A Puzzle by Prolixic
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
A tough crossword from Prolixic for this week's Saturday afternoon entertainment
Across
1a Family fund plant and equipment (5)
STOCK – A small word with four different definitions
4a Smooth feathers or do something to ruffle them! (5,4)
DRESS DOWN A verb meaning to smooth and a synonym for feathers
9a Luminary master criminal's probed by Yard (7)
PROCYON A first magnitude star (luminary) Abbreviate both a master and a criminal and insert (probed by) the abbreviation for Yard between them [Following the comments about this solution, this morning I checked on Crossword Solver and this was the only word they produced for a seven-letter word with these checking letters]
10a Ruddy daughter elopes with street trader (7)
FLORIST Of a ruddy complexion without the D (daughter 'elopes') followed by the abbreviation for street
11a Raucous group of first-years drinking in university (5)
RUSTY Hoarse or harsh – some of the letters (group) of in fiRST Y(ears) 'drinking in' the abbreviation for university
13a British nurse's time in local authority (5)
BRENT Abbreviations for British, a nurse and Time
15a Regularly collude with veteran (3)
OLD The regular letters of cOlLuDe
16a German scientist, Henry, enters order (3)
OHM The abbreviation for the SI Unit of Inductance (Henry) enters or is inserted into a reversal (set back) of an abbreviated Order of Merit
17a Anticipate active bias on the radio (5)
AWAIT An abbreviation for active and a homophone (on the radio) of a synonym for bias
19a Having only one love, leaves quickly abandoning state legislator? (5)
MOSES A Biblical 'legislator' –a slang verb meaning leaves quickly, with only one O (having only one 'love'), the abbreviation for the State of Virginia being removed 'abandoning' from the front of the word
21a Back of small three-masted schooner (5)
STERN The abbreviation for Small and a three-masted schooner
23a Old American leaves stunning canyon (5)
GORGE Abbreviations for Old and American 'leave' an adjective meaning stunningly beautiful
24a Yoghurt maker's tips to securing key ingredients (3)
SKI A company making, amongst other dairy products, yoghurts is found in the 'tips' of Securing Key Ingredients
25a Top police constable (3)
COP A top or head of anything and an informal term for a police constable
26a What you do with one pinching head of venison (5)
SOLVE An adjective meaning one, without another, 'pinching' the head or first letter of Venison
28a Disciple of Zeno thus describes Manx cat (5)
STOIC A Latin word meaning thus 'describes' or goes round a male cat without its 'tail', just like a Manx cat
29a Maybe anger English linesman (7)
EMOTION The abbreviation for English and the surname of the Poet Laureate (linesman) from 1999 to 2009
31a 40% of Great Danes exercised in public areas? (7)
GARDENS An anagram (exercised of 40% of GReat DANES
33a Galley slave killing Eastern European king and general (9)
KITCHENER A galley and a slavE without (killing) the Eastern European, the result followed with the Latin abbreviation for King
34a Beer one's taken from capital city's troublemakers (5)
PESTS Remove the informal name for a brand of beer and the A (one) from the capital city of Hungary
Down
1d Prioress dancing with unionist leaders (9)
SUPERIORS An anagram (dancing) of PRIORESS with U (Unionist)
2d Operation on large problem animal (7)
OPOSSUM An abbreviated operation, an indication of something being large in size and a problem
3d Possibly return to small island (3)
KEY An example of something used when typing (possibly 'return') or a small island
4d Socialite welcomes Geordie star (5)
DENEB An abbreviated debutante (socialite) 'welcomes' the area of the UK where a Geordie lives
5d I lead away brownie (3)
ELF Take the 'lead' away from a pronoun meaning I
6d Bridge player left game (5)
SPORT The abbreviation for one player in a game of bridge and the left side of a ship or plane
7d Inauspicious spectacle-wearing minister's supported by under-secretary (7)
OMINOUS An abbreviated minister inserted into O O (spectacles), the result supported by the abbreviation for Under Secretary
8d Respected junior journalist's position! (5)
NOTED A junior journalist's position could be described as xxx xx
12d Long story involving drugs (5)
YEARN A story 'involving' the abbreviation for Ecstasy (drugs)
14d Become a member of lodge (5)
ENTER Double definition
18d One who backs a new setter (5)
ANGEL A (from the clue), the abbreviation for New and a substance used to set
19d Comes across bases between mountains (5)
MEETS Two lots of the letter that is the base of natural logarithms inserted into an abbreviation for mountains
20a Description of croupier's shoes in luggage (9)
SUITCASES This luggage if split 4,5 could refer to devices for dispensing playing cards (croupier's shoes)
22a Use old storyline about India (7)
EXPLOIT The usual old and a story line, the latter going around the letter represented by India in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
24a Moves cabin on board ship (7)
SHOVELS A run-down cabin inserted into (on board) an abbreviated ship
25a Verify bar bill (5)
CHECK Triple definition
26a Fashionable - like Devon and Cornwall? (5)
SWISH With a hyphen 2-3 this might describe the area where Devon and Cornwall are to be found
27a Tease the French about composer (5)
ELGAR A reversal (about) of a verb meaning to tease and the French definite article
30a Sister repeatedly frequents European Union university (3)
NUN Hidden twice (often frequents) in europeaN UNioN University
32a Allegedly stole - this may be the result (3)
RAP A homophone (allegedly) of a type of stole
My goodness, I found this very tough indeed overall. Fortunately there were a few less difficult clues spread around the grid to gain a foothold. However, I still needed electronic help to check the answer to 9a.
