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 – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ***
A beautifully sunny day here in Harpenden so a good afternoon walk beckons later this afternoon.
Today’s offering from the Prof is a typically enjoyable & reasonably gentle affair that ought not to pose too many issues. As ever the (hopefully correct) hints are provided along with the usual assortment of music clips. I’m not 100% confident about the Quickie pun (unless it’s enunciated by Jonathan Ross or Lucy Worsley) but can’t see owt else it could be.
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 we find ourselves in the midst of a gorgeous spell of weather with temperatures in the mid 20s and not forecast to hit either the sizzling highs or frigid lows that Winnipeg is expecting this week as Senf reported yesterday. It is Tulip Festival time and the beautiful blooms are everywhere. The festival is especially meaningful this year coming on the heels of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands to which the event is so closely tied having been born out of the gift of tulip bulbs from the people of the Netherlands as a gesture of thanks to Canada for our leading role in the liberation of their country and for providing sanctuary to the Dutch royal family during the Second World War.
I suspect we owe our appreciation for this puzzle to X-Type, although my setter identification skills have often been proven sadly lacking. For those like myself who are partial to cryptic definitions, this was a real treat.
I must also express my appreciation to Senf for the answer to the Quickie pun. It was a true “phone a friend” (or, rather, email a friend) situation as the river at 8d would have frozen over before I got it on my own.
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.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought of the puzzle.
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Before we get going on the hints, I have a favour to ask. I have managed to secure a ticket to see Bruce Springsteen in Liverpool on the 7th of June, and although I should be home in the wee small hours of Sunday the 8th it is also my birthday😁🎂, and I am looking for a volunteer to hint the Sunday Toughie that day. I will probably be tired/hungover but will be trying to solve myself so I can assist if required.
I started slowly last night but picked up the pace as checkers and linked clues helped. there are 14a and 14d clues today and I have hited half, further nudges may be available if you ask
Here we go…
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I thought I’d give ChatGPT a chance to impress, asking “A themed crossword tells us that the grid will represent the situation approaching halfway through the final scene of an opera. Can you suggest some operas where this point might be significant?”
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where, not helping with the wildfire situation, after a very pleasant 24 degrees yesterday the forecast is for 34 or 35 degrees today, tomorrow, and Tuesday and then the Mercury falls out of the bottom of the thermometer as we are forecast to ‘sink’ to 5 (yes five) degrees on Friday – fortunately the Red Scarf has not yet been put at the back of the wardrobe for the Summer.
For me, and I stress for me, in his own way, Dada quirkily friendly. Two long ‘uns, seven anagrams (all partials!), two lurkers (one reversed), and no homophones all in a symmetric 29 clues; with 14, plus 1 bonus, hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 20a, 23a, 25a, 3d, 7d, and 16d.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30923 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by Gazza)
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Crypticsue is having a day off so it’s down to me to provide a few hints for the Saturday Prize Puzzle.
I don’t think there’s much doubt about the identity of today’s setter and he’s given us a very entertaining puzzle. I especially liked 23a and 11d.
Continue reading “DT 30923 (Hints)”
Toughie No 3476 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***/****
Sparks has given us an enjoyable but not too tough pangram today. Thanks to him.
Continue reading “Toughie 3476”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30922
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Apologies, but here I am again, standing in for Mr K who is under the weather. Get well soon.
I found this a bit of a head scratcher, but looking back, progress was actually quite steady, if a bit on the slow side. Of course this is nothing to do with an evening out last night with my brother and son around the wonderful pubs of historic St Albans.
I thought this was a lovely Friday puzzle, with ticks throughout. 1a was a great way to start and gets my CoD today, just beating 10a.
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. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Many thanks to our setter and the DT Crossword Team.