Sunday Toughie No 178
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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A great Toughie from Zandio today, I managed to see it at about 11:30 last night and it didn’t take me much past midnight to fill the grid. Parsing it this morning took longer. The Spoonerism and nod to our new Tuesday Toughie blogger is probably my favourite today, but plenty of podium candidates.
I don’t think it is sufficient to call a theme but a couple of military units hit the cutting room floor, and another sneaks into 28a. I will try and nudge unhinted clues, if you identify some or all of the picture for 28a
We have 14a and 16d clues today and I have hinted half.
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 178 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 176 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 8th of June 2025
Thanks to Gazza for doing the hints, whilst I was away to see Bruce Springsteen and celebrate my umpty umth birthday.
If I am ever to win another pen, I may have to follow Gazza’s example and cut back on the number of hints (only kidding – I wouldn’t have been able to resist a hint at 4d)
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 176 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie No 177
by Light
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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In recent conversations with Light/Twmbarlwm he says he has been permitted to be quite tough in this slot. He has certainly brought his A game today and I have reconsidered and re-parsed several clues overnight. It is hard to see beyond the sublime reversal of 1a for COTD but there are many fine clues here.
I have hinted at half of an even 14a and 14d clues today, but I will try and provide a bonus nudge if required, although I will emphasise the advice that when in doubt look for a lurker (backwards too)
Here we go, Folks…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 177 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 175 by Robyn
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 1st of June 2025
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Sunday Toughie No 174 by proXimal
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 25th of May 2025
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 174 (Review)”
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…
Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 175 (Hints)”
Sunday Toughie No 173 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 18th of May 2025
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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 172 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 11th May 2025
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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)”