Sunday Toughie No 175
by Robyn
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Ooh a Robyn – We haven’t seen a Sunday Toughie from him since #153 on the 29th December last year. I have missed his style and have got a bit rusty as I found this quite tricky. I hope you find enough checkers to finish this, although I bet 24d is going straight into Terence’s LIST™
Gazza will be bringing you the hints next Sunday as I am away to the Springsteen concert at Anfield. I will be home earlyish on Sunday and look forward to solving that puzzle with Gazza’s hints to help
A late revision has sent Harry, Graham and Dennis to the cutting room floor as I have doubts about the Kingdom of Jordan. Is it a school subject after the definite article or the abbreviation of the location of Jordan. I have plumped for the latter, but in the absence of the old check facility I may be wrong (again)
Here we go…
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Sunday Toughie No 174
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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proXimal gave me a rather stern test last night, and I had to email a friend to see the standards (thanks Gazza and Mike. A spoonerism to start and a couple of compound anagrams sign this better than any byline
We have a generous 16a and 16d clues and I have hinted half, I hope you get the checkers to solve this fine puzzle but I will try and give a nudge or two if required.
Time to take Mama Bee out for coffee and a listen to the brass bands in Wetherby. I will help if I can and if the WiFi by The Ings is up to it
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 174 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 173
by Light
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I dont think that was as hard as the last Sunday Toughie from Light, but your experience may differ. Maybe I am just getting to grips with the new Sunday Toughie Compilers. Some definitions and synonyms were well hidden. Learning about botany, booze, politics and police along the way, but I think I got them eventually.
From a long list I will pick the lovely 12d as COTD by a nose from 14a. With 14a and 14d clues today I have hinted half. As usual some tricky clues remain unhinted, but I may be able to give a nudge or two if the WiFi at Caffè Nero permits
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 173 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 172
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Before we get going on the hints, I have a favour to ask. I have managed to secure a ticket to see Bruce Springsteen in Liverpool on the 7th of June, and although I should be home in the wee small hours of Sunday the 8th it is also my birthday😁🎂, and I am looking for a volunteer to hint the Sunday Toughie that day. I will probably be tired/hungover but will be trying to solve myself so I can assist if required.
I started slowly last night but picked up the pace as checkers and linked clues helped. there are 14a and 14d clues today and I have hited half, further nudges may be available if you ask
Here we go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 172 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 171
by Beam
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Beam here with quite a friendly Sunday Toughie, all his trademarks are present and I dont think this will trouble solvers too much. I will endeavour to provide a nudge or two if your experience differs
We have 14a and 14d clues and I have hinted half.
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 171 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 170
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I found this rather tough last night, but looking at it this morning, it all appears to be fairly clued. A Spoonerism to start and a couple of compound anagrams indicate this is proXimal. A wide field of general knowledge, from Taylor Swift and actors and actresses to ancient civilisations, tombs and geology is required. The renegade priest was new to me, but with checkers, a relatively easy anagram
We have 14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half(ish) I may be able to give a bonus nudge if you are in need.
Your submission for the “Mythical 🖊️” is more likely to be successful, as for the 2nd day running a typo in one of the little 4 letter answers will send my entry to the bin
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 170 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 169
by Light
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Happy Easter, folks…
I had to take a good, long look at the BRB to find the pigeon and the nut, that and a couple of dodgy parsings (1d) and new to me knowledge (9a) meant this was probably Light’s toughest Toughie to date (for me™)
We have 14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half, a bonus nudge may be available if asked
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 169 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 168
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I found this a proper toughie last night, but as usual a night to sleep on it and I think all has become clear. Clues of a wide range of types and I found it quite tricky to limit myself to half of 16a and 14d clues.
Some fine surfaces today and a bonus nudge may be available if you ask
Good luck to Rory McIlroy – I think he has a 5d of securing his first Green Jacket
Here we go…
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Sunday Toughie No 167
by Beam
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I have come down with some sort of lurgy over the weekend and am not feeling my best. There seem to be quite a few chestnuts today but maybe I am just a grumpy bugger today
A generous 16a and 16d clues today and I have hinted half.
I will try and pop in if my mewling and puking allow
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 167 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 166
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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It appears that getting a midweek toughie slot precedes an appearance here, instead of an X’less pangram proXimal is using Sunday Toughies to demonstrate a Spoonerism to start and compound anagrams. It took me right to the LOI to find the compound.
The topicality of the wordplay for 23d should get an award, but for childhood holidays, the 24a island gets my prize.
14a and 14d clues today, and I have hinted half. A bonus nudge or two may be available if Mother’s Day trips for Mama Bee allow.
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 166 (Hints)”