Toughie No 3124 by Osmosis
Hints and tips by Dutch
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ****
A cute Nina today. We have the usual baffling definitions from Osmosis that look so much better in hindsight. My lateral thinking is beginning to let me down. I’m hoping someone has better insight to 11a.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Slow road to Norfolk conveying reactionary Lord (6)
ADAGIO: The road that goes from London to Norfolk contains the reversal (reactionary) of an interjection meaning Lord!
5a Elixir‘s run out after presentation of medic in India, China, etc (8)
AMBROSIA: The abbreviation for ‘run out’ follows an abbreviation for a medic or doctor, all inside the continent with India and China
9a Brother born in Whitechapel, perhaps something close to his heart (10)
BREASTBONE: The abbreviation for brother, then the abbreviation for born goes inside a spelled-out (4,3) postcode for Whitechapel
10a Wet blanket that’s found amid rockpools? (4)
CRAB: Two meanings, the first`a spoilsport
11a Boxer once hurt by left punch works on this? (4-4)
CLAY-MARL: The former name of Ali, to hurt or damage, and the abbreviation for left. I don’t know enough about the answer to fully understand the definition, maybe someone else does. My guess was a punch can take samples, or split the stuff
12a Using front knobs, auctioneer reset amplifier connected to lot (6)
KARMIC: The first letters (using front) of knobs, auctioneer and reset, then a device to amplify your voice
13a Non-flier‘s fare doubled (4)
DODO: A 2-letter verb meaning to fare, repeated
15a Iron curtains East German Communist promoted (8)
FOSTERED: The chemical symbol for Iron surrounds (curtains) the German word for east, then a 3-letter communist
18a Chopper still with same wheels, impeding the cycling (3,5)
EYE TOOTH: A 3-letter word meaning still with two circular letters (same wheels) goes inside THE with the last letter cycled to the front
19a Without mixing, European could make this mash (4)
PURE: Add the abbreviation for European to the answer and you get a word meaning mash
21a Fine English player in foursome, such shots winning Open? (6)
FEWEST: The abbreviations for fine and English, and a bridge player
23a Recalled evergreen service to block very loud mob (4-4)
RIFF-RAFF: A reversal (recalled) of a conifer then a military service goes inside (to block) the music abbreviation for very loud
25a Pair of Germans stifling Brazil’s midfield wonder (4)
GAZE: The first two letters (pair) of Germans contain (stifling) the central letters (midfield) of Brazil
26a Composing Breton who before nightfall has time for verse (10)
QUIETENING: The French (Breton) word for who then the time before nightfall where the abbreviation for verse is replaced by the abbreviation for time
27a Lacking support, pup becomes initially weak thus? (8)
HELPLESS: A verb meaning to pup (have puppies) becomes the first letter (initially) of weak if you apply the answer
28a How stupid procuring flipping business gadget (6)
DOODAH: How Homer Simpson would exclaim ‘stupid’ contains a reversal (flipping) of a word meaning business or fuss
Down
2d Hannah possibly uplifted daily radio shows (5)
DARYL: Reverse hidden (uplifted … shows)
3d Home fixture for Yorkshire, say, ready on second-rate grass (5,4)
GRAVY BOAT: A slang word for money (ready), a letter meaning second-rate, and a cereal grass
4d Coppers dropped beneath public bar (6)
OUTLAW: Coppers (as in ‘I fought the *** and the *** won’) come underneath a word meaning public or published
5d Fixing boiler, with washer FOC, provides pleasing situation (1,4,2,8)
A BOWL OF CHERRIES: An anagram (fixing) of BOILER + WASHER + FOC
6d Utterly cheerless star defends revelation (8)
BLEAKEST: An adjective meaning star contains (defends) a revelation or unwarranted disclosure
7d Ordinary cliff that papa follows? (5)
OSCAR: The abbreviation for ordinary and a cliff. Think radio codes
8d Creative Apple publication maybe on-trend constantly (9)
IMAGINEER: A whimsical (1-3) “Apple publication”, a word meaning trendy, and a poetic word for constantly
14d Potentially enliven beef with Yankee produce, showing no sign of hesitation (9)
