Sunday Toughie No 84 by proXimal
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 3rd of September 2023
Across
1a Removed decoration from grasping male that’s not indulged (10)
UNPAMPERED; Walls that have their decorative surface removed could be said to be UN-PAPERED, around M for male to be the not indulged chap that isnt wearing a brand of disposable nappy
6a Superior to surgeon could be here (4)
ATOP; Split (2,2) it could be an abbreviation of where a surgeon performs
9a This might hold oil like fish contains (5)
EASEL; A slippery fish loved by crossword setters EEL, contains a conjunction like AS, The solution may hold oil, watercolour or other artistic things
10a Pay back rum, beer is free (9)
REIMBURSE; An anagram (free) of RUM, BEER and IS
12a Manage reversing AI threat in eventful period (7)
EPOCHAL; Reverse a synonym of manage COPE becomes EPOC, and append the Artificial Intelligence that was a threat to the spacemen on a 2001 space odyssey HAL. EPOCHAL a time period eventful enough to mark a new age
13a Likely not ably, English investigate (5)
PROBE; Probably without ably and E for English
15a Strange urge in me to abandon university course (7)
REGIMEN; An anagram of URGE IN ME after U for University is abandoned
16a Cut plastic scrap (7)
SNIPPET; A small cut SNIP, followed by the kind of plastic that many drink bottles are made from P.E.T., an abbreviation of polyethylene terephthalate
18a Transport route blocked by a plant (7)
CARAWAY; The transport I am currently without CAR, and a route or path WAY, blocked by A from the clue
20a One mishandling fine glass with tons rejected (7)
FUMBLER; A stemless glass TUMBLER with T for tons rejected, preceded by F for fine
21a Exposed beams and post (5)
AFTER; A prefix for post. meaning behind or later from the beams that hold your roof up R(AFTER)S, exposed by removing the first and last letter
23a Raises as those wanting elevated positions in the Shard may take (7)
UPLIFTS; What you will need to take to raise you up to the elevated restaurant in the Shard
25a Rich person making rabbit periodicals for Spooner (9)
MONEYBAGS; Spoonerise Hugh Hefner’s periodical to make a rich person, BUNNY MAG(azine)S becomes MONEYBAGS
26a Still partial to finer things (5)
INERT; A lurker (partial to) in FINER Things
27a Stalk game and be quiet (4)
RUSH; Abbreviated Rugby Union and an interjection to be quiet SH combine to be the stalk of a plant RUSH
28a Advance by women in party working for engineer (10)
STEPHENSON; To advance by making a move STEP, the women on a pre-marriage party HENS, and a synonym of working ON give us the engineer who designed STEPHENSON’s Rocket
Down
1d Second-hand publication from America? (4)
USED; An abbreviated publication that is prized when it is the first published EDITION becomes ED, follows one of our usual Americas US
2d Traveller climbing headland shown in electronic device (9)
PASSENGER; The electronic device that is seen less often these days PAGER, contain the reversal (climbing in a down clue) of a Scottish headland or NESS
3d Low moment stumbling upon second-rate fish pie place (6,7)
MELTON MOWBRAY; The letter that indicates second rate B, and a type of flat bodied fish RAY, follow an anagram (stumbling) of LOW MOMENT
4d Clay article caught in net (7)
EARTHEN; What you get from net take-home pay EARN, around the definite article THE
5d Upcoming stand with the French food (7)
EDIBLES; A reversal (upcoming) of an archaic Scottish word for stand or wait BIDE becomes EDIB, followed by a three-lettered French the LES
7d Trunk roughly underneath top of tree (5)
TORSO; A two-word phrase for roughly OR SO, under the topmost letter of tree T
8d Official European court located in flawless administrative region (10)
PREFECTURE; Abbreviations of a football official REF, European E, and court CT, go in a synonym of flawless PURE
11d Trying pickle for starters? (7,2,4)
BAPTISM OF FIRE; A nice little cryptic definition of the “pickle” that newbies undergo to start something for the first time
14d One announces coal alternative in introductory overview (10)
PROCLAIMER; An introductory overview or PRIMER, around an anagram (alternative) of COAL
17d Rubbers from EU country, erasers taking ages to rub out (9)
POLISHERS; People from Poland are POLISH, plus erasERS after ages or eras has been erased
19d Told heaviness of sheep as warning (3,4)
YOU WAIT; A homophone (told) of the heaviness of sheep EWE WEIGHT, an informal expression of warning
20d Becomes tearful following bad drink (5,2)
FILLS UP; An abbreviation of following F, a synonym of bad ILL, and a small drink SUP
22d Temperature rising in one’s city (5)
TUNIS; A term for the one’s column of figures UNITS, rising the T for temperature up the order until we get a North African city
24d Name of chap that would be defiant going into resit (4)
STAN; An informal chap’s name when inserted in RESI(STAN)T becomes another word for defiant
That’s all Folks…