Hi all! A 15x15 grid with rather more obscure words and phrases than I usually do—good luck! All solutions may be found in the Collins online dictionary. (parses) Thank you to Liari and MP for testing this puzzle.

💬 Archived Comments

Martha & Doug on 2025-07-27

Thanks, Jack! We had toyed with the jack/tar thing for a bit but were struggling with the "ing". Your puzzles are always a great time. This one really ate up the clock, though! We've discovered your puzzles on MyCrossword while trying to find more cryptics. We've just about eaten through your entire catalog, here on your blog.

Martha & Doug on 2025-07-27

Hi from Canada, thanks again for another great puzzle! We are unsure about 17A. Deadly sin is lust, but how does Jack become "rating"?

Jack Keynes on 2025-07-27

Hi Martha & Doug, "jack" and "rating" are both terms for sailors ("rating" specifically refers to enlisted sailors in the Royal Navy, while "jack" is just sland for any sailor). Thank you for the comment and I'm glad you enjoyed!

Jack Keynes on 2025-07-28

That's very gratifying to hear! :)