Toughie No 2633 by Logman
Hints and tips by Miffypops
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ***
Another Toughie that lives up to its name. Why did it have to fall on my day? My setter guess didn’t kick in until I got to 14 down. That together with 27 and 28 across screamed Silvanus at me. However I now see that it is one of Logman’s puzzles. Well that’s my career as a Toughie Setter Spotter over and done with then
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a A place for resting meat substitute (7)
HAMMOCK: Split 3,4 we have a cured meat from a pigs leg and a substitute or sham
9a Viewer may suffer this drop (8)
CATARACT: This complaint that affects the lens of an eye is also a drop or fall of an amount of water
10a Feels embarrassment with jets losing time for millions (7)
SQUIRMS: A verb meaning to jet out a liquid needs the abbreviation for time changing to the abbreviation for millions
11a Feeble end of bulletin in suitable thread (8)
FILAMENT: A synonym of feeble together with the last letter of the word bulletin sit inside a word meaning suitable
12a Old-fashioned doctor leaves dreadful drunk (6)
FEUDAL: An abbreviation of doctor is removed from the word dreadful and what remains is an anagram (drunk) of the answer
13a Excessive influence held by former worker (10)
EXORBITANT: An area of influence sits after an informal noun meaning former as in partner or spouse and before an insect worker
15a Man personified by endless great love? (4)
HUGO: A word meaning great or massive has its last letter removed and the letter representing the love score in tennis adding
16a After parking trouble, girls mostly sleep on this (9)
PAILLASSE: The abbreviation for parking is followed by a verb meaning to trouble and a word for a group of females minus the last letter
21a Ring cycle has no heart (4)
PEAL: A verb describing the action needed to ride a bicycle has its central letter removed
22a Shanghai may offer this oriental craft (6,4)
DRAGON BOAT: Acryptic definition of a type of craft used in Chinese festivals, paddled by twenty people and steered by a sweep. All to the sound of an onboard drummer. How very exciting. I hope the drummers play like Keith Moon. As pointed out by Chris M at comment No 3, the answer when split 4,2,4 is an alternative definition of Shanghai
24a Powerful steroids hidden in coat? Quite the opposite! (6)
ULSTER: The answer lies hidden within the words of the clue as indicated by the words hidden in. The clue suggests that the powerful steroids are hidden. The words quite the opposite suggest the coat
25a Open university communication finally getting precedence for game (8)
ROULETTE: Begin with the abbreviation for The Open University. Add a type of correspondence. Move the last letter of what you have to the beginning (finally getting precedence)
27a Practice driving area and range occupied by child (4,3)
SKID PAN: Place a term for a small child inside the range or extent of something as measured from end to end
28a Butcher’s cut credit in singular truncated schedule (5-3)
SCRAG END: A three part charade. 1 The abbreviation for credit 2 The abbreviation for singular 3 the planned schedule of a meeting minus the last letter. Arrange as instructed by the clue
29a In a hurry? Quietly relax, we’re told (7)
PRESSED: The abbreviation for quiet is followed by a homophone of the word rest
Down
2d Gun once needing revolutionary advance to support unprotected brands (8)
ARQUEBUS: A sum of money lent in advance of payday is reversed (revolutionary) and placed after a word meaning brands or makes of cars minus its outer letters
3d Delivery procedure under macho-sounding doctor (4,4)
MAIL DROP: An abbreviation for a procedure or operation sits under a homophone of a male and the abbreviation for doctor
4d Appearance of one working oppressed by phobia (10)
COMPLEXION: The letter that looks like the number one and a short word meaning working sit after a phobia or strong, disproportionate concern or anxiety about something
5d Island origin of British boxer (4)
BALI: The initial letter of the word British and the forename of the world’s greatest ever boxer
6d Cook may need this when sailor’s in the West End (6)
WASABI: A two-letter word meaning when is followed by an abbreviation for an able-bodied seaman. This all sits in the district of London that includes the West End
7d Security has no pass for side (7)
LATERAL: A ten-letter word for something pledged as security for a loan needs to have a three-letter mountain pass removing
8d Act of sovereign country occupied by junta intermittently (7)
STATUTE: A nation or territory sits around the odd numbered letters of the word junta
11d Free to pay for facilities on top of Everest (9)
FOOTLOOSE: A four-letter word meaning to pay a bill (usually for others) is followed by a term for lavatories and the initial letter of the word Everest
14d UK butchers supply such fare (4,6)
BUSH TUCKER: Anagram (supply) of UK BUTCHERS. This anagram indicator usually gets commented upon. Try thinking of the word supple meaning bending and moving gracefully. Supply is a variant spelling of the word supplely
17d Record one’s poems in instalments (8)
EPISODES: A seven inch vinyl record usually containing four tracks is followed by ones where the word one is replaced by the letter that looks like the number one. This is followed by a type of poetry
18d Staff cost is steep (8)
MACERATE: A ceremonial staff or rod is followed by the cost charged for professional services
19d Speak to head of department during a shift (7)
ADDRESS: The initial letter of the word department sits between the word A from the clue and an item of ladies clothing also known as a shift
20d A question cut short interrupting very old cowboy (7)
VAQUERO: The abbreviations for very and old surround the abbreviation for answer and a five-letter question requesting information minus its last letter
23d Tense over northern border (2,4)
ON EDGE: The abbreviations for over and northern are followed by a border hem or rim
26d Bond may be set up for strike (4)
TONK: A wonderful word meaning to strike hard can be found by reversing a bond or tie
A new to me setter. Difficult to get into but then it took off. Of course I was beaten by 26d. These pesky 4 letter words. I’d never heard of tonk which, with its Australian meaning is probably just as well!
