Toughie No 3714 by Silvanus
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
Sunday Toughie No 230 by Silvanus
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 21st of June 2026
Sunday Toughie No 230
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For Silvanus’s third Sunday Toughie (# tooth hurty) I may have expected a dental reference or even a reference to the summer solstice, which passed as I slept on the parsing.
I think the slightly niche British TV references should be widely enough known to those overseas.
14a and 16d clues today and I have hinted half. I hope you find the checkers to finish, but I will nudge if required and able.
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie No 226 by Silvanus
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 24th of May 2026
Sunday Toughie No 226
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Silvanus was last here on Easter Sunday and seems to becoming the regular bank holiday substitute.
Good fun until I made a mess of parsing some of the south. I was sailing along smoothly until a bad night for Mama Bee somewhat messed up my thinking.
She seems a bit more compos mentis this morning, so we are going out for the day. I have hinted at (just about) half of a slightly unbalanced 16a and 13d clues. Some tricky bits have hit the cutting room floor, so I’ll nudge if needed (and can).
Here we go, Folks…
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Silvanus set us a crossword , the majority of which was at the friendlier end of the Toughie spectrum Continue reading “Toughie 3690”
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty */** – Enjoyment ***/****
Not too tricky and typically fair. I suspect 25a, for one, would have taken longer to unpick without crossers but – with them – it flew in. So … pretty gentle for a Thursday, I’d say. All yours.
Continue reading “Toughie 3671”
Sunday Toughie No 219 by Silvanus
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 5th of April 2026
Sunday Toughie No 219
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A Happy Easter to you all, I am celebrating with this;
In this crossword, from my Four C’s (Coffee, Cycling, Crosswords and Cheese) I am only missing the last one. Although I suppose 14a is on the way there.
A bit of a surprise to see Silvanus here, when I opened this last night, but a pleasant one. Despite not fully understanding 3d I really enjoyed it and I hope you do too. 14a and 16d clues, and I have hinted a very subjective half. If you are still struggling, I will try to give an extra nudge or so if asked.
A reminder to let me know if you are interested in the forthcoming Mid-Year Bash All are welcome, and it should be a good time.
Does anyone else remember 23d and Booster? I have been on a nostalgia fest
Here we go, Folks…
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Only just a Toughie but the usual excellent Silvanus crossword