Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Puzzles that are only available on the Telegraph Puzzles website – these puzzles have not been published in the printed newspaper.
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *
I feel like Scrooge today. I usually look forward to the Christmas, online only, Toughie but I found this to be a lack-lustre slog, unlike the Double Toughie which I have completed but am still trying to resolve some of the wordplay (is it me, or is the anagram in 4 Across flawed – I am missing an “O” and have a spare “I”?… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Cor blimey me, as if I aven’t got enough to do this morning after me busiest night of the year. Them reindeer don’t look after themselves you know and Mrs Christmas wants her insatiability sorting if you know what I mean.… Continue reading
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This puzzle was published on Sunday 25th December
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Perfect Christmas morning entertainment, with some very nice themed clues. I’m going to select 13a, 4d, 6df and 15d for ‘special mention’
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****
The puzzle can be found under the Giant General Knowledge menu as No 100,008 and the solution can be found under the Giant General Knowledge menu as No 1,100,008
From clues to the eight answers entered in cells shaded grey, a consecutive arrangement of the (3-7 inclusive) letters of one member of a thematic octet must be removed before solving.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Mynot provides us with a seasonal offering that won’t delay you long from your present unwrapping or festive food and drink consumption. The only chestnuts to be found here are a couple of the old friends of the cryptic crossword solver. … Continue reading
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An unusually early Christmas lunch, to accommodate Son of BD who is working 2:00 pm till 9:00 pm today, has delayed these hints.
This puzzle is only available online as there are no newspapers today.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
Season’s Greetings from a wet Warrington! Merry Christmas to you all and here’s Elgar’s annual seasonal offering which is probably one of his more accessible puzzles.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas to all of you! I have just spent 3 hours opening presents with two excited kids and some Prosecco. Today Shamus gives a lovely seasonal puzzle which I rated 3* for difficulty (although I did need Mr Google more than once and I got stuck not knowing a river – many thanks to Gazza and BD for bailing me out).… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning and Merry Christmas from South Staffs on a damp grey morning, with the promise of more rain to come. But the turkey’s in the oven, the family has gathered, and small grand-daughter is anxious for the present distribution to start.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** + – Enjoyment *****
Down answers, all thematic, are similarly treated before entry. 7 Down divides them into two categories (one for each Grid), which turn out suitably labelled. Clues for symmetrically-opposite Downs (each consisting of a definition to the full answer and wordplay/letter-count for the entry), are run together in either order, though it should become clear which answer belongs to which Grid.… Continue reading