Toughie 3098 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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Toughie 3098

by crypticsue  

Toughie No 3098 by Gila

Hints and Tips by crypticsue

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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***

Gila’s Toughie used one of those grids where the solver definitely gets value for money as there are 32 clues to be solved. In my case, working out how to explain some of the clues took longer than the solving of the crossword

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought

Across

1a    Money split by drummer and guitarist initially sharing top billing (2-8)
CO-STARRING Some money ‘split’ by the surname of a well-known drummer, the initial letter of Guitarist being added at the end

6a    Verbally, gents perhaps take a beating (4)
LOSE A homophone (verbally) of an informal term for facilities, some of which are intended for use by gentlemen

10a    Sadly rejected, daughter leaves (5)
SALAD A reversal (rejected) of an interjection of regret (sadly) followed by the abbreviation for Daughter

11a    Each male appearing in series being shown online (9)
STREAMING The abbreviations for each and male inserted into (appearing in) a series or succession of things

12a    Painter‘s sign crossing over a road (8)
LEONARDO A Sign of the Zodiac ‘crossing’ or going round a synonym for over, A (from the clue) and an abbreviated road

13a    Both sides of glacier have increased in size (5)
GROWN The letters on both sides of GlacieR followed by a verb meaning to have or possess

15a    Flash couples embracing the core of activist’s causes (7)
MOTIVES A very short period of time (flash) and part of a verb meaning couples ’embracing’ into which is inserted the letter at the core of actiVists

17a    At first, kids are bored by perfectly fine musical entertainment (7)
KARAOKE The first letter of Kids and ARE (from the clue) ‘bored’ by an informal way of saying perfectly fine

18a    Function held in Northern Ireland returned excellent capital (7)
NICOSIA An abbreviation for one of the trigonometrical functions inserted (held) in the abbreviation for Northern Ireland, a reversal (returned) of a letter/number combination meaning excellent

21a    Cheat on exclusive gaming device (7)
CONSOLE A slang word meaning to cheat followed by an adjective meaning exclusive

23a    Weary author occasionally lacking inspiration (5)
ERATO The Muse of Erotic Poetry (an inspiration) can be found in the even letters (occasionally lacking) of the first two words of the clue

24a    Cow that circles about, having been oddly ignored (8)
THREATEN Cow here is a verb rather than an animal – THAT (from the clue) ‘circles’ the usual two-letter about or on the subject of, the even (oddly ignored) letters of bEeN being added at the end

27a    National park established around fantastically green island (9)
SERENGETI A simple way of saying established goes around an anagram (fantastically) of GREEN, the result followed by the abbreviation for Island

28a    Way to get everybody to stop running (5)
STALL An abbreviated street (way) and an adjective meaning everybody

29a    Drink in the end creates flipping trouble (4)
SODA The end of createS and a reversal (flipping) of trouble

30a    Dutch keeper’s covering ground, saving the day (10)
HOLLANDERS A synonym of keeper’s ‘covering’ some ground without (saving) the abbreviation for Day

Down

1d    Market slump wiping out the last of broker’s money (4)
CASH A slump in the stock market without (wiping out) the last letter of brokeR

2d    Prominent boxer interrupting broadcast (7)
SALIENT Crosswordland’s favourite boxer ‘interrupting’ a synonym of broadcast

3d    Extra exhaust put in and modified (3-2)
ADD-ON A simple way of saying exhaust ‘put in’ an anagram (modified) of AND

4d    Places that are haunted, or covered in spiders? (7)
RESORTS Places visited frequently (are haunted) – OR (from the clue) ‘covered in’ items used in snooker, some of which are known as spiders

5d    County fair ultimately taken in by nary a soul? (7)
NORFOLK The ultimate letter of faiR ‘taken in’ by a conjunction meaning and not (nary a) person (soul)

7d    Gold coin tossed over river (7)
ORINOCO The heraldic term for gold and an anagram (tossed) of COIN followed by the cricket abbreviation for Over

8d    Provoked strange need to have sex inside? (10)
ENGENDERED An anagram (strange) of NEED into which is inserted (to have .. inside) the quality of being male or female (sex)

9d    Husband has antagonism towards dependant (6-2)
HANGER-ON The abbreviation for Husband, some antagonism and an adverb meaning towards

14d    Literary assistant a guy uses in … in error (10)
AMANUENSIS A (from the clue) a male person (guy) and an anagram (in error) of USES IN

16d    Nobleman set about restraining unruly cousin (8)
VISCOUNT A reversal (about) of an abbreviated set ‘restraining’ or going round an anagram (unruly) of COUSIN

