Toughie No 2958 by Logman
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Difficulty **/*** – Enjoyment ***
A proper Wednesday Toughie which required a few visits to the BRB to check certain meanings. The repetition radar was quite busy when looking at the Across clues too
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought
Across
1a Set up stuff impounded by American investigator (6)
FRAMED Stuff in the sense of fill tightly inserted into (impounded by) an American investigator
5a Signs of patronage (8)
AUSPICES Signs or omens; patronage
9a Dwelling on it set me off about area (10)
MAISONETTE An anagram (off) of ON IT SET ME into which is inserted (about) the abbreviation for Area
10a Throws up, seeing layabout sending son to back (4)
LOBS Remove the abbreviation for Son from a layabout to the back of the word
11a Letter required when appropriate? (8)
ASPIRATE A conjunction meaning when and a verb meaning to take without permission (appropriate)
12a Leaves bad news about party (6)
ENDOWS An anagram (bad) of NEWS into which is inserted (about) a party
13a Wine gum unwrapped? (4)
ASTI The inside letters (unwrapped) of an alternative spelling for a type of gum sweet
15a Carrots, perhaps from tack room, occasionally bad on the outside, getting returned (4,4)
ROOT CROP The occasional letters of TaCk RoOm inserted into (on the outside of) a synonym for bad, the result then reversed (getting returned)
18a France falls behind joint leader of fleet (8)
FLAGSHIP The IVR Code for France, part of a verb meaning falls behind and a joint of the body
19a This may be used to fire male in a flash (4)
AMMO The abbreviation for Male inserted into an informal way of saying ‘a flash’
21a Friend married on the rebound, causing a flap (6)
DEWLAP A reversal (on the rebound) of an informal term for a friend and a synonym for married
23a Shows face (8)
FEATURES Things offered as an attraction or any part of the face
25a Expression once heard from renegade Frenchman escaping separately (4)
EGAD Remove the name of a Frenchman (separately indicating that they aren’t all found together) from renEGADe
26a Dreamer with no name by a church with no colour (10)
ACHROMATIC A dreamer without (no) the abbreviation for Name goes by or after A (from the clue) and an abbreviation for church
27a Who cares about the writer a little? (8)
SOMEWHAT An informal expression meaning who cares into which is inserted (about – for the third time!) the way Logman would refer to himself as the writer
28a What may be left by right of choice, say (6)
ESTATE A synonym for say goes after (by) the letter at the right of choicE
Down
2d Loads of ambitions with no end of regard (5)
REAMS Some ambitions without the D (no end of regarD)
3d Note son admitting doubt (9)
MISGIVING A musical note, the abbreviation for Son and a synonym of admitting
4d Refusing to accept American cutting in when queued up (6)
DENIAL The abbreviation for American ‘cutting in’ or inserted into a reversal (up) of a synonym for queued
5d Photo data father altered without hesitation! (2,3,4,2,1,3)
AT THE DROP OF A HAT An anagram (altered) of PHOTO DATA FATHER
6d Asked to go naked, revealed frame (8)
SKELETON The inside (to go naked) letters of aSKEd and an informal way of saying revealed
7d Did nothing seeing instinct left editor (5)
IDLED An instinct in psychological theory, the abbreviation for left and the usual abbreviated editor
8d Joint study, for example, giving scope for expansion (5-4)
ELBOW-ROOM A joint of the body and what a study may be an example of in a house
14d Warm-up exercise may be fine in bowling googlies (9)
SOLFEGGIO A musical warm-up exercise – an anagram (bowling) of GOOGLIES and the abbreviation for Fine
16d A long cut — a panicked requirement for blood (9)
COAGULANT An anagram (panicked) of A LONG CUT A
17d Injury caused by a couple of cats? (8)
WHIPLASH Two examples of instruments of punishment, as are, of course, cats
20d Function of secretary getting provisional release (6)
PAROLE Split 2,4, this could be the function of a personal assistant
22d Youth league’s outsiders for Spooner? (5)
LADLE Misleading capitals time – I wonder who else spent a moment or two trying to find a Spoonerism? Here all we need is a youth and the outside letters of LeaguE
24d Throw out proclamation, needing victory for Democrat (5)
EVICT The abbreviation for Democrat in a proclamation should be replaced with that for Victory
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Very enjoyable – thanks to Logman and CS.
I ticked 21a and 27a but my co-favourites were the excellent 11a and 22d (for the novel use of the august gentleman’s name).
Top drawer entertainment from one our favourite Wednesday setters. I particularly liked the sneaky misdirection in several of the clues, none better than 22d. 26a was my LOI and my favourite was 27a.
My thanks to Logman and CS.
Very good indeed!
14d was a new word for me and solved by removing the checking letters from the anagram fodder, playing around with possible combinations and then looking up the least unlikely option.
My podium comprises 11a, 27a, 20d & 22d.
Many thanks to Logman and to CS.
Great fun. Struggled to parse the instict on 7d. 22d gets my vote. Thanks to Logman and CS.
Very enjoyable indeed, one of the best Logman puzzles I can remember with nice PDMs throughout the grid.
I was happy to let Sue pick the bones out of 15a and only semi-parsed 7d (I’d have tried harder had it been my blog) and it took a little while to crack the NW but all good in the end.
I particularly liked 27a plus 5d&17d with top spot going to the super 22d.
Many thanks to Logman and Cryptic Sue.
Game of two halves for me. Found the LHS much harder than the right. Unfortunately can’t claim an unaided finish as initially bunged in taking rather than giving at 3d leaving only 11a which of course I couldn’t get until I pressed reveal mistakes. Once corrected 11a fell via the parsing but don’t see what it has to do with the definition. Both 14d&26a were new to me but gettable from the wordplay though didn’t know F for fine was an acceptable abbreviation. Know nowt about psychological theory so still none the wiser about the ID at 7d – just assumed it was identification.
No particular favourite but thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle.
Thanks to Logman & CS
11a is the sound represented by the letter h.
Thanks
One of Logman’s finest for me in a remarkably fast and happy finish last night, with 14d, 26a, & 11a taking very proud stands on the podium. I was held up briefly at the end by 3d, with the paradoxical ‘admitting’ as ‘giving’. 27a deserves a special honorary medal for making me laugh, as does 22d for its amusing misdirection. A total delight. Thanks to CS, whose review I’ll read now, and to Jay-as-Logman.
14d was something we had not met before but solvable once the checkers were in place.
Lots of enjoyable clues to work on and a pleasure to solve.
Thanks Logman and CS.
A tough challenge and some help required. Excellent clueing all round but special mention to 19a, 26a and 27a. Thanks to Logman and CS.
Super puzzle, perfectly pitched for a Wednesday. Thank you Logman and CS.
I really enjoyed this. Some first rate clues and plenty of smiles. Too many favourites to pick just one.
Many thanks to Logman and CS.