Toughie 3280 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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Toughie 3280

by Dutch  

Toughie No 3280 by Elgar

Hints and tips by Dutch

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty ***** – Enjoyment *****

Another clever puzzle by Elgar – a bit “easier” than his most fiendish.

Please leave a comment telling us how you got on

 

Across

1a           You alone cut short poetry (7)

SOLVERS: A 4-letter word for alone without the last letter (cut) plus a 5-letter word for poetry without the last letter (short)

5a/9a    Details I didn’t need to feature with maiden refined in love making (3,4,11)

TOO MUCH INFORMATION: To from clue, then a facial feature with the abbreviations for maiden and refined or posh go inside the letter for love plus a word that means making

10a        The main point about this hairstyle (3)

BUN: Reversal (about) of a word meaning  the main point or gist

11a        Our suspect framed by Jack Reacher’s principal court figure (5)

JUROR: An anagram (suspect) of OUR is framed  by the abbreviation for Jack and the first letter (principal) of Reacher

13a        Big game reserve in which to see a predator of the night (5,4)

SUPER BOWL: A 3-letter reserve contains a 3-letter word meaning “a”, plus a 3-letter ‘predator of the night’

14a/16a               Who’s sealing the deal to get Man United? (8,6)

MARRIAGE BROKER: A cryptic definition, nothing to do with football

18a/19a               Wise words from Solomon Roberts about fine fellow cycling past (4,2,8)

BOOK OF PROVERBS:  The (plural) nicknames for Roberts goes around a 2-letter word meaning fine, a cycling 4-letter abbreviation for an academic fellow and a 4-letter word meaning past

23a        Appreciation of second encore passed on down the line (5-4)

THIRD-HAND: The answer would also describe clapping after the *second* encore

25a        Repeatedly find fault with horse (3)

NAG: Two meanings

26a/28a:      I’m not certain of recipient in contact or why memo needs redirecting (2,4,2,3,7)

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: An anagram (needs redirection) of IN CONTACT OR WHY MEMO

29a         Shape is resumed thanks to this No. 11 joining England’s opener (7)

ELASTIN: Batter no. 11 would be (4,2), place this behind the first letter (opener) in England

Down:

1d           Thin line interrupting the start of Sid James’s Intro (4,3)

SLIM JIM: The abbreviation for line goes between (interrupting) the first letter (start) of Sid and a (1’1,3) self-introduction by James

 

2d           Upcoming new charge will be 5a for me!  (5)

LIFER: A reversal (upcoming) of a word meaning new charge

3d           “Master Race”? Only 30% are human (3)

ERR:  Hidden (only 30%)

4d           In strike-breaking is rat still tipping the scales? (4,4)

STAR SIGN: Reverse hidden (in … tipping)

5d Mind-blowing pressure added to one with power to cut strain (6)

TRIPPY: The abbreviation for pressure is added to Roman numeral for one plus the abbreviation for power, all inside a word meaning strain or make an effort

6d           Wearing old anorak with flower, I may take my car out (5-6)

OWNER-DRIVER: The abbreviation for old and a 4-letter anorak contain (are worn by) the abbreviation for with, then a geographic feature that can be described as a flower

7d           What liberates you in sound, note and key (9)

UNBLOCKER: A homophone of ‘you’, a 2-letter Latin abbreviation meaning note!, and a 6-letter key

8d            Second chapter withdrawn from Marlowe yarn? (7)

HANDLER: A Marlowe yarn can also be referred to by the author – then remove the abbreviation for chapter from the start.

12d Novel is not read on purpose (6,1’4)

RAISON D’ETRE: An anagram (novel) of IS NOT READ ON

15d Aussie resident gets floor scrubbed in fetid shared apartment (7-2)

ROOMING-IN: An informal word for an Australian animal plus the last letter removed from a word that can mean fetid or smelly

17d        Jack Dee I refuse in writing (8)

PRODNOSE: The letter Dee plus a 2-letter word meaning ‘I refuse’ go inside some writing

18d        Looking up commonest of cyclamens in Vol 1 of Encyclopaedia of Plants? (7)

BOTANIC: A reversal (looking up) of the most common letter in cyclamens, IN from to clue, and how vol 1 of an encyclopaedia might be labelled

20d The latest synthetic applied by aerosol? (5-2)

SPRAY-ON: A 2-letter abbreviation for ‘the latest’ (from racing odds) and a synthetic material

21d        One for whom fitness was paramount convulsing in ward (6)

DARWIN: An anagram (convulsing) of IN WARD

24d        Long-distance traveller not quite reaching wake (5)

COMET: A (4,2) phrase meaning wake without the last letter (not quite reaching)

27d        Waving goodbye to son, drink a beer (1,1,1)

IPA: A 3-letter word for drink without the abbreviation for son, plus A from the clue

 

Loads to like. I enjoyed Jack Reacher’s court case 11a, the Man United clue at 14/16, the smooth anagram at 12d, and the encyclopaedia of plants at 18d. Which were your favourite clues?

 

 

 

16 comments on “Toughie 3280”

  1. Not terribly difficult this afternoon but a whole load of fun to solve. As always with this setter, there were a few clues that needed reverse engineering to parse, but they were always fair and gettable. I loved the Man United combo especially.

    Thanks very much to Elgar and Dutch.

  2. 4* to fill the grid but 5* to parse it all. Sorting out the note and key in 7d took longest. Brilliant kick off with 1a followed by the equally brilliant 5/9a. Also loved the reserve and the predator in 13a and Vol 1 of 18d. Lovely stuff.
    Thanks to Elgar and Dutch.

    2. If you’re already serving a life sentence a new charge might be too much.

        2. Sorry Gazza – I’ve just twigged the spelling thing – another senior moment.

    1. Yes – ace in RR. The whole clue is the definition. But does “pip” have more significance? I don’t know. Something to do with playing cards?

        1. You’ve shortened your alias so this needed moderation. Both versions will work from now on.

  5. Was feeling that this was at the gentler end of the spectrum for Elgar but then required e-assistance to find a fit for 17d (the parsing makes sense but still at a loss to understand the definition.)

    14&16a made me laugh.

    Love an Elgar Friday, so thanks to he, and of course Dutch.

  6. 12d is explained wrongly. The ON is wrongly included in the anagram letters; instead, take it out and add at the end the abbreviation/synonym for on.

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