Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Since the beginning of 2010, Wednesday’s regular setter is Jeremy Mutch who has visited the blog as Jay. During 2009, Jay set almost all the Thursday puzzles.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment **
I found this to be a disapppointing puzzle. There was little of merit, and the overuse of initial and final letter constructs that failed to contribute to the surface reading was irritating.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
A bit like last Wednesday, this is a pleasant puzzle that shouldn’t unduly trouble the average solver.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
A pleasant puzzle that didn’t overly exercise the brain cells. Continue reading “DT 25963”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
What a good week this is turning out to be. Today we have a first class puzzle with some of the best surface reading that I have seen in a daily cryptic for some time. One or two minor quibbles where that surface reading gets in the way of the accuracy of the clue, but when you get quality like this who cares!
Following recent discussions on the difficulty rating I have increased this from two stars to three to compensate for clues like 18 down which, while making us oldies smile, will no doubt cause problems for the younger solvers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Rather like last Wednesday’s puzzle, this one is not too difficult but has some well-constructed clues. This could be a good one for all you newbies out there (and you too BigBoab!).
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
An easy but pleasant puzzle, with a strong feeling of déjà vu about some of the clues.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
It has been long established that the Telegraph, with occasional exceptions, used the same setter each week for any given day. Recently it has been obvious that this no longer applies – I cannot believe that this puzzle was from the same source as last week’s travesty. This one is not only easier than a week ago, but much more enjoyable.
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
This is the sort of puzzle that you come to expect in the Telegraph. Nothing too difficult, no awkward constructs, no obsolete or obscure words, no silly phrases, no proper nouns, no isolated corners, and certainly no sign of those love ’em or hate ’em unches! Just a good, honest puzzle. Well done our Wednesday setter.
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
A superior puzzle with some very good clues and on the whole a really enjoyable solve. I’m left with the impression that the compiler wants you to do a fair bit of thinking outside the box with some of these main or subsidiary definitions.
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