Toughie No 3785 by Beam
Hints and tips by Whybird
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from the Wirral. The Criminal Justice system has decided it does not need my services today, at least, so you are sentenced to receive my ramblings. Many thanks to ALP for covering last week.
I found it difficult to rate today’s puzzle for difficulty. Everything apart from one clue flew in, to the extent I was contemplating the strange oxymoronic concept of a Beam Floughie. And then there was 14a. This took me significantly more than double the time for the rest of the clues put together, but which was entirely down to my failure to detach myself from one feature of the clue and which was actually a lot more straightforward than I made it. However, no such difficulties with the Enjoyment – this was great fun to solve, full of clever distractions, all of Beam’s usual trademark features and a little, mild, sauciness. No surprise that the schoolboy in me includes 1d on the podium, just pipped by 12d and 14a. Thanks to Beam for a splendid start to the Toughie week.
Please let us know how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.
Continue reading “Toughie 3785”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31387
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***/****
A dampish typically autumnal start to the day here in Harpenden but it’s starting to brighten up & we have a largely dry day to look forward to.
I found today’s Anthony Plumb maybe a little more straightforward than the last couple of Tuesdays. I’d rate it pretty well on a par with yesterday’s puzzle in terms of difficulty & very enjoyable it was too. As ever it will be interesting to see what others make of it.
Ray T is on duty over in t’other place with one of his no anagrams Beamers. It is fairly gentle also & bob-on for the Tuesday Toughie slot so well worth having a stab at if looking for a further challenge.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
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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