February 2025 – Page 6 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Month: February 2025

DT 30846

by Smylers  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30846

Hints and tips by Smylers

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***

Hello to everybody who’s had a go at today’s Telegraph Crossword. If you’re stuck on a clue or puzzled by an answer, the hints and explanations below should help. And remember, don’t apologise or feel bad for looking at a hint: that’s what they are for! If it weren’t for Big Dave setting up this site and bloggers providing hints, I wouldn’t be able to solve cryptic crosswords now. Those dabbling in cryptic puzzles, and those completely baffled, are just as welcome to join in with the comments as the experienced solvers who haven’t required a Monday hint in years. It’s always lovely to receive comments. Please see the etiquette guide to avoid any faux pas.

The definition part of each clue is underlined. The (except this one) blobs are hiding the answers, so despite what they are instructing you to do, feel free to only actually click on them if you wish to see an answer.

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Sunday Toughie 159 (Hints)

by Sloop John Bee  

Sunday Toughie No 159

by Beam

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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Beam has brought us his third Sunday Toughie. I found a couple of “traps” for the unwary and some tricky parsings here, but I think I have them all right now. Trademarks abound (less than 5.35 words per clue, single-word answers, the Queen and sweetheart, lurkers and initial letters too.)

I hope one of my usual commenters spots the name check in 16d and Senf gets a first name check too 10a!

A generous 16a and 16d clues today and I have hinted 7 of each – leaving me the scope for a bonus nudge or two if you ask

Here we go, Folks…

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EV 1681 (Hints)

by Gabriel  

Enigmatic Variations 1681 (Hints)
Not Mentioned by Kcit
Hints and tips by Gabriel

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Kcit is also Phi and is based in NZ – thus the pseudonymic inversion I assume – and a prolific setter (e.g. Listener, Inquisitor and the dailies).  He tends to be very fair, rigorous and on the harder end of the spectrum.  The title is tantalizing and it only made sense once I had made some sense of the theme. Actually that’s pretty typical for me.  Some people though seem to be able to telepathically infer the theme from the title alone which of course accelerates the solving process. I invariably find that it’s the last piece of the jigsaw that clicks into place.  In this case, I speculated that it had something to do with “unmentionables”.  

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ST 3303 (Hints)

by Senf  

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3303 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg, where I am still reflecting on the significant moments of my visit to the old country – arrival at the gate at Terminal 4 to driving away from Heathrow in my Avis rental car in record time with minimal time in passport control and the baggage hall; seeing my Big Sister at home looking much better than she did last October in St George’s Hospital, Tooting; a sideswipe from Storm Eowwyn and a full on hit from Storm Herminia while in Somerset;  a very enjoyable Birthday Bash, meeting and re-meeting a wide cross section of our community; and last but by no means least the rendezvous with ‘The Pink Lady’ at Liverpool Street Station – thankfully there was only one ‘Pink Lady’; I was concerned that if there were two or more I might pick the wrong one and get whacked around the head with a weighty handbag for my troubles.… Continue reading