Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
John Halpern has been the regular Sunday setter since he took over from Brian Greer on 18th November 2018. He is also known as Dada.
Sunday Toughie No 197
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A great crossword from Light that I really enjoyed solving, even though some of the Latin parsing escaped me.
Some great surfaces and anagrams should give you the checkers to fill the grid. I have hinted at 13 of 28 clues, to be able to offer a nudge if you ask.
If you are considering coming to the Birthday Bash, a reminder that the date is now 31st January 2026
Here we go, Folks…
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where the term ‘wintry precipitation’ is beginning to be used in weather forecasts.
For me, and I stress for me,© to borrow the last word of 13d, Dada somewhat quirky. One long ‘un, seven anagrams (one partial), 1 lurker, and no homophones in a slightly asymmetric 29 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where, with the end of BST, we now start a ‘hiatus’ week of puzzles being available an hour later until we ‘Fall Back’ next weekend.
For me, and I stress for me,© quite challenging, especially in the NE, although I probably made it more difficult than it should have been. 5 anagrams (0 partials), 1 lurker, and 1 homophone in a symmetric 28 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should/might be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where it is cooling down and the red scarf has been very much in evidence. It is getting close to the time when the black coat will have to come out of the closet!
For me, and I stress for me,© much better than last Sunday but not much value for money with only 27 clues. Three longish ones, 7 anagrams (4 partials), 1 lurker reversed, and no homophones; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should/might be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues.
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Sunday Toughie No 194
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Beam is a little trickier than his last outing here (To Me™) but I stress again (27a) that is just right for a Sunday Toughie. Plenty of Beam trademarks and an economical sub-six words per clue. 14a and 16d clues today, and I have hinted half.
If asked, I will try and give a nudge, if you don’t get sufficient checkers to complete this fine puzzle
Here we go, Folks…
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg on our Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend; we don’t call the second Monday in October Columbus Day, as they do to the South of us, because we know that he never set foot in North America confining himself to exploration of the Bahamas and islands in the Caribbean including Cuba and Hispaniola.
For me, and I stress for me,© I expect that there will be some who will describe today’s puzzle as a ‘walk in the park’ or similar and one might think that this being my 359th Dada Sunday blog that I have got the complete measure of him, apparently not! This brought back memories of ST 2978 on November 18th, 2018. Two long ‘uns, 8 anagrams (3 partials), 1 lurker, and 2 homophones (one partial) all in a slightly asymmetric 28 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should/might be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remembering what CS wrote about thinking yesterday, in Comment 11, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Sunday Toughie No 193
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I struggled to get going last night, but I think I can blame the woolly-headedness on the lingering cold that is slooowly releasing its grip on my nasal cavities.
I did like 7 and 8d, but I may be overthinking the archery link
A somewhat imbalanced 16a and 13d clues today, and I have hinted half(ish) I hope you get the checkers to finish, I will give a nudge or two if required.
Here we go, Folks…
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where I have enjoyed a week of R and R in unseasonably warm Autumn weather.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada not as friendly as he has been – one long ‘un, 8 anagrams (6 partials), 1 lurker, and 1 (partial) homophone all in an asymmetric 29 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should/might be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where Summer is refusing to go quietly as we have a forecast of four of five sunny days with temperatures in the ‘middle 20s’.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada quirkily friendly – four long ‘uns, only one of them an anagram, 5 anagrams (no partials), 2 lurkers, and no homophones all in a symmetric 28 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should/might be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where, while Autumn begins 27 hours and 19 minutes after the blog is published, we are still forecast to have a few very pleasant late Summer days even after a very ‘soggy’ Saturday.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada quite friendly – one non-anagram long ‘un, 4 anagrams (1 partial), 2 lurkers, and 2 homophones all in a very asymmetric 31 clues; with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should/might be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!