Toughie 1224

Toughie No 1224 by Kcit

Hints and tips by Bufo

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

This took me rather longer than Kcit’s puzzles usually do though I’m not sure why.

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Across

1a    Shamed and criticised after article (7)
{ABASHED} ‘Criticised’ follows the indefinite article

5a    Single rule should restrict nonsense, theoretically (2,5)
{ON PAPER} ‘Single’ and R (rule) go round (restrict) ‘nonsense’

9a    What we think of as collision will involve one unduly pushy (9)
{BUMPTIOUS} A phrase (4,2,2) equivalent to ‘What we think of as collision’ goes round (involves) I (one)

10a    It involves many a card sharp, while bringing in nothing (5)
{TAROT} ‘Sharp (acid)’ round O (nothing)

11a    US soldier leaving less attractive US restaurant (5)
{DINER} Remove GI (US soldier) from a word meaning ‘less attractive’

12a    Who’ll show some energy in wild orgy? (9)
{PARTYGOER} ‘Some’ + E (energy) in an anagram (wild) of ORGY. The whole clue provides the definition

13a    Woods in an awful part of Wales (9)
{SNOWDONIA} An anagram (awful) of WOODS IN AN gives a mountainous area of North Wales

16a    Change of heart in what bishop may do, leading to paradise (5)
{BLISS} Take a verb that is something that a bishop may do and change the middle letter

17a    Treatment for addiction leads to extreme tension during party times (5)
{DETOX} The first letters of Extreme Tension inside a party and the mathematical symbol for ‘times’

18a    Captain initially confused, neglecting ship, to hazard ignoring ship’s list (9)
{CATALOGUE} The first letter of Captain + a phrase meaning ‘confused’ (2,1,5) with SS (ship removed) + ‘to hazard’ with SS (ship) removed

20a    Old magistrate‘s opposing views seriously upset lawyer, initially (9)
{PROCONSUL} A Roman magistrate = two opposing views (for and against) + the first letters of Seriously Upset Lawyer

23a    Overseas resident‘s vote included in record, after reflection (5)
{EXPAT} X (vote) in a reversal of a recording

25a    Significant order taken by a good hotel in Northern Irish town (5)
{OMAGH} The significant order is one recognising distinguished service that is limited to 24 living recipients. It is followed by A + G (good) + H (hotel)

26a    Range shown in measure of current dilute fluid (9)
{AMPLITUDE} A unit of electric current + an anagram (fluid) of DILUTE

27a    Wandering round Centre for Archery, where you’ll see butts (7)
{ASHTRAY} ‘Wandering’ goes round H (the middle letter of ArcHery) to give a receptacle for cigarette butts

28a    Assumed University rep will ignore University and take awkward steps (7)
{SHAMBLE} ‘Assumed (or false)’ + a sportsperson who represents a university with the letter U (University) removed

Down

1d    Early strains ordered to be planted in Australia (7)
{AUBADES} Morning love songs (i.e. early strains) = ‘ordered’ inside a 3-letter abbreviated form of Australia

2d    Sales promoter confusing and taking in mother (2-3)
{AD-MAN} An anagram (confusing) of AND round mother

3d    Edges of the door cracked, beset by spell against religious standards (9)
{HETERODOX} The first and last letters of ThE and an anagram (cracked) of DOOR inside a magic spell

4d    Daughter broke up? Show sadness (5)
{DROOP} D (Daughter) + a reversal of ‘broke (penniless)’

5d    Noticing old book with Jeeves, say (9)
{OBSERVANT} O (old) + B (book) + Jeeves’s position

6d    Cracked / receptacle for liquid? (5)
{POTTY} 2 meanings: cracked (crazy)/a receptacle for liquid excreted by young children

7d    Excusing fellow getting hooked by edge of nail (9)
{PARDONING} A fellow in a university goes inside something that has been cut off (e.g from a fingernail)

8d    Responses concerning kids assimilating only one-third of basic knowledge (7)
{RETORTS} ‘Concerning’ + kids (children) round R (i.e. one of the three Rs)

14d    Love to remain at hospital, receiving ultimate in care from medic (9)
{OSTEOPATH} O (love) + ‘to remain’ + AT + H (hospital) round E (last letter of carE)

15d    Required Queen to carry various cases when entering US city (9)
{NECESSARY} Our Queen around an anagram (various) of CASES all inside a US city

16d    Stage performer in Globe elevated an expression of passion (9)
{BALLERINA} A globe + a reversal of AN and ‘passion’

17d    Ambassador relinquishing last award (7)
{DIPLOMA} Remove the last letter from an ambassador

19d    Holding unconventional opinions, discharged from Engineers? About time (7)
{EXTREME} An **-**** would be a former member of a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of electrical and mechanical pieces of equipment. This goes round T (time)

21d    Different parent blowing top (5)
{OTHER} Remove the first letter from a female parent

22d    Runs banks, ousting leader (5)
{LOPES} Runs with a long stride = banks (inclines) with the first letter removed

24d    What sounds like excellent work on the pipes (5)
{PLUMB} A homophone of ‘excellent’ = to work with water pipes

It was sufficiently challenging to maintain interest to the end