Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English!
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This puzzle was published on 13th July 2019
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
A Saturday melange of anagrams, insertions and reversals
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Writer’s employed reworking fictional detective (4,5,6)
LORD PETER WIMSEY – An anagram (reworking) of WRITERS EMPLOYED
9a It’s futile to economise, apparently (7)
USELESS – If you USE LESS you apparently economise
10a Sprinters used to run this and roll up on finishing at last (7)
FURLONG – FURL (roll up – a word I associate with umbrellas for some unknown reason), ON (from the clue) G (the last letter of finishing)
11a Adviser on board initiated changes (9)
DIETITIAN – An anagram (changes) of INITIATED
12a Match official since turning round taking fewer chances (5)
SAFER – REF (match official) AS (since) reversed (turning round in an Across clue)
13a It’s a crime — ecstasy smuggled by Welsh comedian, not mafia boss (7)
ROBBERY – Remove the DON (not mafia boss) from ROB BRYDON (the Welsh comedian) and insert E (Ecstasy ‘smuggled’)
15a Pounds secured by cheat with Scandinavian money (7)
DOLLARS – L (pounds sterling) secured by (or inserted between) DO (cheat) and LARS (Scandinavian)
17a Laurel given to international player — it might result in a wind-up (7)
CAPSTAN – STAN (Laurel) given to or put after CAP (international player)
19a Begin to pick different second-class ingredient (7)
POTHERB – P (the beginning letter of pick) OTHER (different) B (second class)
21a It’s rather cold with central heating not right (5)
CHILL – CH (Central Heating) ILL (not right)
23a & 25a Played minor part in what fraudulent statistician did?… Continue reading >
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
Nothing too arduous today though I did use the fact that it’s a double pangram for 11 across and the last couple of answers. Continue reading “Toughie 2265”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Hola from an extremely hot Vega Baja where summer is in full spate. At least it’s not quite as hot now as it was during the recent much-publicised European heatwave. It got to 39°C here last Sunday but today it’s back to a more manageable 31°C with less humidity. Anyway, to the puzzle – this one just has to be a RayT production as all his hallmarks are there including some rather overstretched synonyms, lurkers, first letter clue and, of course, an appearance by HRH. I thought it was a bit tricky but I liked it quite a lot but I bet a lot of you will disagree as is usual on a Thursday. Over to you for comments . . . Continue reading “DT 29106”
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This puzzle was published on 7th July 2019
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Back to ‘tricky Dada’ – well I thought so anyway – the RH side was easier than the left
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading >
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
I made hard work of this one but I did enjoy the exercise (and only the sheaves of wheat were a totally new word for me). Thanks to Giovanni.… Continue reading >
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
My day so far. Wake up just before 7.00am. Download The Daily Telegraph. Read the paper from end to end. Make a pot of tea. Discuss September’s holiday with Saint Sharon. Where should we stay for two nights on our way home from Scotland (suggestions welcome). Pour two cups of tea. Solve the Codeword puzzle. Solve the Quickie Crossword. Start on the Cryptic Crossword. Chatter away with the sainted one whilst lazily solving away. Then the lightbulb moment. I have to blog this today as the 2Ks are otherwise engaged. So stop dawdling and do so. Here is the result. Continue reading “DT 29105”
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
An enjoyable but not overtaxing puzzle in which, for me, no particular clue stands out. Continue reading “Toughie 2263”
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome. This week I felt that we’re back to near average difficulty and enjoyment. I particularly liked the smooth surfaces on several of the clues.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
What a weekend for music. Neil Young and Bob Dylan at Hyde Park on Friday. Billy Bragg and Van Morrison with others on Saturday at the Cadogan Hall. Continue reading “DT 29103”