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 or the Enigmatic Variations advanced cryptic, a total of 13 puzzles a week, then you have come to the right place.
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
A charming wolf in sheep’s clothing from Stick Insect.… Continue reading
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
A slightly dullish start to the day here in Harpenden but it seems to be brightening up nicely.
A Typically Tuesdayish puzzle from the Prof today that I’d rate on the gentle side even for a Plumb production. Enjoyable & the perfect guzzle for the less experienced cryptic solver to cut his or her teeth on. As usual hints plus the usual assortment of clips are provided should they be required.
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.
Hello. Today’s crossword is apparently from the anonymous member of the regular Monday trio, the one who isn’t X-Type or Twmbarlwm. Welcome especially to anybody new to cryptic crosswords: hints and explanations for each clue are below, with definitions underlined and the answers hidden behind the Told you! blobs — though don’t click that one, obviously.
Sunday Toughie No 173
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I dont think that was as hard as the last Sunday Toughie from Light, but your experience may differ. Maybe I am just getting to grips with the new Sunday Toughie Compilers. Some definitions and synonyms were well hidden. Learning about botany, booze, politics and police along the way, but I think I got them eventually.
From a long list I will pick the lovely 12d as COTD by a nose from 14a. With 14a and 14d clues today I have hinted half. As usual some tricky clues remain unhinted, but I may be able to give a nudge or two if the WiFi at Caffè Nero permits
Here we go, Folks…
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Kruger has been setting EV puzzles for almost 30 years now. What do our AI friends think about this one? Trying Gemini again, I gave it the preamble…
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where yesterday’s high temperature of 5 degrees was 33 degrees cooler than it was on Tuesday, all in Celsius of course. Thankfully, the cooler temperatures and the rain that we have had since Thursday have helped with the ‘battle’ against wildfires East of Winnipeg in which, sadly, two people have died.
For me, and I stress for me©, Dada quite friendly with some ‘creative’ anagram indicators. Six anagrams (two partials), three lurkers (one reversed), and no homophones all in a symmetric 30 clues; with 15 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. And, remember, my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
Candidates for favourite – 10a, 18a, 19a, 1d, 5d, 18d, and 20d.
As is usual for the weekend prize crosswords, a number of the more difficult clues have been selected and hints provided for them.
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment ****