Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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BD Rating – Difficulty **++ – Enjoyment ***
This was made a little bit more difficult by the grid which has more than the usual number of unchecked letters. So I’d give it a 2.5+ * for difficulty and a 3* for enjoyment. Thanks to setter.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Quite straightforward, so a 1.5-2* in difficulty, with a 3* for enjoyment. Thanks to setter. Definitions are underlined in the clues. “[xxx]” denotes a Synonym or equivalent of “xxx”.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A 2* (or perhaps under) in difficulty, with a 3* for enjoyment, with some interestingly cryptic definitions and indicators smoothly fitting into the surfaces. Thanks to setter. Definitions are underlined in the clues. “[xxx]” denotes a synonym or equivalent of “xxx”.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A not too difficult (2*) puzzle today, with a 3* for enjoyment. Quite a variety of topics in the clues and answers to test and pique one’s interest. Thank you to setter. Definitions are underlined in the clues. “[xxx]” denotes a synonym or equivalent to “xxx”.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Firstly thanks to BigDave for covering for me on Wednesday (busy week for him!).
This started off quite easily on the left side, but stalled a bit, but not much, with the remainder. I would therefore give it a 2-2.5* for difficulty, and 3* for enjoyment, with the caveat that these are always subjective. Thank you to setter. Definitions are underlined in the clues. “[xxx]” denotes a synonym or equivalent to “xxx”.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
This was a fairly easy puzzle, 2.5* and 3* for enjoyment. Thank you to setter. My favourite clue is the one with the broad 
hint below. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I’d rate this a *** for difficulty and a *** for enjoyment. It would have got a lower difficulty rating if I had not got stuck in the NE corner. Quite enjoyable with some nice surfaces, so thanks to the setter – who would be the Don if I had to hazard a guess, based on the sprinkling of religious references. My favourite clues were the ones with the enjoyable surfaces. Definitions are underlined in the clues.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
I rate this about 1.5 for difficulty, and a 2.5 for enjoyment. The clues were not that difficult, and there were some nice surfaces too, eg. 17d and 25a. Thanks to setter.
At the request of our sponsor, I’m changing my spots, well half of them today, for a start. So it’s RIP to the style in the Across clues below (apparently some perceived it as near rocket science and/or written in a foreign language and/or outside their comfort zones and/or not chatty and/or too detailed and/or whatever). And hello to a more conformist style a la the Down clues below. Please comment, but, in order that I may respond intelligently, please be as specific as you can.
As usual, definitions are underlined in the clues, and clicking between the curly brackets brings up the answers (bold font) or bits of the answers (regular font).
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I rate this as a 2.5 in difficulty and about a 3 in enjoyment. Begun in fits and starts, getting an answer here and there without being able to use checking letters. However, it became much smoother after a while, and didn’t prove too difficult. Thanks to setter.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
I found this reasonably easy, difficulty of 2*, thankfully, as I’ve yet another blog to do today; and enjoyment at 2.5*. My favourites were 16a, the it’s-not-what-you-think 13a, and 13d. Thank you to setter.