Toughie No 3320 by Elgar
Hints and tips by Sloop John Bee
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment *****
Elgar provides a fitting tribute to his regular Toughie blogger, seeing the theme early allows me to reduce the difficulty one * but the enjoyment stays at the maximum
You could probably apply the 7d prefix to most words in this or any other crossword but I have highlighted as many as possible. I learned a lot about Marrowfat (8d) and the custom of giving bread to the king’s youngest child (6d) and my history knowledge of the events of 1924 has come on leaps and bounds (1a). This turophile is ashamed to have not fully parsed 29a pleased to have finally parsed 29a
The music links today are as near as I can find to those played at the Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving although Richard’s own recording of Always on my Mind is not available to me
The plethora of thematic elements were obvious highlights but 2d belongs on my podium too What were your favourites?
Across
1a Bottle we turned up on this day in 1924? (7)
COURAGE: Although the synonym of bottle is clear to me it took an age for the penny to drop. If we turned up or were born on this day in 1924 we would be 100 years old today, using Roman numerals C would be OUR AGE
(nothing to do with posthumously published Jack London stories, the first boxing match at Wembley Stadium or the Chariots of Fire Olympic Games all of which were events of 1924 and internet rabbit holes I wasted a lot of time in)
With 7d/1a is the 1a to tackle Elgar armed only with a Stella Artois as Richard liked to do
5a Controls reversible as draught screens (6)
GUARDS: A reverse lurker (reversible screens) hidden in as draught With 7d a renowned arm of the Netherlands Military
9a Satisfied element 13 constitutes this? (5)
METAL: A synonym of satisfied and the chemical symbol of element 13 on the periodic table, somewhat satisfyingly element 13 is a 9a. With 7d it is a cheaper alternative to 5d being an alloy of copper and zinc that imitates 5d
10a Pestle and mortar only half ground white powder (9)
SALTPETRE: An anagram (ground) of pestle and half of mortar
11a Are spectators missing Wimbledon’s Centre Court shots? (7)
OBSERVE: A transitive verb to spectate from two shots that may be seen on a tennis court, the first of which loses the centre letter of Wimbledon
12a Free ones supply endless cheerfulness! (7)
LUNCHES: T.A.N.S.T.A.A.F.L. as Robert A Heinlein said in the Sci-Fi of my youth. A compound anagram of free and the answer we seek (supply) endless cheerfulnes(s). With 7d it is one at which each person brings or pays for their own share
13a Risks bypassing hospital doctors (6)
TREATS: Risks or dangers omit the letter that hospital suggests to be what a doctor does for your ailments. With 7d it is one at which each person brings or pays for their own share
15a A good deal, but for profit (7)
BARGAIN: Synonyms of but and profit give a good deal. With 7d it is a rather one-sided deal good for only one party in the transaction
18a I am a lord at sea, taking over (7)
ADMIRAL: An anagram (at sea) of I am a lord but omit the crickety over. With 7d/18a/8d we have an alternative name for marrowfat 8d
19a One of our bosses who didn’t see low beam, we ‘ear? (6)
EDITOR: Specifically one of Elgar’s bosses, A homophone (we ‘ear) of if he drops his aitches and ‘its ‘is ‘ead on a low beam, ‘e would be an… ‘ead ‘itter
22a Lawsuit restricts United sale (7)
AUCTION: A lawsuit contains the abbreviation of United. With 7d a type of sale with a reducing bid where the first person who is prepared to pay that price wins the lot
24a One regrets infiltrating little back part of the cage (4,3)
TRUE RIB: One who regrets in a reversal (back) of a synonym of little. The cage is skeletal and these are distinguished from the false or floating variety by being joined directly by cartilage to the breastbone
26a Provincial shops store any number of bags (5-4)
SMALL-TOWN: an enclosed group of shops in a synonym of store and an indefinite number. Bags is a containing verb that allows the synonym of store to “bag” the group of shops
27a 11 what’s down on face (5)
CLOCK: A triple definition, the middle one being the fluffy down on a dandelion that is ready to disseminate its seeds. With 7d a 27a made of wood and wire with brass wheels, made in the Black Forest
28a Look to enter a petition (6)
PRAYER: A look or glance (4th def in my online BRB) in a preposition for each or a
29a Charlie Guy’s experience winding through Swaledale and Wensleydale? (7)
CHEESES: A definition by example? C for Charlie and Guy’s or he’s with a synonym of experience or 11a winding back through. With 7d Edam or Gouda are alternatives
Down
1d Bed welcoming maiden for relief (7)
COMFORT: M for maiden and for from the clue are welcomed by a small bed With 7d it is a noun for “Thank God it’s no worse” about how I felt about the difficulty of this crossword when presented to me on the way to 7d’s Celebration
