Sloop John Bee – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Sunday Toughie 165 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 165

by Light

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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I had a feeling we might be seeing Light today as he debuted a Wednesday Toughie that went down well, This seems a very similar standard of difficulty to me but as I am not obliged to give stars to prize puzzles I will just hope you find it as pleasant as I did.

I am still in the dark as to who Light is and with some light speculation about Richard Osman apart I guess I will have to remain curious.

14a and 14d clues and I have hinted half, I will try and provide a bonus nudge if asked.

Here we go, Folks…

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Sunday Toughie 164 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 164


by Zandio

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

 

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I had a rather pleasant tour of the North East Coasts and Castles yesterday, but I was rather tired and a restorative Torabhaigh meant that I fell asleep before I had fully parsed this last night. Coffee and a bacon butty restored me this morning.

Is Zandio having a go at my drinking in the unches going right from 16… perhaps not

14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half

Here we go…

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Sunday Toughie 163 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 163

by Beam

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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Another reasonably floughie toughie from Beam that didn’t take too long last night. He comes in at under 5.36 words per clue, although there is that rare beast A SEVEN! word clue from Beam (27a). The other Beam trademarks are present (sweetheart, queen and an initial letters clue, not forgetting the lack of anagrams)

I have an even 14a and 14d clues today, but I have an uneven 8a and 6d hints today. I hope you find the checkers to fill the grid, a bonus nudge may be available for the first to ask

Here we go, Folks…

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Sunday Toughie 161 (Review)

Sunday Toughie No 161 by Light

Review by Sloop John Bee

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This puzzle was published on the 23rd of February 2025

I still haven’t worked out who Light is but never mind I enjoyed this puzzle…

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Sunday Toughie 162 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 162

by proXimal

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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I am still none the wiser as to who Light is from last week, but as usual the trademark™ proXimalisms “signed” this crossword better than any byline. We start with a nice Spoonerism in the acrosses and an equally fine compound anagram in the downs.

I have curtailed my hints at half of 14a and 14d clues, but as always, some tricky clues remain unhinted. I will try and give a bonus nudge or two if you ask.

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 162 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 161 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 161

by Light

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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Well another mystery setter, can anyone throw any light on who Light may be? He hasn’t appeared under that name in the categories list. It seems like a Ray Terrell kind of pseudonym Ray Beam Light, but we don’t have The Queen, sweetheart or single-word answers and a frankly Djangoesque 12-word clue in 22a (the average clue length comes down to just over 6 per clue). Nevertheless, I will plump for RayT looking for a suitable level between his backpager and proper toughie (Beam) guises. He may even have signed it in the sixth row of “unches”

15a and 20a floated my boat today but COTD goes to 9d. What did you like?

Here we go, Folks…

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