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.
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
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
A welcome medium-difficulty puzzle from proXimal. Continue reading “Toughie 2860”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
An accessible puzzle with plenty of innovative clueing. It’s been a while since I have blogged a proXimal, nice to see him again.
Please leave a comment telling us how you did and what you thought.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
proXimal is one of my favourite setters. Thanks to him for an enjoyable and X-less puzzle.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I do enjoy a bout with proXimal and I found this quite tricky especially in my last (South-East) corner. Thanks to him for the puzzle.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I do like the cryptic description of our setter at 5d in today’s back-pager. He’s given us an enjoyable puzzle but his usual MO of having either no X at all or a single X in each quadrant seems to have been abandoned.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
The Telegraph’s usual (very convoluted) method of informing on-line subscribers of the identities of the compilers of the Toughie puzzles has failed this week so I’m not certain of today’s setter, though I have a strong suspicion.… Continue reading