Sunday Toughie No 94
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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For those still having problems with various apps or websites, I have included a PDF of today’s puzzle HERE
I don’t think we will be doing this for long as the workaround explained yesterday seems to be working. Though the list of Sunday Toughie compilers hasn’t been updated yet I took a punt on it being Zandio today and I was delighted to have that confirmed when the newer puzzles app updated
Thanks to Gazza and StephenL for looking after the hints whilst I overindulged on beer and cheese, I am at my Christmas weight already and we are only in the middle of November!
14a and 14d clues today and I have hinted half plus a bonus pic When in doubt look for a lurker or anagrams but If you get stuck I will be around with a nudge if necessary
Here we go…
As it is a Prize puzzle I can only hint at a few and hope that will give you the checkers and inspiration to go further. I’ll be back just after the closing date with the full blog. Don’t forget to follow BD’s instructions in RED at the bottom of the hints!
I hope I don’t have to redact any comments but I am new at this and don’t want to rock the boat. If in doubt, I’ll rub it out! – I think that sentence is a bit redundant. You have all been so helpful in sorting out prior parsing failures, and I am sure I will need similar help again.
Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also” Where the hint describes a construct as “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious. Dont forget the Mine of useful information that Big Dave and his son Richard so meticulously prepared for us.
A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions. Some hints follow: Remember the site rules and play nicely.
Across
1a Walked, maybe took bus 13 first (6)
An abbreviation for 13a goes first, and the past tense of a verb to travel (on a bus, horse, bicycle or other mode of transport)
12a Report dividing partners — we rejected spin (8)
Partners in a game of Bridge, divided by a rejected word from the clue and a synonym of spin
13a Way south lies beside bay, perhaps, west of Teignmouth (6)
A southerly abbreviation and the arboreal plant that bay is an example of followed by the westernmost letter of Teignmouth
You can take the boy out of Devon… A clue to our setter perhaps
18a Just find underground in Paris is speedier at heart (13)
Just as in fair or impartial, from to find and remove from an underground grave, how a Parisian would say is and the central letters (at heart) of speedier
22a Under the softest cover, short nap must be disturbed by now (8)
(From the Latin for at the sixth hour), a midday or afternoon nap is shortened by one letter and goes around the last word in the clue
24a Revolutionary space scientists work in right place in Scotland (8)
The space where scientists work is reversed (revolutionary) followed by a virtuous right
27a A teacher is strung along in ‘Dandy‘ (6)
A teacher at a college or university, and is is strung along
Down
1d Extra flash (6)
A straightforward double definition to start the downs
2d
3d Go north, entering remotest tangled place you might find anything? (10,5)
An anagram (tangled) of remotest around N for north follows a synonym of go, to be the emporia where you might find most things
6d Party make Lancaster cardinal? (5,3,4,3)
Lancaster is an example of a medium-sized urban place that may be this cardinal colour when you have a great party
8d What gives info on psyche, ultimately, and personal quirks (8)
Informal info and the ultimate letter of psyche, followed by some spasmodic quirks provides us with information as to what gives our “make up”
11d Change pounds, holding German one over (7)
The pounds you may keep livestock in around a reversal of a German one give us the smallest piece of change in our pockets
19d Skills overseen by 13 institutes (6)
Skills or abilities are overseen by the abbreviation of 13a again
23d Short measure’s imbibed when tight (4)
An abbreviation for a measure of 304.8mm around a synonym of when
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Would have taken a drive to see the autumn colours at 24a if I had been a bit quicker solving this enjoyable challenge.
Needed the hint to understand 18a. Twigged early on that the Paris underground was not involved but was trying to parse it using smaller words. Just managed to parse 7d after staring at it for a while – sometimes works. 🙂
Favourite 2d. Will remember this clue the next time I am stuck at a red light watching the “workers” having a well-earned break in their vans.
Thanks to Zandio and SJB.
Would have bet Senf’s five bob that you would be 24a bound, We had a lovely drive yesterday to the Yorkshire Arboretum at Castle Howard, it was very pretty and even the red squirrels made an appearance. I doubt they will today as the rain has arrived.
