Toughie No 723 by Excalibur
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment *
No comment from me, but please feel free to leave your own comment telling us what you thought. You can also add your assessment by selecting from one to five stars at the bottom of the post.
Across
1a Loose definition would be ‘fancy-free’ (10)
{UNATTACHED} – two definitions – not fastened to anything and “footloose and fancy-free”
9a Whence came the needle (that’s a sharp object with a point) (4)
{PINE} – needles come from this tree which is a charade of an object with a sharp point and a point of the compass
10a A lot above your head (4,6)
{ROOF GARDEN} – where to grow flowers on top of a house
11a Career medic can cover the whole round (6)
{GALLOP} – to run fast comes from your local medic around a word meaning the whole or everything and a round letter
12a Abominable flu spreading after heat wave (7)
{HATEFUL} – this adjective meaning abominable is derived by putting an anagram (spreading)of FLU after and anagram (wave) of HEAT
15a Learns to edit on a magazine (7)
{ARSENAL} – put an anagram (edit) of LEARNS after (on) A to get a magazine for storing weapons
16a Tears caused by quarrels (5)
{RIFTS} – these tears or splits are also quarrels
17a A diminutive fish (4)
{LING} – put the name of this fish after a word like duck and you get a smaller version (diminutive)
18a Fur ball pet swallowed (4)
{COAT} – the fur of an animal is created by putting a letter shaped like a ball (yuk!) inside a domestic pet
19a Gives the impression to go out with Miss would be ‘too much’ (5)
{SEEMS} – a verb meaning gives the impression is a charade of a verb meaning to go out with or date and Miss without the “is”
21a Get ahead or follow on (7)
{SUCCEED} – a double definition – to get ahead in life and to inherit a title
22a Points out other amendments in contract (7)
{SHORTEN} – put two opposing compass points outside an anagram (amendments) of OTHER to get a verb meaning to contract
24a Hard-wearing coat for a nipper (6)
{ENAMEL} – this coat is found on a tooth
27a ‘With one’s best behind one’ is going too far (4,3,3)
{OVER THE TOP} – two meanings of this phrase
28a Romanced in song (4)
{LIED} – a double definition – romanced or told fibs and a German song
29a They could get to read clippings a long time ago (3,4,3)
{THE YEAR DOT} – THEY is followed by an anagram (clippings) of TO READ gives a long time ago when time started
Down
2d Only thumbs down from the corner (4)
{NOOK} – split as (2,2) this could mean that thumbs are down but it is actually a corner or recess
3d Sweet towards female taking charge (6)
{TOFFEE} – this sweet is a charade of the short word for towards, F(emale) and a charge
4d He doesn’t accept money on the side (7)
{AMATEUR} – someone who doesn’t get paid for playing sport
5d Awful die-hard, to start with, having a thick skin (4)
{HIDE} – an anagram (awful) of DIE is preceded by (to start with) H(ard) to get a thick skin
6d Risks many may take makes one see red (7)
{DANGERS} – these risks are derived from the Roman numeral for 500 followed by a verb meaning makes one see red or annoys
7d Expanding hole in tooth? (7,3)
{FILLING OUT} – a phrasal verb meaning expanding could result in a hole in a tooth if this happened
8d A Pole in training to beat an Italian (10)
{NEAPOLITAN} – an anagram (training) of A POLE IN followed by a verb meaning to beat gives an Italian from Naples
12d Gosh, are they celebrating the death of a baddie? (5,5)
{HELLS BELLS} – a phrase meaning “gosh!” could be what is rung when a baddie dies
13d When it’s pouring, can you look forward to getting a lift? (5,5)
{TONIC WATER} – a drink that may lift your spirits (or be mixed with them!)
