Comments on: Toughie 249 http://bigdave44.com/2009/11/11/toughie-249/ Putting the words to lights - crossword clues explained in plain English Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:42:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: gazza http://bigdave44.com/2009/11/11/toughie-249/#comment-8090 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:22:18 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=7315#comment-8090 castorfool
If you equate spot with little (e.g. as in “a spot of lunch”) and you then reverse both parts of the answer, as indicated by contrariwise, then spot becomes lot and less becomes more.

]]> By: nanaglugglug http://bigdave44.com/2009/11/11/toughie-249/#comment-8089 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:14:16 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=7315#comment-8089 Quite enjoyed this, maybe because I could actually complete it without too much help

]]> By: castorfool http://bigdave44.com/2009/11/11/toughie-249/#comment-8088 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:11:38 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=7315#comment-8088 14a) still not sure about!
As an early (unchecked) answer I thought that DUSTLESS was a very good answer.

Cheers all…

]]> By: Big Boab http://bigdave44.com/2009/11/11/toughie-249/#comment-8069 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:32:53 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=7315#comment-8069 I did not enjoy this either, in fact both this and the cryptic were very disappointing, I agree with Prolixic, none of the clues merited a special mention. ( I stress that this is only my personal opinion lest I again get taken to task) I know that Excalibur will set us a much more enjoyable crossword in the future as I’m a great fan normally.

]]> By: tilsit http://bigdave44.com/2009/11/11/toughie-249/#comment-8063 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:16:22 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=7315#comment-8063 Again better than recent offerings from this setter. Really don’t like the clue device at 26a, and it seems that Excalibur doesn’t like grids that allow you to have first letters of answers.

]]> By: Prolixic http://bigdave44.com/2009/11/11/toughie-249/#comment-8061 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:38:53 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=7315#comment-8061 This was not an overly difficult crossword and there was a lot more variety in the cluing than the previous Excalibur. Today’s puzzle reminded me a lot of her former Sunday Telegraph puzzles. No one clue stood out as a favourite.

]]> By: Libellule http://bigdave44.com/2009/11/11/toughie-249/#comment-8056 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:48:15 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=7315#comment-8056 Gazza,
Not overly complicated, and a bit sloppy in parts, but when I did this I wasn’t sure who the setter was. Which has to mean (from my perspective) a huge improvement in the quality of the crossword.

]]> By: jezza http://bigdave44.com/2009/11/11/toughie-249/#comment-8055 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:41:05 +0000 http://bigdave44.com/?p=7315#comment-8055 This seemed to me like a slightly more tricky cryptic… similar to yesterday’s offering, and not overly Tough!

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