Toughie 825

Toughie No 825 by Micawber

Hints and tips by Bufo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

A very nice puzzle of moderate difficulty

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    Silly act, with that woman’s underwear in (7-5)
{FEATHER-BRAIN} A silly person = an act (exploit) + ‘that woman’s’ + an item of women’s underwear + IN

8a    Happen to recall former police company (5)
{OCCUR} ‘To happen’ is a reversal of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000 and the abbreviation for ‘company’

9a    Person taking more painkillers? That’s me (6,3)
{NUMBER ONE} This term meaning ‘me’ or ‘oneself’ also suggests a person taking more painkillers in that they now have less feeling

11a    Crazy Rasputin, hanging around Nicholas’s inner circle to act superior (3,2,4)
{PUT ON AIRS} An anagram (crazy) of RASPUTIN goes round O (a circular letter found in Nicholas) to give ‘to act superior’

12a    Passage from saga is learnable (5)
{AISLE} A passage is hidden in sagA IS LEarnable

13a    Don’t get me wrong number, belonging to criminal! (2,7)
{NO OFFENCE} ‘Don’t get me wrong’ = the abbreviation for ‘number’ + OF (belonging to) + a receiver of stolen goods

16a    Subject to choice? Not entirely (5)
{TOPIC} A subject = TO + choice with the last letter removed

18a    Bewildered fly-half surrounded by non-drinkers (2,3)
{AT SEA} ‘Bewildered’ = either half of a 6-letter fly inside Alcoholics Anonymous

19a    Followed twisting route north-east then south, start to finish not being in gear? (9)
{NAKEDNESS} Take ‘followed twisting route’, NE and S and then put the first letter at the end. This gives the state of not being in gear (clothes)

20a    Problem child (5)
{ISSUE} 2 meanings: problem/child

22a    Bad name, one I try to scrap (9)
{NOTORIETY} ‘Bad name’ is an anagram (scrap) of ONE I TRY TO

25a    Innovations associated with Jon Snow? (9)
{NOVELTIES} These innovations, when split (5,4), might suggest items associated with the broadcaster Jon Snow who apparently is known for his colourful neckwear

26a    One putting cross into box from left or right wing, perhaps? (5)
{VOTER} A cryptic definition of someone who exercises their democratic right

27a    Really rather twee (6-6)
{PRETTY-PRETTY} A word meaning ‘really’ is followed by the same word (this time meaning ‘rather’) to give ‘twee’

Down

1d    Flip ace of suit out of sequence (9)
{FACETIOUS} ‘Flip’ (as an adjective) is an anagram (out of sequence) of ACE OF SUIT

2d    It’s nearly All Fool’s Day — get protective clothing (5)
{APRON} Remove the letter E from the end of All Fool’s Day to get protective clothing. (Shouldn’t it be All Fools’ Day?)

3d    Back Italy’s language (5)
{HINDI} Back + I (Italy) gives a language of India

4d    Cut wood supporting seats (4,5)
{RUMP STEAK} A cut of beef = a type of wood after seats (backsides)

5d    Played red ace with ten, and played again (2-7)
{RE-ENACTED} An anagram (played) of RED ACE TEN gives ‘played again’

6d    Presses offices of tax and statistics (5)
{IRONS} ‘Presses’ is formed by the abbreviations for the government departments responsible for collecting taxes and for the collection and publication of statistics

7d    Redress main cost with open payout (12)
{COMPENSATION} An anagram (redress) of MAIN COST OPEN = payment (for loss, injury, etc.)

10d    Fit place for people doing stretches? (8,4)
{EXERCISE YARD} This part of a prison is where those doing stretches (i.e. prison sentences) might do stretches (keep-fit manoeuvres)

14d    Bean that gives you a bit of wind (9)
{FLAGEOLET} 2 meanings: a small pale green bean/a small high-pitched flute (wind instrument)

15d    Hoist 90 ton? That’s nothing (9)
{NONENTITY} An anagram (hoist) of NINETY TON gives a nothing (a person or thing of no importance)

17d    Practice holding grudge at a point in the near future (9)
{PRESENTLY} I think this must be a clue for the American market because, as I see it, ‘practice’ needs to be a verb for it to work. ‘To practice’ goes round ‘to grudge’ to give ‘at a point in the near future’. I’m sure someone will let me know if I’ve misunderstood it.

21d    Cut, and cut hard (5)
{SEVER} ‘to cut’ = ‘hard’ with the last letter removed

23d    Non-lethal weapon was tested once more during uprising (5)
{TASER} An electroshock weapon which doesn’t kill is a reversal (uprising) of ‘was tested once more’

24d    Drive metal fastening through, but don’t bore (5)
{RIVET} 2 meanings: drive metal fastening through/not to bore (i.e. to keep someone enthralled)

I’m away again next week and so you can have another rest from me

.