Clued In (Blogs)

Join us on Clued In as we take a fine-toothed comb through the latest cryptic grids, sift out a puzzling clue or two, and break it down for you, wordplay and all. Watch this space to discover what goes on in the setter’s sinister mind, gain insight into cryptic devices, and expand your Crosswordese vocabulary.

Where we take a fine-toothed comb through the latest cryptic grids, try to get into the setter’s mind, and expand your crossword vocabulary.

Clued In #353 | To the solver, with love, the setter

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... Omissions excepted, writes down exactly, like, what Ali Baba declared (4,6)’

| 30 September 2021

Clued In #352 | Cryptics pack a punch, make a fist of it!

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Explosive long fruit (9)’

| 28 July 2021

Clued In #351 | Gamble on cracking the clue, win the jackpot

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Any price arrangement involving dough, essentially (9)’

| 22 July 2021

Clued In #350 | Cryptic clues aren’t boring, they’re boring deep

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Youngster left boring, endless lecture (5)’

| 20 July 2021

Clued In #349 | Failure is just a stepping stone; don’t trip over it

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Saw English force arresting brute (7)’

| 18 July 2021

Clued In #348 | Indications are, the puzzle can be solved

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Musical work, enchanter pouring soul out on centre stage (5)’

| 15 July 2021

Clued In #347 | Feeling dull? Boost your brain with a cryptic puzzle

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Commercial earnings? Try to change sides cleverly (8)’

| 14 July 2021

Clued In #346 | Skullduggery is fair in cryptic clues

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Regularly seen in first class assembly (6)’

| 13 July 2021

Clued In #345 | Equating mathematics with cryptics

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘According to it, Y = Sharpness (8)’

| 12 July 2021

Clued In #344 | No excuses, you better love cryptics

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Excuse before written material (7))’

| 11 July 2021

Clued In #343 | Cryptic puzzle is heavy stuff that enlightens

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Box wagon has thousand kilogrammes (6)’

| 08 July 2021

Clued In #342 | How the setter counters your intuition

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Carve inside Somerset Church (4)’

| 07 July 2021

Clued In #341 | Enjoy your trek up Mt. Thesaurus

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Hot beer in court-house in the Alps (6)’

| 06 July 2021

Clued In #340 | A pious life or a life of Pi?

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Rogue’s good vehicle is near roundabout (6)’

| 05 July 2021

Clued In #339 | Find your flow in the grid

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Channel essentially a 19(4)’ & ‘Tops with Irish cream in coffee, they say it’s great(7)’

| 04 July 2021

Clued In #338 | Ardent respect for the clue begets the answer

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Yahoo hasn’t left, that’s nice (7)’

| 02 July 2021

Clued In #337 | May the force be with the solver

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Force to stop a rake and villain (5)’

| 01 July 2021

Clued In #336 | Looks can flatter and deceive in a match

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘I say why no eyeglass designed for one that never looks older?(7)’

| 30 June 2021

Clued In #335 | All words lead to the cryptic grid

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Maybe if I am drunk, to be very honest (4,6)’

| 29 June 2021

Clued In #334 | Some clues can bowl you over

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Combination of Lillee and Thomson, perhaps, with Marsh(9)’

| 28 June 2021

Clued In #333 | Catch the drift, fish out the answer!

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘What fishermen want maybe all that you have! (3,5)’

| 27 June 2021

Clued In #332 | Every clue puts on a good show

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Sea mammal overturned silvery metal at afternoon performance (7)’

| 24 June 2021

Clued In #331 | If it’s fair in love and war, it’s fair in cryptic crosswords

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Brief film about onset of war (6)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 22 June 2021

Clued In #330 | Infering and deciphering is the art of the cryptic

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘A couple of small streets’ staff (5)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 20 June 2021

Clued In #329 | Free your mind, simplify the clue

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Permit lady to enrage? Not new (7)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 18 June 2021

Clued In #328 | Take a shot with lateral thinking

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Adventurer/mountaineer runs off road (7)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 16 June 2021

Clued In #327 | Head in the clouds, shoot for the solutions!

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Saint missing a space trip arranged for each person (3,6)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 15 June 2021

Clued In #326 | Open your mind to a little alluring deceit

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Cast a spell on portal (8)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 14 June 2021

Clued In #325 | Accept what you’re told, gain currency!

