Sunday Toughie No 165
by Light
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I had a feeling we might be seeing Light today as he debuted a Wednesday Toughie that went down well, This seems a very similar standard of difficulty to me but as I am not obliged to give stars to prize puzzles I will just hope you find it as pleasant as I did.
I am still in the dark as to who Light is and with some light speculation about Richard Osman apart I guess I will have to remain curious.
14a and 14d clues and I have hinted half, I will try and provide a bonus nudge if asked.
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 165 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 164
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I had a rather pleasant tour of the North East Coasts and Castles yesterday, but I was rather tired and a restorative Torabhaigh meant that I fell asleep before I had fully parsed this last night. Coffee and a bacon butty restored me this morning.
Is Zandio having a go at my drinking in the unches going right from 16… perhaps not
14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half
Here we go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 164 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 163
by Beam
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Another reasonably floughie toughie from Beam that didn’t take too long last night. He comes in at under 5.36 words per clue, although there is that rare beast A SEVEN! word clue from Beam (27a). The other Beam trademarks are present (sweetheart, queen and an initial letters clue, not forgetting the lack of anagrams)
I have an even 14a and 14d clues today, but I have an uneven 8a and 6d hints today. I hope you find the checkers to fill the grid, a bonus nudge may be available for the first to ask
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 163 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 162
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I am still none the wiser as to who Light is from last week, but as usual the trademark™ proXimalisms “signed” this crossword better than any byline. We start with a nice Spoonerism in the acrosses and an equally fine compound anagram in the downs.
I have curtailed my hints at half of 14a and 14d clues, but as always, some tricky clues remain unhinted. I will try and give a bonus nudge or two if you ask.
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 162 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 161
by Light
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Well another mystery setter, can anyone throw any light on who Light may be? He hasn’t appeared under that name in the categories list. It seems like a Ray Terrell kind of pseudonym Ray Beam Light, but we don’t have The Queen, sweetheart or single-word answers and a frankly Djangoesque 12-word clue in 22a (the average clue length comes down to just over 6 per clue). Nevertheless, I will plump for RayT looking for a suitable level between his backpager and proper toughie (Beam) guises. He may even have signed it in the sixth row of “unches”
15a and 20a floated my boat today but COTD goes to 9d. What did you like?
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 161 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 160
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I wouldn’t recommend trying to set up a new Windows 11 laptop at the same time as a new phone, but technical issues apart this was a fun Sunday Toughie that troubled me less than the aforementioned tech issues.
14a and 14d clues and I have hinted half
I have some doubts about 4d but I am sure someone will throw some light on stocks. Looking at the grid and the clues I have hinted there are a lot of gaps in the East but when in doubt look for anagrams and lurkers and you should get enough checkers to find the rest. I will try and help with a bonus nudge if required.
A good friend pointed out the dangers in 25a, whatever you do make sure you abandon the odd letters. If you don’t you will have the start of a very unsuitable word for the crossword. I assume neither Zandio or CL spotted this 😭, but MP did😁
Here we go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 160 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 159
by Beam
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Beam has brought us his third Sunday Toughie. I found a couple of “traps” for the unwary and some tricky parsings here, but I think I have them all right now. Trademarks abound (less than 5.35 words per clue, single-word answers, the Queen and sweetheart, lurkers and initial letters too.)
I hope one of my usual commenters spots the name check in 16d and Senf gets a first name check too 10a!
A generous 16a and 16d clues today and I have hinted 7 of each – leaving me the scope for a bonus nudge or two if you ask
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 159 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 158
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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A treat from proXimal last night, compound anagrams and a Spoonerism to start. It didn’t need the byline.
14a and 14d clues and i have hinted half. I hope you find the checkers to complete today. I may be able to give a bonus nudge if you get stuck.
When the penny dropped on the Spoonerism it joined 8d on the top step of my podium, but what were your favourites?
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 158 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 157
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Zandio very graciously provided me with an advanced copy of this puzzle. I imagine I will be a “bit under the weather” after the Big Bash and unable to give this puzzle a good blogging. By the time you read this, I should be on a train home but I will respond to comments if and when I can.
I hope I have transcribed the clues accurately, as I haven’t seen the puzzle in print yet. It is quite tricky and has lots of cross-references between clues. Big Dave’s advice when I started these hints almost three years ago was to hint first and last across and down clues with about half the clues hinted. I have stopped at half hints before I got to the end.
I have hinted at half of the 14a and 16d clues. I hope you find the checkers to enable completion, as the journey home from the Big Bash may make bonus nudges a bit tricky.
*Post Bash update*
All had a great time, and it was even better to see so many old and new faces. The Teams link was a little problematic, but I hope those who managed to log on could join in the fun a little. Many thanks to Steve C who got the ball rolling with a donation to the bar bill, even though he may have preferred not to be teased by those displaying “Mythical” Pens. Over the next few days, I hope to collate photos taken and put them in the gallery.
Here we go…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 157 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 156
by Beam
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Beam is back for his second Sunday Toughie and it is a treat, all his trademarks™ are there (sweetheart, The Queen, single-word answers and an average 5.375 words per clue) I found a lot of cycle parts but as a cycling fan I am probably a bit biased. It allowed me to tell a couple of old jokes too.
We have a generous 16a and 16d clues today and I have hinted half plus a couple of bonus pics. I hope you find enough checkers to fill the grid.
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 156 (Hints)”
