Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. Late start to the blog today, so no time to search for pictures I’m afraid. Continue reading "DT 31036"
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This puzzle was published on 13th September 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
A fun romp from Beam today, with his usual brevity, wit and imaginative synonyms – plus, of course, royalty and “sweetheart”.… Continue reading
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31035
Hints and tips by Shabbo
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
Good morning, fellow puzzlers.
A lovely challenging puzzle which I found to be tricky in parts. However, if you follow the setter’s instructions carefully, every clue does exactly what it says on the tin. Several reversals and letter selections/deletions, but all presented within the smoothest of surface reads. A setter at the very top of his game.
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 setter and to the DT Crossword Team.
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ***
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31034
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ****
Fairly gentle and very enjoyable – thanks to our setter.
Continue reading “DT 31034”
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This puzzle was published on 7th September 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A straightforward and gentle puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and valuable feedback. Continue reading “ST 3333 (Full Review)”
Toughie No 3549 by Donnybrook
Hints and tips by Whybird
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ***
Welcome to another Toughie week!
I often struggle to get onto Donnybrook’s wavelength, and today was no exception. … Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** Enjoyment ***
Fairly straightforward Plumbing today which ought not to pose too many difficulties. That said under time pressure I couldn’t see the parsing at 8d so phoned the DT helpline (aka Shabbo). As ever succinctly clued & with the usual high quota of single letter abbreviations. I did enjoy the puzzle but also thought it somewhat lacking in the sort of witty surfaces that characterise AP’s best puzzles. It’ll be interesting to see what others think.
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.