Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Currently Thursday does not appear to have a regular setter, although since Autumn 2010 Ray T features frequently. During 2009 almost all of the Thursday puzzles were set by Jay.
Toughie No 3375 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
It’s Beam regular monthly outing – enjoyable as ever with the main problem being questions along the lines of ‘how does x mean y?’. Thanks to him.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30771
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, dear puzzlers.
I thought this was quite tricky in parts, but all scrupulously fair, of course, and very elegant. 13a and 16a held out the longest for me and my ticks included 6a, 14a, 25a, 30a, 1d, 4d, 15d, 18d, 22d and 26d. I also loved the Hertfordshire themed Quickie Pun. My CoD is 30a – quite brilliant.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle. Please also try to be positive – it’s only a bit of fun.
Thank you, setter.
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Toughie No 3371 by Silvanus
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****
Silvanus has included a fair bit of GK today; I was comfortable with the artist and the sporting and political references but needed post-solve verification for the fish, the film, the part of the horse and the Womble. However, everything is immaculately clued as ever by Silvanus, making this a very enjoyable puzzle. Thanks to him.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30765
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
RayT or not RayT? That is the question. With just one reference to the queen (an abbreviated one at that) and not a sweetheart to be seen, I will leave you to be the judge. Hopefully the compiler will pop in later to take ownership of this pleasant Thursday puzzle. “But wait”, I hear you cry, “what about the brevity?”. Good point. Unbelievably, this puzzle dips comfortably below the 5 words/clue barrier at a miserly 4.8 words/clue. Remarkable. With so few words, each one has a role to play in the clue, so ignore them at your peril.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Toughie No 3367 by Kcit
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment **
This is just about as straightforward as any Thursday Toughie I’ve blogged and I didn’t really warm to it. You may agree or disagree – please let us know. Thanks to Kcit.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30759
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
A beautiful autumnal morning here in Welwyn Garden City with the promise of a lovely day ahead. Fingers crossed.
After my inauspicious debut blogging the SPP on Sunday, it is good to be back in my regular slot. I thought this morning’s puzzle was spot on for a Thursday, with some smooth surface reads and plenty of smiles. Thank you setter, whoever you are. The brevity would point towards RayT, but neither of his calling cards is there. I struggled a bit with the parsing of 12a initially, but that was entirely down to me being daft and not following the wordplay correctly.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Toughie No 3363 by Serpent
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
We have a very enjoyable puzzle from Serpent today. Thanks to him. He often hides something in the grid but I can’t find anything today – can you?
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.
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Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30753
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Back to normal this week with me on Thursday blogging duty. RayT has chosen a tricky grid today, with unchecked first letters for the majority of the clues which I am sure is not to everyone’s liking. I found it to be an enjoyable solve, as ever, with no superfluous wording resulting in a parsimonious average of only 5.5 words/clue, to save you doing the sums. I liked the “hearing thing” in 22a and the smooth surface read in 16d. Which clues were your favourites?
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
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Toughie No 3359 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Beam brings his usual assortment of enjoyable clues (and a few suggestive surfaces) to the party today. Thanks to him.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** Enjoyment ***/****
The sun is shining & I’m resolved to venture back out onto the golf course for the first time since my tumble. The ribs are still not 100% so if the drugs don’t work I may not last the full 18 holes.
Continue reading “DT 30747”