Sunday Toughie – Page 25 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog

Sunday Toughie 106 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 106

by Zandio

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Zandio brings us a fine Sunday Toughie (his 33rd) which I found at least as much fun as his Friday backpager
I think I have parsed them but 18d was most of the trouble and I hope I have got the gist I am sure you will put me right

We have 14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half
Here we go…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 106 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 105 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 105


by proXimal

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

I tripped through three-quarters of this quite quickly but came to a grinding halt in the SW. I don’t think I can parse two letters in 2d and await your retorts.

Thanks to proXimal for providing a nod to 20d ‘s  It made my night when I realised he was talking about me (and  others)

14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 105 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 104 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 104

by Robyn

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

 

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Robyn is back today, it is not the first time one of our triumvirate of Sunday Toughie Setters has had sequential puzzles. Zandio brought us Sunday Toughie 8 and 9 and 28 and 29, and Robyn did it again with 66 and 67. I wonder if he is going to have a multiple-linked clue this week. We’ve had figure-hugging numbers, Guard-dogs and last week’s theme which is still sub judice until the review is out Wednesday
Robyn is in the lead on 37 Sunday Toughies, with proXimal on 35 and Zandio on 32

I wrote that while hacking and coughing before a sleep-deprived night and I can’t detect a theme. I found it quite tricky to do and I kept at it as I was more comfortable while busy. We have a sure-fire candidate for THE LIST™ (Terence)  in 20d and some tricky parsing. Yesterday we had a few comments where the very act of typing a plea for help aided the brain cells and as soon as the request was sent the answer came to mind. I had the same thing with 15a whose parsing came in a flash just as I sent a plea for help to the Answerbank. You are all clever enough to get there too but if I have left any gaps on the cutting room floor please ask

Here we go…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 104 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 103 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 103

by Robyn

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

 

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Robyn with an enjoyable Grammar and Geography lesson today. We have that horse garment again! but also a nice theme for which you may need a gazetteer or Google Maps

14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half

A laptop that is stuck in an update loop and a broken mouse have put me behind today so I am dashing a bit to get this blog out    A dab of glue and a slap on the battery and it’s sorted!

Here we go…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 103 (Hints)”

Sunday Toughie 102 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 102


by proXimal

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Thanks to proXimal for a pleasant Toughie today, probably at the easier end of his spectrum but I am maybe just relieved it wasn’t as tough as his Christmas EV
Plenty of homophones and anagrams of various degrees of partiality and A Spoonerism that shouldn’t frighten the livestock either equine or avian

Here we go, Folks…

Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 102 (Hints)”