19d    Presided over cleaners, primarily with a mop? (7)
CHAIRED The primary letter of Cleaners and having a covering on the top of the head (with a mop)

20d    Cunning, extremely deliberate, firm style of design (3,4)
ART DECO Some cunning, the extreme letters of DeliberatE and an abbreviated company (firm)

21d    Squash my face (7)
CORDIAL A soft fruit drink (squash) – an informal interjection of surprise (my) and the face of a watch or clock

22d    Excessively wolfed down eggs — almost nine, by the sound of it (7)
OVERATE Homophones (by the sound of it) of the Latin word for eggs and a number that is almost nine

25d    Crime sees religious minister lose head (5)
ARSON A religious minister without his first letter (lose head)

26d    Somewhat reckless plan to climb mountains (4)
ALPS Hidden in reverse (somewhat … to climb) in recklesS PLAn

 

14 comments on “Toughie 3098”

  1. Absolutely wonderful puzzle, completed earlier this morning under the misapprehension it was the backpager. Many great surface reads, witty, with a lot of variety, all very fairly and accurately clued, and not a duff one to be found. I ended up with ticks all over the place but shall limit to 17a, 18a, 30a, 14d, 22d & COTD for me, 23a.

    1* (Toughie scale) / 5*

    Many thanks indeed to Gila and also of course to Sue

  2. A very straightforward puzzle with smooth surfaces throughout and not an obscurity in sight. I enjoyed it – thanks to Gila and CS.
    For my podium I’ve selected 10a, 23a and 19d.

  3. Very enjoyable indeed. Reasonably plain sailing though a bit slow to twig the spider in 4d & the definition context at 24a despite it having featured in Steve’s name check answer in Zandio’s Sunday Toughie. All parsed other than making a horlicks of 1a (saw his first name & cost) moving on & forgetting to go back to it. Top 3 for me in no particular order – 17a plus 16&19d.
    Thanks to Gila & to Sue

  4. Nicely constructed clues with no attempts to be obscure. The definitions were giveaways in many cases but still a joy to solve. My favourites are 2 that exemplify her/his style – beautifully constructed and not a superfluous character – 13a and 28a. Some other setters [MNN] might note.
    Thanks to Gila and to CS for the blog.

  5. A not too Tough Toughie – right up my street! Still managed to make one slip with 6a where I erroneously thought that the homophone element referred to the answer which made 8d somewhat difficult until the proverbial penny dropped but I was proud of myself for dredging up 14d from the dusty recesses of the old grey matter.
    So many to choose from for the prizes but eventually settled on 4d, 7d (despite no clip of Enya!) and the humour of 21d.

    Thanks to Gila and to CS for the nicely illustrated review.

  6. Excellent stuff. 14d was a new word for me but fairly clued. Parsing 15a was my biggest problem and I’m still not sure I understand it. Lots of contenders for favourite but I’ll go with 22d. Thanks to Gila and CS.

  8. 14d was my only hold up, a new term for me which I needed to check. Otherwise a straightforward solve, 18a being my favourite.

    Thanks to Gila and CS.

  9. Good evening
    Attempting a Toughie is a rarity for me, and to complete it is even rarer. Had to look up 23a, and despite CS’s best efforts, I still don’t understand how the E S at the tail-end of 15a is arrived at. Nevertheless, I’m happy with today’s attempt. My thanks to CS and to Gila

    2. a bit of a head scratch for me also. Reckon you need to put V into a 4 letter synonym of couples (in the senses of link together. Hope that helps

    3. You’ve obviously found the 2-letter ‘flash’. Follow it with a four-letter word for ‘couples’ in a verbal sense into which is inserted the central letter of ‘actiVists’. I would suspect it’s the required word for ‘couples’ that you haven’t quite found.

  10. I think I’m going backwards! This is a * for difficulty and writing the hints on some of the clues took longer than completing the whole crossword! 😬 Well, I haven’t looked at the kindly provided hints yet because I can only answer one clue! Strangely, I managed 85% of yesterday’s ** Toughie before heading to the hints. Must have been luck.

  11. Just finished and pleased with myself. I had a go because of the 1star difficulty rating- obviously not for me! I needed help with 2d which I would never have got and 14d as I couldn’t remember how to spell it. I liked 5d as I’m going there for a holiday in August with both families- I haven’t been before so I’m really looking forward to it. Many thanks to CS whose extra help I needed and to setter for an enjoyable cryptic.

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