Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Measured as a Toughie, I found this to be fairly easy. Less experienced solvers may think differently if they haven’t previously seen constructs like shopper = one who shops or betrays (13a), near meaning tight or miserly (1d), and splitting the answer to 9d as (3-11). Continue reading “Toughie 2366”
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BD Rating - Difficulty ** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone. Today's fun puzzle brought to mind that "puzzle of two halves" cliché. The top opened up nicely, suggesting that perfection might be attainable, but then the bottom put up some resistance and it took sustained effort to get that filled. That thought made me wonder where the original "game of two halves" cliché originated. The best that the internet can offer is that it originates in 1980s football commentary, but that its creator remains a mystery. Anybody know who was responsible for it? The Google Ngram viewer agrees with the internet, with its data showing appearances in print of the phrase taking off from the early 1980s. There is also a flurry of appearances around 1940. I wonder what that was about? Continue reading "DT 29259"
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from a very wet downtown LI. Where nothing has happened to disturb the peace. The river rose up and burst its banks but politely went back down again quite quickly. Your reviewer binged out on the weekend’s rugby matches while Saint Sharon fed 37 members of The Napton Golf Society a three-course dinner. Best keep out of the way I thought. So I did. Continue reading “DT 29258”
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A message from Guardian setter Boatman:
Important Update – 25-03-2020
In light of the current travel restrictions during the Covid-19 outbreak, my spring masterclass will take place online. The contents of the class will be essentially the same, including individual advice and the same extensive course materials, and there’ll be plenty of interaction with other participants. We’ll also be able to allow the class to run on a little longer than normal in order to allow more time for questions, and I’ll pass on any savings in the costs of venue hire and catering, which means that the cost will be £125 per person instead of the usual £150.
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As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.… Continue reading
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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 *****
If you are wondering about the significance of the perimeter Nina, think about that pub game featuring a 2d and remember that this is Elgar’s 140th Telegraph Toughie.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from South Staffs on a bright and breezy morning.… Continue reading