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”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31103 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by Cryptic-Sloop John Bee)
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
Sloop here again, I thought I might have had to go down on bended knee to be here again, but I guess that Sue’s is still a bit sensitive to knee comments.
Five linked solutions that are anagrams or partial anagrams have curtailed my hinting of 14a and 16d clues today, but I hope you find enough checkers to fill the lights.
I’m providing hints for what I consider to be some of the harder clues. If you’re really stuck on one of the clues I haven’t hinted I may provide a bit more help. However, I have to take Mama Bee out Christmas shopping/coffee drinking, so beware of the naughty step, as no cake is available.
Please check out Rahmat Ali’s review on Friday; they are always informative and worth a read. They will explain this clever puzzle much more than I can in the hints.
Continue reading “DT 31103 (Hints)”
Toughie No 3596 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Thanks to Sparks for an enjoyable puzzle.
When I was writing in the answers I noticed the number of high-scoring letters in Scrabble and thought that we might be heading for a triple pangram. Actually we seem to be a single Q short of the triple so only have a still impressive double pangram.
Continue reading “Toughie 3596”
+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - +
BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. Today we have an enjoyable pangram. I have no idea who created it, so I hope they drop in later to claim it. Continue reading "DT 31102"
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 29th November 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment *****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice, lovely Saturday puzzle from a special team that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31097 (Full Review)”
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****/*****
I didn’t really need the byline – this was very, very Dharma. As ever, the definitions leapt out and the surfaces told stories, but some parsing needed (a little) teasing. There’s a pleasingly sporty flavour – football, rugby, racing, athletics, golf and tennis all get a look-in. But (I don’t think 3d really counts) no cricket? For shame! Cracking entertainment. All yours. Continue reading “Toughie 3595”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31101
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
As I write, this, I have one eye on the cricket on the iPad. Who says men can’t multi-task? Mind you, if Brook attempts another ramp shot like that, the laptop might go out of the window!
Back to the puzzle. Despite the notable absence of the Queen, this is definitely a RayT production. He has even signed it with his alter ego at 4a. Elegant and concise as ever and not too difficult. My podium comprises 6a, 24a and 23d.
Many thanks to RayT and to the DT Crossword Team.
Toughie No 3594 by Prime
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers. It’s me again on Wednesday Toughie duty, stepping in for ALP/CS.
Pleasant Prime puzzle, perfectly pitched, posing particularly proficient problems. 17a was a new word for me, but it is fairly clued. The Barking dialect at 24a and the famous mother-in-law at 5d are my joint favourites.
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.
Many thanks to Prime and to the DT Crossword Team.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
A very good Wednesday morning from wherever I am. Oh, I remember, I am back in Winnipeg after my flying visit to Somerset which went something like this – flight delays; horrendous traffic on the M25 trying to escape from Heathrow at 3:00pm on a Friday afternoon; no access to hotel until quite late because of a Christmas Market; a beautiful wedding; meeting my two year old great-great-niece for the first time; an attempted murder; getting back to Heathrow much easier than getting away from it; more flight delays; arriving home at zero dark thirty yesterday morning.
For me, etc© (I have to say that for Terence), a very enjoyable puzzle which was just right for me as I might be suffering from jet lag and that will be the reason if you find any errors. We seem to be alternating between two setters on a Wednesday. I have a 28a left over from my visit to Somerset that is telling me that this is a Twmbarlwm production.