Toughie No 1002 by Petitjean
Hints and tips by Big Dave
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment **
A workmanlike puzzle from Petitjean that almost strayed into 3-star territory because of the time it took to solve 25 down. I thought that some of the definitions left a lot to be desired – 1a is only a fast time when it is the time taken for something to happen, 6 across/10 across is an American word for a central street in a town whether or not it is well-worn – and are communes in Northern France fair game?
Please leave a 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 Old relative returning next fast time (10)
{NANOSECOND} – O(ld) and an elderly relative reversed (returning) followed by a word meaning next
6a & 10a Male model daring to follow a well-worn route (4,4)
{MAIN DRAG} – M(ale) followed by an anagram (model) of DARING
9a Charming Democrat groomed for office (10)
{DELECTABLE} – D(emocrat) followed by an adjective that could mean groomed for office
10a See 6 Across
12a Reportedly bad-tempered look (4)
{MIEN} – for once Chambers agrees that this sounds like an adjective meaning bad-tempered or unkind – oh that all so-called homophones used in crosswords actually sounded like each other, like this pair!
13a Relish trick with diamonds — it takes people in (9)
{CONDIMENT} – this relish is the kind used to accompany a meal – a verb meaning to trick or swindle followed by D(iamonds) and IT around (takes … in) some people
15a Farewell‘s articulate before performing a semi-rant (8)
{SAYONARA} – a verb meaning to articulate followed by a two-letter word meaning performing and half (semi) of RAnt
16a Tough on horseback being short (4-2)
{HARD-UP} – an adjective meaning tough followed by a two-letter adverb meaning on horseback
18a Knowing film for all ages is in dubious taste (6)
{ASTUTE} – the certificate designating that a film is suitable for people of any age inside an anagram (dubious) of TASTE
20a After hot alcoholic drink take heavy breaths or shallow (8)
{FLIPPANT} – a charade of a hot drink of beer and spirits followed by a verb meaning to take heavy breaths
23a Lie about coach’s self-discipline (9)
{RESTRAINT} – a verb meaning to lie or relax around a verb meaning to coach or instruct
24a Revise order cutting chapter (4)
{EDIT} – start with an order or proclamation and drop (cutting) the C(hapter)
26a Secular ritual ignoring etiquette and uniform (4)
{LAIC} – start with an adjective meaning ritual or traditional and then drop FORM (etiquette) and U(niform)
27a Falsify composition of a later duet (10)
{ADULTERATE} – an anagram (composition) of A LATER DUET
28a So it’s ‘Enrietta’s turn? (4)
{ERGO} – split this as (‘2,2) and it could be ‘Enrietta’s turn
29a Look younger maybe despite everything (10)
{REGARDLESS} – a verb meaning to look followed by word that could (maybe) mean younger in the sense of fewer (years)
Down
1d Characters in ‘Crocodile Dundee’ turned up out of costume (4)
{NUDE} – hidden (characters in) and reversed (turned up) inside the clue
2d Opposite of fun getting poorly; happy ending is void (7)
{NULLIFY} – reverse (opposite) all of FUN around an adjective meaning poorly and then add the final letter (ending) of happY
3d Revolutionary denounces art: it’s almost instinct (6,6)
{SECOND NATURE} – an anagram (revolutionary) of DENOUNCES ART
4d Risk extremes of ribaldry in court (8)
{CHANCERY} – a verb or noun meaning risk followed by the outer letters (extremes) of RibaldrY gives what was formerly the highest court of justice, next to the House of Lords
5d Last of firemen only uncoiled second hose (6)
{NYLONS} – the final letter (last) of firemen followed by an anagram (uncoiled) of ONLY and S(econd)
7d Idiot lied possibly in front of boss (7)
{AIRHEAD} – lied is a German example (possibly) of this song – follow it with a boss or chief
8d Large sum of money found in empty seats after dark in clubs (10)
{NIGHTSPOTS} – a large sum of money, maybe a prize or a kitty, inside SeatS without its inner letters (empty) preceded by a word meaning dark
11d Get the wrong idea about husband knocked out by accident before girls’ night out curtailed (12)
{MISAPPREHEND} – drop(knocked out) the H(usband) from an accident and follow it with a prefix meaning before and most of (curtailed) a girls’ night out (3,2)
14d Dare I spell tricky word for shoe? (10)
{ESPADRILLE] – an anagram (tricky) of DARE I SPELL gives a type of shoe that is much loved by crossword setters
17d Fleet Street’s last to probe female having left over sick article (8)
{FLOTILLA} – the final letter (last) of StreeT inside (to probe) F(emale), L(eft), O(ver), an adjective meaning sick and the indefinite article
19d Difficult trial (7)
{TESTING} – two definitions – an adjective and a noun
21d Work up a temperature in a French farmhouse (7)
{AGITATE} – the first A from the clue and T(emperature) inside the other A and a French farmhouse
22d Underwear starts to give impression refurbished dress looks elegant (6)
{GIRDLE} – the initial letters of six words in the clue
25d Commune in Northern France making contact? (4)
{LENS} – two definitions – the second being something of which contact is an example
Perhaps tomorrow will be better – let’s hope so.
I made my first proper attempt at a toughie, failing at 26a and 28a. In general , I thought it more doable than the back page.Thanks to Petitjean for a gentle introduction (probably my last ) to the dark secrets of toughie land, and to Big Dave and his fellow bloggers for getting me this far !
I didn’t get 25d either.
BD, really unfair to make my mouth water for some patum peperium, which I cannot get. Only got 25d from the contact association. Agree with your sentiments. Many thanks to setter and BD for the review.
Agree with your assessment.
Didn’t get 25 but the rest was accessible for me so ** about right.
Haven’t commented for some months but always follow the blog and much appreciate the effort and time that you and others give to it.
Not a very tough toughie but reasonably enjoyable, thanks to Petitjean and BD for the super review.
Gentle fare to start the Toughie week, favourites were 11d 21d and 26a thanks to Petitjean and to Big Dave for the comments.
England played Colombia in 25d in World Cup 1998, and it will be a host venue for Euro 2016 – but I’m not sure that either of those facts is sufficient to put it in the forefront of the mind of Toughie solvers!
I enjoyed this because I could do it, which is not always the case with toughies. (Having studied and taught French I had no trouble with 25).
Thanks to Pettijean and Big Dave for the review and hints. Way too difficult for me, managed to do half of it, but needed the hints for the rest. I wear contact lenses, and have heard of the place, as they have a football team, but I wouldn’t have got 25d in a million years!
It was two of the sneaky little 4 letter words towards the bottom the held us up most. 26a and 25d. Quite interesting to hear the grumbles about obscure geography for 25d . It was easier for us to trace than some of the UK places that have us struggling.
Enjoyed the puzzle.
Thanks Petitjean and BD.
Fun, but not the best from PJ. Agree with BD that a French commune is pushing it a bit [25d] but I think “well-worn route” is fair enough for 6/10a, the answer being part of English demotic speech these days. Loved the misdirection [lied] at 7d, and 28a raised a chuckle. Crap grid.
Thanks to PJ and BD