Toughie No 1492 by Notabilis
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty ***/**** – Enjoyment ****
Excellent puzzle from Notabilis today with crisp clueing and great surfaces. With X, Y & Z appearing in the first 3 solutions, I thought we were destined for a pangram, but Q is absent – instead, we have a Nina! Not too hard for the most part, but a few clues had me foxed for a while, pushing it into 4* difficulty for me. But someone else might not have the same difficulties, and I had previously promised not to let my own outliers affect the overall ranking so mainly, it’s a 3*. Ok, it’s 3*/4*, and definitely 4* for enjoyment.
It’s been a busy week – mid-term break, both kids’ birthdays with paintballing and aerial adventures (just a kindle for me, thank you), and a visit from my 29-yr old daughter from Holland. Halloween 50th birthday party for a friend at the Snowgoose tomorrow. An enjoyable sloggers-and-betters in York last Saturday: as a by-product of getting a lift home with Elkamere, a decision has been made – we will brave the open-Mic night again at the Snowgoose on Thursday Nov 5th.
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 Whenever fire’s edging around, guy that’s gutted? (6)
EFFIGY: A timely all-in-one clue. Two-letter conjunction meaning whenever plus the first and last letters (edging) of fire, all reversed (around), followed by g(u)y with the central letter removed (gutted)
4a Chuck set joint out of whack (8)
JETTISON: Anagram (out of whack) of SET JOINT
9a Imitation recalled piece from Liszt as Requiem (6)
ERSATZ: lurking backwards in (recalled piece from) Liszt as Requiem
10a Died, not quite alive, having nothing in extinction (8)
OBLIVION: The whole clue acts beautifully as an extended definition. Two-letter Latin abbreviation for died, the central 3 letters of (not quite) alive, followed by “in” from the clue including the letter O (having nothing)
12a Irishman possibly linking Europe and Ulster, all about working together (2,6)
IN LEAGUE: Two-letter abbreviation for Europe and a two-letter abbreviation for Ulster, connected by a general word for a Celt (Irishman, possibly), all reversed (all about)
13a Ring church group and hide? (6)
OCELOT: Hide refers to a fur here. A charade of a letter that looks like a ring, an abbreviation for Church of England, and a word for group or large quantity
15a Perhaps has-been shows more than one side, dishonest one, in bustling Avebury (9,4)
AUXILIARY VERB: “Has-been” includes two examples of the answer. A Roman numeral that might represent a side or team plus a person who is dishonest in their stories, all embedded (in) an anagram of (bustling) AVEBURY.
18a Motion failed? If so, once disheartened, pare down computer department (3,4,4,2)
THE NOES HAVE IT: A 4-letter word for “if so” or “in that case”, “once” with the central letters removed (disheartened), a 5-letter verb for pare down (as one might one’s stubble) and a two-letter abbreviation for computer department gives this expression for no-voters having the majority
22a Junior reporter exemplifies medium’s fractured style (6)
CUBISM: a 3-letter word for a junior or inexperienced reporter, a 2-letter verb meaning exemplifies or has the quality mentioned, and the abbreviation for medium
24a Annoyed about United, one follows good tip (8)
GRATUITY: a 5-letter adjective for annoyed or grumpy surrounds (about) the abbreviation for United and the Roman numeral for the number 1, and all of this follows the abbreviation for g(ood).
26a Lacking heat, dish chilled with double energy saving? (8)
PLATONIC: Take a (5,2,3) phrase that could mean a chilled dish and twice (double) remove the abbreviation for e(nergy) to get a boring kind of love.
27a Nation misspelt as ‘Grease‘? (6)
ANOINT: Anagram (misspelt) of NATION
28a The authorities taking maid back in Aegean region (8)
THESSALY: A 4-letter pronoun for the authorities (as in **** oughta sort out the hospitals and fix the roads) into which is inserted the reversal of a young girl (taking maid back)
29a Odd loose stone that gives a bumpy ride (6)
DODGEM: anagram (loose) of ODD plus a word for a precious stone
Down
1d ‘Sickening’ quote first person brought up (6)
EMETIC: Four-letter verb meaning quote plus a first-person pronoun, all reversed (brought up)
2d Broadside showing America badly in decline (9)
FUSILLADE: 2-letter abbreviation for America and a 3-letter word meaning badly or poorly, all inside a 4-letter verb meaning decline or slowly disappear gives a word meaning a simultaneous discharge of firearms, perhaps from all the guns on one side of a ship, or any barrage in general
3d What are grand with an afternoon meal and posh times? (7)
GATEAUX: To see “what” this all-in-one is referring to, take the abbreviation for g(rand), a 1-letter indefinite article (an), a meal you might have in the afternoon (in the UK), the abbreviation for posh or upper-class, and the arithmetic symbol meaning times.
