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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#" > <channel> <title>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</title> <atom:link href="http://bigdave44.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>http://bigdave44.com</link> <description>Putting the words to lights - crossword clues explained in plain English</description> <lastBuildDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:01:42 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-GB</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <image> <url>https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cropped-crossword-logo1.jpeg?fit=32%2C32</url> <title>Big Dave's Crossword Blog</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height></image> <item> <title>Toughie 3254</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/toughie-3254/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/toughie-3254/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:00:16 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Robyn]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wednesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3254]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195246</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3254 by Robyn</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and Tips by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Toughie Difficulty *</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment *****</span></p><p><span id="more-195246"></span></p><p>Another most enjoyable ‘start of the week’ Toughie from Robyn.</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us what you thought</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>1a Manufactured snug sock line in <u>silk</u> (5,7)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">KINGS COUNSEL</span></span> The more formal name for a silk gown-wearing barrister can be obtained from an anagram (manufactured) of SNUG SOCK LINE</p><p>9a Proper article about state with <u>Italian Greens?</u>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/toughie-3254/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/toughie-3254/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>11</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30590</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/dt-30590/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/dt-30590/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Gazza]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:00:50 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wednesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30590]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195260</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30590<br />Hints and tips by Gazza</strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty ***</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p>Carol and Colin are on a jaunt today so I have the pleasure of blogging this enjoyable puzzle.</p><p>When I printed off the puzzle from the old puzzles site this morning the first two words of 11a were missing so that the clue lacked a definition.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/dt-30590/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/dt-30590/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>94</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Sunday Toughie 115 (Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/sunday-toughie-115-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/sunday-toughie-115-review/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sloop John Bee]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 08:10:03 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[proXimal (Sunday)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[115]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195141</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Sunday Toughie No 115 by proXimal</strong></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Review by Sloop John Bee</strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>This puzzle was published on the 7th of April 2024</strong><br /></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="more-195141"></span></span></p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p><strong>1a</strong> <u>They criticise</u> Spooner’s bedtime pants, perhaps (3-7)<br />NIT-PICKERS: proXimal is in the habit of starting things off with a Spoonerism and this was a “stinker” An informal term for a bed PIT, and a homophone of underpants usually worn by women KNICKERS, have their initial sounds reversed for petty criticism of minor details.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/sunday-toughie-115-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/sunday-toughie-115-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>ST 3259 (Full Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/st-3259-full-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/st-3259-full-review/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 08:00:58 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ST Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3259]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194985</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3259</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">A full review by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This puzzle was published on 7<sup>th</sup> April 2024</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty ***</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p><span id="more-194985"></span></p><p>The most difficult Sunday Prize Puzzle for quite a while – this may have had something to do with the unhelpful grid, where 53% of the clues started with a non-checked letter</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us what you thought</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>7a Each on journey, <u>energetically ambitious</u> (2-5)<br />GO-AHEAD – A HEAD (each) goes on or after GO (journey)</p><p>8a <u>Stylish</u> <u>sprinting</u> (7)<br />DASHING – Double definition, one more energetic than the other</p><p>10a Man with stapler assembled <u>comprehensive document</u> (6,4)<br />MASTER PLAN – An anagram (assembled) of MAN with STAPLER</p><p>11a Born with minimum of dosh in <u>poverty</u> (4)<br />NEED – NEE (born) with the first letter (minimum) of Dosh</p><p>12a <u>Wonderful</u>, <u>decisive blow</u> (8)<br />KNOCKOUT – An informal name for a person or thing of outstanding attraction or excellence; a decisive blow</p><p>14a Mother’s back pecked by animal — <u>some chicken</u>?… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/st-3259-full-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/17/st-3259-full-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3253</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/16/192419-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/16/192419-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[ALP]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 13:00:08 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tuesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3253]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Zenas]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195183</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3253 by Zenas<br />Hints and tips by ALP</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating –<span style="color: #ff0000;"> Difficulty * </span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><div><p style="font-weight: 400;">I’m sure many of us have been wondering who Zenas is. I was certainly baffled. Thanks (as ever) to the omniscient Gazza, I’m able to say it’s someone you all know.</p></div>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/16/192419-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/16/192419-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>31</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30589</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/16/dt-30589/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/16/dt-30589/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Senf]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2024 10:00:48 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tuesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30589]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195179</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30589</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Senf</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: red;">Difficulty **/***</span> – <span style="color: #00b0f0;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">As Huntsman told us last Tuesday, once again he has temporarily left the environs of Harpenden, this time for the Florida Panhandle for the purpose of aerodynamic testing of small white spherical objects while avoiding the ‘gators. … <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/16/dt-30589/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/16/dt-30589/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>77</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30588</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/15/dt-30588/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/15/dt-30588/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[pommers]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2024 10:00:34 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Monday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30588]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=195160</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30588</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by pommers</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p>Hola from Almoradí on a bright and sunny morning. Spring has definitely sprung now and people, even Spanish, are beginning to appear wearing shorts. Not me thought. The temperature has to top 25°C for me to get the shorts out!… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/15/dt-30588/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/15/dt-30588/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>107</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Rookie Corner 522</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/15/rookie-corner-522/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/15/rookie-corner-522/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Prolixic]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 23:00:19 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rookie Corner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rahmat Ali]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195084</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 align="center"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A Puzzle by Rahmat Ali</span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="more-195084"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/15/rookie-corner-522/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/15/rookie-corner-522/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>22</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Sunday Toughie 116 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/sunday-toughie-116-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/sunday-toughie-116-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sloop John Bee]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 12:30:29 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Zandio (Sunday)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[116]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195120</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday Toughie No 116</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">by Zandio</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +<br /></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A delightful Sunday Toughie from Zandio, which I really enjoyed. 16d was my favourite by a country mile and is awarded the “Sloopy” today, but I am sure you will have other favourites?</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/sunday-toughie-116-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/sunday-toughie-116-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>25</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>EV 1638 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/ev-1638-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/ev-1638-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[The Numpties]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 11:00:08 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chilly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Ace of Hearts]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193695</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Enigmatic Variations 1638 (Hints)</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Chilly by The Ace of Hearts</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by The Numpties</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p>The Ace of Hearts has been producing crosswords for the Magpie, Listener, Enigmatic Variations, and Inquisitor series since 2015. This, <a href="http://www.xwdb.info/listing.php?kw=&sh=1&ww=4&sf-k=1&se=0&sr=442&dr=1&sd=01%2F01%2F1987&ed=&cr=0&rc=&cp=select&ur=&js=N">Dave Hennings’ Crossword Database</a> tells us, will be his 12th EV.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/ev-1638-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/ev-1638-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>ST 3260 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/st-3260-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/st-3260-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Senf]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 14 Apr 2024 09:00:25 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3260]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195088</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3260 (Hints)</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Senf</h2><p style="text-align: justify;">A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where we are experiencing a good example of Manitoba Spring weather, or anywhere else in Canada come to that; yesterday was a beautiful sunny day with a temperature of 20 degrees and on Thursday the forecast is for 2 degrees and fluffy white precipitation!… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/st-3260-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/14/st-3260-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>68</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>NTSPP 740</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/13/ntspp-740/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/13/ntspp-740/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[StephenL]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 11:00:08 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All NTSPP Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Guest Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Starhorse]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195082</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 align="center">A Puzzle by Starhorse</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +</p><p><span id="more-195082"></span> </p><p style="text-align: center;">The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.</p><p>Starhorse provides this week's NTSPP. A lovely puzzle.</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p><strong>1a</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fallacies</span> and lies sound contrived (9)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">DELUSIONS</span></span>: Anagram (contrived) of the preceding two words</p><p>6a <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Entrance</span> of tea room (5)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">CHARM</span></span>: The usual informal tea plus an abbreviation for RooM.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/13/ntspp-740/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/13/ntspp-740/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>21</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30587 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/13/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/13/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2024 09:34:47 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30587]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195068</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30587 (Hints)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: Century Gothic;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span id="more-195068"></span></p><p>Another lovely warm sunny morning – the skylarks are singing, the reed warblers are warbling and, if you believe that the saying ‘Ne’er cast a clout till May be out’ refers to the blossom of the hawthorn tree rather than the month, then the hedgerows round here would seem to indicate that it may be time to put our winter woolies away</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/May.