Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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You have reached the world’s biggest and best crossword blog. If you are looking for help with the Daily and Sunday Telegraph cryptic crosswords, a total of 11 puzzles a week, then you have come to the right place.
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Another very nice puzzle from proXimal, not stupidly hard, great surfaces, just my kind of thing – a great way to start the day.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from South Staffs where there is a fine, sunny start to the day.
It’s Friday, so it’s another puzzle from Giovanni, with nothing too unfamiliar in the answers, and wordplay which gets you there if you need it.… Continue reading
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This puzzle was published on 14th September 2019
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
The most enjoyable Saturday Prize Puzzle for some time – well I thought so anyway – there are some great surface readings and a nice mix of clue types – my particular favourite was 10a
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
It’s a Beam day so the Kiwis can get busy with their word counter, Gazza can put his anagram counter away until tomorrow and everyone can watch out for the usual couple of lurkers. I had a slow start, then accelerated to fill the top half, and finally completed the bottom half at a leisurely pace. It was enjoyable as Beam puzzles usually are. Continue reading “Toughie 2301”
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BD Rating — Difficulty *** — Enjoyment ***
Hello everyone. I haven’t quite made up my mind about this one yet so I’ll just tell you a few general thoughts. The style felt unfamiliar; the clues are admirably brief; the setter is not Ray T; there was a slightly odd mixture of some very straightforward ones and a few that completely floored me for ages.… Continue reading
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This puzzle was published on 8th September 2019
BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ***
A trickier offering from Dada this time – lots of doing something with a letter too – my Across favourite was 28a and my Down favourite was 9d
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
This is pretty gentle but very enjoyable with little bits of humour throughout. Lots of clues have ‘sporting’ surfaces (especially football) but sporting knowledge is not really necessary in order to solve the puzzle.… Continue reading
BD Rating – Difficulty ***– Enjoyment ****
Kia ora from Aotearoa.
Our weather lately has been pretty awful with a lot of wind and generally cold, wet and blustery. Today it all changed and we have a beautiful fine calm day. Almost tempted to bring more summery clothes out of the wardrobe.
Jay in his usual reliable form. It took us exactly the same time as last week so have left the difficulty rating unchanged.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Another great puzzle from Donnybrook. The answer to 11a reminded me of an anecdote, recounted below, from a job in Glasgow some 25 years ago – we stayed in a hotel in East Kilbride (Glasgow’s equivalent of Milton Keynes) as our usual hotel (The Pond, now the Leonardo Inn, at Anniesland) was fully booked. Continue reading “Toughie 2299”
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome. This week I have no idea about the identity of our setter, so if they're reading I do hope they'll comment below. I got a worryingly long way through the acrosses before the answers started to flow. Fortunately, the bottom half of the grid and most of the downs were more friendly, and the setter also included a few Usual Suspects to provide footholds. I enjoyed the solve and thought this puzzle was just right for a Tuesday. I look forward to reading your thoughts on it. Continue reading "DT 29158"