Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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You have reached the world’s biggest and best crossword blog. If you are looking for help with the Daily and Sunday Telegraph cryptic crosswords or the Enigmatic Variations advanced cryptic, a total of 13 puzzles a week, then you have come to the right place.
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Toughie No 3359 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Beam brings his usual assortment of enjoyable clues (and a few suggestive surfaces) to the party today. Thanks to him.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.
Continue reading “Toughie 3359”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ***/****
The sun is shining & I’m resolved to venture back out onto the golf course for the first time since my tumble. The ribs are still not 100% so if the drugs don’t work I may not last the full 18 holes.
Continue reading “DT 30747”
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment *****
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Kia ora from Aotearoa.
More birds from us today. We cannot see into the Welcome Swallows’ nest that we spoke about without disturbing them, but from the feverish activities of the parents and urgent chirping from the nest we assume that there are little nestlings there now. We also admire all the families of ducklings on the ponds we walk past most days. It doesn’t pay to count the number in each clutch as the ponds are also home to some rather hungry eels. It’s often a case of “ten little….nine little……eight little…..etc” but guess that’s life.
Anyway, back to the puzzle. Once again a few tricky bits in this one for us.
Sunday Toughie No 141 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 6th of October 2024
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This puzzle was published on 6th October 2024
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***/****
Ever so friendly from Dada today, his gentlest in an age. Very sharp, very clean. I really hope some of the non-Toughie crowd give it a go as there’s really nothing here that we don’t see every Sunday.
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30745
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Huntsman and I have swapped days this week, so I am doing today and he will do Thursday. Don’t worry – this is a one-off and you will have both of us back in our rightful spots next week.
We are currently away on our twice yearly birding fix in North Norfolk staying in an apartment overlooking the harbour in Wells-next-the-Sea. The pink foot geese are just starting to arrive apparently – I haven’t seen any yet. Today at RSPB Titchwell, we ticked off kingfisher, rock pipit, bearded tit, spoonbill, cetti’s warbler, hen harrier and, of course, loads of marsh harriers. This evening I managed to catch up with the pallid harrier at Warham Greens.
Anyway, enough about birds (although I know Jane will be interested). I found today’s puzzle fairly straightforward – just right for a Tuesday. 20d was my LOI – my excuse being that there are so many wines to choose from!
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Continue reading “DT 30745”
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Hola from Almoradí for what will be the last time. Yes, having been doing this job on and off since 2 March 2011 I’ve finally decided that it’s time to throw in the towel. It’s been fun over the years but recently I find my heart is no longer in it so I’ll pass the blog seat on to someone else.
As to the puzzle our setter has provided a corker for my last review. I thought I’d cleaned the across clues but on coming to solve 3d I realised I had a wrong answer in 15a. Shows you should fully parse an answer before putting it in. I bet I’m not the only one who fell into this trap.
Continue reading “DT 30744”