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Teller loses some currency and becomes more pale (6)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 11 June 2021

Clued In #324 | Open your ears, pick up new skills daily

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Mediocre auditor’s impressionable (8)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 11 June 2021

Clued In #323 | Keen eye for the cryptic

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Keen to see the Queen over time (5)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 09 June 2021

Clued In #322 | Sentenced to live on in memory, words

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Ready and neat source of funds (4,3)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 08 June 2021

Clued In #321 | Lead us from ignorance to the solved grid!

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Outstanding! Girl picked up an escort (6)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 07 June 2021

Clued In #320 | The sound of the solution

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Country song heard in North India (5)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 06 June 2021

Clued In #319 | Clues that give you a rude awakening

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Impudent person finally faces whip (6)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 02 June 2021

Clued In #317 | Get a kick from the cryptic

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Joint auditor’s born in France (4)’ Clued In #317

Mihir Balantrapu | 01 June 2021

Clued In #316 | The solver lining every grid

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Entertaining American male on drugs (7)’ Clued In #316 Clued In #316 | The solver lining every grid

Mihir Balantrapu | 31 May 2021

Clued In #315 | Start the day with love, pick up a crossword

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Show of affection: awfully frisky, but ... let's! (9,4)’ Clued In #315 | Start the day with love, pick up a crossword

Mihir Balantrapu | 30 May 2021

Clued In #314 | Catch the drift, get the gist

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘What a cricketer hates to do — ditch a model (4,1,6)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 27 May 2021

Clued In #312 | Let the meaning rise to the surface

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Game is rigged — it indicates bias’

Mihir Balantrapu | 26 May 2021

Clued In #313 | Everybody wins in cryptic crosswords!

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Perhaps I too can win award for business (10)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 25 May 2021

Clued In #311 | Get clued in on the subject of predicates

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Side’s average, totally soulless (5)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 24 May 2021

Clued In #310 | The answer cannot be found in material things

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Settled down and I consumed stuff (7)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 23 May 2021

Clued In #309 | Take a shot at a clue or two

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘I am returning to gobble top third of snack with drink (6)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 20 May 2021

Clued In #308 | Decoding the mundane surface

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Fight after motor breaks down? When the solution to this might be printed... (8)’

| 19 May 2021

Clued In #307 | Cryptics, where creativity flows like water

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Rich water source racket (4-2-2)’

| 18 May 2021

Clued In #306 | Setters are spin doctors

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Spinner put English water body ahead of the French one (6)’

| 18 May 2021

Clued In #305 | Dive deep for pearls of wisdom

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘I say God's within (6)’

| 13 May 2021

Clued In #304 | Pay attention and you will get your reward

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Country song after limited expansion (8)’

| 12 May 2021

Clued In #303 | Most of these clues are clue!

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Stop most of the group (4)’

| 11 May 2021

Clued In #302 | A great cryptic clue has no substitute

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Annoying decision gains interest to execute second culprit (6)’

| 11 May 2021

Clued In #301 | If the clue fits, you must not quit!

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Visitor to arrive on time (5)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 09 May 2021

Clued In #300 | The results are in, the answer will occur to you

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Unboundedly delighted by margins of election result (6)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 05 May 2021

Clued In #299 | The allure of a lure

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Lure in principle (6,4)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 04 May 2021

Clued In #298 | Clues left in poetry

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Electronic record featuring, say poet (7)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 03 May 2021

Clued In #297 | A cute clue to cut through your gloom

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Baby girl entering is an angel (6)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 02 May 2021

Clued In #296 | A clue to wrap your mind around and feel breezy

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Brought back a garment worn by ancient Romans (4)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 29 April 2021

Clued In #295 | Lean your brain towards the answer

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Dog — one lean boxer (8)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 28 April 2021

Clued In #294 | Clues sure are tough, but don’t lose heart!

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘Openly ended final judgment disheartened Larry (7)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 27 April 2021

Clued In #293 | Dwell on the clue till you find peace

Read on to figure out how to solve clues like... ‘One small lake primarily engulfing this land? (4)’

Mihir Balantrapu | 26 April 2021