Light (Sunday) – Page 2 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Sunday Toughie 201 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 201

by Light

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

A Light(ish) Toughie from Light, that took longer to blog than solve. A slightly uneven 14a and 16d clues today, and I have hinted at half. I hope you find the checkers to solve this fine puzzle. I will try and give a nudge or two if I can, but I am off to see Mumford & Sons tonight, so responses may be a bit late.

The featured image of the Matt Cartoon wouldn’t post where it belonged (as a hint to 1a) so I have left it there.

Mama Bee is nagging to go out for coffee so I will schedule this and talk to you later…

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 201 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 197 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 197

by Light

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

A great crossword from Light that I really enjoyed solving, even though some of the Latin parsing escaped me.

Some great surfaces and anagrams should give you the checkers to fill the grid. I have hinted at 13 of 28 clues, to be able to offer a nudge if you ask.

If you are considering coming to the Birthday Bash, a reminder that the date is now 31st January 2026

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 197 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 193 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 193

by Light

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

I struggled to get going last night, but I think I can blame the woolly-headedness on the lingering cold that is slooowly releasing its grip on my nasal cavities.

I did like 7 and 8d, but I may be overthinking the archery link

A somewhat imbalanced 16a and 13d clues today, and I have hinted half(ish) I hope you get the checkers to finish, I will give a nudge or two if required.

 

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 193 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 189 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 189

by Light

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Although I had a full grid in relatively quick time, parsing some took a bit of kip to allow them to dawn on me. A couple of football references and to one who wrote about that particular football club. A couple of references to orthodontics too. 25a was probably my favourite but much sniggering was had when revising the poet in 12a.

Now, which ones do I hint, “Ay, there’s the rub”? I have probably been a bit overgenerous in hints so I hope there are enough to give you the checkers to finish today.

 

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 189 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 185 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 185

by Light

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

As I was solving this last night the following popped up on Bluesky;

Hi John

Assuming you’re on prize Toughie duty today, the interactive puzzle (Firefox / iMac) has ‘Kova?i?’ at 7d. It should be Kovačić. Obviously, some software doesn’t like the diacritics.

It’s fine in the facsimile of the newsprint version, so hopefully fine in the actual newspaper too.

Thanks

Michael

I hope that misprint didn’t affect your enjoyment of some lovely surfaces, and once I had revised my grammar prep and musical notation, I enjoyed this a lot.

 

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 185 (Hints)”