Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
ProXimal is Steve Bartlett, who sets crosswords for The Independent as eXternal (which he first used in our NTSPP series), and for the Financial Times as arteXlen.
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
proXimal provides a welcome respite from the usual tortuous Friday toughie. Once I had a way in, this went fairly smoothly. NW was last. Nice smooth surfaces
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Nice and easy suits me fine today, I’ve hardly slept. Continue reading “Toughie 3092”
Toughie No 3043 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Thanks to proXimal for an enjoyable Toughie.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.
Across Clues
8a African beast hide acquired by charity almost breaking ethical pledge (11,4)
HIPPOCRATIC OATH: start with a large African beast and add a verb to hide or cover inside an anagram (breaking) of CHARIT[y].… Continue reading
Toughie No 3019 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Thanks to proXimal for today’s Toughie which I enjoyed deciphering.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.
Across Clues
1a Go over city crime arrests (5)
RECAP: a slang word for a crime contains the postal area of the City of London.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
Sometimes it takes me a while to get on to proXimal’s wavelength. Luckily, he has included a number of easier clues to get you started, much appreciated!
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *****
I’m never quite sure what awaits me with proXimal, so I was quite happy this was not overly difficult. A very enjoyable puzzle with smooth clues
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Toughie No 2955 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
I started this at the speed of an arthritic snail but very gradually speeded up and ended in a rush. Thanks to proXimal for the enjoyable challenge.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.… Continue reading
Toughie No 2935 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
This is just the sort of Toughie I like with the toughness coming from clever wordplay and deceptive definitions rather than obscurities. Many thanks to the prolific proXimal.… Continue reading
Toughie No 2919 by proXimal
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Many thanks to proXimal for today’s workout.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.
Across Clues
7a Vulgar female dismissed by Nemo, perhaps (8)
CLOWNISH: start with the type of creature that Nemo is in the animated Disney film (Clownfish) and remove the abbreviation for female.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
proXimal likes to send our brains out synonym searching, something I’m not very good at. Nonetheless, I found a solid foothold in SW and slowly climbed the grid
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading