Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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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), somewhat of a challenge. I am not very good at ‘guessing the setter’ on a Wednesday but I am inclined to consider that this is the work of Twmbarlwm.
Sunday Toughie No 196 by proXimal
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 26th of October 2025
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This puzzle was published on 26th October 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
Toughie No 3577 by Donnybrook
Hints and tips by Whybird
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment *****
Welcome to the Toughie Week! Well, the hawfinches might not have been obliging, but RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands has delivered a very showy bittern and a closing time/dusk glossy ibis so not all of my feathered friends are avoiding me.
This is very much a Toughie from Donnybrook, to whom many thanks for the challenge. I did double-check the top right corner of the newspaper, and it assures me that it actually is a Tuesday today. There are a few “gimmes” to get things rolling, and whilst there is a chunk of general knowledge that I didn’t have to hand, the clues are all clear and precise; many are very clever indeed. My podium places today go to 2d, 3d and 8d, with 23a and 6d getting very honourable mentions.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.
I am taking a short break from the blog – I’m being “sent” to Tokyo for work, and then taking the opportunity to go chasing cranes, owls and eagles. Shabbo has kindly volunteered to craft the blog for the next two Tuesdays, so thanks very much to him for that.
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31075
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
Don’t worry, you haven’t lost a couple of days. I can confirm that it is definitely Tuesday today. Huntsman has kindly agreed to swap blogging days this week, as I am away on Thursday.
I really enjoyed this puzzle. I found it to be a straightforward solve, but it has some lovely smooth and humorous surfaces, proving once again that a puzzle does not have to be difficult to be enjoyable. My ticks are for 12a, 1d, 3d, 18d and 25d, but I could have listed many more. Which clues did you like?
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 our setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Hello and welcome to hints and explanations for today’s Telegraph Crossword. No obscure vocabulary in this one, so I think those who are good at anagrams will find it quite gentle.
It’s the end of the school half-term holidays here, which have featured a wedding anniversary weekend away in Alnwick (the 8-course tasting menu in Sonnet was wonderful), doing a tree-top ropes course with relatives, getting the children to so many children’s dance rehearsals I lost count (at least some of which were actually at the advertised times), running a tots-to-teens board games afternoon at our church, and seeing Matilda the Musical — which was one of the best things I’ve ever seen on stage, and well worth experiencing if it’s on near you. This morning we waved the 11-year-old off on a 3-day residential trip for their first year at secondary school, a mere 3 months after their previous residential trip to mark the end of primary school!
Sunday Toughie No 197
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A great crossword from Light that I really enjoyed solving, even though some of the Latin parsing escaped me.
Some great surfaces and anagrams should give you the checkers to fill the grid. I have hinted at 13 of 28 clues, to be able to offer a nudge if you ask.
If you are considering coming to the Birthday Bash, a reminder that the date is now 31st January 2026
Here we go, Folks…
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Skylark apparently has set an inspired puzzle for us. Is AI inspired by the preamble?… Continue reading
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where the term ‘wintry precipitation’ is beginning to be used in weather forecasts.
For me, and I stress for me,© to borrow the last word of 13d, Dada somewhat quirky. One long ‘un, seven anagrams (one partial), 1 lurker, and no homophones in a slightly asymmetric 29 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!