Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Friday’s current setter is Don Manley who is also known as Giovanni, Duck, Pasquale, Quixote, and Bradman (all punningly connected with the name Don or Donald)
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
For me this was the hardest back-page puzzle of the week (as Friday’s is supposed to be). It has some easy clues to get you started and then some which, if you’re like me, you have to think a bit harder about. Thanks to Giovanni for the entertainment.
If you need to see an answer just highlight the gap between the curly brackets under the clue.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
It’s been a funny (and enjoyable) old week for the back-page cryptic solver but we return to earth today with a fairly typical puzzle from Giovanni. Let us know how you fared.
To reveal an answer highlight the gap between the curly brackets under the clue. If you have trouble doing this on a mobile device there’s some help in the FAQ.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
My normal routine was upset this morning because my printer decided that it was an ideal time to give up the ghost and I had to solve the puzzle on-line. I really missed having the printed sheet on which I normally count the anagrams, underline anagram fodder and mark my favourite clues. The puzzle itself was one of Giovanni’s gentler ones. Tell us what you thought.
If you want to see an answer let your cursor hover over the gap between the curly brackets under the clue.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Those who found last week’s Giovanni on the tough side will probably be happy that this week’s is less challenging. Let us know how you found it.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I’ve given this puzzle four stars for difficulty because I struggled with the SE corner. This was largely due to my having written in ‘rheostat’ for 19a – it seemed like a good answer at the time and it took me ages to realise the error of my ways. There are some cracking clues here so thanks to Giovanni for a very enjoyable exercise.
If you need to reveal an answer just drag your cursor through the gap between the brackets under the clue; if you’re using a mobile device then there are further hints on how to reveal the answers in the FAQ.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
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”.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
If today had not been a Friday I would have been hard pressed to identify this as a Giovanni puzzle. It consists of four long anagrams with most of the other clues being relatively easy. I’m not a fan of long anagrams – I almost invariably get the answer from the definition, enumeration and a few checking letters then work backwards to identify the fodder. I’d be interested to know how other solvers work.
If you want to see an answer just highlight the gap between the brackets under the clue (if you solve on the move there’s some advice as to how to do this on mobile devices in the FAQ section).
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
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.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
This is a very enjoyable puzzle. If Tuesday’s puzzle had me scratching around for picture opportunities then today’s more than makes up for it – I’m spoilt for choice.
Let us know how you got on and how you liked it.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
This is a fairly standard Friday Giovanni with a number of entertaining clues (and one excellent one). Let us know how you fared with it.
To reveal an answer just highlight the space between the curly brackets under the clue.