5d What’s held by Continental banks? Euro’s first, pound sterling’s third (4)
ELBE: First letter of Euro, the abbreviation for pound in weight, and the third letter of sterling gives us the name of a German river
6d Tense your Bible uses involves understanding chapter (7)
TWITCHY: An old 3-letter version of “your” that the Bible uses, contains (involves) a 3-letter word for understanding or intelligence and the 1-letter abbreviation for c(hapter). I struggled with this for ages as I had latched on to a 2-letter abbreviation for chapter and spent ages trying to find evidence for a strange biblical 2-letter version of “your”. I couldn’t find the 1-letter abbreviation for chapter in brb or Collins [It’s there under caput in my BRB. BD].
7d Leave after second large drink (5)
SWILL: The abbreviation for second followed by a verb meaning to leave or bequeath
8d Cube cannot reform without any carbon in its cylindrical form (8)
NANOTUBE: Anagram of CUBE CANNOT without any occurrence of C (carbon). The “its” in the definition refers back to Carbon
11d Survive having had Revelations after all the rest? (7)
OUTLAST: A 3-letter word meaning in the open or no longer secret (having had revelations) and a 4-letter word meaning “after all the rest”
14d Complicated chart covers Arabian disorder (7)
CATARRH: Anagram of (complicated) CHART covers the abbreviation for Ar(abian)
16d Weaving for example keeps National Theatre triumph popular (9)
ENTWINING: The Latin abbreviation for “for example” includes (keeps) the abbreviation for National Theatre, a 3-letter verb or noun meaning triumph, and a 2-letter preposition meaning popular or current
17d Animals being bred on grass that’ll provide base for soup (8)
STOCK: A 5-letter word for farm animals and a 3-letter word for grass or dope
19d Outsize Asian capital’s wanting Liberal made of hard stuff (7)
OSSEOUS: Take the 2-letter abbreviation for a very large size, plus the capital of South Korea without the L (wanting Liberal) but remember to include the apostrophe ‘S
20d Take pieces from each container before fully closed (3,4)
EAT INTO: The 2-letter abbreviation for each, a 3-letter metal container, plus a 2-letter word that means fully closed (as with a door or window)
21d Method supporter going after extreme characters in screenplay (6)
SYSTEM: A supporter (of a plant or flower) goes after the first and last letters (extreme characters) of screenplay
23d Stop giving the audience an interval (5)
BRAKE: Stop as you might in a car sounds like (giving the audience) an interval or a rest
25d Essential to drop core temperature in bottle (4)
VIAL: A 5-letter word for essential dropping the central T (core Temperature)
Plenty to like in today’s puzzle. I ticked 1a, 10a, 15a, 27a, 28a, 5d and 21d, and I think my favourite is 28a, for inventive clueing and a good surface. Which are your favourites?
Lovely puzzle – thanks to Notablis and Dutch.
I thought that 10a was OB + LIVIN[g] containing O.
I thought the same.
Yes that is much better!
I really enjoyed this crossword. One of those that started off feeling as though it was going to be extra tricky but then it finished in about 3.5* time, definitely 4* fun.
Followers of my inability to spot Ninas will be pleased to know that I spotted this one straight away (although I was prompted to look as Notabilis normally has Ninas).
On the subject of Ninas, I must share the brilliant contents of an email I received this morning:
“Do you suppose the puzzle number has significance? If ever there would be a Nina (and a Pinta and a Santa Maria), …. ”
I’m sure that if Notabilis had known which number puzzle this one would be, he’d certainly have done his best to oblige.
Thanks to Notabilis and Dutch too.
Still relatively new to this game. Please would you explain what Ninas are. Thanking you in anticipation, Lesley
It is a Frequently Asked Question so have a look under that link above. (No 31 at the end of the list of FAQs)
Thanks. It took your response to Hanni to help me see it. Another dimension to toughies.
An additional wrinkle about Ninas, known, it seems, to few: The usage began as a way to describe the almost daily tricks present in the Times Concise crossword. And the person who first called them Ninas? Notabilis, during our correspondence on the subject.
I guess a bit like the Telegraph quickie. Had to check yesterdays solution – had it right but could not hear video games! My favorite ever of these was SHAME SPAWNED.
Lesley… Shame Spawned appeared about 5 years ago … but it is still the most memorable quickie pun of all time.
When I finally understood it I was shaken but not stirred!
Unless I am wrong … you are right about “Nina” .
But I think you are wrong … See FAQ #31
I’m not sure what you mean, Stan. Nothing in FAQ 31 contradicts what Jon said, which was not about the origin of hidden things in crosswords but about the origin of calling them Ninas.
