EV1727
Complete by Stick Insect
Solution
Tag: Answers
DT 31131
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31131
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** Enjoyment ****
I don’t think there’s much doubt about the identity of today’s setter based on the smooth surfaces and the inclusion of a Scottish football team. Thanks to him for a very enjoyable puzzle.
I’ve given the puzzle four stars for difficulty because I thought some of the wordplay was quite tricky – I’ll be interested to know whether you agree or not.
I have to go for an eye test this morning which involves drops in the eyes so I’ll probably be unable to read your comments for a couple of hours.
Continue reading “DT 31131”
Toughie 3614
Toughie No 3614 by Shabbo
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
DT 31130
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31130
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** Enjoyment ****
Good morning and welcome to my first blog as an official member of the BD blogging team, although it’s my fourth effort overall – I blogged three of the vintage puzzles last summer, so I should be getting the hang of it by now! Many thanks to Gazza for inviting me to become a regular blogger, and to Shabbo, from whom I’m taking over (albeit on a Wednesday rather than a Thursday). I wish him well in his new role as a DT puzzle compiler.
I felt this puzzle to be the hardest of the week so far, finishing in just over 3* time. I especially liked the cricketing legend in 9a, the ursine visitor in 1d and the boring old Conservative in 18a, but my COD has to be the eccentric mind in 28a. Many thanks to today’s setter.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and indicator words (e.g. anagram indicators) are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons.
Sunday Toughie 205 (Review)
Sunday Toughie No 205 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 28th of December 2025
ST 3349 (Full Review)
Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3349
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 28th December 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A slightly tough puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and valuable feedback. Continue reading “ST 3349 (Full Review)”
Toughie 3613
Toughie No 3613 by Dada
Hints and tips by Whybird
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Happy New Year from Neston! The weather has turned, and the snow and ice are gradually being washed away. A shame, as both Lord Alfie and I (especially the former!) enjoy early morning strolls on crisp snow. On the plus side, looking for the short-eared and barn owls at the Old Baths won’t feel quite so much like a cryogenic experience.
Dada’s puzzle today has provided something of a jolt after the Festive period. It took a while before I started to get onto the right sort of wavelength. There are plenty of inventive, lesser-spotted pieces of word play, but all very fair. I’ve given my prizes today to 1a, 11a, 19d and 21d. Thank you, Dada, for effecting a thorough clean-out of the mental cobwebs.
Please let us know how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle
DT 31128
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31128
Hints and tips by Falcon
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Ottawa on this twelfth day of Christmas. I hope you were able to concentrate on the puzzle despite the din from the twelve drummers who arrived today – not to mention all the birds, maids, ladies, lords and pipers who preceded them over the past eleven days.
X-Type has given us a gentle exercise with which to ease back into the crossword routine after the recent festivities. He seems to have taken a page out of RayT’s book and given us a puzzle that will appeal to those of us who have not outgrown our schoolboy sense of humour.
In the hints below, underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions, FODDER is capitalized, and indicators are italicized. The answers will be revealed by clicking on the ANSWER buttons.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought of the puzzle.
Toughie 3612
Toughie No 3612 by Osmosis
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ****
There are a few gimmes here but in the main this required a fair bit of work. There are no anagrams (that’s fine by me) and I enjoyed the challenge a lot. Thanks to Osmosis.
Continue reading “Toughie 3612”
DT 31126
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31126
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty **** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. Today I couldn’t fully parse one clue or get the Quickie pun, so not a great start to the year for me. Continue reading "DT 31126"