Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Toughie No 3131 by Artix
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
A proper ‘tough’ Toughie from Artix which I progressed through steadily rather than speedily and enjoyed the whole process a lot – thanks to the setter. The last Artix Toughie I blogged (3095) contained the names of the members of Queen (which totally escaped me).… Continue reading
Toughie No 3127 by Kcit
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I enjoyed this puzzle which was well-suited to a Thursday Toughie – thanks to Kcit.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.… Continue reading
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30397
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning from North Devon where we’re enjoying another ‘Phew! What a scorcher!’ day. Huntsman is otherwise engaged today so I’m temporarily ‘sitting in’ as all the top radio DJs say.… Continue reading
Toughie No 3123 by Firefly
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
Thanks to Firefly for a decent puzzle which wasn’t too tricky and didn’t really hit the heights for me. There is a theme identified at 15d/12a.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.… Continue reading
Toughie No 3119 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A fairly straightforward Beam puzzle with all his usual trademark features – thanks to him.
I suspect there’s an error in the 12a clue. The answer which the wordplay points to was not accepted by the online puzzles site which wanted a different (though related) game.… Continue reading
Toughie No 3115 by Giovanni
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
I found the wordplay in this puzzle to be fairly straightforward and enjoyable but as usual with Giovanni it was the amount of GK that had me consulting the BRB and Wikipedia.… Continue reading
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30377 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by Gazza)
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Crypticsue has her hands full entertaining guests today so I’m providing a few hints for the Saturday Prize Puzzle.
Today’s puzzle is a pangram which may (or may not) be a pointer to the identity of the setter.… Continue reading
Toughie No 3111 by Kcit
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
Thanks to Kcit for a pleasant puzzle but one that, for me, didn’t have a lot of sparkle. The pairs of 3-letter words in the grid may be an intentional Nina – I’m not sure.… Continue reading
Toughie No 3107 by Django
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
A very entertaining puzzle from Django with plenty of anagrams – thanks to him.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.… Continue reading
Toughie No 3103 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***
Beam is being pretty gentle with us today – thanks to him.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.… Continue reading