I know it’s in the BRB but I don’t understand how 11a is synonymous with “raucous”.
My top three were the excellent quadruple definition in 1a; the very cunning use of “linesman” in 29a; and 18d.
Many thanks to Prolixic for testing my brain cells to the limit, and in advance to CS.
I agree with RD – very tough; however I did manage to establish via Collins that ‘grating’ can be synonymous with “raucous” as well as the answer I came up with. On the other hand, unlike RD, I can’t check the answer to 9a because I haven’t come up with one as yet! The “schooner” was a new one for me, as was the “Top”, and both 34a and 26d had me raising an eyebrow (luckily I have two available). However, this was all part of the challenge and the enjoyment of another super puzzle from Prolixic. My favourites were well balanced with four in each orientation: 10, 19, 29 & 31 across; and 18, 22, 24 & 32 down. Now back to 9a…
Thanks, Prolixic, and thanks in advance to CS.
After much e-rummaging and an inspired intervention from Mrs S, I now have an answer for 9a. My stumbling block was an incorrect answer to 3d, where I had opted for ‘OK’ as a synonym for “Possibly”, as in “Mmm, well, OK…”
Unlike 4d – which I have come across previously, I’ve never heard of 9a before today!
I don’t seem to have encountered quite the same challenges as earlier posters and most of this went in reasonably smoothly, although the setter has certainly enjoyed choosing some relative obscurities for both solutions and synonyms in wordplay. Three really tricky ones: 9a is nho but I Google-checked the solution suggested by the wordplay and learned a new thing. I have only parsed 19a some time after the event – it went in with a shrug and is at the trickier end. The one that did defeat me, however, was 11a and I totally agree with RD’s question. I’ll be honest and say I don’t really like the construction of that particular clue: for a pretty unusual definition, it’s a tough ask of solvers to extract from two words a group of letters – rsty – that do not in themselves constitute a word before then inserting a letter. I wonder what percentage of us will get that one by backparsing rather than seeing the construction from wordplay.
10a, 29a and 20d are my podium. Thanks Prolixic and blogger in advance
We enden up revealing letters for 9a which was totally new to us.
Certainly had us working hard but a pleasure to solve.
Thanks Prolixic.
My word, that was tough and, like others, I needed help with 9a. Line-up of favourites includes 10,23&34a plus 2d.
Thanks to Prolixic for the battle!
Excited to see a Prolixic puzzle appear this morning and settled down to have a crack. Disappointed to retire hurt after an hour and a half with ten clues solved. Definitely a ‘pay grade’ issue for me, and rather relieved to see others also found it tough!
Can’t help but wonder what the reaction might have been had 9a appeared in a RC puzzle 😏
Thank you anyway for the challenge. Favourites were 1a, 2d and 12d.
Some arcane synonyms here – very hard work.
PS. Your suggested solution to 14 down does not fit the checkers in 17a and 23a.
It does now ;)
Thanks Sue for the review and explanations 👍 A couple of thoughts having gone through these, this is in no way meant to be a grumble but hopefully constructive feedback.
There’s no way I would have solved some of these clues in a month of NTSPPs. That’s not a problem as I’m not an expert and avoid Elgar for good reason! I had hoped to learn a lot from this puzzle to help with my fledgling setting hobby, and approached the puzzle with excitement. As with other solvers, I feel some synonyms were a step too far. I can’t escape the feeling that Prolixic hasn’t followed the spirit of his own advice regarding p2 of his excellent PDF guide, concerning synonyms, fairness, and obscurity.
Re 9a, the wordplay did indeed suggest the solution but even with all the checkers, should a solver have to resort to Google to confirm the name of an obscure celestial body? Both Anax and Excalibur have said in guides/interviews that if the only word to fit is too obscure, change the grid. 3d could become ‘ken’ allowing 9a to become ‘pronoun’, and offering a fairer clue to the solver. Following previous RC feedback, in August I scrapped an entire grid because I was left with an Americanism that only appeared in the OED. Best clues were recycled, dodgy ones jettisoned; the whole thing became a learning experience!
Again, I don’t want to be seen as harshly criticising to the setter, I will keep plugging away at Toughies, this has recently been very satisfying in finally solving a Silvanus puzzle! What I want to repeat is an idea I mooted some weeks ago, of having a two-tier NTSPP, one puzzle rated */**, and one rated ****/*****. Thus allowing a stern challenge to those who wish, and a pleasant solve for Saturdayites so inclined. There were only seven commenters on this, and it’s a shame if the reach of these puzzles is at such a level.
Apologies, crossed wires and twisted knickers with incorrect suggestion there for altered grid. Will brew another coffee pronto ☕🤦
Although 1a ‘storm’, 3d ‘moo’ and 9a ‘pronoun’ would all combine satisfactorily.
Many thanks for the review, CS, shame that Prolixic sets such difficult puzzles!
I found this excellent crossword was somewhat tough. I thought it was just me having an off-day! I’m relieved to find others also thought it tricky.
Many very clever clues. I particularly liked 1a, 29a, 34a, 26d and 32d… et alia.
Much appreciation to Prolixic for a thoroughly entertaining and cerebral challenge.
Much appreciation to Crypticsue for the excellent explanations with lovely illustrations. I had the wrong answer for 3d which prevented my getting 9a. I knew something was amiss because I worked out the parsing for 9a but my incorrect 3d gave me an ‘s’ where the ‘y’ was supposed to be. In retrospect I should have just entered 9a and left 3d as K??. Oh dear. Hindsight is a wonderful thing!