Sunday Toughie No 126
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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A not too tuff tuffy from Zandio today, I have hinted half of an even 14a and 14d clues but remain on hand to provide a nudge or two for those clues that didn’t make the cut
On a couple of occasions, similar clue types follow each other (two double definitions then two &lit’s) but not often enough to suggest more than a coincidence
2d was my favourite today and gave me an opportunity for some Kitty pics, although the pic for 23d should have been focused on the chap to the right!
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. Don’t 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 Conceivably, bathe to make waves (4,3,4)
A partial anagram to start where the anagram indicator is in the answer rather than the clue, that indicator goes before an anagram of bathe to. To make waves
Check out the ridiculous costumes from The Hues Corporation
10a Vehicle for cycling girl found in painters’ workshop? (3,5)
A small vehicle drawn by an animal cycles one letter and precedes a girl, this workshop isn’t the painter’s studio but a forum for teaching students to paint
14a Maverick takes complimentary short (4,6)
A synonym of complimentary and a short intoxicating beverage
18a Combo, one occasionally using this? (4)
Another all-in-one &lit, A musical instrument as might be used in a classical “group” or combo is hidden occasionally in the first two words of the clue
21a Soundalike in speech: fool that has summer berries in it (6)
I don’t need another puzzle to solve post-midnight, but it is a shame the Toughie doesn’t come with its own quick crossword so Zandio can demonstrate the soundalike play on words that are usually italicised. That soundalike and another homophone of a fool may contain summer berries
24a His boxing would stop blood being shed (7)
This fictional Count is no longer able to extract blood from his victims when he is in his “box”
Some interesting info from DaveP here
Stoker was a regular visitor to Cruden Bay in Scotland between 1892 and 1910. His month-long holidays to the Aberdeenshire coastal village provided a large portion of available time for writing his books. Two novels were set in Cruden Bay: The Watter’s Mou’ (1895) and The Mystery of the Sea (1902). He started writing Dracula there in 1895 while in residence at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel. The guest book with his signatures from 1894 and 1895 still survives. The nearby Slains Castle (also known as New Slains Castle) is linked with Bram Stoker and plausibly provided the visual palette for the descriptions of Castle Dracula during the writing phase. A distinctive room in Slains Castle, the octagonal hall, matches the description of the octagonal room in Castle Dracula.
26a Nureyev conceivably is this attractive (3-8)
The first part of this attractive phrase is “caught” in Mr. Nureyev – His “lunchbox” is certainly 26a
Down
1d Said place is surrounded by flipping animals (7)
Even-toed hoofed animals of the Cervidae family, are flipped around a synonym of place
2d Clasp found in jumble with 90 per cent off on top (6)
There are a couple of synonyms and some Roman maths, my favourite clue today when the denarius dropped. A synonym of jumble replaces its topmost Roman numeral with another that is 90% smaller to become a synonym of clasp
5d Bit of cricket – cut with energy, but too soft (8)
A small group of deliveries in a cricket match, a synonym of cut and an abbreviation of energy. Fruit that has spent too long in the 21a perhaps
9d Conceivably, it’s Adam or me (5,6)
The manner of speech used when I talk about me or more literally the order in which Adam was conceived according to the Bible
15d Drop Christmas on the Radio, traditional-style programme (8)
Two homophones (on the radio) of the first two words become the regular or traditional-style planned programme or listings for radio or television
19d Saving or betting, as inclined? (7)
A triple definition, I think, at least I recall one of the means of betting that occurred in family games of Newmarket was referred to in this manner
23d Figures showing Putin’s OK, thanks (4)
How a Russian such as Mr. Putin may say OK and a short thanks
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25a The past is from another country – they do things differently there;
That’s All Folks…
Zandio’s being pretty gentle with us today but as entertaining as ever – thanks to him and SJB.
The clues at the top of my list were 8a, 24a, 2d and 20d.
Got there in the end and had to do it all by myself as SJB skillfully avoided hinting the clues which I needed in the SE.
is there a name for clues like 1a, 26a and 7d where the answer contains part of the definition? I really like them.
Favourite was 24a whose story was written in a hotel just up the coast from here.
Thanks to Zandio and SJB.
