Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31086
Hints and tips by Smylers
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ★★ – Enjoyment ★★★
Hello. It’s a busy week in our household. Both children are dancing in The Nutcrackers and the Music Box, which has its first performance on Thursday and rehearsals in the theatre every night before then. We’re hoping school doesn’t set them much homework this week (though the eldest is taking some Latin revision to this evening’s rehearsal, for a test tomorrow).
I’m guessing today’s Telegraph Crossword is by X-Type — but do note I’m writing this introduction on Sunday evening, before having seen the crossword, so that really is a guess, not an opinion based how solving went! Hints and explanations to each clue are given below, with answers hidden inside the Tickets still available. Discount for the Thursday evening performance. blobs.
Continue reading “DT 31086”
Toughie No 3584 by Elgar
Hints and tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Elgar is not quite at his most fiendish today but it’s all very clever and enjoyable. Thanks to him.
Continue reading “Toughie 3584”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31079
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 8th November 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata.… Continue reading
Toughie No 3583 by Beam
Hints and tips by ALP
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
Quintessential Beam today – very tight, very clean. Surprisingly clean-ish, in fact. But don’t worry, the usual wit is still there. 1d, for one! As for difficulty, it really rather depends on whether you’ve got your synonym head on, or not. The bottom half flew in but the top was perhaps slightly knottier. 9a’s “sensitive”, for example, took some thought, though the definition couldn’t have been clearer. In short, a delight, and a lovely way to mark my 100th blog. Where on earth did the time go, eh? All yours.
Continue reading “Toughie 3583”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31083
Hints and tips by Shabbo
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
I really enjoyed this perfectly pitched Thursday back page puzzle. Some great surface reads and plenty of clues requiring us to drop or add letters to keep us on our toes. Loads of ticks on my page, including 9a, 22a, 27a, 4d, 6d, 15d and 17d, with my CoD going to 12a – a clever construction and a great word. I will leave you to play “Guess the Setter” as I have no idea. Perhaps he/she will drop in later to take a bow.
In the blog below, the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED and the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the “Click Here” buttons. Please leave a comment telling us how you got on and what you thought of the puzzle.
Many thanks to our mystery setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
Continue reading “DT 31083”
Toughie No 3582 by Light
Hints and tips by ALP
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
Sue is still off games and we all wish her well, but don’t worry – she’ll be doing star jumps again before you know it. So, I’m afraid you’ve got me instead. You’ll just have to be terribly, terribly brave! Some vintage references from Light today – a 1966 footballer, a post-war singer and a grand old comic. Nostalgic fun. All yours.
Continue reading “Toughie 3582”
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31082
Hints and Tips by Gazza
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****
A really entertaining midweek puzzle which I thoroughly enjoyed – many thanks to our setter.
Continue reading “DT 31082”
Sunday Toughie No 197 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on the 2nd November 2025 Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 197 (Review)”