Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
I thought that this was just the right level of difficulty for a midweek Toughie with some excellent attempted misdirections and some very smooth surface readings. I enjoyed it a lot (and it’s a pangram).
Continue reading “Toughie 1103”
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
No holdups in this straightforward puzzle from Jay.
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
This puzzle appeared in today’s newspaper as Toughie 1109 – it was originally scheduled for Friday 27th December. The Kcit puzzle Numbered 1102, which was published on the website, has been withdrawn and replaced by this puzzle by Notabilis. The Kcit puzzle will be reviewed when it is published in the newspaper at a later date. Confused? Join the queue.
Getting a Notabilis puzzle on a Tuesday is a Brucie Bonus for me. Some of the wordplay took a bit of headscratching, especially 28 across, but that didn’t take away from the sheer enjoyment.
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment **
This is a very straightforward puzzle which should leave plenty of time for Christmas shopping. As always, a comment from you would be very welcome.
Continue reading “DT 27363”
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
The usual fun puzzle from the Monday Maestro. I paused only on 14 across, but I don’t think it can be anything other than the answer I have given.
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There’s still time to have a go at our December Prize puzzle.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a number of the more difficult clues and provide hints for them.
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Don’t forget the December Prize Puzzle.
Congratulations to Hieroglyph on his national debut in The Independent today. Online users will have to wait a further week as the Indy doesn’t publish prize puzzles on their website until after the closing date. His NTSPP puzzle, originally scheduled for today, has, by mutual consent, been postponed until a later date. His next NTSPP puzzle will be a New Year special on 4th January 2014.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, an assortment of clues, including some of the more difficult ones, have been selected and hints provided for them.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from the Calder Valley and thanks to BD and Cryptic sue for helping out over the past two weeks while I’ve been getting ready for my forthcoming stay at Calderdale’s finest NHS facility (“Number One in a field of one”).
Firefly is here today, and to be fair it’s one of the gentler Friday Toughies, but given the onslaught of seasonal challenges we will face over the next few weeks that is probably no bad thing. Nothing too challenging here but quite enjoyable. There is a sort of gimmick with some of the clues having a similar endings that provide definitions, although one doesn’t which misleads nicely. Favourite clues are 6d, 18 ac and 17dn.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from South Staffs on an overcast morning, as England yet again fail to bowl out the Australians.
I solved this crossword late last night after a long day, which may account for me taking just into *** time. Although there are no obscure words, I found it took a little while to get a foothold. Thanks to Giovanni for the challenge.