OXYGENATE: A 2-letter bovine, the letter with radio code Yankee, then an 8-letter word for ‘produce’ but without a 2-letter sign of hesitation
16d Tongue and groove’s finish not as per broadcast (9)
ESPERANTO: The last letter (finish) in groove plus an anagram (broadcast) of NOT AS PER
17d Test subject occasionally dukes with boxing specialist (8)
BOUTIQUE: An abbreviation for an intelligence test plus the even letters (occasionally) in dukes follow (with) a round of boxing
20d Inspectors raised forbidding stink which carries fine (6)
OFSTED: A 7-letter word meaning raised or enhanced, but without (forbidding) the first two letters that are an abbreviation for a stink, containing (carries) the abbreviation for fine
22d Analyse this writer when conversing at college (3,2)
EYE UP: A homophone (when conversing) of a pronoun that describes the setter, and a preposition that means “at college”
24d Actress following Japanese car in EastEnders? (5)
FONDA: The abbreviation for following, then a 5-letter Japanese car brand but omitting the initial H as an EastEnder would
Today I liked 25a as it had a good football surface. I also like “Tongue and groove”. Which were your favourite clues?
I can only assume that punch perhaps refers to a potter’s tool ? 3d was my favourite clue. Thanks to Osmosis and Dutch.
Surprisingly approachable for an Osmosis puzzle, but far from being one of their best; eminently solvable despite quite a few “wuh” and “eh?” moments – thank heavens for the wordplay in some clues, and the definition in others. So that’s the road to Norfolk? And not being a Londoner, I had no idea of the postcode for Whitechapel; I thought I’d got it with clam (‘a very reticent person’), which parses just as awkwardly as the BRB’s “sour-tempered person” for crab, but no. Nina to the rescure. 11a my LOI, from the wordplay, but I still don’t understand the definition; as to 3d being a ‘home fixture’ … Pshaw, it’s a piece of tableware. Pick of the day for me was 26a.
4* / 2.5*
Many thanks to Osmosis and of course to Dutch
Osmosis’ wordplay is as admirably fiendish as ever but some of his definitions are getting beyond me. Can anyone explain “punch works on this” in 11a or what “for Yorkshire say” is doing in 3d [OK I get that a g…. b… can be defined as a home fixture]. But some fine clues, of which 26a and 8d were, for me, the finest.
Thanks to Osmosis and to Dutch, in particular for explaining how to parse 27a.
I tried to illustrate the Yorkshire pudding (traditionally had with gravy). I agree it’s stretched definition. Fixture? It’s a sporting surface, cricket I imagine.
Thanks Dutch – I’m being dim [again] despite your best efforts. Now I see it!
I suspect the punch in 11a is a horse as 11a was used in agriculture when horses dragged ploughs. Personally, I don’t see fixture in 3d. In terms of ‘fixtures and fittings’, a 3d isn’t fixed. But I can only think the Yorkshire (for example) is as Dutch says.
Sorry, nowhere near my pay grade. After finishing the last three Toughies this week, net result today was four answers including 5D which didn’t help me at all!! Enjoyment for some but not for me at all. Great for those who can solve it though.
This took me two sittings to finally get over the line. Half a dozen of the clues needed a lot of reverse engineering to even get close, and naturally I failed to spot the Nina, which I shall now attempt to find. 16d was neat and my favourite.
My thanks to Osmosis for a mighty challenge, and to Dutch.
I’ve not knowingly tackled an Osmosis before and I loved it. At first glance, it seemed utterly impenetrable, but after getting a toehold it fell into place very nicely. I’m still baffled by the punch etc in 11a despite your various helpful suggestions and I, of course, bow to your knowledge but I’m still none the wiser. 20d was my pick of the bunch. Very clever indeed. Thanks to all.
Good evening
Rare attempt at a Toughie.
3 hours, 4 correct solutions.
Thank you Dutch for the explanations; even some of them are out of my league!
26 across is a naughty clue – Breton is not French – it is a language derived from Cornish and old Welsh