Toughie 2622 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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Toughie 2622

Toughie No 2622 by Hudson

Hints and tips by Gazza

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

Hudson has given us a witty and very enjoyable puzzle today – many thanks to him. The crossword is notable for two reasons – a) it is a double pangram and b) it has no anagrams. Very impressive!

Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.

Across Clues

1a Warning when throwing Spooner’s fatty, slimy stuff? (8)
GARDYLOO: this was a warning shouted to pedestrians below when throwing what are euphemistically called ‘slops’ from an upstairs window in olden times. Spooner would convert it (as 5,3) to fatty / slimy stuff.

5a Stats about fine retired plane (6)
DAKOTA: a word for stats contains the reversal of a verbal response meaning fine or satisfactory.

9a Item worn by Madonna in French Canadian region? (8)
LABRADOR: as 2,3,1’2 this could be the French translation of Madonna’s coloured supporting garment. This was my last to parse as I initially thought Madonna was going to be la vierge Marie.

10a Look, Derek! A pavilion! (6)
GAZEBO: charade of a verb to look intently and the forename of actress Derek.

12a Dress carried back home, eventually (6)
ENROBE: reverse a past participle meaning carried and append the final letter of ‘home’.

13a Please stop Pelham obstructing rule of law (8)
ESTOPPEL: hidden in the clue is ‘a judicial bar to alleging or proving that a fact is otherwise than it appears to be’ (thanks to BRB). I had heard of the word but had no idea what it meant.

15a Connected with Lawrence after endless brandy (7)
COGNATE: a type of brandy without its last letter and the initials of a famous Mr Lawrence (not the novelist, the other one).

16a Curse mazy dribbles in commentary (4)
JINX: this sounds like a word for mazy dribbles on a football pitch.

20a Follow the introduction of Ottoman governor (4)
OBEY: the first letter of Ottoman and a governor in the Ottoman empire.

21a Unwound broadcast after change of axis (7)
RELAXED: start with a verb meaning broadcast or disseminated and change the letter used to describe a vertical axis to that of a horizontal one.

25a Impounded returning English vicar got the shakes (8)
QUIVERED: impounded here has the cryptic meaning of ‘put into a pound’. What we have to put in is the reversal of an abbreviation for English and the short title of a vicar.

26a Embedded deeply advanced starch (6)
FARINA: a phrase (3,2) meaning ’embedded deeply’ and the abbreviation for advanced.

28a Leaders sacked in bent city body (6)
ENTITY: drop the first letters from two words in the clue.

29a 9 possibly led before own goal (5,3)
GUIDE DOG: stick together a verb meaning led or escorted and the abbreviation for own goal.

30a Etcher regularly cut brilliant Ancient Greek heroine (6)
THRACE: knit together the even letters of etcher and an adjective meaning brilliant to get this heroine of Greek mythology.

31a Where to spot a milestone, incidentally (2,3,3)
BY THE WAY: where a milestone might be seen. Here’s Bob Mortimer’s story involving a friend with this name:


Down Clues

1d Swinger (promiscuous person) cuddling large female (6)
GOLFER: an informal word for a promiscuous person contains abbreviations for large and female.

2d Inter — again! — beginning to roast East Lancs side (6)
REBURY: assemble the first letter of roast, the abbreviation for East and the football team of a town traditionally in Lancashire but actually belonging to a district of Greater Manchester since the 1970s. The team went bust in 2019 and was expelled from the Football League.

3d Annual yen for audio novel? (8)
YEARBOOK: the abbreviation for yen followed by what could (cryptically) be an audio novel (3,4).

4d Reed, not broken, oddly trimmed (4)
OBOE: remove the odd letters from ‘not broken’.

6d South American banker that’s unpopular in the High Street? (6)
AMAZON: double definition, the second being possibly the main reason so many high street stores are closing down.

7d Spent too much with extra flat outside northmost bit of Islington (8)
OVERPAID: bring together an adverb meaning extra and an informal word for a flat containing the top letter of Islington.

8d American dad left former partner Amy finally in fit of infuriation (8)
APOPLEXY: this is made up of five different bits: an abbreviation for American, a (mainly US) word for father, the abbreviation for left, our usual former partner and the final letter of Amy.

