Putting the words to lights – crossword clues explained in plain English
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
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.
If this is your first time, or for more information about this site, please click on Continue reading “Welcome”
Toughie No 3745 by Hudson
Hints and tips by Whybird
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Welcome to another Toughie week.
Hudson has given us a puzzle which feels just about the perfect level for a Tuesday Toughie. There’s nothing outrageously obscure (the Scottish chimney being a possible exception but that crops up reasonably regularly) but there are a fair few that required some thinking about. And all that with a good sprinkling of top-notch surfaces. There’s been quite a lot of congestion around the podium, but I’m going with 26a, 12d and 23a just being pipped by 14a. But 4a really needs an honourable mention too. Thank you, Hudson, for a wonderful start to the week.
Please let us know how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
It’s shaping up to be another pleasant sunny day here in Harpenden so I’ve no excuses, now that the temperature is mercifully more tolerable, for not getting a decent walk in this afternoon.
I thought today’s Anthony Plumb lacked a wee bit of sparkle compared to recent weeks so I’ll be interested to see what others make of it. It was certainly on the gentle side even by Tuesday standards & I’d reckon it easier than yesterday’s puzzle. As ever immaculately clued.
Hudson is over in t’other place with a light delight that is fun & pretty ‘floughie’. Ideal for anyone contemplating dipping their toes into toughie waters for the first time. Whybird will be delighted to hear from you.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
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.
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from my lakeside retreat near Ottawa where summer is gradually beginning to edge toward the wings and I am trying hard to enjoy what little is left before it leaves the stage entirely.
While I have successfully called the setters on a couple of recent puzzles, I don’t believe I’ll press my luck today. I think most solvers will find today’s offering is well-suited to the level of difficulty we expect to start the week.
In the hints below, underlining identifies precise definitions and cryptic definitions, FODDER is capitalized, and indicators are italicized. The answers will be revealed by clicking on the ANSWER buttons.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought of the puzzle.
Sunday Toughie No 239
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
A delightful puzzle from proXimal, that I didn’t find too tricky last night. As usual, he starts with a Spoonerism and follows up with the first compound anagram.
The grid means we have a slightly unbalanced 14a and 16d clues and my half of the hints are equally unbalanced (6a and 9d)
I hope you find the checkers to cross the line, but will try and nudge you in the right direction if asked.
Here we go, Folks…
Enigmatic Variations 1761 (Hints)
HEROES by VAGANS
Hints and tips by Gabriel
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
A very 2026 question to ask is when will my profession/skill be superseded by an AI?… Continue reading
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg. So, the English Premier League is back for the 2026/27 season. Yesterday, I enjoyed watching Hull City getting off to a good start on their return to the top flight. No sign of Chelsea. Oh, I see that they are playing tomorrow evening. No doubt they will claim travel fatigue, after the long journey across SW6, if the result is not favourable for them 
For me, and I stress for me,© Dada quirky as usual but not quite so friendly as recently, with five anagrams (one partial), two lurkers, and one homophone, and, like last week, one that, at first look, you might think is a homophone but isn’t all in a not much value for the money symmetric 26 clues; with 13 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!
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty ****** – Enjoyment *****