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-195098 aligncenter" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/May.jpg?resize=315%2C236" alt="" width="315" height="236" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/May.jpg?resize=300%2C225 300w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/May.jpg?resize=768%2C576 768w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/May.jpg?w=1000 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 315px) 100vw, 315px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>The rollercoaster ride that is the difficulty level of the Daily Telegraph Cryptic Crossword continues. … <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/13/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/13/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>60</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3252</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/toughie-3252/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/toughie-3252/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dutch]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 13:00:21 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sparks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3252]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195072</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3252 by Sparks</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Dutch</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****</p><p style="text-align: center;">I found this tricky with some new words. Some references to age; I don’t know if these have special significance</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/toughie-3252/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/toughie-3252/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>19</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30586</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/dt-30586/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/dt-30586/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mr K]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 10:00:50 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Friday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30586]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195062</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #0F4761"><span id="Title"></span>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30586 </span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center"><span id="Author"></span>Hints and tips by Mr K </h2><div class="km1"><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="BDLines"></span>+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating  -  <span style="color: #FF0000">Difficulty ** </span> -  <span style="color: #00B0F0">Enjoyment **** </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span id="BlogBody"></span>Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. I found this puzzle a joy to solve and to hint, full of smiles and tight cryptic grammar that made writing the hints easy. </p></div>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/dt-30586/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/dt-30586/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>88</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30581 (Full Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/dt-30581-full-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/dt-30581-full-review/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 12 Apr 2024 08:00:32 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30581]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194983</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30581</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">A full review by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This puzzle was published on 6<sup>th</sup> April 2024</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty *</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment *****</span></p><p><span id="more-194983"></span></p><p>A splendid Saturday Prize Puzzle – very friendly and fun from start to finish, with some great surface readings, so I had no doubt that NY Doorknob would turn up to confirm he was the setter</p><p>Quite a few of the Across solutions could be linked – I particularly liked the idea of a henpecked tuna!… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/dt-30581-full-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/12/dt-30581-full-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3251</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/toughie-3251/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/toughie-3251/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Gazza]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 13:05:07 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Django]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thursday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3251]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195039</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Toughie No 3251 by Django<br />Hints and tips by Gazza</strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p>Django has given us a very entertaining puzzle with some nifty wordplay today – many thanks to him.</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/toughie-3251/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/toughie-3251/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>16</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30585</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/dt-30585/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/dt-30585/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Huntsman]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 10:03:48 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thursday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30295]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194998</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30585<br />Hints and tips by Huntsman</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **/***</span> <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>A busy day ahead preparing to fly out to Pensacola on Saturday for an us against them golfing jaunt. After Tuesday’s mishap on Verulam golf course when my malfunctioning electric trolley (that’s my excuse rather than rank stupidity) ended up in the river Ver I’m having to borrow half a set of clubs from a mate.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/dt-30585/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/dt-30585/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>63</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>EV1636 (Setter’s Blog)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/ev1636-setters-blog/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/ev1636-setters-blog/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Admin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 08:00:25 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Luxor (EV)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[1636]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Setter's Blog]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=195012</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">EV1636</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Mislaid by Luxor</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Setter’s Blog</h2><p><span id="more-195012"></span></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EV1636.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-195013 aligncenter" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EV1636.jpg?resize=343%2C343" alt="" width="343" height="343" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EV1636.jpg?resize=300%2C300 300w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EV1636.jpg?resize=150%2C150 150w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EV1636.jpg?w=445 445w" sizes="(max-width: 343px) 100vw, 343px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p> </p><p>EGG fills gaps in seven entries.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Setter’s blog:</strong></p><p>I’m quite new to this. It’s only a year since I sent my first tentative effort to the Telegraph on the off-chance it would be acceptable. Since then, I’ve been hugely impressed by the advice and encouragement I’ve received from the EV editor and other setters, who’ve helped to shape this puzzle into a publishable form.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/ev1636-setters-blog/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/ev1636-setters-blog/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3250</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/toughie-3250/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/toughie-3250/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 11 Apr 2024 02:20:02 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hudson]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wednesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3250]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194973</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3250 by Hudson</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and Tips by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Toughie Difficulty */**</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p><span id="more-194973"></span></p><p>Another most enjoyable Wednesday Toughie from one of my favourite setters.</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us what you thought</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>1a <u>Former boss</u> of North Korea gang lands (6)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">REAGAN</span></span> A former US ‘boss’ is hidden in words five and six of the clue</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Reagan.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-194981" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Reagan.jpg?resize=245%2C306" alt="" width="245" height="306" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>4a Shelled shellfish crossing a hundred pound <u>barrier</u> (8)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">OBSTACLE</span></span> ‘Shell’ or remove the outside letters of a type of shellfish and put it round (crossing) A (from the clue), the Roman numeral for hundred and the symbol for pound</p><p>9a <u>Field</u> cut outside each day (6)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">MEADOW</span></span> Cut (the grass) goes ‘outside’ abbreviations for each and day</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/meadow.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-194978" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/meadow.jpg?resize=298%2C198" alt="" width="298" height="198" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>10a <u>Gather</u> sister regularly dropped the pace when walking laps (8)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">ASSEMBLE</span></span> The regular letters of SiStEr ‘lapped’ or going round a walking pace</p><p>12a Returned neighbour’s <u>instrument</u> (4)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">TUBA</span></span> A reversal (returned) of a synonym for neighbour</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tuba.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-194980" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tuba.jpg?resize=305%2C203" alt="" width="305" height="203" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>13a <u>Country</u> home to the east of Belgian city (5)<br />SPAIN The ‘usual’ two-letter home goes after (to the East in an Across solution) of a Belgian city</p><p>14a Wham’s first hip hop <u>cover</u> (4)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">WRAP</span></span> The first letter of Wham and another name for a type of ‘music’ also known as hip hop</p><p>17a Left angry deejay playing <u>Queen</u> (4,4,4)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">LADY JANE GREY</span></span> An anagram (playing) of L (left) ANGRY DEEJAY</p><p>20a Floundering badly, Theresa is <u>tested by the police</u> (12)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">BREATHALYSED</span></span> An anagram (floundering) of BADLY THERESA</p><p>23a <u>Overlook</u> Holmfirth occasionally (4)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">OMIT</span></span> The ‘occasional’ letters of hOlMfIrTh</p><p>24a After date, actress Sophia undressed to make <u>love</u> (5)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">ADORE</span></span> An abbreviation for After Date and the inside (undressed) letters of the surname of the Italian actress Sophia</p><p>25a <u>Ban</u> doctor beginning to operate (4)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">VETO</span></span> An abbreviated doctor and the ‘beginning’ to Operate</p><p>28a <u>Hire vehicles</u> without charge, teacher travelling back first class (3,5)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">AIR TAXIS</span></span> A reversal (travelling back) of a teacher and the two-letter first class go outside (without) a charge</p><p>29a Setter — a social elitist — knocked over <u>potted plant</u> (6)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">BONSAI</span></span> A reversal (knocked over) of how our setter would refer to himself, A (from the clue) and a person who sets too much value on social standing</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bonsai.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-194979" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bonsai.jpg?resize=293%2C235" alt="" width="293" height="235" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>30a <u>Drive with sea view</u> my delightful husband put in (8)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">CORNICHE</span></span> An informal interjection of surprise (my) and a synonym of delightful into which is inserted (put in) the abbreviation for Husband</p><p>31a Consuming large beer by hotel <u>block, maybe under the table?</u>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/toughie-3250/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/11/toughie-3250/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>7</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30584</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/dt-30584/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/dt-30584/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[2Kiwis]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 22:58:04 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wednesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30584]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=194961</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30584</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by 2Kiwis</h2><p style="text-align: center;" align="CENTER">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty ** </span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>Kia ora from Aotearoa.<br />Another beautiful sunny autumn day here. Feel we have to make the most of it though, as heavy rain is predicted to come across the Tasman Sea in the next few days.<br />We were planning to download our puzzles from the ‘new’ site today as practice for next month but unfortunately, at the due time, yesterday’s puzzles were all that were available so we had to revert to the trusty old site which has served us well for the last decade of blogging.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/dt-30584/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/dt-30584/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>53</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Sunday Toughie 114 (Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/sunday-toughie-114-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/sunday-toughie-114-review/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sloop John Bee]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 08:10:36 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Robyn (Sunday)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[114]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194830</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="padding-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Sunday Toughie No 114 by</strong></span></span></p><p style="padding-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Robyn</strong></span></span></p><p style="padding-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="font-size: 18pt;">Review by Sloop John Bee</strong></span></p><p style="padding-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></p><p style="padding-left: 120px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>This puzzle was published on the 31st of March 2024</strong><br /></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="more-194830"></span></span></p><p><strong>Across<br /></strong><br /><strong>1a</strong> Old coat of rags concealing ample bust for <span style="text-decoration: underline;">models</span> (9)<br />EXEMPLARS: A prefix for old EX, the coating letters of rags RS, go around an anagram (bust) of AMPLE give us ideal models</p><p><strong>6a</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Lavish</span> person boozing after opening of Pinot (5)<br />PLUSH: A person who is boozing to excess LUSH: follows the opening of Pinot P</p><p><strong>9a</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fries</span> cold joints (5)<br />CHIPS: Joints that stop your legs falling off HIPS, follow a cold tap marking C</p><p><strong>10a</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">It’s used when pressing</span> matter is resolved, saving time working (5,4)<br />STEAM IRON: A partial anagram (resolved) of MAT(t)TER IS, save for one of the t’s for time, followed by a synonym of working ON</p><p><strong>11a</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Like comic actor</span>‘s crack in sequel that’s shot (12)<br />CHAPLINESQUE: This is an anagram of IN SEQUEL preceded by the crack in one’s lips when exposed to bitter weather CHAP</p><p><strong>14a</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cover</span> staff back after a lot of resentment (7)<br />ENVELOP: The staff used to vault over high bars is reversed POLE becomes ELOP, after most of a synonym of resentment ENV(y) to cover or ENVELOP</p><p><strong>16a</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Letter from India</span>, one put in language from the east (7)<br />INITIAL: The cruciverbalist’s most useful archaic language LATIN with the letter that looks like one put in it LA(I)TIN, and the letter that India suggests LA(I)TIN(I).… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/sunday-toughie-114-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/sunday-toughie-114-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>ST 3258 (full review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/st-3258-full-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/st-3258-full-review/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rahmat Ali]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2024 08:00:48 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ST Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3258]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194910</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3258</strong></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>A full review by Rahmat Ali</strong></h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This puzzle was published on 31<sup>st</sup> Mar 2024</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>Greetings from Kolkata. A lovely and pleasant puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and important feedback.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/st-3258-full-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/10/st-3258-full-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>5</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3249</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/09/192419-2-2-2-2-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/09/192419-2-2-2-2-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[ALP]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:00:54 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Donnybrook]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tuesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3249]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194848</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3249 by Donnybrook<br />Hints and tips by ALP</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating –<span style="color: #ff0000;"> Difficulty * </span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***/****</span></p><div><p style="font-weight: 400;">I love <em>MasterChef</em> – happily back for its umpteenth season – almost as much as crosswords. But I have made a howling hash of both, from failing to clock <em>The Iliad</em> (the shame of it) last week to wilfully blowing the chance to appear on my favourite programme.</p></div>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/09/192419-2-2-2-2-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/09/192419-2-2-2-2-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>29</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30583</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/09/dt-30583/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/09/dt-30583/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shabbo]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2024 10:00:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thursday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30583]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=194904</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,583<br />Hints and tips by Shabbo<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">BD Rating – <span style="color: red;">Difficulty ***</span> – <span style="color: #00b0f0;">Enjoyment ***<br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white;">Many thanks to Huntsman for agreeing to swap blogging days with me this week, as I will be <em>hors de combat</em> on Thursday. 32 clues in this puzzle – that’s another pint you owe me!… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/09/dt-30583/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/09/dt-30583/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>117</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30582</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/08/dt-30582/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/08/dt-30582/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Falcon]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2024 10:00:35 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Monday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30582]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=194839</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30582</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Falcon</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>Greetings from Ottawa, where (when this review is posted) I will be preparing to head out to view the solar eclipse. In Ottawa, the moon will cover only 98.5% of the sun but one only has to travel about 75 km south to reach a location that will experience 100% coverage.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/08/dt-30582/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/08/dt-30582/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>92</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Rookie Corner 521</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/08/rookie-corner-521/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/08/rookie-corner-521/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Prolixic]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2024 23:00:46 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rookie Corner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Buddy]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194835</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 align="center"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A Puzzle by Buddy</span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="more-194835"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/08/rookie-corner-521/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/08/rookie-corner-521/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>13</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Sunday Toughie 115 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/sunday-toughie-115-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/sunday-toughie-115-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sloop John Bee]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2024 12:30:33 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[proXimal (Sunday)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[115]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194589</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday Toughie No 115</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />by proXimal</span></h2><p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee</span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried to do this last night on the “new” site but it failed to update for ages, I had to carry on on the old site and had a full grid before the new site moved to Sunday.</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/sunday-toughie-115-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/sunday-toughie-115-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>19</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>EV 1637 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/ev-1637/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/ev-1637/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Phibs]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2024 11:00:42 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Stick Insect (EV)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV 1637]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194398</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Enigmatic Variations 1637 (Hints)</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Question by Stick Insect</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Phibs</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It seemed unfair to get Gemini to guess at the theme given the paucity of help on offer, so I asked him “If you were to set a themed crossword puzzle, what subject would you choose?”.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/ev-1637/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/ev-1637/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>ST 3259 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/st-3259-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/st-3259-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Senf]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2024 09:00:09 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3259]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194553</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3259 (Hints)</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Senf</h2><p style="text-align: justify;">A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where, with rising temperatures and some trepidation, I have put my heavy winter coat into the back of the wardrobe for six months or so.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><u>For me, and I stress for me</u>, quite a challenge from Dada today – six anagrams (one partial), two lurkers, and no homophones, all in a symmetric 26 clues; with 13 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. … <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/st-3259-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/07/st-3259-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>94</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>NTSPP 739</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/06/ntspp-739/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/06/ntspp-739/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[StephenL]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 06 Apr 2024 11:00:10 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All NTSPP Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Guest Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Madcap]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194557</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 align="center">Double-Crossword by Madcap</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +</p><p><span id="more-194557"></span> </p><p style="text-align: center;">The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.</p><p>Madcap provides this weekend's alternative exercise in lateral thinking with a clever puzzle. Several of the clues or solutions refer to double-crossing</p><p> </p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>9a <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Listed quickly</span> and staggered away (6,3)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">REELED OFF</span></span>: Put together synonyms of staggered or lurched and away.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/06/ntspp-739/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/06/ntspp-739/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>14</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30581 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/06/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/06/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 06 Apr 2024 09:45:16 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30581]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194514</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30581 (Hints)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: Century Gothic;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span id="more-194514"></span></p><p>A day of possibly record-breaking temperatures – it was already 18 degrees when I went shopping at 7.45 this morning – brings what I thought was an extremely enjoyable Saturday Prize Puzzle, with lots to make the solver smile- which gives me a very good idea as to the name of the setter. … <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/06/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/06/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>86</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3248</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/toughie-3248/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/toughie-3248/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dutch]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 2024 13:00:12 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Elgar]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3248]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194521</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3248 by Elgar</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Dutch</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****</p><p style="text-align: center;">A few musical clues that took me a while to see and parse</p><p style="text-align: center;">Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>1a/27a/21d <u>Commanding a personal fortune?</u>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/toughie-3248/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/toughie-3248/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>19</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30580</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/dt-30580/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/dt-30580/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mr K]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 2024 10:00:15 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Friday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30580]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194512</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #0F4761"><span id="Title"></span>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30580 </span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center"><span id="Author"></span>Hints and tips by Mr K </h2><div class="km1"><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="BDLines"></span>+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating  -  <span style="color: #FF0000">Difficulty *** </span> -  <span style="color: #00B0F0">Enjoyment **** </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span id="BlogBody"></span>Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. I felt that this puzzle offered a few original twists and turns when it came to defining well-used answers. That always adds to the enjoyment.</p></div>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/dt-30580/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/dt-30580/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>133</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30575 (full review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/dt-30575-full-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/dt-30575-full-review/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rahmat Ali]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 2024 08:00:03 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30575]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194499</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30575</strong></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>A full review by Rahmat Ali</strong></h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This puzzle was published on 30<sup>th</sup> Mar 2024</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>Greetings from Kolkata. An amiable, entertaining Saturday puzzle from NY Doorknob that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/dt-30575-full-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/05/dt-30575-full-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3247</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/toughie-3247/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/toughie-3247/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Gazza]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 04 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Beam]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thursday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3247]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194488</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Toughie No 3247 by Beam<br />Hints and tips by Gazza</strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty */**</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>We have a pretty gentle puzzle from Beam today with all his usual trademarks. Thanks to him.</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/toughie-3247/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/toughie-3247/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>13</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30579</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/dt-30579/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/dt-30579/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shabbo]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 04 Apr 2024 10:00:32 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thursday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30579]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=194474</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,579<br />Hints and tips by Shabbo<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">BD Rating – <span style="color: red;">Difficulty ***</span> – <span style="color: #00b0f0;">Enjoyment ***<br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white;">Wet again in Welwyn Garden City this morning, but we are promised better weather over the weekend. Fingers crossed.</p><p style="background: white;">Our setter has treated us to a highbrow puzzle featuring two classical poets in 16a and 18a, a university and a college in 1a and 1d and a Cambridge College in 5d.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/dt-30579/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/dt-30579/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>54</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>EV1635</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/194459/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/194459/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Admin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 04 Apr 2024 08:00:43 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[EV Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kcit (EV)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ST Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[1635]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194459</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">EV1635</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Tom’s Problem by Kcit</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Solution</h2><p> </p><p><span id="more-194459"></span></p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EV1635.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-194460 aligncenter" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EV1635.jpg?resize=342%2C342" alt="" width="342" height="342" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EV1635.jpg?resize=300%2C300 300w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EV1635.jpg?resize=150%2C150 150w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/EV1635.jpg?w=411 411w" sizes="(max-width: 342px) 100vw, 342px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>According to T S (TOM) ELIOT: (The) NAMING OF CATS (is) A DIFFICULT MATTER. MACAVITY, ASPARAGUS and CAT MORGAN appear in <em>Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats</em>; Eliot owned TANTOMILE and PETTIPAWS.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;">++++++++</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A full review of this puzzle can be seen over on <a href="http://www.fifteensquared.net/category/enigmatic-variations/">fifteensquared</a>.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/194459/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/04/194459/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3246</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/toughie-3246/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/toughie-3246/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2024 13:00:52 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Dharma]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wednesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3246]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194448</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3246 by Dharma</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and Tips by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Toughie Difficulty ****</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment **/***</span></p><p><span id="more-194448"></span></p><p>I found this a particularly difficult crossword for a Wednesday. One of those where I went from corner to corner with the RH side being filled long before the Left</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us what you thought</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>1a Paint, maybe not Crown, prepared and <u>laid on thick</u> (7)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">OVERDID</span></span> The first example of misleading capitals in this crossword – although the capital C in crown can mean a brand of paint, here it just means to omit the first letter (crown) from what paint does to a wall, for example, followed by a synonym for prepared</p><p>5a <u>Concentrates</u> as opponent turns the air blue in conversation (7)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">FOCUSES</span></span> Homophones (in conversation) of an enemy and a way of saying turns the air blue</p><p>9a <u>Vim</u>, number one for rinsing in sink (5)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">DRIVE</span></span> The first letter (number one) of Rinsing inserted into a verb meaning to sink or submerge</p><p>10a <u>Oversized</u> American policeman squeezing in right uniform — time to go without?… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/toughie-3246/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/toughie-3246/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>16</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30578</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/dt-30578/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/dt-30578/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[2Kiwis]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2024 10:00:57 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wednesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30578]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=194431</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30578</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by 2Kiwis</h2><p style="text-align: center;" align="CENTER">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty *** </span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p>Kia ora from Aotearoa.<br />Our time is all over the place this week. As UK clocks have now changed, the puzzles come on line one hour earlier for us now and this will change again next week as our clocks will also have been adjusted.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/dt-30578/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/dt-30578/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>100</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Sunday Toughie 113 (Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/sunday-toughie-113-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/sunday-toughie-113-review/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sloop John Bee]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:28:22 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Zandio (Sunday)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[113]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194443</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Sunday Toughie No 113 by Zandio</strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Review by Sloop John Bee</strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>This puzzle was published on the 24th of March 2024</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="more-194443"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></p><p>Oops a bit rushed, I will expand on this in a bit</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot_20240324_010801.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-194445" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot_20240324_010801.jpg?resize=640%2C715" alt="" width="640" height="715" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot_20240324_010801.jpg?w=1080 1080w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot_20240324_010801.jpg?resize=269%2C300 269w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot_20240324_010801.jpg?resize=917%2C1024 917w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot_20240324_010801.jpg?resize=768%2C858 768w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Across</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>1a</strong> Discard half of that egg on seeing <span style="text-decoration: underline;">crack</span> (7)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">ATTEMPT: Let’s take a crack at this first, discard half of that AT and add a synonym of to egg on TEMPT<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>5a</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Wind</span> back instalment of virtual art simulation (7)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">MISTRAL: A reverse lurker (back instalment of) hidden in virtua<span style="color: #ff0000;">L ART SIM</span>ulation The MISTRAL a wind of southern France<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>9a</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Times</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">names</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">relations</span> (5)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">TERMS: A rather nice triple-definition<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>10a</strong> Model with bit of bottle gets <span style="text-decoration: underline;">rowdy</span> (9)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">ROUGHNECK: A synonym of to model or sketch out a plan ROUGH, before part of a bottle NECK<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>11a</strong> Polish perhaps bound <span style="text-decoration: underline;">to be shrinking</span> (6-4)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">TONGUE TIED: A shrinking violet from the language Poland perhaps is an example of TONGUE, and a synonym of bound TIED<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>12a</strong> Sci-fi screening, vacuous Empire Returns <span style="text-decoration: underline;">9</span> (4)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Abbreviate Science Fiction even further to SF, “screening” it around what remains of Empire when vacuous EE, then return it for a fourth definition of 9a TERMS or FEES<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>14a</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Firmly covered up</span> romance, cuddling Romeo — Papa dealt roughly (6-6)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">ARMOUR-PLATED: Two radio code letters here, one goes in a French-flavoured romance AMOUR + R Romeo, and the other precedes dealt when treated roughly, P for Papa and an anagram of DEALT becomes PLATED<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>18a</strong> Sort of school exam result <span style="text-decoration: underline;">that’s given to a high-flier?</span></span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/sunday-toughie-113-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/sunday-toughie-113-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>ST 3257 (Full Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/st-3257-full-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/st-3257-full-review/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:00:07 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[ST Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3257]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194205</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3257</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">A full review by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This puzzle was published on 24<sup>th</sup> March 2024</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p><span id="more-194205"></span></p><p>Dada back in ‘how many anagrams can I fit in this crossword’ mode, not to mention ‘what word can I insert into another?’… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/st-3257-full-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/03/st-3257-full-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3245</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/02/192419-2-2-2-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/02/192419-2-2-2-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[ALP]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 02 Apr 2024 13:00:38 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Kcit]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tuesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3245]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194352</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3245 by Kcit<br />Hints and tips by ALP</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating –<span style="color: #ff0000;"> Difficulty * </span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment **/***</span></p><div><p class="dcr-170x4j1">As a hack, I’ve loved interviewing authors. They’re (generally) intelligent, they spend way too much time on their own so they’re often girlishly chatty and, most importantly, they always say yes to a sit-down because they’ve invariably got a book to promote.</p></div>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/02/192419-2-2-2-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/02/192419-2-2-2-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>23</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30577</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/02/dt-30577/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/02/dt-30577/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Huntsman]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 02 Apr 2024 09:58:46 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tuesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30295]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194391</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30577<br />Hints and tips by Huntsman</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **/***</span> <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>A gloriously bright & sunny start to the day here in Monnington on Wye. I arose well before any of the others (there are 18 of us occupying a splendidly large rural property) to a cacophony of birdsong.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/02/dt-30577/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/02/dt-30577/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>58</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30576</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/01/dt-30576/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/01/dt-30576/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[pommers]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 2024 10:00:20 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Monday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30576]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=194337</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30576</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by pommers</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>Hola from Almoradí where we’ve had practically no rain at all since last September. Easter Sunday arrives, when there’s a big parade scheduled, and what happens? You got it, it peed down all day! … <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/01/dt-30576/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/01/dt-30576/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>85</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Rookie Corner 520</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/01/rookie-corner-520/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/01/rookie-corner-520/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Prolixic]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 31 Mar 2024 23:00:45 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rookie Corner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dabrite]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194284</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 align="center"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A Puzzle by Dabrite</span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="more-194284"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/01/rookie-corner-520/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/04/01/rookie-corner-520/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>25</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Sunday Toughie 114 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/sunday-toughie-114-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/sunday-toughie-114-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sloop John Bee]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 31 Mar 2024 12:21:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Robyn (Sunday)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[114]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194313</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday Toughie No 114</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">by Robyn</span></h2><p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee</span></h2><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I was hoping that Robyn would give us a slightly easier ride for Easter Sunday when the clocks go forward, but I found this “fully” up to Sunday Toughie difficulty</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of old coins and an Easter clue were podium contenders but I will pick the animal feeds in 12d and 27a What were your favourites?</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/sunday-toughie-114-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/sunday-toughie-114-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>24</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>EV 1636 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/ev-hints-1636/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/ev-hints-1636/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[The Numpties]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 31 Mar 2024 11:00:33 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Enigmatic Variations]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Luxor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mislaid]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=192220</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Enigmatic Variations 1636 (Hints)</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Mislaid by Luxor</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by The Numpties</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: justify;">It is a always a pleasure to welcome a new setter to the ranks. Well, this is actually Luxor’s second EV but Phibs had the pleasure of writing the hints for her first one last November – ‘First Born’, the one about Dolly the Sheep.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/ev-hints-1636/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/ev-hints-1636/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>6</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>ST 3258 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/st-3258-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/st-3258-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Senf]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 31 Mar 2024 09:00:58 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3258]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194272</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3258 (Hints)</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Senf</h2><p style="text-align: justify;">A very good Easter Sunday morning from Winnipeg where I am wondering if you all remembered to advance your watches and clocks, including, for the latter, those on your stoves, microwaves, etc, by one hour to change from GMT to BST. But how many of you were awake at 1:00am GMT for the official change to 2:00am BST?… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/st-3258-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/31/st-3258-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>77</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>NTSPP 738</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/30/ntspp-738/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/30/ntspp-738/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 30 Mar 2024 12:00:10 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All NTSPP Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chalicea as guest setter]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Guest Crosswords]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194280</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 align="center">A Puzzle by Chalicea</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +</p><p><span id="more-194280"></span> </p><p style="text-align: center;">The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.</p><p>A nice lunchtime diversion from Chalicea – although it wasn't immediately obvious, she’s been looking at lists again.! I saw three solutions that had a common link and after a bit of investigation, found seven more. … <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/30/ntspp-738/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/30/ntspp-738/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>16</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30575 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/30/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/30/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 30 Mar 2024 10:45:23 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30575]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194288</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30575 (Hints)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: Century Gothic;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span id="more-194288"></span></p><p>A warm, misty Easter Saturday with, for me anyway, a friendly Saturday Prize Puzzle. Happy Easter to all</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Easter-Tree.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-194293 aligncenter" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Easter-Tree.jpg?resize=253%2C361" alt="" width="253" height="361" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Easter-Tree.jpg?resize=210%2C300 210w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Easter-Tree.jpg?resize=716%2C1024 716w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Easter-Tree.jpg?resize=768%2C1098 768w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Easter-Tree.jpg?resize=1074%2C1536 1074w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Easter-Tree.jpg?w=1399 1399w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Easter-Tree.jpg?w=1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 253px) 100vw, 253px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>There are quite a few well-hidden anagrams in the mix so if I haven’t hinted a clue you can’t get, try looking to see if it might be one of them</p><p>Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the <a href="http://crypticcrosswords.net/crosswords/crossword-guide/7/"><span style="color: darkviolet; text-decoration: underline;">Glossary</span></a> and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/30/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/30/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>68</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3244</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/toughie-3244/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/toughie-3244/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dutch]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 29 Mar 2024 14:00:41 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Osmosis]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3244]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194260</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3244 by Osmosis</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Dutch</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****</p><p>Some easy clues, some not so easy. We’re back to near pangrams, I think a J is missing.</p><p><span id="more-194260"></span></p><p>Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>1a Sort of scanner hospital fitted inside key <u>sportsman</u> (10)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">DECATHLETE</span></span>: A (hospital) scanner plus the abbreviation for hospital are <em>fitted inside</em> a 6-letter computer keyboard key</p><p>6a <u>Astaire</u>‘s foxtrot with Ginger (4)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">FRED</span></span>: The letter with radio code foxtrot and the colour ginger</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fred-scaled.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-194262" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fred.jpg?resize=242%2C300" alt="" width="242" height="300" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fred-scaled.jpg?resize=242%2C300 242w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fred-scaled.jpg?resize=826%2C1024 826w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fred-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C952 768w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fred-scaled.jpg?resize=1239%2C1536 1239w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fred-scaled.jpg?resize=1652%2C2048 1652w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/fred-scaled.jpg?w=1920 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>10a Rebuff queue heard <u>gathering alfresco?</u>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/toughie-3244/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/toughie-3244/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>16</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30574</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/dt-30574/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/dt-30574/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mr K]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 29 Mar 2024 11:00:50 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Friday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30574]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194255</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #0F4761">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30574 </span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center"><span id="Author"></span>Hints and tips by Mr K </h2><div class="km1"><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="BDLines"></span>+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating  -  <span style="color: #FF0000">Difficulty **** </span> -  <span style="color: #00B0F0">Enjoyment *** </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span id="BlogBody"></span>Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. Today’s puzzle was one of those offerings requiring a little head scratching to get everything satisfactorily parsed, leaving me less time than usual to search for pictures. </p></div>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/dt-30574/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/dt-30574/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>86</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30569 (Full Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/dt-30569-full-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/dt-30569-full-review/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:00:12 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30569]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194203</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 20569</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">A full review by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This puzzle was published on 23<sup>rd</sup> March 2024</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty *</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p><span id="more-194203"></span></p><p>NY Doorknob set (for me anyway) a friendly Saturday Prize Puzzle with an (apparently unintentional) American flavour or should that be ‘flavor’?… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/dt-30569-full-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/29/dt-30569-full-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3243</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/toughie-3243/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/toughie-3243/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Gazza]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:00:50 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Firefly]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thursday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3243]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194238</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Toughie No 3243 by Firefly<br />Hints and tips by Gazza</strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty ****</span> – <span style="color: #008000;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>Firefly has given us a theme today based on 13a (which is quite appropriate for me since not having had a flake of snow all through the winter I awoke this morning to find a white covering on the ground).… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/toughie-3243/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/toughie-3243/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>21</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30573</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/dt-30573/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/dt-30573/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shabbo]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:12 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thursday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30573]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=194233</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,573<br />Hints and tips by Shabbo<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">BD Rating – <span style="color: red;">Difficulty ***</span> – <span style="color: #00b0f0;">Enjoyment ***<br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white;">No doubt as to the setter of this enjoyable puzzle. Ray T gives the game away with his brevity of clueing, his “queen” and “sweetheart” calling cards and he has even included his name in 29a.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/dt-30573/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/dt-30573/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>92</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>EV1634 (Solution)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/ev1634-solution/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/ev1634-solution/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:00:25 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[EV Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gaston (EV)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV1634]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194207</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">EV1634</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">The Magnificent Seven by Gaston</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Solution</h2><p><span id="more-194207"></span></p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1634.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-194208 aligncenter" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1634.jpg?resize=417%2C299" alt="" width="417" height="299" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1634.jpg?resize=300%2C215 300w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1634.jpg?w=479 479w" sizes="(max-width: 417px) 100vw, 417px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><u>JOHN WILLIAMS</u></p><p>Discarded clashing letters give SCHINDLER’S LIST, winner of seven Academy Awards, 30 years ago this week, including Best Original Score; extra letters give PLAY THE NOTES ON THE VIOLIN TO GET THEME TUNE.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;">++++++++</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A full review of this puzzle can be seen over on <a href="http://www.fifteensquared.net/category/enigmatic-variations/">fifteensquared</a>.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/ev1634-solution/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/28/ev1634-solution/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3242</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/toughie-3242/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/toughie-3242/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2024 14:00:15 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Serpent]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3242]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194192</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3242 by Serpent<br />Hints and Tips by crypticsue<br />+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</h2><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Toughie Difficulty *****</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span id="more-194192"></span><br />I noticed the Nina fairly early in the solving process which did help a lot, but I still thought this was a properly fiendish Toughie, particularly as it is only Wednesday. … <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/toughie-3242/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/toughie-3242/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>19</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30572</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/dt-30572/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/dt-30572/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[2Kiwis]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:00:19 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wednesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30572]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=194180</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30572</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by 2Kiwis</h2><p style="text-align: center;" align="CENTER">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **** </span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>Kia ora from Aotearoa.<br />Everything is very dry here and has been so for the last couple of months. This morning we set out for our usual walk feeling quite confident that the few clouds about would either dissipate or move away from our vicinity.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/dt-30572/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/dt-30572/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>138</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Sunday Toughie 112 (Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/sunday-toughie-112-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/sunday-toughie-112-review/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sloop John Bee]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2024 09:10:48 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[proXimal (Sunday)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[112]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194108</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Sunday Toughie No 112 by proXimal</strong></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Review by Sloop John Bee</strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>This puzzle was published on the 17th of March 2024</strong><br /></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="more-194108"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Across</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>1a</strong> <u>Major defeat</u> embarrassed winger, according to Spooner (8,4)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">CRUSHING BLOW: A red-faced corvid A BLUSHING CROW, according to Spooner suffers a major defeat A CRUSHING BLOW</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>9a</strong> Disturb bats in allegedly empty <u>folly</u> (9)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">ABSURDITY: An anagram (bats) of DISTURB and what is left of A<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">llegedl</span>Y when empty</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>10a</strong> Cycling photograph showing <u>hilarious people</u> (5)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">HOOTS: To take a photograph in a repetitive gun-like manner SHOOT, cycles one letter to be hilarious people or HOOTS</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>11a</strong> <u>Real</u> power after changing sides (6)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">PROPER: To move under power PROPEL, changes its last letter from L for left to R for right PROPER</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>12a</strong> Account about heartless mediator <u>being untroubled</u> (8)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">CAREFREE: An abbreviation for Account AC, is reversed (about) CA, followed by the mediator in many sports REF(e)REE without its central letter (heartless) to be untroubled or CAREFREE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>13a</strong> Row hard in extremely grimy <u>boat</u> (6)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">DINGHY: An unpleasant row or noise DIN, a hard pencil grade H, in the extreme letters of G<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">rim</span>Y GY, a boat or DIN[G(H)Y]</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>14a</strong> Maybe Poirot’s <u>man set tasks</u> (8)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">HERCULES: The Belgian detectives’ forename and the plural ‘s HERCULE’S, give us a man set several tasks as the Roman name of a Greek divine hero HERCULES</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>17a</strong> <u>Game</u> beginning in meadow or in the ballpark by college (8)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">MONOPOLY: The initial letter of meadow M, and abbreviations for a price requested “in the ballpark” or nearest offer abbreviated to ONO, and a former name of the type of college that taught up to degree level before they were upgraded to university status a POLY(technic) the board game MONOPOLY</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>19a</strong> Narrow lead of doobrey <u>stopped operating</u> (6)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">CLOSED: A synonym of narrow CLOSE, and the leading letter of Doobrey D, that has stopped operating or is CLOSED</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>22a</strong> <u>Poem’s protracted</u> and bad on reflection; see no good (8)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">LIVELONG: A poetic synonym of protracted the LIVELONG day, from a reversal (on reflection) of a synonym of bad EVIL becomes LIVE, an archaic word for see LO and an abbreviation of no good NG</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>24a</strong> <u>Reluctantly admitting</u> father dipped into a monetary donation (6)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">AFRAID: I am reluctantly admitting that this is an abbreviation of a religious Father FR, dipped into A from the clue and some monetary assistance or AID – A(FR)AID</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>26a</strong> Donatello’s carved captivating <u>statuette</u> (5)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">OSCAR: A lurker (captivating) hidden in the first two words of the clue The statuette given to winners of Academy Awards</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>27a</strong> <u>Mad Hatter </u><u>this writer</u><u> might give cigarette holder</u> (9)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">COLERIDGE: We are looking for a writer, but not the one who wrote about the Mad Hatter, rather we should take the hatter from cig(ARETT)e (H)older and seek a romantic poet in the fodder that remains CIGEOLDER becomes COLERIDGE</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>28a</strong> <u>Waver</u> when ridiculous excursion involves two hours separated (6-6)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">SHILLY-SHALLY: Synonyms of ridiculous SILLY, and a (military?)</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/sunday-toughie-112-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/sunday-toughie-112-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>ST 3256 (full review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/st-3256-full-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/st-3256-full-review/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rahmat Ali]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2024 09:00:30 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ST Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3256]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194125</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3256</strong></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>A full review by Rahmat Ali</strong></h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This puzzle was published on 17<sup>th</sup> Mar 2024</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p>Greetings from Kolkata. A lovely and pleasant puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and important feedback.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/st-3256-full-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/27/st-3256-full-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3241</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/26/192419-2-2-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/26/192419-2-2-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[ALP]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:00:56 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Dada]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tuesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3241]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194118</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3241 by Dada<br />Hints and tips by ALP</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating –<span style="color: #ff0000;"> Difficulty ** </span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">I’ve just been tutted in the street. Tutted! For cheerily whistling to myself. Was it you, Jane?! Now, I’m far from perfect (you’ll all be astonished to hear this, I know).… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/26/192419-2-2-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/26/192419-2-2-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>33</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30571</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/26/dt-30571/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/26/dt-30571/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Huntsman]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 26 Mar 2024 11:02:07 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tuesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30295]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194131</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30571<br />Hints and tips by Huntsman</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty ***</span> <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***/****</span></p><p>Nice & sunny here in Harpenden at present but wet stuff on the way unfortunately & not sure if I’ll manage to get out for a walk before it arrives.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/26/dt-30571/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/26/dt-30571/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>85</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30570</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/25/dt-30570/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/25/dt-30570/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Falcon]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2024 11:00:18 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Monday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30570]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=194110</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30570</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Falcon</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty *</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>Greetings from Ottawa, where Mother Nature continues to be in a frolicsome mood. It can be -10 C with snow on the ground when one awakes and +10 C with bare ground by afternoon.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/25/dt-30570/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/25/dt-30570/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>97</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Rookie Corner 519</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/25/rookie-corner-519/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/25/rookie-corner-519/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Prolixic]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:19 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rookie Corner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Iguess]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194049</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 align="center"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A Puzzle by Iguess</span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="more-194049"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/25/rookie-corner-519/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/25/rookie-corner-519/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>22</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Sunday Toughie 113 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/sunday-toughie-113-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/sunday-toughie-113-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sloop John Bee]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 24 Mar 2024 13:30:56 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Zandio (Sunday)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[113]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194079</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday Toughie No 113</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">by Zandio</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +<br /></span></span></h2><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Zandio has brought us a Toughie that, although it took me a while before I got a foothold (26a was my first one in), I concentrated on the south but sped up as I moved northwards.</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/sunday-toughie-113-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/sunday-toughie-113-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>36</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>EV 1635 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/ev-1635/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/ev-1635/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Phibs]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 24 Mar 2024 12:00:22 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kcit (EV)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV 1635]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=193712</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Enigmatic Variations 1635 (Hints)</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Tom’s Problem by Kcit</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Phibs</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Since 8<sup>th</sup> February this year, Opal Fruits, Ceylon, Reginald Dwight and Bard have had something in common. Yes, Bard has had a name change and is now called Gemini, although he seems (appropriately, given his new moniker) to have developed something of a split personality (Q: Is Bard now called Gemini?… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/ev-1635/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/ev-1635/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>7</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>ST 3257 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/st-3257-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/st-3257-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Senf]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 24 Mar 2024 10:00:10 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3257]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194073</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3257 (Hints)</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Senf</h2><p style="text-align: justify;">A very good Sunday morning from Winnipeg where Spring may have sprung but the grass has not riz but we do have birdies especially the ones who stay with us all year round and the eponymous geese have returned from their stay down South. However, as we have been having mid-February temperatures, they are probably thinking that they should have delayed their return for at least a couple of weeks!… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/st-3257-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/24/st-3257-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>61</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>NTSPP 737</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/23/ntspp-737/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/23/ntspp-737/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 23 Mar 2024 12:00:55 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All NTSPP Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Coot]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Guest Crosswords]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194047</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 align="center">A Puzzle by Coot</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +</p><p><span id="more-194047"></span> </p><p style="text-align: center;">The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.</p><p>A Saturday Lunchtime pangram from Coot which I thought was ‘tough in places’</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>1a Plaza leaseholder has potted <u>colourful plants</u> (7)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">AZALEAS</span></span>: ‘Potted’ in the first two words of the clue</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/azaleas.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-194071" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/azaleas.jpg?resize=343%2C206" alt="" width="343" height="206" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>5a <u>Call to court</u> - a time for a king to be heard?… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/23/ntspp-737/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/23/ntspp-737/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>17</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30569 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/23/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/23/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 23 Mar 2024 10:45:21 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30569]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194051</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30569 (Hints)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: Century Gothic;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span id="more-194051"></span></p><p style="background: white;">A Saturday Prize Puzzle with somewhat of an American <del>theme</del> flavour</p><p>Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the <a href="http://crypticcrosswords.net/crosswords/crossword-guide/7/"><span style="color: darkviolet; text-decoration: underline;">Glossary</span></a> and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/23/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/23/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>127</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3240</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/194021/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/194021/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Dutch]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:00:54 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Elgar]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3240]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194021</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3240 by Elgar</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Dutch</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****</p><p>A fun puzzle – enjoy. Problems with uploading the blog, had to copy and paste, then lost all pics, sorry.</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/194021/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/194021/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>10</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30568</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/dt-30568/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/dt-30568/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mr K]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Mar 2024 11:00:37 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Friday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30568]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=194015</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #0F4761"><span id="Title"></span>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30568 </span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center"><span id="Author"></span>Hints and tips by Mr K </h2><div class="km1"><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="BDLines"></span>+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating  -  <span style="color: #FF0000">Difficulty *** </span> -  <span style="color: #00B0F0">Enjoyment **** </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span id="BlogBody"></span>Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. Great puzzle today, with super smooth surfaces and tight cryptic grammar that made the crossword a joy to hint. I hope our setter will drop in later to claim it. </p></div>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/dt-30568/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/dt-30568/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>84</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30563 (full review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/dt-30563-full-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/dt-30563-full-review/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rahmat Ali]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 22 Mar 2024 09:00:54 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30563]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193976</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30563</strong></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>A full review by Rahmat Ali</strong></h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This puzzle was published on 16<sup>th</sup> Mar 2024</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p>Greetings from Kolkata. A fine Saturday puzzle from NY Doorknob that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/dt-30563-full-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/22/dt-30563-full-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3239</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/21/toughie-3239/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/21/toughie-3239/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Gazza]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2024 14:00:24 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Silvanus]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thursday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3239]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193996</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Toughie No 3239 by Silvanus<br />Hints and tips by Gazza</strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **/***</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p>A very enjoyable puzzle from Silvanus – thanks to him for the entertainment.</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/21/toughie-3239/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/21/toughie-3239/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>15</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30567</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/21/dt-30567/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/21/dt-30567/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shabbo]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2024 11:00:26 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thursday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30567]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=193991</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,567<br />Hints and tips by Shabbo<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">BD Rating – <span style="color: red;">Difficulty ***</span> – <span style="color: #00b0f0;">Enjoyment ****<br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white;">Greetings from Wells-next-the-Sea where we are spending the week in our favourite North Norfolk home from home – a first floor apartment overlooking the harbour and salt marshes.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/21/dt-30567/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/21/dt-30567/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>76</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>EV1633 (Solution)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/21/ev1633-solution/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/21/ev1633-solution/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Admin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2024 09:00:42 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Botox (EV)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ST Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[1633]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193973</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">EV1633</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">18dn by Botox</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Solution</h2><p><span id="more-193973"></span></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1633.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-193974 aligncenter" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1633.jpg?resize=336%2C403" alt="" width="336" height="403" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1633.jpg?resize=250%2C300 250w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1633.jpg?w=343 343w" sizes="(max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Joint clues give TAUPIN and YELLOW; REGINALD KENNETH DWIGH(T) becomes SIR ELTON HERCULES JOHN; 17 becomes ROCKETMAN highlighted in yellow representing the <em>Farewell Yellow Brick Road </em>tour, alluded to by 18dn.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;">++++++++</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A full review of this puzzle can be seen over on <a href="http://www.fifteensquared.net/category/enigmatic-variations/">fifteensquared</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/21/ev1633-solution/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3238</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/toughie-3238/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/toughie-3238/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 14:00:29 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Robyn]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wednesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3238]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193959</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3238 by Robyn</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and Tips by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Toughie Difficulty */**</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p style="text-align: left;">Another fairly friendly and most enjoyable Toughie from Robyn.</p><p><span id="more-193959"></span></p><p>If I had one quibble, there did seem to be quite a lot of ‘lettery’ clues – use the outside letters of words, or the ‘leaders’ etc, particularly in the Acrosses</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us what you thought</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>1a Man’s main town house — <u>he lived at No 10</u> (7-4)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">DOUGLAS-HOME</span></span> The main town on the Isle of Man and a dwelling place (house) – he was the Prime Minister who lived at No 10 from 1963-1964</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Douglas-Home.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-193967" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Douglas-Home.jpg?resize=295%2C396" alt="" width="295" height="396" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>7a Loud noise of farm animals <u>running</u> (7)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">FLOWING</span></span> The musical abbreviation meaning loud and the noise made by cattle (farm animals)</p><p>8a <u>Providing coverage</u> of races in sporting publication (7)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">MATTING </span></span>Some races some of which take place on the Isle of Man and IN (from the clue) inserted into (sporting) an abbreviated publication</p><p>10a Drug-smuggling arch criminal gets <u>stretch</u> (5)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">REACH</span></span> An anagram (criminal) of ARCH ‘smuggling’ crosswordland’s favourite abbreviated drug</p><p>11a <u>One wanting good fare</u> from German city keeping up with Turkey’s capital (3,6)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">BON VIVANT</span></span> A German city ‘keeping’ a Spanish or Italian interjection meaning ‘up with’ or long live, the result followed with the ‘capital’ of Turkey</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/bon-vivant.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-193965" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/bon-vivant.jpg?resize=271%2C271" alt="" width="271" height="271" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/bon-vivant.jpg?w=225 225w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/bon-vivant.jpg?resize=150%2C150 150w" sizes="(max-width: 271px) 100vw, 271px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>12a <u>Cash allocation</u> farm invested in banks in Tennessee (7)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">TRANCHE</span></span> A farm inserted into (invested in) the ‘banks’ of T<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">ennesse</span>E</p><p>14a <u>Pathetic sort</u> of mobile phone cover for owner (2-5)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">NO-HOPER</span></span> An anagram (mobile) of PHONE and the outside letters (cover for) of O<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">wne</span>R</p><p>15a Close to collapse, a short nap is <u>most relaxing</u> (7)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">EASIEST</span></span> The ‘close’ to collapsE, A (from the clue) and a truncated post lunch nap</p><p>18a <u>Like a fiend</u>‘s appeal over attending prison briefly (7)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">SATANIC</span></span> Abbreviated Sexual Attraction (appeal), a reversal (over) of a simple way of saying attending and almost all (briefly) of an informal name for a prison</p><p>20a <u>Series of penalties</u> drive away solicitors (5-4)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">SHOOT-OUTS</span></span> An interjection used to scare birds or animals away and some solicitors, these ones not members of the legal profession!… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/toughie-3238/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/toughie-3238/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>17</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30566</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/dt-30566/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/dt-30566/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[2Kiwis]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 11:00:21 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wednesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30566]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=193947</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30566</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by 2Kiwis</h2><p style="text-align: center;" align="CENTER">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty *** </span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p>Kia ora from Aotearoa</p><p>The seasons have well and truly turned the corner here. We even encountered a few patches of frost on the grass during our walk this morning. Time to bring the winter woollies out of storage.<br />Quite a tricky puzzle again for us this week.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/dt-30566/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/dt-30566/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>98</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Sunday Toughie 111 (Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/sunday-toughie-111-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/sunday-toughie-111-review/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sloop John Bee]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 09:10:10 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Robyn (Sunday)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[111]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193852</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="padding-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Sunday Toughie No 111 by</strong></span></span></p><p style="padding-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Robyn</strong></span></span></p><p style="padding-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="font-size: 18pt;">Review by Sloop John Bee</strong></span></p><p style="padding-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></p><p style="padding-left: 80px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>This puzzle was published on the 10th of March 2024</strong><br /></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="more-193852"></span></span></p><p> </p><p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Across</strong></span></p><p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>1a</strong> Is the chair uncovered in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">lodge</span>? (6)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">RESIDE: The person who acts as the chair of a meeting PRESIDER, loses the covering letters to lodge in accommodation or RESIDE</span></p><p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>4a</strong> State loudly and badly a <span style="text-decoration: underline;">load of rubbish</span> (8)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">LANDFILL: Musically loud F for Forte, and badly or unwell ILL, follow one’s state or nation LAND</span></p><p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>9a</strong> Assistant turning fruit <span style="text-decoration: underline;">crop up</span> (6)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">APPEAR: An abbreviated personal assistant PA, is turned to AP, followed by a type of fruit PEAR</span></p><p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>10a</strong> After onset of stress, mean <span style="text-decoration: underline;">to slacken off</span> (4,4)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">SLOWDOWN: The onset of stress S, followed by someone mean or ornery LOWDOWN To slacken off or SLOW DOWN</span></p><p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>12a</strong> With a trio of kings invading, ruin <span style="text-decoration: underline;">developing area</span> (8)</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">DARKROOM: A from the clue and three kings (two Latin R for Rex.</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/sunday-toughie-111-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/sunday-toughie-111-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>ST 3255 (Full Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/st-3255-full-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/st-3255-full-review/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 2024 09:00:24 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[ST Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3255]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193621</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3255</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">A full review by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This puzzle was published on 10<sup>th</sup> March 2024</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty *</span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p><span id="more-193621"></span></p><p>An exceptionally friendly Sunday Prize Puzzle and only using four anagrams for a change! Was this that made it one of Dada’s most enjoyable Sunday Prize Puzzles for some time?… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/st-3255-full-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/20/st-3255-full-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3237</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/19/192419-2-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/19/192419-2-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[ALP]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 19 Mar 2024 14:00:41 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Chalicea]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tuesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3237]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193872</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3237 by Chalicea<br />Hints and tips by ALP</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating –<span style="color: #ff0000;"> Difficulty * </span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***/****</span></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">I’m still chuckling about a back-handed aside from the wife. “You’re a very strange man,” she told me in Budapest after I’d hunted down an FT (Robyn was playing away as Buccaneer) whilst she tried – and thankfully failed – to get tickets for a four-hour (ugh) opera, adding: “You prefer crosswords to porn and Woman’s Hour says that’s extremely unusual”.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/19/192419-2-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/19/192419-2-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>20</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30565</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/19/dt-20395-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/19/dt-20395-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Huntsman]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 19 Mar 2024 10:59:38 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tuesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30295]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193918</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30565<br />Hints and tips by Huntsman</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **/***</span> <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***/****</span></p><p>My weather app confidently indicates the rain will miss us here in Harpenden today so a good walk looks possible before an afternoon visit to the dentist.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/19/dt-20395-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/19/dt-20395-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>68</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30564</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/18/dt30564/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/18/dt30564/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2024 11:00:34 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Monday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30564]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193853</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30564</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and Tips by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty */**</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p><span id="more-193853"></span></p><p>It is a busy morning with an early start for the Pommers household meaning no time to do the blog and so, for the first time in many a long year, I’m providing the Monday Hints</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us what you thought</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>1a Charlie, county member, entertained by adventurous girl <u>assistant </u>(10)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">ACCOMPLICE</span></span> The letter represented by Charlie in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet, the abbreviations for county and a Member of Parliament inserted into (entertained by) Lewis Carroll’s adventurous girl</p><p>6a Second favourite backed for <u>pace </u>(4)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">STEP</span></span> The abbreviation for Second and a reversal (backed) of a favourite</p><p>10a <u>Plump</u>, a Parisian in bar (5)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">ROUND</span></span> The French indefinite article (a – Parisian) inserted into a bar</p><p>11a Supporters having short row in <u>restaurant</u> (9)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">BRASSERIE</span></span> Some underwear that supports followed by a truncated (short) set of things in line (row)</p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/brasserie.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-193858" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/brasserie.jpg?resize=328%2C245" alt="" width="328" height="245" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>12a <u>Tip</u> given by Harold, playwright trapping ball (7)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">POINTER</span></span> A ball-shaped letter ‘trapped’ by the surname of Harold, the playwright</p><p>13a Small, the head <u>photographer </u>(7)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">SNAPPER</span></span> The abbreviation for Small and a slang name for the head</p><p>14a Ground tanks in Crete — <u>service provider</u> required?… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/18/dt30564/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/18/dt30564/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>91</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Rookie Corner 518</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/18/rookie-corner-518/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/18/rookie-corner-518/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Prolixic]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:57 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rookie Corner]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tyjer]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193842</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 align="center"><span style="color: #333399; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A Puzzle by Tyjer</span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="more-193842"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As usual, the setter will be delighted to receive feedback from you, the solvers. We do ask that you remember that for most setters this is a new experience, so please only offer constructive criticism.</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/18/rookie-corner-518/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/18/rookie-corner-518/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>18</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Sunday Toughie 112 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/sunday-toughie-112-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/sunday-toughie-112-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sloop John Bee]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 17 Mar 2024 13:30:07 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[proXimal (Sunday)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[112]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193822</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday Toughie No 112</span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />by proXimal</span></h2><p> </p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee</span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I started to solve this on the “old puzzles site” and Telegraph Towers have yet to update the setters list for the Sunday Toughie or the regular Toughie.</span>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/sunday-toughie-112-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/sunday-toughie-112-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>28</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>EV 1634 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/ev-1634-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/ev-1634-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[The Numpties]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 17 Mar 2024 12:00:27 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gaston]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Magnificent Seven]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=192146</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Enigmatic Variations 1634 (Hints)</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">The Magnificent Seven by Gaston</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by The Numpties</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: justify;">This will be Gaston’s 28th EV crossword. He has been setting two or three a year for ten years, so you will probably have solved his crosswords before and know what a range of themes he handles – and that you are in good hands.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/ev-1634-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/ev-1634-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>5</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>ST 3256 (Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/st-3256-hints/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/st-3256-hints/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Senf]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 17 Mar 2024 10:00:19 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3256]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193717</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3256 (Hints)</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by Senf</h2><p style="text-align: justify;">Top of the morning to you on this Sunday morning from Winnipeg where, at the beginning of the week, we had some early Spring-like days but then Mother Nature remembered that it was still Winter and reinstated appropriate weather!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><u>For me, and I stress for me</u>, Dada quite friendly, six anagrams (three partials), two lurkers, and no homophones, all in a slightly asymmetric 28 clues; with 14 hints ‘sprinkled’ throughout the grid, you should be able to get the checkers to enable the solving of the unhinted clues. … <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/st-3256-hints/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/17/st-3256-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>46</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>NTSPP 736</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/16/ntspp-736/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/16/ntspp-736/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[StephenL]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 2024 12:00:53 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All NTSPP Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Gazza]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Guest Crosswords]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193723</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 align="center">A Puzzle by Gazza</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - +</p><p><span id="more-193723"></span> </p><p style="text-align: center;">The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Saturday rolls around again, and what a pleasant surprise, a (very fine) Gazza puzzle to blog. Lots of innovative wordplay and wit on show here.</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>6a <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Professional expertise</span> is murdering cycling (5)<br /><span class="spoiler"><span class="hidden-content">SKILL</span></span>: A synonym of murdering with the last letter cycled to the front of the word.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/16/ntspp-736/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/16/ntspp-736/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>17</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30563(Hints)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/16/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/16/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 2024 10:45:37 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Prize Crossword Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday Hints]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30563]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193727</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30563 (Hints)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>The Saturday Crossword Club (hosted by crypticsue)<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center; background: white;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: Century Gothic;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span id="more-193727"></span></p><p style="background: white;">A beautifully warm and sunny morning brings a Saturday Prize Puzzle with a good mix of clues. While you are all playing ‘guess the setter’ I am going outside n to try and persuade two dozy moorhens that the large ‘lake’ at the end of our garden won’t be there long enough for them to build a nest and raise a family and that they should go back to the stream on the other side of the road</p><p style="background: white;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/moorhens.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-193732 aligncenter" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/moorhens.jpg?resize=277%2C182" alt="" width="277" height="182" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p>Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the <a href="http://crypticcrosswords.net/crosswords/crossword-guide/7/"><span style="color: darkviolet; text-decoration: underline;">Glossary</span></a> and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also”.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/16/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/16/dt-30545-hints-2-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>48</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3236</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/toughie-3236/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/toughie-3236/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2024 14:00:49 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Sparks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3236]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193683</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3236 by Sparks</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and Tips by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Toughie Difficulty ****/*****</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment *****</span></p><p><span id="more-193683"></span></p><p>A most enjoyable Friday Toughie – It is a pangram but if Sparks has done his usual thing of hiding something in the grid, I haven’t spotted it yet!… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/toughie-3236/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/toughie-3236/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>12</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30562</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/dt-30562/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/dt-30562/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mr K]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2024 11:00:43 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Friday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30562]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193679</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #0F4761"><span id="Title"></span>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30562 </span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center"><span id="Author"></span>Hints and tips by Mr K </h2><div class="km1"><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="BDLines"></span>+ - + - + - + - + - + - + - +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating  -  <span style="color: #FF0000">Difficulty ** </span> -  <span style="color: #00B0F0">Enjoyment **** </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span id="BlogBody"></span>Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday.  I found today’s offering more straightforward than recent Friday puzzles. The smoothness of the surfaces combined with tight clueing and definitions made for a most enjoyable solve. </p></div>… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/dt-30562/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/dt-30562/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>92</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30557 (Full Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/dt-30557-full-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/dt-30557-full-review/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2024 09:00:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saturday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30557]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193619</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30557</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">A full review by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This puzzle was published on 9<sup>th</sup> March 2024</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty */**</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ***</span></p><p><span id="more-193619"></span></p><p>An enjoyable Saturday Prize Puzzle from NY Doorknob</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us what you thought</p><p><strong>Across</strong></p><p>1a Doctor training causes <u>misery</u> (4)<br />MOPE – MO (Medical Officer, Doctor) PE (training) – here MOPE is a miserable person</p><p>3a <u>Traveller</u> of sound mind in Glasgow?… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/dt-30557-full-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/15/dt-30557-full-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>5</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3235</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/14/toughie-3235/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/14/toughie-3235/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Gazza]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:00:38 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Artix]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thursday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3235]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193656</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Toughie No 3235 by Artix<br />Hints and tips by Gazza</strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty ****</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p>Artix has given us a proper Toughie today with plenty of scope for going astray. I enjoyed the battle – thanks to Artix.</p><p>There are a lot of old American entertainers referenced in the clues – I wonder whether that can be regarded as a mini-theme.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/14/toughie-3235/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/14/toughie-3235/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>6</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30561</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/14/dt-30561/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/14/dt-30561/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Shabbo]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 14 Mar 2024 11:00:41 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Thursday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30561]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=193652</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30,561<br />Hints and tips by Shabbo<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br /></span></strong></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">BD Rating – <span style="color: red;">Difficulty ***</span> – <span style="color: #00b0f0;">Enjoyment ****<br /></span></span></p><p style="background: white;">I solved this at midnight then wrote the blog this morning. I was a bit underwhelmed last night, but I think I was just tired. As often happens, the charm of the puzzle is only fully revealed when analysing it in detail and this one is certainly no exception.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/14/dt-30561/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/14/dt-30561/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>108</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>EV1632 (Solution)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/14/ev1631-solution-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/14/ev1631-solution-2/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Admin]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:00:25 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[EV Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ST Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Vismut (EV)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[1632]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193625</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">EV1632</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">No Brand by Vismut</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Solution</h2><p><span id="more-193625"></span></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1632.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-193626 aligncenter" src="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1632.jpg?resize=384%2C302" alt="" width="384" height="302" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1632.jpg?resize=300%2C236 300w, https://i0.wp.com/bigdave44.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/EV1632.jpg?w=479 479w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" data-recalc-dims="1" /></a></p><p> </p><p>Five COWS stray into other entries, as SAMUEL MAVERICK from TEXAS had NO BRAND; SCOW becomes COWS in 1 down and NEAT replaces the entry</p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center;">++++++++</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A full review of this puzzle can be seen over on <a href="http://www.fifteensquared.net/category/enigmatic-variations/">fifteensquared</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/14/ev1631-solution-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3234</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/toughie-3234/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/toughie-3234/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[crypticsue]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2024 14:00:50 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Django]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wednesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3234]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193609</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3234 by Django</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and Tips by crypticsue</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Toughie Difficulty **</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p><span id="more-193609"></span></p><p>Another enjoyable Toughie from Django -this one perfectly pitched for a Wednesday. The whole of the bottom half of the crossword was completed before I had written anything in the top half.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/toughie-3234/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/toughie-3234/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>16</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>DT 30560</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/dt-30560/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/dt-30560/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[2Kiwis]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:00:10 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DT Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wednesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[30560]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://bigdave44.com/?p=193597</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30560</h2><h2 style="text-align: center;">Hints and tips by 2Kiwis</h2><p style="text-align: center;" align="CENTER">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty *** </span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p>Kia ora from Aotearoa<br />We found this puzzle quite tricky for the Wednesday slot, particularly in the SE corner. There were plenty of penny-drop moments that made it another very enjoyable solve for us.</p><p>Please leave a comment telling us how you got on.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/dt-30560/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/dt-30560/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>67</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Sunday Toughie 110 (Review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/sunday-toughie-110-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/sunday-toughie-110-review/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sloop John Bee]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:10:25 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Zandio (Sunday)]]></category> <category><![CDATA[110]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Toughie]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193473</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center; padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Sunday Toughie No 110 by Zandio</strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Review by Sloop John Bee</strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>This puzzle was published on the 3rd of March 2024</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span id="more-193473"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span><strong>Across</strong></p><p><strong>1a</strong> <u>They cower</u> in subway evacuated by officer stationed with county (10)<br />SYCOPHANTS: A subway is evacuated Leaving SY, it goes by an informal police officer COP, followed by an abbreviated Hampshire HANTS.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/sunday-toughie-110-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/sunday-toughie-110-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>ST 3254 (full review)</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/st-3254-full-review/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/st-3254-full-review/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rahmat Ali]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:00:02 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[ST Cryptic Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3254]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sunday Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193571</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3254</strong></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>A full review by Rahmat Ali</strong></h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>This puzzle was published on 3<sup>rd</sup> Mar 2024</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating – <span style="color: #ff0000;">Difficulty **</span> – <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment ****</span></p><p>Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and lovely puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind reading and significant comments.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/st-3254-full-review/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/13/st-3254-full-review/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Toughie 3233</title> <link>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/12/192419-2-2/</link> <comments>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/12/192419-2-2/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[ALP]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 12 Mar 2024 14:00:56 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Gila]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Toughie Crosswords]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tuesday]]></category> <category><![CDATA[3233]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Answers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Crossword]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Daily Telegraph]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Solutions]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Telegraph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://bigdave44.com/?p=193526</guid> <description><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Toughie No 3233 by Gila<br />Hints and tips by ALP</h2><p style="text-align: center;">+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +</p><p style="text-align: center;">BD Rating –<span style="color: #ff0000;"> Difficulty * </span>– <span style="color: #0000ff;">Enjoyment **/***</span></p><p style="font-weight: 400;">I’m not overly au fait with Gila and, stymied by Hungary’s hour difference, I was fearing unfamiliarity might prompt a late night/early morning. And I’m not a huge fan of poisonous lizards.… <a href="http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/12/192419-2-2/" class="read-more">Continue reading </a></p>]]></description> <wfw:commentRss>http://bigdave44.com/2024/03/12/192419-2-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>25</slash:comments> </item> </channel></rss> If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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