Big Dave's Crossword Blog – Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English

 Welcome

Welcome to Big Dave’s Crossword Blog

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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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DT 31175 (Full Review)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31175

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 28th February 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty **Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A highly entertaining Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31175 (Full Review)”

Toughie 3647

Toughie No 3647 by Beam
Hints and tips by ALP

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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * Enjoyment ***/****

It’s Beam, so you know what to expect – sweethearts, a Queen, a flurry of imaginative synonyms and no anagrams. Over to you.

Continue reading “Toughie 3647”

DT 31178

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31178
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh

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BD Rating – Difficulty **  Enjoyment ****

Good morning from a sunny and springlike South Hampshire.  Once again we have an excellent midweek puzzle, with some cracking clues.  This was the hardest of the week for me so far, mainly because it took me a while to identify the Russian spymaster in 3d.  The clues that made it to my (somewhat overcrowded) podium today were 4a, 9a, 2d, 14d and 19d, with 9a the winner by a whisker. Many thanks to today’s setter.

Continue reading “DT 31178”