I too was almost hoist by my own petard at 7d, until the 11d dropped
Another lovely subtle puzzle from the Zandio production line that was a pleasure from start to finish
I have lots of podium contenders. I liked 13a (and it’s linked 1a&19d) with its reference to Teignmouth where I’ve had the pleasure of sharing many a drink with our esteemed setter so I’ll opt for that/those along with the excellent 2&6d with nods to the clever 22a plus the &lit 8d.
Thanks to Zandio and SJB.
7d was a great clue to today’s setter that was eventually confirmed by the new site
When I solved the puzzle this morning I didn’t know the setter and I wondered whether a new name was joining our stalwart trio because it seemed on the gentler side for any of the three. Now that I know it’a Zandio I’ll add that it’s very enjoyable.
I liked 2d, 11d and 14d but my runaway favourite is the excellent all-in-one at 8d.
Thanks to Zandio and SJB.
Oops I forgot to underline the definition for 8d, now amended
Didn’t know the setter before I set about this one, which is perhaps no bad thing, although I did raise my eyebrows over some of the surface reads.
Top clue for me was 2d and that’s followed by 24a & 17d.
Thanks to Zandio and to SJB for the review. Nice tribute from Mr Knopfler but I think Senf’s RAF band still take the honours.
I agree about the music choices and I think we both chose the same things last Remembrance Day and Senf has done so for many a Poppy Day past
I’d hate it if he didn’t continue to choose that one – maybe he doesn’t want to incur my displeasure? On the other hand, it’s probably more to do with his affiliation to the RAF!
Hello, compiler here. Thanks very much for taking the time to solve, analyse and discuss. Have a good week.
I am so late I doubt if you will pick it up, but thank you for a delightful, really clever guzzle. I would be lost without my crosswords, take them all as they come but then one will be full of little gems. Thank you for continuing to entertain me!
Thanks! Always great to hear from you.
Pretty gentle for Zandio but it’s still a technical DNF as my definition bung in at LOI 23d was incorrect – fortunately the old puzzles site alerts you to 1 wrong & knew it’d be that one. Got the correct only other definition alternative immediately but parsing the blighter took longer – always overlook when = as in wordplay. 8,2&17d my top 3 in that order though tempted to promote 2d as there’s loads of the bloody things around Harpenden & St Albans of late so the clue was apt.
Thanks to Zandio for a very enjoyable puzzle & to John whose review I’ll now read.
Good afternoon
Very late in joining this discussion, but I only finished ST 94 today! (I was out on Sunday afternoon, I went to see Focus live at Bush Hall in London)
Anyway, I don’t normally attempt Toughies, but I had to give it a go. I actually completed it, which I didn’t think I’d do! I see that the Mind Of Zandio is behind this Toughie, so my thanks for the mental work-out, and thanks to SJB for the hints
Was Thijs’ yodelling up to scratch? I saw Focus many years ago in Crewe Lyceum I think
I finally got around to this puzzle today, but although 2 days old it didn’t feel a bit stale! As Stephen L. notes, Zandio has a great production line ongoing – as have our other Sunday Toughie setters. I tried hard to somehow wrestle ‘NASA’ into 24a before the penny dropped, accompanied by a wry smile! Other smiles, wry or otherwise, for 4a, 13a, 15a, 20a and 14d. I don’t usually pick anagrams as favourites but, as I said, the surface for 15a did amuse me.
Thanks, Zandio, and my thanks to SJB for hosting the blog – welcome back!
I printed this off on Sunday and saved it. What an excellent move!
I thoroughly enjoyed this Sunday Toughie. I do like Zandio’s crosswords very much — not that I find them easy because I don’t. But their entertainment value is well worth the extra effort.
Many clues to like here. My fave is 2d, followed by 8d, 14d and 13a.
Much appreciation to Zandio for a super puzzle. And much appreciation to Sloop John Bee for the hints. I only needed the one for 11d. I really should have got that!!! Beautiful guitar tribute for Remembrance Sunday.