August 2025 – Page 2 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Month: August 2025

DT 31016

by Senf  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31016

Hints and tips by Senf

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

A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg.

For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), well, at one point I thought we were heading for a pangram but, unless my eyes are deceiving me, which is quite possible, there is no Q or X. Nevertheless (a wonderful word), a very enjoyable, not too challenging midweek puzzle. Hudson perhaps.

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DT 31015

by Huntsman  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31015
Hints and tips by Huntsman

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

It’s reasonably bright for the moment here in Harpenden but the forecast says there’s some much needed wet stuff due to arrive before too long.

If SJB’s comment yesterday is correct then fans of Anthony Plumb have a double dose of plumbing to enjoy today as one of his puzzles features in the last of Vintage series. No idea if I reviewed it (if so can’t recall it) but it was a light delight which I completed a good bit quicker than this one. I thought today’s puzzle extremely enjoyable with some excellent surfaces reads & a good splash of humour.

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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DT 31014

by Falcon  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31014

Hints and tips by Falcon

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

Greetings from Ottawa, where I find myself having returned from my lakeside retreat due to a medical appointment in the morning. You are getting a second dose of me in succession to allow Smylers to enjoy the bank holiday with his family. He will fill in for me next week which will be a holiday here in Canada.

I won’t venture to identify the setter of this puzzle which seems to be a departure from the style of those we are accustomed to seeing. In any event, it proved to be a very enjoyable solve; but then, I am very partial to cryptic definitions of which this puzzle contains many. Several of the cryptic definitions contain an embedded precise definition together with some cryptic elaboration. I have indicated this by marking the entire clue as a cryptic definition (dotted underline) as well as marking the precise definition (solid underline).

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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