Toughie No 3237 by Chalicea
Hints and tips by ALP
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***/****
I’m still chuckling about a back-handed aside from the wife. “You’re a very strange man,” she told me in Budapest after I’d hunted down an FT (Robyn was playing away as Buccaneer) whilst she tried – and thankfully failed – to get tickets for a four-hour (ugh) opera, adding: “You prefer crosswords to porn and Woman’s Hour says that’s extremely unusual”. I can’t speak for Radio 4’s stats but it’s palpably true, I do. Very much so. But do I really cut a lonely, male furrow? Surely not. Besides, I don’t think even obscure (are there any other kind?) Hungarian operas are terribly pornographic. I will, I’m delighted to say, never know. Happily and of course, we have a smut-free puzzle today from Chalicea — a most welcome return. All very bright and brisk, though one does always need the BRB fairly close to hand: you know what she’s like! Typically enjoyable. All yours.
Across
9a Crush successful combatant (5)
CHAMP: Double definition. Crush as in mash.
10a Sorted out tensions surrounding a matter of excited public interest (9)
SENSATION: TENSIONS, sorted, outside A.
11a Very hot and humid, lacking river current (7)
TOPICAL: Hot and steamy, less the R(iver). I rather wanted (very) hot to be the definition, but then you’d have to lose the current, of course.
12a A ragman, possibly? (7)
ANAGRAM: What ARAGMAN is an example of. Hmm. I would have preferred a little more wordplay.
13a Like some elements of dinner, say, including starter of tapas (5)
METAL: What dinner (or lunch, etc) is an example of, including T(apas). You’d usually add an LIC to the definition in real life but this is a perfectly valid alternative. It also gifts me an excuse to post the “screamo” clip I promised Jane last week!
14a Undisciplined he-man ties sailor’s rope (9)
MAINSHEET: HEMANTIES, undisciplined.
16a Outdistance ship at sea that’s not taking Polish on board (15)
UNSOPHISTICATED: OUTDISTANCESHIP, at sea. Quite liked this.
19a Peter Shaffer’s Equus maybe? Rough stuff!(9)
HORSEPLAY: What it says on the tin! Pretty much the definition of Equus, when written 5,4. Lovely.
21a Before change occurs, duck egg’s released from here (5)
OVARY: The usual (cricketing) duck + change/alter. Very nice.
23a Speak disparagingly to derelict (3-4)
RUN-DOWN: As two words, ie without the hyphen, to disparage/criticise someone or something.
25a Assuming student free from pain after dose of medicine ultimately cures illness (7)
MEASLES: M(edicine) + a four-letter verb meaning to free from pain/relieve including/assuming the usual one-letter student + cureS.
27a Say further with resolution and observe intended recipient (9)
ADDRESSEE: Say more/contribute (3) + an abbreviated resolution (3) + observe/spy (3)
28a Measure US soldier’s pet? (5)
CORGI: Very Chalicea. I certainly needed to check the first bit in Chambers, knowing full well that it would be there. A Hebrew measure (roughly 11 bushels – but of course!) + the usual US soldier.
Down
1d Tax one no longer has to pay Gordon Brown, e.g. (4)
SCOT: Gordon Brown’s national status.
2d Covering vehicle with plastic (6)
CARPET: The usual vehicle + the less usual polyethylene terephthalate.
3d Revelation of a short ballad penned by formidable storyteller (10)
APOCALYPSE: A from the clue + (Trinidadian in origin) ballad (minus its last letter) inside/penned by a 19th century American author who is remembered for his horror stories. The Fall of the House of Usher, etc.
4d Sanctuary of some uneasy luminaries (6)
ASYLUM: Lurker hidden in the last two words.
5d Historiographer; a new name on American database (8)
ANNALIST: A + N(ew) + N(ame) + A(merican) + catalogue/roll.
6d Malay chief somewhat open about … (4)
RAJA: Slightly open (door, say), reversed (about).
7d… most turbulent period of activity including wisecrack occasionally (8)
FIERCEST: A period of indulgence or party includes wIsEcRaCk.
8d Anytime, lad performing in a spirited way (10)
ANIMATEDLY: ANYTIMELAD, performing.
13d Music producer‘s complaint about composer spending a grand (5,5)
MOUTH ORGAN: Complain or gripe, outside composer, ie writer (minus its initial A) + G(rand). Great surface.
15d Whales turning up on beach, mostly caught over time, must not be injured (10)
SACROSANCT: (Killer) whales reversed + beach/grit minus its last letter + C(aught) + T(ime).
17d Lover’s song composed, welcoming publicity (8)
SERENADE: Composed or peaceful, with the usual publicity/commercial inserted.
18d Well-organised isle ends reluctance to work (8)
IDLENESS: ISLEENDS, organised.
20d When upset, concerning male might whine (6)
YAMMER: The usual concerning/about + M(ale) + a synonym for might/could, all reversed/upset.
22d Attraction of every Yorkshire river (6)
ALLURE: Every (one) + the river that turns into the Ouse.
24d Comply with old Ottoman ruler (4)
OBEY: O(ld) + a Turkish governor, historically.
26d Beer knocked over in error (4)
SLIP: A type of (strong?) lager, reversed.