Many thanks for dropping in Notabilis – always highly appreciated by the readers – and for verifying a little-known piece of fascinating crossword lore.
Wonderful puzzle!
Loving the Nina :)
At least you can see it….I can see one word.
Rows 6 8 and 10
Oh brilliant. It was the last word I saw. Sums up my attempt today. Thank you.
*****/****
Well I finished it but I struggled. I made a complete mess of the SW corner by putting the wrong spelling for 23d in. The meant I had ‘K’ as the third letter of 28a. At that point I didn’t realise that Aegean region was the definition and was trying to come up with an anagram of ‘Ionia’+ a 3 letter word for a maid inserted backwards into it. Clearly that made no sense as I had ‘T’ as the starting letter and the stupid ‘K’ from above as the third. See…complete mess.
6d was a guess. And I can’t see the Nina.
Lots to like but 15a stoos out for me.
Many thanks to Notabilis and to Dutch for blogging. Good luck on the 5th and I presume you will enjoy Sunday…dry October being over.
Might go another month for good measure…
Excellent stuff. Have you and Dean done a set list or are you winging it?
Edit..thanks for dropping in Notabilis.
We did agree a set list would be useful – but it would need to materialise in the next few days!
Enjoyed this, struggled a bit. Had to use hints for 7d and 11d – then I kicked myself. Not too happy about 13a – got the answer, but I think it describes the critter not the hide. Generally followed by skin, fur, pelt etc. Obvious exception to this is mink. How do women get mink? The same way mink get mink!
Thanks guys for the crossword and the hints.
Happy with Dutch’s ratings but sad that I missed the Nina until he pointed it out.
Took a ridiculously long time to justify 7d – I know, stupid!
Slight hesitation over 20d – I thought maybe Latin was going to raise its ugly head.
Had to ask Mr. Google about 8d and also to check on 28a&19d, but the rest went in fairly smoothly. Must be on the right wavelength today.
My podium list includes 1&18a plus 1&16d – favourite is 26a.
Thank you, Notabilis – most enjoyable and thanks also to Dutch for a spot-on review. By the way -I think you’ve missed off a bit from the answer for 17d. Pleased to hear that you’re doing another open mic with Dean – any chance of a video clip this time?
Apologies, there should be 3 more letters in the 17d answer beginning with P and ending with OT
I’ll have to see if anyone in the audience is kind enough to make a video and send it to me
Maybe Xana would volunteer – unless she’s tied up with a college bonfire night ‘do’? Speaking of which – aren’t you expected to be on fire-watching duty with the paintballers on that night?
Yes, true, we’re struggling and will need a childminder on the 5th since my wife is out doing something as well. Fortunately, most big bonfires in our neighbourhood are on the weekend, so kids won’t miss out completely. Or maybe they’ll go with friends..
Thoroughly enjoyable, with lots to like. I didn’t think of looking for a nina until I saw the blog intro, but it was easy to find. I relate to that since I’m in that position for some puzzles, though not for this one. Favorites are 12A, 13A, 15A and 8D, which I thought was really clever. Thanks Notabilis and Dutch.
Super stuff as always but a bit easier than most from Notabilis. Loved 12a and 6d [your bible uses] and last one in 26a [cunning def].
Thanks to Notabilis and Dutch, as well as CS for pointing out the appropriateness of the Nina!
A splendid puzzle to complete a pretty good toughie week. My first two solves were the two all-in-one clues which I wrote in very lightly and without much confidence. I was then fearing something at the upper end of the Notabalis spectrum but it was not particularly hard by his standards. I did have a problem as I chose the wrong way in the stop / interlude clue which led to delays in the SW corner.
Thanks to Notabalis and Dutch
A great puzzle. The brilliant and seasonally apposite all in one at 1a set the tone and wins our vote for favourite today. 11d down was our last one in mainly because we had all the letters for a pangram except for Q and there we had a U sitting in a very convenient place as the second letter. We totally missed the Nina until we read the review. Really good fun and much enjoyed.
Thanks Notabilis and Dutch.
Haven’t had time to look at this today, but looking at the comments, I will save it for tomorrow. I hope you all have a smashing weekend.
Had a very busy day and could only look at the crossword every now and then.
But what a joy that was.
Everytime I sat down a new answer was parsed. Never got bored and didn’t have to pull my hair in dismay.
Sorting out 18a and 6d took the longest.
The only one I didn’t appreciate as much was 13a. I’ve heard of leopard skin, doe skin, bear skin, etc . but ocelot skin?
Liked 1a. Someone trying to blow up parliament would be a hero in France.
Thanks to Notabilis for the great fun and for popping in, to Dutch for the excellent work and for including a deliberate mistake to make sure we read the review.