Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Sparks is the name used by Mark Kelmanson for Toughies. He is known elsewhere as Monk (M on K, his initials)
Toughie No 3620 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Sparks has provided today’s enjoyable Toughie. Thanks to him.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.
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Toughie No 3596 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Thanks to Sparks for an enjoyable puzzle.
When I was writing in the answers I noticed the number of high-scoring letters in Scrabble and thought that we might be heading for a triple pangram. Actually we seem to be a single Q short of the triple so only have a still impressive double pangram.
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Toughie No 3564 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
This is not too tricky for a Friday Toughie but enjoyable. There are two answers that I’d not heard of but both were very fairly clued. Many thanks to Sparks.
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Toughie No 3540 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ***
Thanks to Sparks for an enjoyable puzzle which isn’t too tough (for a Friday). I’ve given it an extra half-star for difficulty because I needed to verify the 1a accidents, the 9a dietary problem and the 5d mythical beast none of which I’d heard of. I can’t find any Nina today – can you?
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Toughie No 3516 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
My BRB had to work overtime today and the number of new terms for me made it hard work but all were fairly clued and there were some entertaining clues. Thanks to Sparks. I can’t spot a Nina – can you?
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Toughie No 3492 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ****/***** – Enjoyment ***
I found this puzzle pretty tricky and my copy of the BRB had to work overtime. I did enjoy the struggle – thanks to Sparks. I can’t find any Nina in the grid – can you?Thanks to Odrum who has found the Nina – see Comment #3. Continue reading “Toughie 3492”
Toughie No 3476 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***/****
Sparks has given us an enjoyable but not too tough pangram today. Thanks to him.
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Toughie No 3444 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Thanks to Sparks for the enjoyable Friday Toughie. He very often gives us something extra in the grid – I can’t see anything today (the only letters missing are J, Q, X and Z which are the four highest Scrabble scorers but I doubt whether that’s significant). Have you spotted anything?
Update: See the comment from Retiefus below – the Nina starts at the final character of 3d. Continue reading “Toughie 3444”
Toughie No 3420 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Sparks has provided an entertaining puzzle where some of the parsing took me some time – many thanks to him. He usually has something going on in the grid and today all of the 4-letter answers are reversed in symmetrical locations.
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Toughie No 3388 by Sparks
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ***
Sparks has given us a pretty tricky double (thanks Huntman) pangram today – thanks to him. There are a few gimmes but most of the clues need some cogitation.
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