I had fun here, albeit short-lived. The six anagrams made it gentler still. 16a was jolly, 21a raised a smile and I liked the almost Django-long Lego of 15d. 13d and 3d are very smooth but my winner (less smooth but wittier) has to be 19a. What did you make of it?
Really enjoyed this. Just right for a Tuesday. Many smiles and light bulb moments. 16a and 19a for example. Thanks to Chalicea and ALP
As is often the case with Chalicea this was more about vocabulary than wordplay – tho there are some nice examples of the latter. I thought it would be a light breeze after the first few clues but then it stiffened up quite a bit. A nice challenge to start the week. Favourites were 12a [for me this is a perfect clue and surprisingly I’ve never seen it before] 21a and 13d.
Thanks to Chalicea and ALP.
Wonderful, wonderful puzzle – as Charlie says, just right for a Tuesday, enough in it to justify being “inside” rather than “back page”, plenty of need to think carefully. Great surfaces, lots of variety, much wit and amusement.
Podium places for me went to COTD 3d, 11a, 16a & the laugh-out loud 19a, though I questioned whether ‘Peter Shaffer’ was necessary to the clue? (touch-typing gg instead of ff : thank heavens for proof-reading before hitting ‘post comment’ …).
Many thanks indeed to Chalicea and to ALP – FWIW there are many things I prefer to Woman’s Hour, not just crosswords! ;)
Yep, 19a all day long, super clue. I needed your help to parse 28a, ALP, so thank you for explaining that and cheers to Chalicea for a most enjoyable solve.
Another vote for 19a as COTD from me. I found this puzzle a little harder than our blogger but not by much, and as always with this setter it was highly entertaining.
Thanks Chalicea for the fun and to ALP.
I found this considerably harder than most. Needed hints to parse 28a and 2d. I didn’t know that’s what 20d meant. I had the second ‘A’ coming from American in 5d. Some really good clues though. Favourite was 23a. Thanks to Chalicea and ALP.
I haven’t looked at the puzzle yet but did want to say we went to the opera in Budapest, fantastic opera house. We saw Turandot and there was copious amounts of champagne during each interval and I got really quite sozzled. Walking up six flights of stairs to the apartment we had rented for the week was quite a trial.
Oops, twas in Prague not Budapest, apologies
What a delight! Not remotely tough but who cares when it is as enjoyable as this?
I didn’t know the measure in 28a but, like ALP, I had no doubt that it would appear in the BRB when I looked it up.
19a was my favourite but special mentions too for 3d, 5d, 13d & 15d.
Many thanks to Chalicea and to ALP.
The parsing of both 3&13d (ticks against both) arrived on a later bus. I also had to check out the 28a measurement post solve but an otherwise pleasingly straightforward, reasonably brisk & extremely enjoyable solve. Another vote for 19a as pick of bunch. 15d &16a other particular likes.
Thanks to Chalicea & to ALP – love a bit of Sonny Boy – this one & Help Me just great (Joan Osborne does a great cover). Liked the Kate Nash video more than the song. Surely it had to be The Who for 10a
Have to say I don’t love that Who track (though I remain a fan) and I’m a sucker for the Trojan label but I’m SHOCKED to hear you don’t like the Kate Nash number. It’s sweet! Have you no heart, man?!
Probably just grumpy having got back from the dentist & pondering a 2K + quote for work required – I’ve repaired to a local hostelry to seek anaesthetic
Eek, that’s steep. I’m a slave to dentistry myself so I do feel your pain. Hopefully a few ales will help.
To be honest, that wasn’t my favourite puzzle from this setter, but the trip to the eye clinic and all the drops and jellies put into my eyes rendered it quite hard to see anything at all. I’m told the effects will wear off after about 6 hours…….
Top three for me were 11&19a plus 22d.
Thanks to Chalicea and to ALP for the review – think I’d risk the four hour opera in preference to most of your music choices!
🙂 come on Jane what’s wrong with a bit of blues?
Well said, Huntsman. I’m a blues man to my core. It was such a painful toss-up for me between Sonny Boy and Sonny Terry. As for Jane’s musical taste, I’m at a loss. She’s so far vetoed my entire spectrum from Singin’ in the Rain to the Foo Fighters and pretty much every genre in between!
Took a bit of work checking dictionary for Hebrew measures and Malayan leaders but as usual you can trust that Chalicea had been there first
I will join the praise for 19a
Daniel Radcliffe was surprisingly good in this
Thanks to Chalicea and ALP
Many thanks all, I am really happy that you enjoyed it. ALP, I originally had a little more wordplay in 12a but the Toughie editor suggested that it wasn’t necessary (in a Toughie). I loved your illustration in 4d (from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – one of my favourites). Indeed 19a was one of those lucky finds and another great film (as Sloop John Bee suggests above). Thank you for all that you do.
Huge thanks for popping in, chalicea. And for your puzzle, of course, which was a real treat. As for 12a, I can but bow to your editor and halcyon deemed it the “perfect clue” so what do I know? Well, very little!
1*/3* ….
liked 1D “Tax one no longer has to pay Gordon Brown, e.g. (4)”
& 12A “A ragman, possibly? (7)”