Thanks for the info – I have put it under a spoiler up there. I often go to Whitby where it was set and didn’t know that about Cruden Bay
Hello, compiler here. Thanks for taking the time to solve, hint and comment. Always much appreciated.
I think the kind of clue in 1a, 26a and 7d is known as a secondary anagram (or secondary hidden/lurker), or an indirect anagram/lurker.
I originally thought about this puzzle as a Friday back-pager. We wouldn’t normally use secondary anagrams and/or hiddens on the back page, but I thought it might work if they were a theme. But in the end it seemed safer to make it a Toughie.
Thanks as ever for your interest.
Thanks as ever for popping in and explaining that construction, even after 126(ish) puzzles the words sometimes elude me, I will try and remember that for the next time
Very enjoyable puzzle. Many thanks to setter ***/***** imho. Favourites 16A, 12D &15D
I’d already got the earworm before you posted the clip for 1a but it only lasted until the maverick turned up, great music choices today, SJB, with the exception of the 25a divorce!
As usual, scant regard for surface reads from our setter, but some entries that made me smile – rosettes for 1&14a plus 9&20d.
Thanks to Zandio and to SJB for the hints.
I couldn’t resist the earworm for 1a but had to change my original choice from Cruise to the Edge – some Prog **** on *** ****
The first few chapters were written in The Kilmarnock Arms in Cruden Bay. We went past it last night on the way home from photographing the puffins at The Bullers of Buchan.
I had a very pleasant trip to the Treshnish Isles where the puffins were particularly friendly.
I had problems getting the Cruden Bay spoiler to work but it seems ok now
Good afternoon
My first attempt at a Sunday Tougheroonie in many, many months. As I said in my comments on ST 3270, I’m often busier on Sundays than I am through the week.
When I saw the name of today’s setter, I thought I’d definitely have a crack at it, because when I last crossed swords with the Mind of Zandio on Friday, I was beaten. However, I have redeemed myself this afty, albeit not without a few hiccups and false starts along the way, and a good deal of marginal scribbling. The only ones I couldn’t parse were 2d, which SJB has explained, and 20d.
Many thanks to the MoZ and to SJB.
Maybe tells us that Jasper is a definition by example, add it to a synonym of little (skirts or cars) but remember they share an abbreviation of million. Easier for me because of my recent birthsign
Conceivably, the first crossword to have “conceivably” three times in the clues?
It must be intentional, but, please explain!
oops. Four times!
I think it is how Zandio indicates he is going for an indirect clue {see comment# 3}
9d has a fourth conceivably that you have just spotted
I too wondered about the 4x conceivably. Thanks SJB for conceivable rationale!
My first Sunday Toughie for a couple of weeks – albeit completed during an interminable wait at the Royal Free Hospital this morning for my many times re-scheduled rheumatology appointment (11times) & then it was like speed dating (timed at 6mins 42seconds). Pleasingly straightforward (much easier than Dada anyway) though 22a still eludes me. 24a my clear fav & loved the 4 peripherals.
Thanks to Zandio & John – check out Bonamassa’s latest live album.
Put out a call on an almost obsolete electronic device and some usual worker insects,
Thanks for the tip he is on my playlist
Wasn’t able to find time for this puzzle yesterday but glad I did today. Humorous and cleverly constructed clues as always with Zandio. Very enjoyable though conceivably not too taxing! Thanks to Z and SJB.
You’ve used a different alias to your previous one so this needed moderation. Both will work from now on.
Apologies Gazza, my mistake.
Glad you enjoyed it, many seem to have found it a bit easier than Dada yesterday, conceivably because as Zandio says at comment #3 it was initially thought of as a back pager and upgraded to toughie when the indirect clues mounted
Zandio has ‘conceived’
an enjoyable puzzle here, which I found relatively gentle for a Sunday Toughie. I only got to it yesterday, so it was good that it didn’t use up too much of my day when there was so much sport on view! [A well-deserved T20 world championship going to India, despite a spirited display from the Proteas.] I often find a balance of podium selections in each of the clue directions, but my favourites have a 4/2 split this time: 1, 16, 22 & 26 across and 2 & 20 down.
My thanks to Zandio and to SJB.