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 – Toughie Difficulty ****** – Enjoyment *****
For a very brief moment, when I had solved several clues on first reading, I hoped that this was one of those extremely rare occasions when Elgar might have decided to be kind to his solvers. How wrong I was
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ***
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. Continue reading "DT 31348"
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This puzzle was published on 12th September 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A fairly gentle and entertaining Saturday puzzle from the setter that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31343 (Full Review)”
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Another breezy Thursday, but typically entertaining and elegant. And such generosity suited me down to the ground as I’m itching to take the wife’s new, envy-inducing Brompton out for a cheeky spin. You (and she) may never see me again – if and when I hit Dover, I might just keep going. Bonne route à tous!
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31347
Hints and Tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty ****  Enjoyment ***
The additional star I’ve awarded for difficulty today is wholly down to the problems I had with 24a which were largely due to the positioning of the comma. Many thanks to our setter.
Continue reading “DT 31347”
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
Weatherman set us what I thought was a particularly tricky Wednesday Toughie, including a couple of words where I presume he ‘painted himself into a corner’
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BD Rating – Difficulty **  Enjoyment ****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the midweek back-pager blog. Today was a definite step up in difficulty from the previous two days, with some excellent misdirection and one or two clues requiring some general knowledge. My favourite is the cat-sitting Reverend in 1a. I also enjoyed the Quickie pun. Many thanks to our setter.
Sunday Toughie No 241 by Zandio
Full Review by Gazza
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This puzzle was published on 06/08/26
A very enjoyable puzzle from Zandio this week.
Across Clues
1a Dad writing stuff, more unwell apparently – here’s the solution (10)
PAINKILLER: assemble an affectionate word for father, some liquid writing stuff and a comparative which could conceivably mean (apparently) ‘more unwell’. Continue reading “Sunday Toughie 241 (full review)”
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This puzzle was published on 6th September 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. Dada has given us a very enjoyable solve this Sunday and now I present to you a full review of his puzzle. Hope to have your valuable feedback and comments. Continue reading “ST 3385 (Full Review)”