Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Beam is Ray Terrell, who also sets regular cryptics which are usually published on Thursdays
Toughie No 3023 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Beam makes his regular appearance in the Thursday Toughie slot – thanks to him for today’s enjoyable puzzle. The absence of anagrams in his puzzles does sometimes make the parsing easier – I would probably have tried to make an anagram of 8d, for instance, if the setter had been someone else.… Continue reading
Toughie No 3007 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
Beam is being pretty gentle with us today. Thanks to him for the enjoyment.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.… Continue reading
Toughie No 2991 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
Last Thursday we had eleven anagrams in the Firefly Toughie, this week Beam has given us his usual ration of zero. Variety is the spice of life.
I thought that Beam was being rather gentle with us today with only the wader being a new word for me.… Continue reading
Toughie No 2975 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
We know what to expect from Beam and he’s given us an entertaining though not too tricky puzzle. Many thanks to him and it’s good to learn from 24d that he’s in good shape.… Continue reading
Toughie No 2959 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***/****
We have an enjoyable puzzle from Beam with his usual economy of words (no clue contains more than six words which is a remarkable feat). Thanks to him.… Continue reading
Toughie No 2943 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
Beam provides, as is his usual, an entertaining but not too tricky puzzle. Thanks to him.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.… Continue reading
Toughie No 2927 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Thanks to Beam for another enjoyable and not too tricky puzzle. Most of his trademarks are here but there’s no Queen for understandable reasons and no sweetheart.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of it..… Continue reading
Toughie No 2911 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Beam has given us a Toughie which is right at the easier end of his spectrum – thanks to him. The puzzle contains a number of what you might think of as either old chestnuts or well-loved clues.… Continue reading
Toughie No 2895 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
This was definitely at the easier end of Beam’s range and, apart from the absence of anagrams, could well have appeared as a Ray T production. So I hope those many Ray T aficionados who steer clear of Toughies will give this one a go – I think that they’ll enjoy it.… Continue reading
Toughie No 2879 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
It’s Beam’s turn for the Thursday Toughie this week and he’s given us a fairly gentle one. Thanks to him.
In terms of difficulty this week’s Toughies seem to have been scheduled in reverse order though I’m pretty sure that Elgar will buck the trend tomorrow.… Continue reading