Toughie 441

Toughie No 441 by Kcit

Hints and tips by Bufo

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BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***

A pleasant puzzle but not very difficult. Getting the two 15-letter anagrams at an early stage was a great help

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Across

1a    After removing cereal, wave bowl (4)
{DISH} Take an 8-letter word for “wave” and remove a cereal (often eaten as a health food) from the front

3a    Crikey, so that’s how envelopes are sealed? (2,3)
{BY GUM} A minced oath which is still used in the North of England (as in ee ** ***!) reveals how envelopes are sealed

6a    Hood to subdue bull, finally (4)
{COWL} “To subdue” + L (bull, finally) gives a hood, especially of a kind worn by a monk

8a    Form of attraction having curious mammalian tinges? (6,9)
{ANIMAL MAGNETISM} An anagram (curious) of MAMMALIAN TINGES gives the sexual power of attraction due entirely to physical attributes. The “mammalian” in the clue provides a hint.

9a    New topic not opened for discussion (6)
{NATTER} N (new) + a topic with the first letter removed gives discussion (or gossip)

10a    Slight energy recalled regarding church service (8)
{GOSSAMER} A word meaning slight (as spider-threads that float in the air) is formed from a 2-letter word for energy followed by a reversal of “regarding” + a (Catholic) church service

11a    Silence surrounds rejected minion, mostly not a right-hand man? (8)
{SOUTHPAW} An interjection meaning “Hush!” goes round “rejected”. This is followed by a minion with the last letter removed. The answer is a left-handed boxer (not a right-hand man)

13a    Surface exactly right in article (6)
{PATINA} “Exactly right” + IN + A gives a film or surface appearance that develops on long exposure

15a    Figures securing University’s position (6)
{STATUS} An abbreviated form of tabulated numerical facts (figures) contains U (University) to give one’s position (in society or in any group)

17a    Profit affected training centre (4,4)
{BOOT CAMP} “profit” + “affected” gives a training centre, originally for US military recruits but now also for X-Factor contestants

19a    French writer is after beer and tavern (in reverse order) (8)
{RABELAIS} IS follows a reversal of beer and tavern to give a French writer (?1494-1553)

21a    Most of greens I’m turning over, finding sausage (6)
{SALAMI} A highly-seasoned sausage is formed from a cold dish of vegetables or herbs with its last letter removed + I’M reversed

22a    Version of marimba tune norm in popular song (2,10,3)
{MR TAMBOURINE MAN} An anagram (version of) MARIMBA TUNE NORM gives the title of a 1965 hit for The Byrds. If you watch Mastermind tomorrow you will see a friend of mine answering questions on The Byrds

23a    Instrument very likely to be recalled, in part (4)
{LYRE} An ancient harp-like musical instrument is hidden in a reversal of VERY LIKELY

24a    Imposing figure cheers when coming into money (5)
{TITAN} Cheers! (or thanks!) put inside money gives a gigantic god of Greek mythology

25a    Income that’s not enough for some gambling (4)
{WAGE} A word for a bet loses its last letter to give an income

Down

1d    Commented about one chorus, taking up analytical approach (9)
{DIAGNOSIS} A reversal (taking up) of “commented” around I (one) chorus

2d    Is thus stimulated with a form of massage (7)
{SHIATSU} An anagram (stimulated) of IS THUS with A gives a Japanese healing and health-promoting therapy using massage with fingers, palms, etc.

3d    They’re drawn to effect changes in many a church (4-5)
{BELL ROPES} A cryptic definition. “Change” is used in a campanological sense and the answer is what is pulled to produce ringing sounds in a church

4d    City that’s as good in subdued light (7)
{GLASGOW} A Scottish city is formed from AS G (good) in a subdued light

5d    Mathematical operation commonly used in problem, on reflection (5)
{MINUS} A reversal of a (mathematical) problem goes round IN

6d    Cleansing tractor and front of heavy lorry (9)
{CATHARTIC} A word for cleansing is formed from a tractor with caterpillar wheels + H (front of heavy) + a flexible lorry

7d    Our group offering no light relief in film (7)
{WESTERN} Our group (i.e. you, me and others) with a word meaning severe (offering no light relief) gives a genre of films

12d    Earl, say, and servant appearing in start of book? (5,4)
{TITLE PAGE} The page of a book telling you what it’s called is made up of “earl, say” + a servant

13d    Puritan so outraged about French writer (9)
{PROUSTIAN} An anagram (outraged) of PURITAN SO gives an adjective relating to a French novelist (1871-1922)

14d    Fancy I can block computer manufacturer supplying household gadget (9)
{APPLIANCE} An anagram (fancy) of I CAN goes inside a personal computer manufacturer

16d    Tuck in with a beam after it finally appeared? (3,4)
{TEA TRAY] “tuck in” + “a beam” follow T (it finally). When this object appears you might tuck in and smile

17d    Is copper in part of bridle coming to snap? (7)
{BISCUIT} IS CU (copper) goes inside part of a bridle to give, e.g. a ginger nut (snap)

18d    Rising quantity of hypochondria? I mean an actual disorder (7)
{ANAEMIA} A disorder of the blood is hidden in reversed form in HYPOCHONDRIA I MEAN AN

20d    Sailor getting on vessel, ousting one first in order (5)
{ABBOT} AB (sailor) + a vessel with the letter A removed gives a person in charge of a religious institution

As usual from Kcit a pleasant non-controversial puzzle