Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Beam is Ray Terrell, who also sets regular cryptics which are usually published on Thursdays
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
The usual synonym work-out from Beam who has dreamed up more alternatives for “run” than I would have thought possible! Sweetheart and Queen both make a welcome re-appearance. Some lateral thinking may be required but it’s fairly straightforward. All yours.
Sunday Toughie No 205 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 28th of December 2025
Sunday Toughie No 205
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Not the trickiest Beam today, with a generous 16a and 16d clues today, and I have hinted half. I hope you find the checkers to finish. I will try and give an extra nudge if you are struggling.
Cold cuts and the cheeseboard for lunch today. I hope you are not snowed under by leftovers.
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie No 202 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 7th of December 2025
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
As ever with Beam, this isn’t too tricky – as long as your phaser is set to synonym. Some are perhaps slightly more left-field than usual but nowt too alarming. Great fun to be had, with only a little thesaurus-thumbing. And not just one sweetheart today, but two, possibly to make up for the Queen’s absence! All yours.
Continue reading “Toughie 3599”
Sunday Toughie No 202
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A floughie(ish) Toughie from Beam today, all the Beam trademarks are there Queens sweethearts and initial letters clue and a smattering of underwear.
We have 14a and 16d clues and I have hinted at half. I hope you find the checkers to finish, but some tricky clues have had to remain unhinted, so I will try and provide a nudge if you ask (and I am not out shopping)
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie No 198 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 9th of November 2025
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
Quintessential Beam today – very tight, very clean. Surprisingly clean-ish, in fact. But don’t worry, the usual wit is still there. 1d, for one! As for difficulty, it really rather depends on whether you’ve got your synonym head on, or not. The bottom half flew in but the top was perhaps slightly knottier. 9a’s “sensitive”, for example, took some thought, though the definition couldn’t have been clearer. In short, a delight, and a lovely way to mark my 100th blog. Where on earth did the time go, eh? All yours.
Sunday Toughie No 198
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A generous (32 clues today) and not too tough for a Toughie, from Beam today. No multiple-word clues and no more than six words per clue, plenty of Beam trademarks, even though he has played a bit fast and loose with his sweetheart today.
I have hinted at half of an evenly balanced 16a and 16d clues today. I hope you find enough checkers to finish today, but I will possibly provide a nudge or two if asked.
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie No 194 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 12th of October 2025