Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
Sunday Toughie No 244
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Light has brought a great Toughie today, with some clever surfaces and a bit of investigoogling to check the 3d novelist and 23a cocktail. I hesitate to call it floughie as I was off base last week and there were a few crumpet scratches to get across the finish line.
I hope you find the checkers to cross the line too, but as usual I will try and give a nudge if asked.
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie No 240
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Light has given us a rather deceptive crossword today. A Spoonerism that isn’t and cricket references that aren’t crickety. A couple of the answers were easier to bung in than parse, but I think I have them now.
14a and 14d clues and I have hinted half. I will try and nudge some that hit the cutting room floor if asked.
13a, 16a and the non-spooner 3d are my favourites today; which ones did you like?
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie No 234 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on 19th July 2026 Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 234 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie No 234
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Lots of films, birds, dogs and a little bit of Welsh – Suo Gân from Light today
I enjoyed this and would have liked to hint more, but as it is a prize puzzle, I have tried to restrain myself.
I hope you find the checkers to finish, but I will try to give a nudge if shopping and coffee permit
Don’t forget you are all invited to the Old Joint Stock next Saturday
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie No 228 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on 7th June 2026 Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 228 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie No 228
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I found Light at the trickier end of the spectrum last night and quite difficult to select hints.
I have hinted half of 28 clues, with a bonus pic at the end.
I hope you find the checkers to solve this puzzle, but I am going out for lunch to celebrate the eve of a significant date for Nick Rhodes
and myself, and nudges will be sparse until later this evening.
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie No 222 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on 26th April 2026 Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 222 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie No 222
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A cracking puzzle from Light today. I wish I could have hinted more. The brilliant 1d gets the nod from a classy Spoonerism and 17a ran them close.
14a and 14d clues today, and I have hinted at half. I hope you find the checkers to finish, and as long as you remember your H. Rider Haggard novels and what Zanzibarians speak, you shouldn’t have too much trouble. I will try to give a nudge if asked.
Here we go, Folks…
Sunday Toughie No 216 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on 15th March 2026 Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 216 (Review)”
Sunday Toughie No 216
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It is Light’s turn to have two Prize Puzzles this weekend. If yesterday was his 100th puzzle for The Telegraph is this his 101st? I don’t know for sure, as they may count the anonymous back pagers differently from Toughies. This is definitely his 14th Sunday Toughie as Light and with 8 so far in the other toughie, that leaves at least 79 anonymous backpage puzzles that have entertained us since he graduated from these shores. An impressive output in such a short time.
Anagrams and double definitions have hit the cutting room floor today, and don’t forget the maxim: When in doubt…
14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted at half. I will try and provide a nudge or two if you ask, but as it is Mother’s Day, my normal Coffee and Cake outing with Mama Bee will probably be Betty’s rather than the local Caffè Nero, I may take a little longer to reply
Here we go, Folks…