Toughie No 1328 by Firefly
Men in skirts
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
An interesting theme runs through this puzzle – solve 8 Across and the rest should fall into place.
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 Acquire Dutch courage from blended snifter when loud earl gatecrashes … (9)
STIFFENER: an anagram (blended) of SNIFTER around (gatecrashes) the musical notation for loud and E(arl)
8a … top-level gathering — maybe grouse season’s beginning? (8,5)
HIGHLAND GAMES: an adjective meaning top followed by a level area, the kind of wild animals of which grouse are an example and the initial letter (beginning) of S[eason]
11a Very big margins in ovenware include incomplete premium (5)
OBESE: the outer letters (margins) of O[venwar]E around most of an adjective meaning premium or highest quality
12a Socialist abandoned chicanery ultimately (5)
LEFTY: a verb meaning abandoned followed by the final letter (ultimately) of [chicaner]Y
13a Orders clubs to wear suits (5)
SECTS: C(lubs) inside (to wear) suits or collections
16a Medic to solver: ‘Time to go on the wagon‘ (3,3)
DRY OUT: a two-letter abbreviation for a medic followed by the person solving this puzzle, as viewed by the setter, and T(ime)
17a Non-professional pool’s unfinished — it’s to be launched in 8 (6)
HAMMER: a non-professional actor followed by most of a pool or lake
18a Show some aplomb, resigning in game (5)
OMBRE: hidden (some) inside the clue
19a Traditionalist‘s recommendations dashed midstream — surprisingly rejected (6)
NEOCON: an anagram (dashed) of [R]ECO[MME]N[DATI]ON[S] without (rejected) the assorted letters (surprisingly) of MIDSTREAM
20a Solvent made from active fluid plus grain (6)
AFLOAT: this adjective meaning solvent or creditworthy comes from a charade of A(ctive), FL(uid) and a type of grain
21a Slip away with leader in panic (5)
ERROR: drop (away with) the initial letter (leader) from a panic
24a Prince surrounded by birds — they sound shrill at 8 (5)
PIPES: P(rince) inside (surrounded by) some birds – these birds acquired the prefix Mag (Margaret): other similar examples are Tom Tit, Jenny Wren, Jack Daw and Robin Redbreast
26a Turn over in delightful bed (5)
FUTON: the abbreviation for T(urn) O(ver) inside an adjective meaning delightful
27a Noted Tunisian upset peace group (6,7)
UNITED NATIONS: an anagram (upset) of NOTED TUNISIAN
28a Eleanor’s maturity, you might say, shows remarkable culture (6,3)
BRONZE AGE: this sounds like the maturity of an actress with the first name Eleanor
Down
2d Teeth reset oddly — that’s a ‘laugh’! (2-3)
TE-HEE: the odd letters of the first two words in the clue
3d Far off and very quietly, Earth becomes iced (6)
FRAPPÉ: an anagram (off) of FAR followed by the musical notation for very quietly and E(arth)
4d First alternative steel band exclude absent … (6)
ELDEST: an anagram (alternative) of STEEL [BAN]D without (absent) the verb meaning to exclude
5d … male lead from ‘Islands’, tipped off in message (5)
EMAIL: an anagram (tipped off) of MALE with the initial letter (lead) of I[slands]
6d Trade organisation from ’51 — extremely comprehensive one (6,7)
LIVERY COMPANY: the Roman numerals for 51 followed by an adverb meaning extremely, COM(prehensive) and a word meaning one, as in an unspecified item from a number of items
7d Pet film star on set, being bumptious (4-9)
SELF-IMPORTANT: an anagram (set) of PET FILM STAR ON
9d Distant photos viewed in 3 spells? (4,5)
COLD SNAPS: an adjective meaning distant or impersonal followed by some photos gives sudden short spells of 3a weather
10d Overheard: Take cover, Jack — it’s getting wet (9)
HYDRATING: what sounds like (overheard) an instruction to take cover followed by a jack or sailor
13d Singular accent that one will 26 Down at 8 (5)
STONE: S(ingular) followed by an accent or inflection
14d Carriage with Queen that’s elevated at 8 (5)
CABER: a carriage or taxi followed by the Queen’s regnal cipher
15d Barber‘s second try? (5)
SHEAR: S(econd) followed by a verb meaning to try in a court of law
22d Flush wine cave (6)
REDDEN: a type of wine followed by a cave
23d Revealed years in temporary suspension (6)
OUTAGE: a verb meaning revealed followed by a number of years
25d Instrument artist tuned endlessly (5)
SITAR: an anagram (tuned) of ARTIS(T) without its final letter (endlessly)
26d Doubling up, former partner leaves knees-up at 8 (5)
FLING: a verb meaning doubling up or bending without (leaves) EX (former partner)
One of Firefly’s more enjoyable puzzles.
