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 ****
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”
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I made slow progress getting into this puzzle, although on looking back it is difficult to see why. It is certainly not one of the usual fluffy Tuesday Toughies. Continue reading “Toughie 2355”
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Dada occupies the Tuesday Toughie slot this week with a fairly easy puzzle. I did have to look up the flowers in 13 Across, but the wordplay led straightforwardly to the answer. Continue reading “Toughie 2335”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
An entertaining puzzle, as we have come to expect from this setter. Continue reading “Toughie 2315”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
The days of Fluffy Tuesdays seem to be history. While not the toughest of puzzles, this one was certainly challenging. Continue reading “Toughie 2295”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
Why do setters use words like river, author etc. as definitions where there are thousands of possible answers? For me this puzzle was spoiled by an excess of General Knowledge, hence the reduction in enjoyment rating from four to two stars. Continue reading “Toughie 2279”