Toughie 1028

Toughie No 1028 by Giovanni

Hints and tips by Bufo

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

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

I found this very straightforward apart from a couple of words that I didn’t know and had to check at the end

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Across

1a    Spots broadcasting contract (6)
{FLECKS} A homophone (broadcasting) of ‘to contract (a muscle)’

5a    Most exuberant attempts to enter boat the wrong way (8)
{GUSHIEST} Attempts inside a reversal of a boat used for towing

9a    Acrobatic feat in what sounds like two seasons (10)
{SOMERSAULT} A homophone of a season of the year and ‘to season’

10a    Security for something fixed on two pieces of wood (4)
{BAIL} 2 meanings: security/a crosspiece that lies on the top of two stumps (pieces of wood) in a wicket

11a    Nice beef, well cooked — that’s living! (8)
{BENEFICE} An anagram (well cooked) of NICE BEEF

12a    Spoiled tot to get taken in hand? (6)
{ADDLED} ‘To tot’ + ‘taken in hand’

13a    Satisfactory recipe for getting ace dish (4)
{OKRA} Satisfactory + R (recipe) + A (ace)

15a    Thoroughfare across a sort of valley that’s associated with disease (8)
{MALARIAL} A thoroughfare (shaded avenue) round A and a drowned valley

18a    Study faces in the auditorium? These bits stick out (8)
{CONDYLES} ‘To study’ + a homophone (in the auditorium) of faces = rounded projections on the articulating ends of bones such as the ball portions of ball-and-socket joints. This is one I had to check

19a    Female associated with victory ultimately won by US President (4)
{NIKE} The last letter of won + Eisenhower’s nickname

21a/2d    Country is reversing blunder without help — chance finally grasped (6,5)
{SIERRA LEONE} A reversal of IS + ‘to blunder’ + ‘without help’ round E (last letter of chance)

23a    Looking briefly to be attached to good independent school (8)
{GLANCING} G (good) + an independent school in West Sussex

25a    Wise person cut down, wanting zero pudding? (4)
{SAGO} A wise person with the last letter removed + O (zero)

26a    Where domestic aerials may be attached free (2,3,5)
{ON THE HOUSE} Home TV aerials are usually attached here

27a    After expression of approval, plant fruit-bearing shrub (8)
{OLEASTER} An exclamation of approval (heard at bullfights) + a flowering plant (a Michaelmas daisy) = a shrub with olive-like fruits

28a    Moves slowly as deliverer of people across the unknown (6)
{MOSEYS} The deliverer of the Israelites from bondage in Egypt goes round Y (unknown)

Down

2d    See 21 Across

3d    US President intelligent but not right for leading country (9)
{CLEVELAND} The only US president to serve two non-consecutive terms = ‘intelligent’ minus the letter R (right) + country

4d    Bird is protected by outer covering (6)
{SISKIN} IS in outer covering

5d    Graduate is mug, I suspect, to be outside university rendering its song? (9,6)
{GAUDEAMUS IGITUR} An anagram (suspect) of GRADUATE IS MUG I round U (university) gives the Latin title of a song sung at some graduation ceremonies

6d    A bestial drunk that can be filled to capacity (8)
{SATIABLE} An anagram (drunk) of A BESTIAL

7d    Put down as having arms and legs but no head (5)
{IMBED} Remove the first letter (head) from a word meaning ‘having arms and legs’

8d    Pair carrying diamonds in bag that may be put in the kitchen (5,4)
{SPICE RACK} PR (pair) round ‘diamonds’ inside ‘bag’

14d    King at this time one towering clever dick (4-2-3)
{KNOW-IT-ALL} K (King) + ‘at this time’ + I (one) + ‘towering’

16d    The components of the answer here don’t meet! (3,6)
{RUN ACROSS} The letters in this down answer don’t do this

17d    Garment contains bit of corn — otherwise it’s empty (5,3)
{CLEAR OUT} A garment goes round a bit of corn to give ‘to empty’. I didn’t know this word for garment

20d    Women for intimate relationships? Fast type needs them (6)
{HAREEM} An animal that can run fast + an abbreviated form of ‘them’

22d    Woman‘s fancy hairdo putting one off (5)
{RHODA} An anagram (fancy) of HARDO, i.e. hairdo less I (one)

24d    There’s no holding a good man down? It’s awkward (5)
{NASTY} ‘No’ round an abbreviation for a good man

Far too gentle for my liking