Big Dave's Crossword Blog – Page 9 – Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English

ST 3364 (Hints)

by Senf  

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3364 (Hints)

Hints and tips by Senf

A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where yesterday we enjoyed a double digit (positive) temperature, for the first time since 23rd November of last year, of plus 11 degrees  (plenty of double digit (negative) temperatures in the meantime).

For me, and I stress for me,©  Dada quirkily friendly again – four longish ‘uns (only one an anagram), five anagrams (two partials), two lurkers (one reversed), and no homophones in a symmetric 32 clues; with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!

Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!

If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!

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Toughie 3668

by Gazza  

Toughie No 3668 by Luxor
Hints and tips by Gazza

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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***

Welcome to Luxor, a new Toughie setter whose name will be known to those who solve the Enigmatic Variations puzzles. I was a bit apprehensive on seeing the new name but I needn’t have worried; this puzzle is pretty gentle for a Friday Toughie.
Thanks to our new setter for the enjoyment.
Continue reading “Toughie 3668”

DT 31205 (Full Review)

by Rahmat Ali  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31205

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 4th April 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A bit tough yet entertaining Saturday puzzle from Twmbarlwm that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31205 (Full Review)”

Toughie 3667

by ALP  

Toughie No 3667 by Prime
Hints and tips by ALP

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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***/****

This seemed quite tricky mid-solve, so I was surprised to look at the clock afterwards – it was actually pretty speedy. I think such contradiction was largely because it took me a moment to find a way in and most of the shorts needed at least one crosser to crack. There is a smidgeon of vocab (12a) and a dollop of religion (12d, etc) but nothing outlandish and all fairly clued. Over to you. Continue reading “Toughie 3667”

DT 31209

by Senf  

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31209

Hints and Tips by Senf

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *****

A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where, yesterday, on the 19th day of Spring we woke up to fluffy white precipitation courtesy of an Alberta Clipper!  Fortunately, in my area, there was only 5 to 10 cms and the roads and footpaths are already warm enough that it ‘self cleared.’

For me, etc© (I have to say that for Terence), a puzzle of two halves, North and South, but once again not half of a Dream Team Thursday, Prime on Toughie duty today, but no doubt that this is the work of the Master of Brevity.  The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and appearances from the Queen and his swEetheart, don’t be confused by the second ‘sweetheart’ in 1d (check the hint), appearing in the back pager with an average of 5.2 words per clue.  Also, like Dada, Ray T still seems to be making occasional use of a personal thesaurus.  I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!

Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!

Continue reading “DT 31209”