Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
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Toughie No 3756 by Osmosis
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
I must have been on form this morning because I completed this with less difficulty than I normally experience with Osmosis. Re-reading the clues when writing the hints reinforced how well the puzzle was constructed with no obscurities in sight. Many thanks to Osmosis.
Continue reading “Toughie 3756”
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BD Rating - Difficulty **** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. I needed my reference materials this week to confirm a few answers. Continue reading "DT 31342"
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This puzzle was published on 5th September 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice, lovely 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 31337 (Full Review)”
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Kcit has all but made Thursday his own of late. And this speedster was right up my street – nude dancing, Wimsey-esque lingo and a dollop of Latin. As such, ‘twas a pretty brisk and enjoyable solve. All yours.
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BD Rating – Difficulty 2*Â – Enjoyment 4.5*
A very good Thursday morning from Winnipeg where Autumn is beginning to be in the air!
For me, and I stress for me© (I have to say that for Terence), not a Dream Team Thursday, Kcit 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 an appearance from the Queen, Ray T’s swEetheart, and the plain sweetheart in the back pager. 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!
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
A crossword that took me exactly the same time to solve as today’s 3* backpager; what turned it into a Toughie was the time I spent trying to completely parse 32a.
I will be interested to see whether other solvers are tempted to use that phrase regarding the ease of solving the clues, the use of which is not encouraged here on Big Dave’s Blog
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BD Rating – Difficulty **  Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. For me, this was the hardest puzzle of the week so far, but not too tricky for a Wednesday. Amongst my favourite clues today were 9a, 12a and 20d, but first place goes to the Northampton cobblers in 8d. Many thanks to our setter.
Sunday Toughie No 240Â by Light
Full Review by Gazza
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This puzzle was published on 30/08/26
A very enjoyable puzzle from Light this week.
Across Clues
1a Loud claps accompanying flashes of brilliance?… Continue reading
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This puzzle was published on 30th August 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A very entertaining Sunday prize puzzle from Dada that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of the same for your kind perusal and important feedback. Continue reading “ST 3384 (Full Review)”
Toughie No 3753 by Beam
Hints and tips by Whybird
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/***  – Enjoyment ****