Toughie No 786 by Osmosis
Hints and Tips by Tilsit
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from the Calder Valley. Our glorious leader is having serious computer problems, so it’s a very brief set of notes today about the clues. A nice puzzle from Osmosis, very much in his normal style. Some really nice clues that bring a smile to the face. Although I managed to solve most of the clues, I did have trouble working out how the indications worked, as I’d worked out the answer from the definition alone. Some of the clues were unnecessarily complicated, to my mind.
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. Favourite clues are highlighted in blue.
Continue reading “Toughie 786”
Toughie No 771 by Osmosis
He’s a rebel!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment **
Osmosis makes a legitimate return after sneakily being released in the newspaper instead of Warbler a few weeks ago. As Toughies go, this was fair to middling in difficulty, but I’m not a great fan of some of the wordplay used.
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.
Continue reading “Toughie 771”
Toughie No 758(8) by Osmosis
Well there’s a surprise!!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Due to a Daily Telegraph Bank Holiday ‘problem’ meaning that the printed version in the paper was the Osomosis due next week, we have the treat of two Toughies in one day. This one was slightly tougher than the Warbler but just as entertaining.
[This puzzle was published in the newspaper as Toughie 758 on the day that Toughie 751 should have appeared. It is available online as GK 7588. BD]
Continue reading “Toughie 758(8)”
Toughie No 742 by Osmosis
Take your partner by the hand
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Tilsit is unwell, so I’m reviewing the whole of this Osmosis puzzle instead of just the downs!
Although less difficult than we have come to expect on a Friday, this is still an excellent puzzle. Osmosis is one of only four current Toughie setters who have never come along to say hello, so why not start today?
Continue reading “Toughie 742”
Toughie No 728 by Osmosis
Fruit Cocktail
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
I thought that this was just right for a Wednesday Toughie, with some clever, witty clues and not an obscure word in sight. Thanks to Osmosis for the tussle.
Let us know how you liked it and please take the time to provide your assessment by clicking on one of the stars below.
Continue reading “Toughie 728”
Toughie No 710 by Osmosis
Gnisrever hcum ooT!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from the Calder Valley. Today’s Friday Fiend is Osmosis who produces some of the most challenging Toughies, and today’s is no exception. This is quite a beast of a puzzle and I struggled for a while to get a foothold after entering a couple of answers wrongly (IN TUNE at 20 down and KINDLE at 21 ac). However perseverance paid off and things fell into place. Osmosis (and his other guise of Scorpion in the Indy) puzzles are notable for their detailed constructs which can be rather convoluted. This for me sometimes spoils things for me as it means the clue looks slightly forced and the pudding somewhat over-egged. There were a lot of reversals today as well. Having to rely on the unchecked letters to solve a clue, as happened with a couple of clues today because the definition and indications are very very obscure or vague, is not to me a fair way of puzzle-solving. I feel a heated debate coming on tomorrow!
Continue reading “Toughie 710”
Toughie 700 by Osmosis
All Together Now: Tum-Te-Tum-Te-Tum-Te-Tum
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Osmosis has produced a great puzzle for us today with a lovely mixture of clues (and it’s a pangram). There are a few easy clues sprinkled round the puzzle to provide footholds for the assault on the trickier ones (where the doh moments are to be found).
Please let us know how you got on and rate the puzzle for enjoyment by clicking on one of the stars below.
Continue reading “Toughie 700”
Toughie No 690 by Osmosis
A Gentle Start to the Onslaught
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Seasons Greetings from the Calder Valley. Osmosis is here today with his usual fiendish constructs, clever surface readings and off-the-wall ideas. I did find it a little easier than his normal puzzles, but it is still quite a stiff challenge.
I am off for a stay in a remote part of the Lake District for most of the next ten days so I’d like to wish you all a pleasant Christmas and the happiest of New Years. Thanks to all the setters for tormenting us during the year, to Phil McNeill and Daniella at the Telegraph for all their efforts in keeping things on the rails, to Big Dave (and Mrs BD) for looking after this wonderful site and finally to all my fellow bloggers who do a marvellous job “putting the words to lights”. I’ll see you next year!
Continue reading “Toughie 690”
Toughie No 680 by Osmosis
Silvers – Better than Gold
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
I really enjoyed this puzzle, although I thought it was fairly mild in terms of difficulty. Osmosis quite often hides Ninas in his puzzles but I can’t find any today – let us know if you can!
Continue reading “Toughie 680”
Toughie No 666 by Osmosis
Setter’s Devilry
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from the Calder Valley. I was all set to use ‘The Number of the Beast‘ as today’s title or even ‘The Devil’s in the Detail (or The 7 Across is in the Detail, to be exact)‘, given that Osmosis usually produces puzzles of such ferocity that my brain usually hurts long and hard after finishing. However this was a much more benevolent puzzle and I have to say I was left a bit flat after finishing it.
There are the usual quality clues from Osmosis, but I don’t understand why the puzzle’s theme word is shown in some clues as ‘7 across’ but not others. There are some NINA’s lurking round the puzzle and they will be explained at the end of the blog so you can highlight them and reveal them if you get stuck. It was a pleasant solve while I was being poked and prodded this morning, but I expected a bit more.
Continue reading “Toughie 666”