Sunday Toughie No 110 by Zandio
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 3rd of March 2024
Across
1a They cower in subway evacuated by officer stationed with county (10)
SYCOPHANTS: A subway is evacuated Leaving SY, it goes by an informal police officer COP, followed by an abbreviated Hampshire HANTS. SYCOPHANTS cower in a servile manner
6a What mayor returned regularly must take? (4)
OATH: Alternate letters (regularly) of wHaT mAyOr, when read backwards (returned) OATH, define the pledge that a mayor or similar public servant must make before taking office
9a Left follows Soviet leader in shifting to far left position (7)
INSTALL: A former Soviet leader STALIN, moves in from his name to the far left INSTAL, and followed by L for left To position or INSTALL
10a Motor ace dismounted the wrong way, carrying something for passenger (7)
SIDECAR: A reverse (the wrong way) lurker (carrying) hidden in the first three words of the clue Motor ace dismounted SIDECAR for the passenger on a motorcycle
12a Doing article connected with Lilliputian novel (2-2-3-6)
UP-TO-THE-MINUTE: A phrase for what you are doing UP TO, a definite article THE, and a synonym of Lilliputian or small MINUTE, give us something novel or new
14a Manchester in need of graduate to regenerate waterways (8)
TRENCHES: Remove the higher arts graduate from (MA)NCHESTER and “regenerate” what remains. Not just for water but the First World War was renowned for them being very damp!
15a Curry, maybe fish starter with rice (6)
SKATER: A long time ago (Innsbruck 1976) a fellow by the name of John Curry won medals for this talent, start with a type of flatfish SKATE, and add the starter of rice R
17a Illegal delivery taken before dance, turned on (2-4)
NO-BALL: Turn on NO, and place it before a dance BALL, for today’s crickety clue
19a Logo used by lecturer’s distinguished contemporary (5-3)
BRAND-NEW: A logo that identifies a company or product BRAND, and a homophone (lecturer’s) of distinguished or recognised KNEW becomes NEW, leads us to something that is 12a
21a Warrior’s pen represented capturing of adversary? (8,2,3)
PRISONER OF WAR: An anagram (represented) of WARRIOR’S PEN captures OF from the clue, an adversary seized for the duration of the conflict they are fighting
24a Most blackened sink, i.e. stained inside (7)
INKIEST: A lurker (inside) those words that are not part of the definition, sINK I.E. STained
25a Street in Brussels with a railway opening (7)
ESTUARY: Brussels is the governmental seat of the organisation we need EU, it contains an abbreviated street ST, followed by A from the clue and a railway RY. ESTUARY the opening of a river
26a Maybe arrange a paper round — one should roll up twice a day (4)
TIDE: A reversal (round) of what Chris Lancaster does for a living EDIT becomes TIDE that rolls up the coast twice a day
27a Perfect end or absurd end to episode? (6-4)
TAILOR-MADE: To fit to perfection, the end of an animal TAIL, OR from the clue, a synonym of absurd MAD, and the end of episode E
Down
1d Demanding to reveal insiders one’s covering (4)
SKIN: A synonym of demanding A(SKIN)G, reveals its inside letters SKIN, to be one’s covering
2d Livery company attached to corporation in Kent area (7)
COSTUME: An abbreviated company CO, and the area where Kent is located SE, containing one’s “corporation” or TUM One’s livery or COSTUME
3d King’s taken in by virtual US president — it’s funny for some (9,4)
PRACTICAL JOKE: I spent longer parsing this than the rest of the crossword, as usual just after I hit the panic button to ask for help the answer came to mind. A synonym of virtual – for all intents and purposes PRACTICAL, and the forename of the current US president JOE (Biden), which contains the Chess notation for King K
4d Wavering, making a gamble (8)
AFLUTTER: A from the clue and a small wager or FLUTTER
5d Smack or junk, glue or speed — any one’s head will roll after time (5)
TASTE: Synonyms of junk, glue or speed WASTE, PASTE or HASTE, change their first letter to T for time to become a synonym of smack (one’s lips perhaps) TASTE
7d Import less than half of tobacco untarred (7)
ACCOUNT: A synonym of import or significance is hidden as seven of the last fifteen letters of the clue
8d Job done for Stubbs, with a certain power (5-5)
HORSE-DRAWN: What Stubbs has done when a sketch is finished or the motive power of a cart or similar vehicle
11d MLK eats in — cafe guy doesn’t have one clean glass? (8,5)
DRINKING WATER: The title and surname of the civil-rights campaigner DR (Martin Luther) KING, eats IN from the clue and adds the guy who serves you at a café WA(I)TER, without the letter that looks like one, a glass of something clean enough to consume DRINKING WATER
13d View of bear on headland (10)
STANDPOINT: A synonym of bear STAND, and a headland POINT, define your view on a subject STANDPOINT
16d Woodland pig half falling down on concrete (8)
ARBOREAL: A wild or male pig BOAR, allows its first half to fall down the order ARBO, and goes on a synonym of concrete REAL ARBOREAL Woodland
18d Lit up joint in garden (7)
BLINKED: The part of a garden where plants are grown BED, contains a joint of a chain perhaps LINK. Lit up like a flashing beacon BLINKED
20d Iran manoeuvred to restrict transport and peace (7)
NIRVANA: A medium-sized mode of transport VAN, inside (to restrict) an anagram (manoeuvred) of IRAN NIRVANA A blissful peaceful state from Buddhism
22d Added energy by revolutionary technique (5)
EXTRA: E for energy and a mathematical “by” X, followed by a skill or technique that is reversed (revolutionary)ART becomes TRA EXTRA or added
23d Turner in the ascendant, everything’s exhibited (4)
TYRE: Something that turns, A lurker (exhibited) that is reversed (in the ascendant in a down clue) hidden in evERYThing’s
That’s All Folks!