COTD? Probably 16a as it was so hard to get the spelling right,
I put an alternative spelling of 16 across to begin with but it didn’t suit the wordplay. Once I did as was asked by the clue all was well
ditto
Logman obviously followed the brief for a Tuesday Toughie to the letter – I started off slowly but finished in a time that was a bit longer than a difficult Friday backpager (which is exactly what a Tuesday Toughie should be). I initially had the alternative spelling for 16a which meant, of course, that 4d and 11d wouldn’t work until I changed some of the letters in 16a
Thanks to Logman for a nice exercising of the cryptic grey matter and to MP for the blog, although your list of music does take up a lot more of the page than it ought
I’ve been trying to take the list out. If you know how to remove it, please do so
Sorted
Thank you.
Thanks to Logman for excellent toughie.
I wasn’t familiar with 14d or the Australian meaning of 26d which was a surprise.
Doesn’t 25ac also come about from using Shanghai as a verb?
Thanks to MP for parsing help with 25ac which was obvious all along.
**/****
I thought this was great. Had to check my constructions for 16a and 20d. Very enjoyable and the right level for a Tuesday.
Thanks to MP and Logman.
I loved this. Elgarish but more doable. Down in Suffolk we must tonk more than most as I got this as one of the easier ones. Lots of smiles. ****/***** for me.
Thanks to MP and to Logman (something else I have in common with our setter)
I shot through this in good time until I hit the NW corner when I came to a shuddering halt. The gun eluded me without electronic help, then the parsing of same left me perplexed. 14d was my top clue, and overall this was a very rewarding puzzle to solve.
My thanks to Logman (more please) and to MP, particularly for the parsing of 2d.
Logman was on my wavelength today ,a steady solve throughout and most enjoyable.
20d was a new cowboy for me-confirmed in Chambers.
Is 15a from a novel by Victor? no explanation so far.
Last in was 6d, initially had Wahabi which was the sailor Captain Ahab in the middle of W1- unfortunately they were a remote tribe! I eventually found the solution.
Right at my limit and the first time for 100% unaided Toughie solve. I even got the gun, from where I dredged it I don’t know. Am pleased that those who know rated it a genuine Tuesday Toughie.
Was into **** time but who cares? (Mrs LrOK probably as I should have been tiling the bathroom!)
Really enjoyed the challenge (I would say that wouldn’t I) with 22a my COTD.
Thanks to Logman and MP for the review.
Well done you (far more satisfying than tiling)
Thanks H.
Hope all OK after the hospital visit.
Congratulations, LROK!
Robert
Thanks.
Have just watched “Trial of the Chicago 7”.
Aaron Sorkin strikes again for me.
I know it is faction but a sad reflection on 60’s events though.
Excellent film. The screenplay exceeded my expectations & so did SBC’s performance.
I needed all 5 of my online letter gifts–for 2d and 14d–to finish, but finish I did, most enjoyably, with 22a my runaway COTD. I loved this puzzle, with thanks to MP and a salute and welcome to Logman.
RIP Christa Ludwig, one of the all-time great mezzos in operatic history. Her Marschallin in Rosenkavalier is rivalled only by her Octavian in the same opera.
***/***, good Tuesday toughie fare. Last in 1a, and only real smile, so favourite. Thanks to everyone
After commenting on the ease of the back pager leaving me nowt to occupy my time in hospital I guess I got what was coming to me. Utterly perplexed a dozen in so it’ll have to wait for a further crack later tonight when hopefully my brain will function.
Surprised myself on how well I got on with Logman.
Had to check a couple of answers derived from the wordplay and was pleased to see that they existed (namely 14d and 27a).
Great puzzle.
Thanks to Logman and to MP.
Great challenge today for a Tuesday; only three words managed in the first pass! Overall 4*/4* for me with favourites 1A & 3D but, best of all the very clever 22A. Thanks to the setter.
Hugely enjoyable challenge for a Tuesday Toughie. A slow start but then sped up, and a good number of smiles, groans and “doh!” moments. Looked for the pangram, but was not to be.
It almost seems unfair to single out any clue for the podium, but 12a probably takes the custard cream for me, followed closely by nearly two dozen others!
3.5* / 4*
Many thanks to Logman for a splended puzzle, and to MP for the review.
MG
Not such an easy solve especially as many of the checkers seemed to be vowels. I didn’t know 2d or 20d, but got them both from the clues.
Favourites were 22a for the play on words and 11d, but like many others I wasn’t familiar with the spelling of 16a and that caused some delay.
Thanks to Logman and Miffpops.
That was a tough Tuesday Toughie but very enjoyable and smoothly clued throughout.
I did need a touch of electronic help to check the gun, the second definition of 9a and the West End postcode which I always seem to forget. However I remembered the anagram indicator in 14d as it came up quite recently.
Top clues for me were 11&28a with top spot going to the excellent 11d.
Many thanks to Logman and MP for the entertainment.
A good level of challenge and a real pleasure to solve. We needed to check the alternative spelling for 16a which was new to us.
Thanks Logman and MP.
Well I thought it very tough but I did finish without a letter reveal or recourse to the hints. Last in was the gun & vaguely remembered an Ottoman soldier definition (Graun maybe) – answer the chap wielding it. Needed Miffs to parse it however. Wasn’t familiar the meaning of shift in 19d nor with the practice driving area. The alternate spelling of 16a never occurred as I got the answer from the wordplay & along with the 20d cowboy had heard of neither before.
Thoroughly enjoyed it at the 2nd sitting. Difficult (a darn sight more so than a Friday back pager anyway) but superbly clued with big ticks aplenty. 1a & 11d were my picks for their penny drop qualities.
Many thanks Logman & to MP.