Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Hello. Today’s crossword is apparently from the anonymous member of the regular Monday trio, the one who isn’t X-Type or Twmbarlwm. Welcome especially to anybody new to cryptic crosswords: hints and explanations for each clue are below, with definitions underlined and the answers hidden behind the Told you! blobs — though don’t click that one, obviously.
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ****
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BD Rating - Difficulty **** - Enjoyment ****
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. Today’s challenging and enjoyable puzzle felt different to the work produced by our regular group of Friday setters. I hope that today’s compiler will drop in later to take credit for it. Continue reading "DT 30928"
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This puzzle was published on 10th May 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Toughie No 3479 by Silvanus
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
This is a very entertaining and not too tricky puzzle from the prolific Silvanus. Many thanks to him.
Continue reading “Toughie 3479”
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***/****
A distinctly chillier day here in Harpenden in stark contrast to a lovely warm sunny day out on the golf course yesterday. A perfect excuse to sit glued to the telly this afternoon watching Rory seeing if he can follow up his Masters 12a with a consecutive Major.
Shabbo is swanning about in the Highlands so you’re stuck with me again today. I was expecting a Smooth production but see that Silvanus is over in t’other place. I wouldn’t care to hazard a guess as to who set this enjoyable puzzle. Given the somewhat tricky wordplay in the opening clue the puzzle actually turned out to be gentler than I thought it was going to be. As ever there are an assortment of clips with the hopefully correct hints.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
A very good Wednesday morning from Winnipeg where, in simple terms, yesterday was hot – 38 degrees hot – but the forecast is still indicating that I will need my red scarf on Friday and Saturday!
For me, etc (I have to say that for Terence), I hope that I do not offend anyone, with a few Hmms, this was like a Monday puzzle, as Monday puzzles used to be, with, once again, no sign of the Reverend W A Spooner. Whomsoever the setter is, thank you. However, there is a chance that one excellent answer might be condemned to purgatory on The List; although, I have a vague recollection that it might already be there.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
I think this could well be Zenas’ best yet.… Continue reading