11d Sounds like Connery’s lost the place for his Embassy! (7)
ASHTRAY: this is how the late Sir Sean would have pronounced a word meaning lost or off course.

14d Knight, having entered, toppled over as he did when knighted (7)
KNEELED: insert the chess abbreviation for knight into a verb meaning toppled over.

17d New mission to support military commander in victory (8)
CONQUEST: the abbreviation for new and a mission (often involving a long search) follow the abbreviation for a military commander.

18d Contemplative individual sacrificing some time for one seeking compromise (8)
MEDIATOR: start with a contemplative person and remove one of the two abbreviations for time.

19d Portico, very hot, fringing Europe’s foremost golf club (8)
VERANDAH: abbreviations for very and hot contain the foremost letter of Europe and a golf club (1,3,1) based at St Andrews.

22d Busy hospital with heads of Intensive Care covering up shock therapy (6)
HECTIC: the abbreviation for hospital and the leading letters of ‘intensive care’ contain the abbreviation for shock therapy to the brain.

23d Opening profit on NYSE? (6)
WINDOW: as 3,3 this could be a profit or gain on the shorthand term for a market index (full name the *** Jones Industrial Index) on the New York Stock Exchange.

24d ‘Trajan’, Glyndebourne somewhat discordant (6)
JANGLY: hidden in the clue.

27d Harbour property unlit (4)
QUAY: remove LIT from a synonym of property or characteristic.

There are lots of fun clues here – I’ll go for 1a, 9a, 1d and 6d. Which clue(s) tickled you?

 

50 comments on “Toughie 2622

  1. I always enjoy Hudson crosswords and this double pangram was a very special one. Hard to pick favourites but I do agree with Gazza’s choices

    Thanks very much to Hudson and Gazza

  2. I noticed neither the lack of anagrams nor the pangram. I did notice the amount of good fun to be had during the solve. Thanks to Hudson for the puzzle and to Gazza for the solve

  3. Well, I finished about half before having to resort to electronic help and the hints. It was a most entertaining puzzle but I am still awaiting the day when I will finish a Toughie unaided. I will not comment on the ones I looked up because I prefer to comment on those I got under my own steam. I thought 9a was very clever and I liked 10a also. I loved the simplicity of 31a but my COTD id 8d.

    I did not spot the pangram, of course!

    My thanks to Hudson for the puzzle and also to Gazza for the much needed hints.

    1. Well, Steve, I’ve only finished about 3 without help and I had about 7 left today but I will keep going – I have never heard of the word in 1a – I hope people shouting it gave enough time to get out of the way – disgusting! I’m fascinated that Jane knows the French word for this activity.

  4. Wonderful stuff. Ticks all over the place but beaten by 1a (never heard of the word let alone what Mr S might have said) and couldn’t parse 16a and 18d so thanks for those Gazza.

    Apart from the pangrams, did you notice that some answers also are nearly “doubles or connected” – 25a/24d, 15a/18d, 10a/19d,14d/20a, 1d/19d partly, and of course 6d/7d 😉. (I am probably just suffering from today’s freezing weather)

    Favourite? hard to pick but I will go for Mr Bond’s fags.

    Thanks to Hudson and Gazza.

  5. Quite a head scratcher and, since I rarely ‘detect’ a pangram, there was no chance of me detecting the double pangram – 3.5*/3.5*.

    A large Hmm on 9a. I thought Hudson might need a geography lesson but it turns out it’s more of a history lesson. For 35 years, from 1774, the region of Labrador did belong to the French region that predated what became the ‘French’ part of Canada. Then, Labrador was ‘given’ to Newfoundland in 1809, some 58 years before the passing of the British North America Act, which ‘officially created’ Canada, by the British Parliament. But, Newfoundland and Labrador did not become a Province of Canada immediately and remained a separate Colony (later Dominion) until it joined the Confederation and became a Province in 1949. So, in essence, the reference to ‘French Canadian’ is far from topical.

    Favourite – a toss-up between 25a and 8d – and the winner is 25a.

    Thanks to Hudson and Gazza.

    1. The definition of 9a is just Canadian region. French tells us how to translate the item.

    2. But surely, Senf, the reference in 9a to “French Canadian” is simply a clever bit of misdirection. As indicated by Gazza, the definition is just “Canadian region?” and the French is part of the wordplay.

