Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Hints and tips for completing Sunday Telegraph Cryptic crosswords
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Afternoon All!. We have another non-themed puzzle from Virgilius which was not overly difficult but was of the usual high standard of cluemanship and enjoyment. A pleasure to solve and to review.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Afternoon All!. We have another eccellent puzzle from Virgilius this week. I couldn’t see any theme in particular here but let me know if you have spotted anything. No real problems here apart from almost everyone writing TRACTOR in at 6d.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
If you solve your cryptics in the newspaper or were able to convince the Telegraph Puzzles website to cooperate, then like me you had a lovely treat of a crossword from Virgilius again this week. The top half went in quite quickly but the bottom half was another story, particularly the SW corner where I was held up by several of the craftier clues. As to my favourite clues – as Brucie might say ‘they’re nearly all my favourites’!!
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Thank you once again to Virgilius for the usual splendid Sunday challenge, which didn’t take me long to solve but was, as we have come to expect, very enjoyable. My favourite clue, 13a, is worth 5* on its own. I also really liked the linking of the down clues 1 and 22; 2 and 19; 6 and 16; and 7 and 21.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Afternoon All!. I’ve stared at this grid seven ways to Sunday and am prepared to stick my neck out and say “There’s no theme in this crossword”!
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Afternoon All!. This week we have another solid puzzle from Virgilius. I was about to say that there was no theme in this puzzle but was reminded of this report from Hugh Stephenson in the Guardian regarding a puzzle by Brendan (Virgilius’ other nom de plume): Continue reading “ST 2591”
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Another great crossword from the Sunday Maestro. A couple of places held me up for a while but I did enjoy the challenge. Lots of ‘favourites’ which I have marked in blue but my top clue has to be 23d. Thanks to Virgilius once again for making us smile while encouraging us to indulge in quite a bit of 7d!
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Crypticsue is sunning herself in foreign climes so I have the honour the blogging a Virgilius crossword for the first time. This was not Virgilius at his most devious but even with his more straightforward crosswords there are the usual penny drop moments, supreme craftsmanship in the clues and all round enjoyment. Many thanks to him for the Sunday morning treat.
After last week’s triple letter solutions, I was on the look out for any similar themes or devices in the grid but was not able to spot any.
I have highlighted my favourite clues in blue, top of which were the wonderfully misleading 4d and great all in one clue in 11d.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Afternoon All!. We had another very enjoyable puzzle from Virgilius this week. As Digby pointed out there are 6 clues (including the four long perimeter clues) that contain the same letter 3 times in a row. Virgilius pointed out later on Sunday that he merely included this contrivance for a bit of fun and to see if anyone noticed!. Continue reading “ST 2588”
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Afternoon All!. Last Sunday gave us another archetypal Virgilius puzzle. No nonsense, no theme, just a series of well crafted clues with a few pleasing ‘penny-drop moments’ and not much too trouble judging from the comments on the day.