Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
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.
If this is your first time, or for more information about this site, please click on Continue reading “Welcome”
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
Kcit set us a crossword which I thought was about right for a Wednesday Toughie – the poor old repetition radar does, however, need a new battery after bleeping several times during the solving process Continue reading “Toughie 3790”
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. I found today’s puzzle to be suitably tricky for a Wednesday: some artistic, geographical and literary general knowledge is required, and there are one or two rather 17d words. Amongst my favourite clues were 8d, 13d, 15d and 23d, but tying for top spot today are 6d and 10a. I also liked the Quickie pun. Many thanks to our setter.
Sunday Toughie No 249 by Zandio
Full Review by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 01/11/26
We have a very enjoyable Zandio puzzle this week.
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 249 (full review)”
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 1st November 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. An excellent Sunday puzzle of Dada that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and important feedback. Continue reading “ST 3393 (Full Review)”
Toughie No 3789 by Shabbo
Hints and tips by Whybird
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty */2 – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from the Wirral. Grey, still and a little chilly today. At least that means the leaves are falling and staying put instead of being blown into the foliage trap that is my garden. Even the local tawny owls seem to have given up, and I had plenty of 8d opportunities to hear them overnight courtesy of Lord Alfie demanding to be let out.
Shabbo has given us a typically enjoyable and well-clued puzzle today, although I didn’t find it tough at all. Before tackling the puzzle, ensure you have scissors, a craft knife or something similar to hand – there is a fair amount of pruning to be done. 13a, 15a, 24d all occupy my podium places today, with 24d in top spot. Many thanks to Shabbo for easing us into the Toughie Week.
Please let us know how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
A chilly start here in Harpenden so there will be plenty of layers on for this afternoon’s game of ⛳️ which we should manage to complete in the dry before the arrival of a big bank of rain heading our way from the SW.
I thought today’s bit of Plumbing at the easy end of the Tuesday spectrum & certainly more straightforward than Heron’s puzzle yesterday. I’ll be interested to hear what others make of it because while it was pleasant enough I thought it lacked a bit of AP’s usual sparkle.
For any looking for a further challenge I’d strongly recommend Shabbo’s offering over in t’other place which is his usual classy puzzle & perfect for any looking to dip their toes into deeper waters – guaranteed not to get over waist height though. Whybird will be on hand to throw a rubber ring in if required.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Ottawa, where we have been enjoying a warmer than normal autumn although the weather is taking us on a bit of a roller coaster ride with record-setting temperatures in the mid-twenties one day followed by single digit readings the next.
On Wednesday, we will mark Remembrance Day in Canada. In Ottawa, it is a custom to place one’s commemorative poppy on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier following the ceremony at the Cenotaph.
I found today’s puzzle a bit challenging to complete although I couldn’t understand why in retrospect while composing the hints. I think having had a restless sleep the night before combined with getting a late start on the puzzle combined to put me off my game.
To me, it doesn’t feel like a Her on Monday creation but I’ll check Bluesky in the morning to be sure.
In the hints below, underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions, FODDER is capitalized, and indicators are italicized. The answers will be revealed by clicking on the ANSWER buttons.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Sunday Toughie No 250
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Twm/Light has given me a lot of musical opportunities and I have taken quite a few. I have spoilered quite a lot of them so only click if you want to see the answer.
The acrosses in the NW corner slowed me last night. I am cowed by the recoil from thinking that the seaboard status of Liverpool and a reversal of Oliver Hardy led me to think Portillo was a socialist!
I hope you find the checkers to cross the line too, but as usual I will try and give a nudge if asked.
Here we go, Folks…
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
The nicknames given to professional darts players encompass the trivial (‘Chizzy’ for Dave Chisnall and ‘Webby’ for Mark Webster), the distinctly unsubtle (‘Voltage’ for former electrician Rob Cross and ‘The Flying Scotsman’ for Musselburgh’s Gary Anderson, albeit something of an upgrade on his previous moniker, ‘Dreamboy’), and the plain weird (‘Darth Maple’ for Canadian John Part).