      1. Sorry, Gazza, you were too quick for me (but at least we said the same thing).

  6. This was great fun. I did spot the double pangram but I didn’t notice that there were no anagrams.

    1a was a new word for me but I managed to work it out from “lardy goo” and then to check that was a real word. I had to bung in 9a from the definition and checkers but I couldn’t fathom the wordplay at all, even though I realised there might be a bra in there. Thanks for the explanation, Gazza.

    Many thanks to Hudson and to Gazza, and I’ll third your excellent podium choices.

    1. I meant to add that Hudson has been very cunning (or perhaps lucky) by referring to Bo Derek in clue 10.

      1. I am more knowledgeable of Peep, Diddley and Selecta than an obscure actress from a film of forty two years ago

        1. ….but neither Diddley nor Selecta would’ve been much use for the clue. The shepherdess might have worked tho’.

        2. I’d hardly call Bo Derek an “obscure actress”, old chap. She’s been in at least 44 films/TV series over the years, her latest only last year (2020) with John Voight and James Caan.

          1. Put the word obscure in front of a name, sit back and wait for the bite. Works every time

              1. Were James Caan, Jon Voight and Bo DiddleyDerek going for the world record for the oldest cast in a film?

  7. Great entertainment from Hudson & Gazza.

    Needless to say, I missed the double pangram … but I did notice that Ms Derek appears in 10.

  8. I do enjoy a puzzle that makes me laugh.
    Thanks to Hudson for a splendid puzzle, and to Gazza for clearing up some parsing.

  9. Hudson, well on track to becoming my favourite setter, demonstrates wit and idiosyncrasy every time. I’m not very bothered by pangrams ‘n stuff but a double gets an extra merit point. 1a really cheered me up, my first one in, “here we go again!” Then 9a – LOL when the penny dropped. The surface of 10a really tickled my fancy Brian and I spent several happy moments wondering if there really is such a thing as a “lodela” before reality reasserted itself. But the Petitjean memorial prize this time goes to the groan worthy 25a – lovely stuff.
    Thanks to Hudson for another cracker and to Gazza for a fine blog [but you could have found a picture of Jennifer for 15a]

  10. Got stuck with 26across. Another word I’ve never heard off. I also have my doubts about 1a which is correctly spelt ‘gardez’ from the French.
    Otherwise a very good Toughie.

    1. Exactly my view too on both!
      But it is in the BRB with the anglicised spelling.
      Those two apart ***/****
      Thanks to both H & G.

    2. What ho, Bertie.
      I think the French term is “gare de l’eau” which means “Look out! Water’s coming!” (Not to be confused with Gare de l’Est). Gardyloo is in all good English dictionaries
      Best wishes,
      Rob/Hudson

  11. So much to appreciate in this quite superb Toughie: a double pangram, no anagrams and Bo Derek at 10. Needless to say most of the above eluded me, although I was pleased I spotted one pangram. 1a and 11d were my top clues of many.

    Many thanks to Hudson for a lovely challenge, and to Gazza.

  12. Hudson is my favourite compiler. Always doable with many lol moments. Loved 1a and 1d the latter a sport close to my heart but I’ve never been accused of being a swinger. A slogger more like. Thanks to Gazza and a huge thank you to Hudson

  13. “To miss one pangram, Mr Hudson, may be regarded as a misfortune; to miss both looks like carelessness”.

    Thanks for a great puzzle!

    Special thanks to Gazza for explaining the French connection in 9a.

  14. Superb crossword.
    The double pangram helped with the last few in 18d, 20a and 26a as I was missing an M and an F.
    With a clue like 1d, It is going to be hard to see all our golfing friends any other way.
    Quite remarkable how Jean-Paul Gautier can be so closely associated with Madonna in 9a. That design was revolutionary.
    Thanks to Hudson for this masterpiece and to Gazza for the review.

  15. Needed help from Gazza to parse a couple, namely 16&21a. The first because I didn’t know the football reference and the second because I was being thick! I’m only familiar with the French term for 1a so that was something new learned today as was the starch at 26a.
    Somehow managed to complete the puzzle and awarded podium places to 9&10a plus 1,6&22d.

