Toughie No 3662 by Kcit
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Category: Crosswords
Hints and tips for completing Daily Telegraph Cryptic crosswords
DT 31202
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31202
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Wednesday back-pager blog. I approached today’s crossword with some trepidation, as the first puzzle that I blogged – Vintage puzzle 20 – was originally published on 1st April 1978, and had a surprise twist that caught me unawares. Thankfully there were no such pitfalls today, and everything was fairly clued throughout. The standout clues for me were 20a, 18a, 28a, 14d, 24d, and my favourite, the painful riding experience in 16a. Many thanks to our setter.
Sunday Toughie 217 (Review)
Sunday Toughie No 217 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 22nd March 2026
ST 3361 (Full Review)
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3361
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 22nd March 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. Dada has given us a nice, enjoyable solve this Sunday and now I present to you a full review of his puzzle. Hope to have your valuable feedback and comments. Continue reading “ST 3361 (Full Review)”
Toughie 3661
Toughie No 3661 by Hudson
Hints and tips by Whybird
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Welcome to another Toughie week.
We have another high-quality puzzle from Hudson today. There is a martial theme, or at least a connection between several of the clues, although I am not sure if there is an underlying reason for the link: I am happy enough to have noticed a theme of any kind! I thought I was heading for solving in Floughie time, but then a combination of solving 15d and parsing 20d and 24a took this comfortably into ** territory. I hope you have your lexicographic secateurs to hand, there’s a fair bit of pruning to be done.
Once the penny dropped for 20d, this jumped right to the top of my prize list by a distance, which is perhaps rather unfair on 13a and 29a, as either of these could have been “Top Clue” in other puzzles. Thank you, Hudson, for a wonderful start to the week.
Please let us know how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.
DT 31201
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31201
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***/****
Today’s puzzle, which I assume is the usual Anthony Plumb production, took me a bit longer to complete than usual so I’ve given it an extra * for difficulty. I suspect that it was probably just me being foggy brained first thing so it’ll be interesting to see what others make of it. As ever nicely clued & an enjoyable solve.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
DT 31200
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31200
Hints and tips by Falcon
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Ottawa, where the temperature roller coaster is heading upwards. Temperatures that have recently been in the neighbourhood of -10 C are forecast to hit +15 C today.
Today’s puzzle, though, does not depart from the recent trend of gentle introductions to the cruciverbal week.
In the hints below, underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions, FODDER is capitalized, and indicators are italicized. The answers will be revealed by clicking on the ANSWER buttons.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought of the puzzle.
Rookie Corner 623
Sunday Toughie 218 (Hints)
Sunday Toughie No 218
by Beam
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Only slightly harder than the last from Beam, and that may be just due to losing an hour’s sleep last night. A typical Beam puzzle, well under 6 words per clue, single word answers, a variation on his usual sweetheart and an initial letters to finish.
A reminder to let me know if you are interested in the forthcoming Mid-Year Bash All are welcome, and it should be a good time.
14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half, I hope you find the checkers to finish, but I will try and give a nudge or two if required/asked.
Here we go, Folks…
EV 1740 (Hints)
Enigmatic Variations 1740 (Hints)
Gentle Observations by Luxor
Hints and tips by Phibs
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Having got clearance through from the Pentagon, I asked Claude, “In a themed crossword puzzle, we are asked to identify a work and its creator (not ‘author’) and then position three words appropriately in the grid, each one representing a ‘gentle observation’. Have you any idea what the theme might be?”