Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Having stated in the preamble to last Wednesday’s Toughie that there were no gimmicks only to find later that every across answer contained ‘un’ I examined today’s completed grid with a bit more care – but I can’t spot anything unusual.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
After a few months of the variable delights of the Saturday puzzle, Dave has given me the privilege of writing about the Sunday puzzle in its new style. What a change! Instead of wondering how much to bang on about the clues that annoy me, I’m now trying to make sure I don’t miss any of the very clever aspects of these clues. It seems to be current DT policy not to name the setter for each day, but if this puzzle wasn’t written by Brian Greer (Brendan and Virgilius elsewhere and a former Times xwd editor, now back on their setting team), it’s by someone who’s learned a lot from Brian and other good setters. This puzzle was relatively tricky for Brian – his scrupulously fair clues mean that I can get through some of his puzzles pretty swiftly. I look forward to something with an extra twist to celebrate ST No. 2500 next week.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
This is the latest in a long run of excellent Sunday puzzles. Excellent surface reading and an underlying humour are two of this setter’s trademarks. Make sure that you don’t miss the allusion to Virgil’s Latin epic poem The Aeneid in 13 down that led to the popular saying “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts” among others.
Don’t forget that you can give your assessment of the puzzle. Five stars if you thought it was great, one if you hated it, four, three or two if it was somewhere in between.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, I will select a few of the better clues and provide hints for them.
Starting this week, Peter Biddlecombe is going to be reviewing the Sunday puzzles instead of the Saturday ones. His full review of this puzzle will be published at 12.00 on Friday, 4th September.