    Thanks to Hudson and to Gazza for the review and the nudges on parsing.

  16. I’m in the “I was on double pangram alert from early on and it really helped” camp this afternoon. Only failed to parse 8a, French isn’t my strongpoint and 21a. Obviously never heard of 1a, 13a, 26a and the heroine in 30a so had to Google the answers, anyway I have now. Despite the few obscureties this was really great fun. Favourite was 11d. Many many thanks to Hudson and Gazza.

  17. Took me a while to unpick this with the corners going in easier than the middle. 1a and 26a were new to me so I needed to check. Hat’s off for a double pangram but I found it a bit of a grind despite some excellent clues.

    Thanks to Hudson and Gazza.

  18. We struggled with 11d. Although we had worked out what was probably going on with Sean, the brand name was totally new to us. Eventually the penny dropped.
    Lots of fun and we failed to notice the absence of anagrams.
    Thanks Hudson and Gazza.

  19. Tried, and failed, to get TEL into 15a
    What, please tell me, is the connection between jinx and dribbles in football?
    As far as 11 d is concerned, I’m afraid our Mr Connery is becoming as irritating as Dr Spooner!

    1. Jinx sounds like (in commentary) jinks (dribbles or moves involving a quick change of direction).

  20. I’ve done about a quarter of this, but just had to say I think 11d is one of the best clues I’ve seen lately. No checkers to help either!

  21. Ha, ha… reading the comments was almost as much fun as doing the puzzle. Thanks to Hudson for a very enjoyable crossword and Gazza for the blog.
    😊

  22. Just finished it, but needed help to parse a couple. I had Thrace as a country rather than a heroine, but it couldn’t be anything else. All in all most enjoyable. Thanks to Hudson and Gazza.

  23. That’s the most fun I’ve had with a puzzle for some time. Absolutely brilliant. Had a hunch early it just might be a double pangram after starting in the NW. Finally battled to 1&26a remaining & was initially hopeful for gorkypoo (porky goo) but Mr G said no though I eventually figured out the right fatty synonym. That left 26a & where to put the missing second F. Correctly guessed at the front & suspecting an INA ending I then bunged in T as the 3rd letter & only got it right at the second attempt (new word to me as was 13a lurker & the Ottoman guvnor).
    Some absolute corkers – 10,25&29a plus 1,6,8&11d stood out for me. As an avid golfer 1d was my favourite (hooker my first thought there) & am looking forward to working 1a into conversation when the ball is bound for the water hazard.
    Many thanks Hudson & to Gazza.

  24. Ah memories! I would never have remembered GARDYLOO but for the fact it was the first ever clue writing contest i participated in on ukpuzzle.com – as did this setter! (as baerchen)

    I went back and had a look, great fun. Check it out, ukpuzzles.com, click on the DIY COW central square, click on clue writing contests and look for competition #269. Nicely, at the end, all clues are judged for all to see. I recommend this site for all aspirant clue writers

    anyway, I got to this puzzle a day late, and I thought it was funny and clever – feedback this setter no doubt appreciates from this site. Very impressed. It is no mean feat to grid fill a double pangram without using weird words. And the puzzle was very entertaining. Thank you, Hudson and Gazza

  25. Ah memories! I would never have remembered GARDYLOO but for the fact it was the first ever clue writing contest i participated in on ukpuzzle.com – as did this setter! (as baerchen)

    I went back and had a look, great fun. Check it out, ukpuzzles.com, click on the DIY COW central square, click on clue writing contests and look for competition #269. Nicely, at the end, all clues are judged for all to see. I recommend this site for all aspirant clue writers

    anyway, I got to this puzzle a day late, and I thought it was funny and clever – feedback this setter no doubt appreciates from this site. Very impressed. It is no mean feat to grid fill a double pangram without using weird words. And the puzzle was very entertaining. Thank you, Hudson and Gazza

    1. DIY COW seconded – just wish winners would stop choosing words that most of us would edit out of the grid

      1. haven’t played for a while. Winning is a real pain – the trick is to come second!

  26. 3*/4*….
    difficult to choose a clue to mention, but perhaps 1A “Warning when throwing Spooner’s fatty, slimy stuff? (8)”

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