Toughie 389

Toughie No 389 by Excalibur

Hints and tips by Bufo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***

No real problems with this one. I was a bit slow in finishing off the top left-hand corner but I put that down to the brain not functioning fully following a hard day at Uttoxeter races yesterday.

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Across

1a    Sir is, for one — and madam’s another (10)
{PALINDROME} This is one I should have got much more quickly than I did. What are “SIR IS” and “MADAM” examples of?

6a    Fuzz ball inside cage (4)
{COOP} The fuzz is a policeman. Put O (ball) inside him to give a cage

9a    Stitching a gash — point is sharp (5)
{ACUTE} A + another word for gash + a point of the compass gives a word meaning “sharp”. I’m not sure about the “Stitching” at the start of the clue

10a    Given vessel, trawled about (9)
{FURNISHED} “Given” is the definition. Put a vessel (in which tea might be made or someone’s ashes kept) inside a more generic term for “trawled”

12a    As water container, nicest possible rain trap (7)
{CISTERN} An anagram (possible) of NICEST containing R. I assume the R is used as an abbreviation for rain but I can’t find it in any of my dictionaries

13a    In very Gallic ambience, one gets fed up (5)
{TIRES} I (one) is put inside the French word for “very”

15a    Just a bob of the head? (7)
{HAIRCUT} A cryptic definition. A bob is an example of a *******

17a    Smash that’s somehow returned (7)
{SHATTER} An anagram (somehow) of THAT’S is followed by ER (given by “re” turned). I’m not sure that I like re-turned = ER

19a    Rover’s old two-wheeler? (7)
{DOGCART} Another cryptic definition. What is Rover likely to be and what did he used to pull

21a    Don’t allow an an ad, unreasonably, showing an item of apparel (7)
{BANDANA} A word meaning “don’t allow” followed by an anagram (unreasonably) of AN AD gives something worn around the head or neck. I wouldn’t have spelt it this way

22a    Get off with blonde (5)
{LIGHT} Two meanings. Get off (as from a vehicle) and blonde

24a    Know ale-brewing and increase all round (7)
{REALISE} An anagram (brewing) of ALE inside a word meaning “increase” gives a word meaning “to know”

27a    New support for the dollar (9)
{GREENBACK} An informal name for a one-dollar bill is given by new (or inexperienced) + support (as a verb)

28a    Unable to sleep after a farewell party (5)
{AWAKE} A + a party to say farewell to the departed gives a word meaning “not asleep”

29a    Drew fast (4)
{TIED} 2 meanings. Drew ( a sporting contest) and fast (secured)

30a    Fear of God felt by naughty child? (4,6)
{HOLY TERROR} Not a term that I am familiar with although I have heard the second word applied to children (as in little _______). It is defined in the COD as a troublesome person. The first word is to do with God; the second word means “fear”

Down

1d    Intend to take north, mountain climbing (4)
{PLAN} Reverse N + a mountain (especially one in Central Europe) to give “intend”

2d    Starting by having meal: a take-in (9)
{LAUNCHING} Put A inside a word for having a meal (in the middle of the day) to give “starting”

3d    The more you have, the more you want (5)
{NEEDS} A simple definition which I thought a bit weak

4d    Think about fellow-Celt in trouble (7)
{REFLECT} RE (about) + F (fellow) + an anagram (in trouble) of CELT gives “think”

5d    Uniformed people from another planet, interning in earth (7)
{MARINES} The uniformed people are in the armed services. The name of a planet is put round IN E where E is an abbreviation for earth (and that one is in Chambers)

7d    Not that it’s a nuisance having blackout (5)
{OTHER} “Not that” is the definition though “not this or that” might have been better if it had made sense. Remove B (black) from the start of a word meaning “nuisance”

8d    Into prison, with a stride that’s fettered, he walks (10)
{PEDESTRIAN} Someone who walks is obtained from an anagram (fettered) of A STRIDE put inside the shortened form of an American prison

11d    En route by land, it’s already started (2,5)
{IN TRAIN} Already started (or in progress) provides the definition. In another reading, if you were this you would be travelling on the railway.

14d    Supplied information on hangar burning? (4,1,5)
{SHED A LIGHT} This phrase is more usually found without the one-letter word in the middle (by a 57:1 ratio on a Google search) . A word for hangar (4) is followed by one for burning (6) to give “help to explain”

16d    Having caught, be quick to discipline (7)
{CHASTEN} C (caught) + “be quick” gives “to discipline”

18d    Business not very good at exhibition (5,4).
{TRADE FAIR} A word for business (commerce) is followed by a word meaning “pretty good” to give an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, etc. This term does not appear in my Chambers, Collins or COD

20d    Big blow for ‘Rent-A-Party’ (7)
{TORNADO} A big blow (whirling windstorm) is given by “rent” + A + “party”

21d    How form waiting to be filled in stares at you? (7)
{BLANKLY} A form that’s not filled in is *****. Make the adverb to give how you might stare

23d    ‘Heavens above!’ (Points to birds…) (5)
{GEESE} An exclamation equivalent to “Heaven’s above” is followed by two points of the compass to give water fowl

25d    One estimate gets you furious (5)
{IRATE} I (one) + “to estimate” gives “furious”

26d    A hesitant answer might, to ‘What’s yours?’ (4)
{BEER} A hesitant answer might ** ** (and mine’s a pint)

I quite liked 1 across but nothing else really grabbed me