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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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
Typically clever constructions from Karla that were made gentler by fair, smart definitions. I was vaguely aware of 3d but 9d (generously clued) was, of course, new to me. Nor did I know that 20d was defunct (“archaic” in Collins, “old” in Chambers). Presumably we can’t say lashings of ginger beer anymore either! The floor is yours.
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31373
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ****
We have an entertaining puzzle today with a mixture of pretty straightforward clues and a few needing a bit more thought. Many thanks to our setter.
Continue reading “DT 31383”
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
A lovely sunny morning brings us an enjoyable Toughie from Silvanus
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. I found today’s puzzle to be quite a head-scratcher, and a definite step up in difficulty compared with yesterday. I needed several checkers to get the two long anagrams, 10a and 26a. They are both on my crowded podium today, which also includes the lurkers in 1a and 8a, and the draught-excluding PM in 20a. Many thanks to our setter, who (judging by the suggestions in yesterday’s Toughie blog) may very well be Hudson.
Sunday Toughie No 247 by Silvanus
Full Review by Gazza
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This puzzle was published on 18/10/26
Silvanus has provided a very entertaining Toughie this week.
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 247 (full review)”
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This puzzle was published on 18th October 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A lovely and gentle 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 3391 (Full Review)”
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Whybird’s been snaffled by jury service, so I’m afraid you’ve got me instead. Still, Hudson’s appearance should be a nice surprise: entertainingly cosy and very Tuesday. There’s a faint whisper of vocab – 23a rang a vague bell but 13a was new to me. Both are, of course, gift-wrapped and, as ever, it all reads beautifully. The floor is yours.
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***/****
After a pretty miserable start to the morning it has brightened up nicely here in Harpenden so I might even venture out onto the course this afternoon to see quite how sodden it is.
Today’s Anthony Plumb production wasn’t quite, for me at least, the Quickie pun that I found yesterday’s puzzle. I’d still judge it typically Tuesdayish and as ever it was nicely clued throughout & very enjoyable. I look forward to seeing what others make of it.
Hudson is on duty over in t’other place with his usual delightful & very accessible puzzle to kick off the new Toughie week. Whybird is on jury service so ALP is back in his old slot with, no doubt, an eclectic assortment of tunes.
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.
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Ottawa, where one of the major events of the week was the final match in a Test series in women’s rugby between Canada and England’s Red Roses. Canada had won the previous match last week in Toronto. Could they possibly defeat the reigning world champions a second time?
I am always pleased when the UK finally gets around to reverting to standard time, restoring the normal five hour time differential with Ottawa. However, it appears that Telegraph Towers didn’t get the memo as the puzzle was released an hour late thus negating the gain arising from the time change. Fortunately, the puzzle was a fairly quick solve. Is it an offering from Heron? I expect Bluesky will provide the answer.
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.