14d Ruled out a denial, on reflection (5)
{LINED} – to get a verb meaning ruled or marked is created by dropping the A (out A) from DENI(A)L and reversing (on reflection) what is left
15d While protecting male’s little bits (5)
{ATOMS} – put a word meaning while around a male cat to get these small particles
19d No seats left for ‘Betrayal’ (4-3)
{SELL-OUT} – a double definition – no seats left for an event or a betrayal of trust
20d Commute from close to the centre of Castlebar (7)
{SHUTTLE} – a verb meaning to commute is a charade of to close a door and the middle three letters of CasTLEbar
23d Back he goes inside to try again (6)
{REHEAR} – put HE inside the back or stern to get a verb meaning to try again in court
25d When it comes to hearing, the very top is canine (4)
{PEKE} – the top of a mountain sounds like (when it comes to hearing) an abbreviated type of dog
26d Cut back to ball game (4)
{POLO} – reverse a verb meaning to cut branches from a tree and add a letter shaped like a ball (double yuk!) to get a game played on horseback
QED
Quite liked 15a – nice bit of misdirection – but otherwise not a lot to say about this one.
Did feel at one point that I needed the ‘slightly mad hat’
Thanks to Excalibur and BD.
1* difficulty for me as once the mists cleared it didn’t take long to solve. Like Pommers, I did find a mad hat helped. As 12d made me smile and think of BD, I will give it 1.5 star entertainment. Thanks to Excalibur. Big thanks to BD.
Thanks to Excalibur for a very enjoyable but not very tough crossword today, I liked 12d. Thanks to BD for the hints.
Just beaten by 29a. Never thought of clippings as an anagram indication.
**/** I can’t see the connection linking ‘ clippings’ with an anagram either – arrived at answer simply from ‘a long time ago’-anyone any thoughts?
Bet tomorrows touighie will be more testing.
I reckon you’ll win your bet – it’s Elkamere tomorrow.
How do you know these things Gazza – I’m now looking forward
No great secret, Pommers. The setter’s name is put up on the on-line web site sometime in the late afternoon or early evening. Select “The Knowledge” then “Inside Puzzles”.
Never noticed the name came up the day before, D’oh! I just normally have a look in the morning before I start the puzzle just to get an idea of what I might be letting myself in for.
Elkamere (Anax light?) is usually a bit of fun
Gentle fare on offer today, favourites 12d and 13d thanks to Excalibur and to Big Dave for the hints.
Finaly managed to obtain a copy – couldn’t access the site to get the Toughie or Daily puzzle. Able to get to main page but no further.
Routine fare from Excalibur, nothing much more to say about it. Didn’t like ‘clippings’ as anag indicator and the usual feling that I was solving one of her puzzles in the 1970’s or 80’s.
There are much more enjoyable puzzles in the Guardian (from the ST Crossword setter) and the FT today.
The FT setter has produced a nice enjoyable challenge without the need for mind-stretching and complex devices. The Graun is a masterclass in cluemanship, as was Sunday’s ST puzzle.
Hi Tilsit – re the Grauniad, see the conversation on the other post.
Yesterday, the Rufus puzzle from 1986 was greeted with much praise for standing the test of time and for being consistent with his contemporary puzzles.
But, today, the puzzle from Excalibur is criticised for being just like one of her puzzles from the 1970′s or 80′s. Discuss.
Anyway, I enjoyed it – Thank You!
The Rufus puzzles have been consistently good over the years . . .
The Rufus puzzle is not out of place today. Enough said.
This Toughie newbie stands humbled before you. Only three answers off my own back, this is going to be a long ( but enjoyable) haul!
Dan,
Your comment had to be moderated because you’ve changed your alias. Both should work from now on. Good luck with the Toughies – keep us informed of your progress.
Thanks Gazza,will do
I had a go at this one – too knackered to do anything productive in house or garden so thought “why not”? (that sounds really rude – it’s not meant to be!!) I managed to do most, but by no means all, of it. I have now read the hints and understand all the answers. Some of the ones that I failed to get I now realise that I should have, and probably would have done on another day. As a complete novice at toughies I enjoyed it – sometimes it’s really good to have one that doesn’t feel too intimidating. Thank you to Excalibur, for giving the confidence a bit of a boost, and to Big Dave for filling in the gaps!!
Completely thrown by getting BOLTS for 16a, which I still think is a better answer.