Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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Sunday Toughie No 244
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Light has brought a great Toughie today, with some clever surfaces and a bit of investigoogling to check the 3d novelist and 23a cocktail. I hesitate to call it floughie as I was off base last week and there were a few crumpet scratches to get across the finish line.
I hope you find the checkers to cross the line too, but as usual I will try and give a nudge if asked.
Here we go, Folks…
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This is Luxor’s twelfth EV, and I have had the pleasure of doing the hints and tips for ten of them.
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A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where Mother Nature has been giving us some welcome gentle rain.
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada very friendly once I had cracked two or three clues. Six anagrams (two partials), one lurker (not hinted, you are on your own), and one homophone, all in a symmetric 32 clues; with 16 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, all BRB verified where necessary, you should/might be able to get some of the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand! You might even need your favourite e-search ‘assistant’!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!
If it is some time since you read, or if you have never read the instructions in RED below the hints then please consider doing so before commenting today as my electronic blue pencil is at the ready and the Naughty Step is OPEN!
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Toughie No 3784 by Luxor
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
This came as a blessed relief after yesterday’s Toughie – no obscurities (well, Planet Normal was new to me but I didn’t need to know it to solve the clue). This is fairly gentle for a Friday Toughie – thanks to Luxor.
Continue reading “Toughie 3764”
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ****
Hello, everyone, and welcome to a fresh and entertaining Friday puzzle. Continue reading "DT 31354"
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This puzzle was published on 19th September 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A magnificent Saturday puzzle from NYDK that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31349 (Full Review)”
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ****/*****
A most welcome return by Potoroo – cunning misdirection, sophisticated wordplay and some smart surfaces. Oh, and a pangram to boot. All yours.
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BD Rating – Difficulty 2*Â – Enjoyment 4.5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where, with the start of Autumn, we are being told that a powerful ‘super’ El Niño is underway in the Pacific Ocean developing faster than any previous El Niño on record. So, in Manitoba, and the other Western Provinces, we can expect a milder, warmer Autumn and Winter with less snow and drier conditions both of which do not bode well for next year’s wildfire season.
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), not a Dream Team Thursday, Potoroo is on Toughie duty. But, there is no doubt that this is the very entertaining work of the Master of Brevity. The usual one word clues and answers in the Quickie, and two appearance from the Queen, Ray T’s swEetheart, but not a plain sweetheart in the back pager. Nothing to excite the latent third formers among us. Also, like Dada, Ray T still seems to be making occasional use of a personal thesaurus. I hope you have your Crimson Tomes at hand!
Remember that Reading the Hints before commenting can be beneficial!