has two lives – one as Ray T, t’other as seen in today’s Tel Toughie, blogged @ bigdave44.com/2026/02/05/3631
Wanders around with shopping, maybe (7)
Punishes move trapping knight on board (9)
Daniel Craig perhaps embraces female villain (10)
Wanders around with shopping, maybe (7)
Punishes move trapping knight on board (9)
Daniel Craig perhaps embraces female villain (10)
February 5, 2026 at 2:08 PM
This setter has two lives – one as Ray T, t’other as seen in today’s Tel Toughie, blogged @ bigdave44.com/2026/02/05/3631
Wanders around with shopping, maybe (7)
Punishes move trapping knight on board (9)
Daniel Craig perhaps embraces female villain (10)
Wanders around with shopping, maybe (7)
Punishes move trapping knight on board (9)
Daniel Craig perhaps embraces female villain (10)
Hi Derek, I would strongly advise codjuma to submit their puzzle (with solutions and annos) to mycrossword.co.uk. For constructive and helpful feedback, it is second to none.
MyCrossword
Discover daily cryptic crosswords and join a global community of 25,000+ puzzle enthusiasts. Solve, create, and share crosswords on the complete crossword platform - MyCrossword.
mycrossword.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Hi Derek, I would strongly advise codjuma to submit their puzzle (with solutions and annos) to mycrossword.co.uk. For constructive and helpful feedback, it is second to none.
Reposted by ALP
#1ACCWC - Only 21 clues in the bag so far.. If you were waiting for the last minute, its almost here 🙂
#cryptic #clue #contest
www.1across.org/accwc/clues/
#cryptic #clue #contest
www.1across.org/accwc/clues/
January 29, 2026 at 5:55 PM
#1ACCWC - Only 21 clues in the bag so far.. If you were waiting for the last minute, its almost here 🙂
#cryptic #clue #contest
www.1across.org/accwc/clues/
#cryptic #clue #contest
www.1across.org/accwc/clues/
Who set today’s mid-Telegraph cracking treat to wrap up the month? Find out @ Big Dave, with tunes and one horrific picture ...
Complete standing order (4)
Admiral’s head over heels about rest of crew? (5,5)
More than one Arsenal star - but not Seaman - drank to excess in retirement (6)
Complete standing order (4)
Admiral’s head over heels about rest of crew? (5,5)
More than one Arsenal star - but not Seaman - drank to excess in retirement (6)
Toughie 3627 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
Toughie No 3627 by Django Hints and tips by ALP + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment **** I always enjoy a Django: fun definitions and smart wordplay. Very gentle from hi...
bigdave44.com
January 29, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Who set today’s mid-Telegraph cracking treat to wrap up the month? Find out @ Big Dave, with tunes and one horrific picture ...
Complete standing order (4)
Admiral’s head over heels about rest of crew? (5,5)
More than one Arsenal star - but not Seaman - drank to excess in retirement (6)
Complete standing order (4)
Admiral’s head over heels about rest of crew? (5,5)
More than one Arsenal star - but not Seaman - drank to excess in retirement (6)
Good grief. Go to your room this instant! Ha..
January 28, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Good grief. Go to your room this instant! Ha..
Judging by poor Jasper's expression he's clearly just had a gander at mine!
January 28, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Judging by poor Jasper's expression he's clearly just had a gander at mine!
Spot on, fella – that puppy-killer is absolutely despicable. Horror show.
January 26, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Spot on, fella – that puppy-killer is absolutely despicable. Horror show.
Beyond chuffed to be back in the Indy as Magus. My tin hat’s on – is yours?!
Warning: hipsters lifted by US federal agents … (6)
… one after another for speaking out can be put in prison (6)
Trump wants one head of BBC arrested by Christmas (5)
#cryptic #crossword
Warning: hipsters lifted by US federal agents … (6)
… one after another for speaking out can be put in prison (6)
Trump wants one head of BBC arrested by Christmas (5)
#cryptic #crossword
The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent
Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.
puzzles.independent.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Beyond chuffed to be back in the Indy as Magus. My tin hat’s on – is yours?!
Warning: hipsters lifted by US federal agents … (6)
… one after another for speaking out can be put in prison (6)
Trump wants one head of BBC arrested by Christmas (5)
#cryptic #crossword
Warning: hipsters lifted by US federal agents … (6)
… one after another for speaking out can be put in prison (6)
Trump wants one head of BBC arrested by Christmas (5)
#cryptic #crossword
Rotten monster, oddly icky head of ICE, who shot a puppy (6,4)
January 25, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Rotten monster, oddly icky head of ICE, who shot a puppy (6,4)
The world's in SHAMBLES, can you set it (right)? Come on, you know you want to! Top fun comp, this.
#1ACCWC 551 www.1across.org/2026/01/25/1...
This week’s ACCWC hosted by @adamlp.bsky.social is now open and is waiting for your clues..
#cryptic #clue #crossword #contest
This week’s ACCWC hosted by @adamlp.bsky.social is now open and is waiting for your clues..
#cryptic #clue #crossword #contest
1ACCWC #551 – SHAMBLES – OPEN FOR CLUES
This weeks contest is hosted by ALP For 1ACCWC 551, the chosen word is SHAMBLES Here are the rules Limit of 1 clue per setter. Please Annotate your clues clearly. Please login to participate. You c…
www.1across.org
January 25, 2026 at 9:05 AM
The world's in SHAMBLES, can you set it (right)? Come on, you know you want to! Top fun comp, this.
Ha, best of British, fella. I'm never knowingly kind!
January 23, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Ha, best of British, fella. I'm never knowingly kind!
Ha, I ain't for turning mate – as you well know!
I love skewering extremely strict men struggling to crack language?
I love skewering extremely strict men struggling to crack language?
January 23, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Ha, I ain't for turning mate – as you well know!
I love skewering extremely strict men struggling to crack language?
I love skewering extremely strict men struggling to crack language?
Stuff and nonsense! Have you no soul, man?!
January 23, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Stuff and nonsense! Have you no soul, man?!
Ha, you may be underestimating the power of a muscular question mark..
January 23, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Ha, you may be underestimating the power of a muscular question mark..
Ha, you lawyers are killing me! NEWSILK (is) "out" = WINKLES (lunch as definition by example, hence the QM)
January 23, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Ha, you lawyers are killing me! NEWSILK (is) "out" = WINKLES (lunch as definition by example, hence the QM)
New Silk’s out for lunch? (7)
(tis the best I can do off the top of my head!)
(tis the best I can do off the top of my head!)
January 23, 2026 at 1:55 PM
New Silk’s out for lunch? (7)
(tis the best I can do off the top of my head!)
(tis the best I can do off the top of my head!)
Funny weird, sure! I just think Henri missed a trick there. His argument would have been better expressed in words of one syllable (explanation: a single sound or word). Seriously though, go with your gut, mate. Your question implied that you suspect "replaced" IS too tricky, so trust your judgement
January 23, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Funny weird, sure! I just think Henri missed a trick there. His argument would have been better expressed in words of one syllable (explanation: a single sound or word). Seriously though, go with your gut, mate. Your question implied that you suspect "replaced" IS too tricky, so trust your judgement
Substantively, eh? Christ on a bike!
January 23, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Substantively, eh? Christ on a bike!
Ha, I KNEW you'd say that!
January 23, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Ha, I KNEW you'd say that!
I say no! If it's OK for the Times QC – and it is – why the devil not?
January 23, 2026 at 11:43 AM
I say no! If it's OK for the Times QC – and it is – why the devil not?
Yep, spot on. What a bunch, eh? Saudi and Qatar are, of course, renowned freedom experts and Pakistan's a peace-loving pussy-cat. Etc. All chaired by a Mac&Cheese-eating surrender monkey hiding behind masked thugs with guns and a huge piggy bank. We are truly living in a post-ironic world.
January 23, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Yep, spot on. What a bunch, eh? Saudi and Qatar are, of course, renowned freedom experts and Pakistan's a peace-loving pussy-cat. Etc. All chaired by a Mac&Cheese-eating surrender monkey hiding behind masked thugs with guns and a huge piggy bank. We are truly living in a post-ironic world.
What's the enumeration?!
January 23, 2026 at 10:46 AM
What's the enumeration?!