At last a Friday Toughie completed without electronic help. Thanks to BD for explaining 19a. Thanks to Firefly for the puzzle. Now the long wait to Tuesday for the next Toughie.
A change of email address put your comment into moderation – both should now be OK.
1*/2*
Definitely had to start with 8a. And it’s 14d which gave the games away so to speak.
Messed up 26a and d as I had “leisg” for 26d.
The left side was a bit tricky at first having “long shots” originally for 9d until I realised my mistake. 19a was new to me and sounds quite funny in French. I did try to apply the same deduction for 4d: Steel band without the letters of absent but there was so little left, I had to go back to the drawing board. It was my last in actually.
28a made me smile too.
Thanks to Firefly and to BD for the hints.
Completed before the review was posted, but I did use a little e-help for 19A and needed the explanation to understand how the answer was arrived at. I could see 4D readily enough, but not altogether how to get there. I did enjoy this, particularly 16A. 20A and 10D Thanks to Firefly and to BD.
A strange mix of really simple clues [eg 2d, 25d, ] and quite tricky ones [especially 19a] , not helped by the double “unches”. But the theme worked well and I enjoyed it. Favourites were 16a and 21a [nice construction].
Many thanks to Firefly and BD
Thanks to Firefly and to Big Dave for the review and hints. I quite enjoyed this, but I found it very hard going. Needed 6 lookups and 7 hints to finish. Managed to solve 17, including 28a which was my favourite. Was 5*/3* for me. Needless to say I had to use the hint for 8a, but then I still couldn’t get 13&26d.
I also struggled with 19a, even with the hint. Google was then used. Is this cheating?
Pedant’s corner. Is 5d all one word? Should it not be 1-4?
Apart from that, very enjoyable based on 8a. Thanks to BD and Firefly.
I found this a slog, and even then didn’t get 19a (the wordplay’s a bit clever for me). I’d have to score it 4*/3*, and 16a gets my vote for favouritism. My thanks to Firefly, and to BD for the review and explanation of 19a.
Enjoyed solving this puzzle.
19a was a new word for me – I shall be 91 on Sunday!
I forgot to do the Cryptic! Perhaps after dinner.
Today we had lovely sunshine after days of rain but now it is back to precipitation.
Wow. 91! Many congratulations on your birthday, Derek!
Happy birthday for Sunday Derek.
Happy Birthday for Sunday, hope the family can be with you, all the best from Andy, Cuthbert and Cynthia
A fairly pleasant puzzle – but I have grown to like the idea of a stinking challenge (and likely defeat) on a Friday. It must be time for hob nail boots next Friday who has not be suffered since Christmas Day.
Can’t pretend that I got there without some electronic assistance but at least I finished up with a completed grid without using the hints. Very grateful for BD’s parsing of 19a and fell into the same trap as Jean-luc at 4d.
Won’t give it a ‘score on the door’ because it’s really still outside of my league, but particularly enjoyed 28a and 9&10d.
Thanks to Firefly for the challenge, Mr. Google for the help and BD for making it all sound so easy!
Quite enjoyed this, of course 1a was my favourite
I was almost disappointed that 17a gave away 8a. I really liked 16a. Didn’t know the lady in 28a, but could look her up to confirm my answer. I thought the 9d (viewed in 3 spells)
reference to 3 was not quite as smooth as it might have been. Thanks BD for the wordplay in 19a!
Many thanks Firefly and BD
I found this quite difficult but enjoyable. Solving 8ac was definitely the key. I was stuck on two- 19ac a word that is new to me and I couldn’t get the anagram idea and 23d really quite obvious.
Thanks BD for hints on the 2 I didn’t get.