Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Dada is John Halpern, who also sets as Paul in The Guardian
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
The days when you could guarantee an easy Toughie on a Tuesday seem well gone. This was of middling difficulty, with several long answers and some of what were, for me at least, obscurities (the aromatic plant, the design and the Indian state, although I had heard of the latter) and a sprinkling of General Knowledge. Continue reading “Toughie 2526”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I found this a very straightforward solve today. Possibly helped by using an iPad which makes everything about filling in a grid so much easier and neater. Hopefully the inclusion of The Toughie in the newspaper app will lead to more people attempting the Toughie puzzles. If you are new to Toughie solving please let us know how you are getting on with them. Continue reading “Toughie 2502”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from the village of Barrel where one falls asleep looking at Saturn and Jupiter and wakens to Magpies. Dozens of them. Downtown L I it ain’t but we are getting used to it. Continue reading “Toughie 2490”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Yet another Toughie from our Sunday setter that makes you think, but is still solvable. Continue reading “Toughie 2470”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Certainly not a Floughie, but an enjoyable Toughie. The highlight of this puzzle must surely be 3 Down. Continue reading “Toughie 2454”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Dada continues to demonstrate the Fluffy Tuesday is a thing of the past as far as he is concerned. Continue reading “Toughie 2438”
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
I found this to be an excellent Toughie with the only obscurity for me being the biochemical compound, which was easily derived from the wordplay and rang a bell in the back of my mind when I had solved it.
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
I enjoyed the challenge so much that I have given this puzzle a rare (for me) enjoyment rating of five stars. 11a was new to me, but derivable from the wordplay and the checking letters. Continue reading “Toughie 2414”
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
For the first time in ages, I have failed to parse one of today’s clues. The definition of 16d was reasonably easy, but the wordplay has eluded me. Continue reading “Toughie 2398”
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
Yet another Tuesday Toughie that could not be described as fluffy! I enjoyed this puzzle, and found it to be very fair – I even forgave the slightly dubious definition, “nutritionally, something for youth, it’s said“, of 28 across. Continue reading “Toughie 2370”