2d Fully informed American went to take look on other side (2,2,5)
UP TO SPEED: One of our usual Americans contains an instruction to look at the other side of the paper followed by what you may have done when you went to the toilet
3d Increasingly on the ball, but for Beckenbauer holding line (5)
ABLER: How a German such as Beckenbauer would say but, it holds the abbreviation for line
4d What brings the curtain down on the Daisy Festival (6)
EASTER: The letter that brings the curtain down on the and an alternative name for the daisy
5d To close dodgy deal on counter, sell fine sheets (4,4)
GOLD LEAF: An anagram (dodgy) of deal in a reversal (on counter) of sell informally, exceedingly thin or fine sheets of a precious metal With 7d both parts of 5d are together and separately a cheaper alloy used for gilding
6d Rolled leather antique given royal provision (9)
APPANAGED: A typically soft leather usually of goat or sheepskin is reversed (rolled) and antique or old follows. He who is endowed with maintenance, especially of a king’s younger child
7d ‘Arry’s other ‘alf – or perhaps ‘alves! (5)
DUTCH: How someone who drops his aitches may refer to ‘is other ‘alf, or ‘alves could refer to the custom of sharing a bill or “Going 7d” but I did like the fact that “Alf”onso Alves was also the leading scorer in the 7d football league
8d Rural worker dispatched vegetables (4)
PEAS: A synonym of rural dispatches with one of our usual worker insects. With 7d/18a/8d we have an alternative name for marrowfat 8d
14d With frivolity, constantly one goes on bottle rather than head to university (9)
TRIVIALLY: The letter that looks like one and a small bottle replace U for university in a scrumptious synonym of constantly
16d Sit with Renoir for exciting pictures (9)
INTERIORS: An anagram (exciting) of sit and Renoir The 7d/16d are a series of three paintings painted by Joan Miró in 1928 in homage to 7d masters of the golden age, but here is a painting by 7d himself
17d Gilded French Noble dropping ring? It shouldn’t be missed (4,4)
BARN DOOR: A noble ranked below duke, marquess, earl and viscount is gilded with the French for gold a Baron D’or perhaps, the first ring-like letter is dropped down the order. One of Grandpa Emm’s favourite sayings was “He couldn’t hit a 17d if he were sat on the sneck” Both words in the answer can be preceded by 7d for architectural features in a particular style
20d New beer brewers finally accepting UK rates (7)
REBUKES: An anagram (new) of beer and the last letter of brewers accepts UK from the clue A 7d/25d is one who 20d’s. He who criticizes or reprimands one unsparingly
21d Moral code keeps knight out of the race (6)
ETHNIC: The chess notation for a knight inserted into a moral code
22d Too involved in choral society… (4)
ALSO: A lurker (involved in) the last two words
23d …conduct hymn? (5)
CHAIR: A double definition, a gender-free way of conducting a business meeting or an abbreviation of the place where hymns or similar may be sung and a song sung there
A 7d/23d designed by Gerrit Rietveld
25d This member of the family is versatile in clues (5)
UNCLE: This is a compound anagram indicator an anagram of is is removed from in clues leaving the fodder for a family member A 7d/25d is one who 20d’s. He who criticizes or reprimands one unsparingly
Many thanks to Elgar for such a fine tribute to Richard and to Sue for allowing me to blog it here. I believe there will be more tributes to Richard in the iWeekend/Inquisitor tomorrow
Loved this. Not often can I say that I finished an Elgar and sometimes I do t even start them because of that reason. But today I started it on line after an early rise. After I put a few in I assumed this wasn’t an Elgar. When the paper arrived I continued my unusual success. Very enjoyable. As were the video choices which entertained me as I read through the blog.
Many thanks to Elgar for providing a crossword we can do and to Sloop John Bee for explaining the bung ins.
You’ve changed your alias so this needed moderation. Both aliases will work from now on.
Thanks Gazza. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going after an Elgar. Even though I tell it to remember me it keeps forgetting me!!
How marvellous. I was really hoping Elgar would do summat like this. Good for him. Not only a very fitting theme (brilliantly done) but a useful one to boot. Without it, I don’t think I’d ever have got 7d cleanly! I’d say this is as “gentle” as he ever gets. Fun and touching. Many thanks to Elgar and Sloop. RIP Dutch.
A lovely gesture from one master to another.
I suspected something might be going on once I had 7d [rather late in the solve] but didn’t realise there were quite so many words here to which it could be applied. Overall a relatively kind solve for Elgar except that I failed to see the latter half of 23d and missed the clever football link in 7d. Favourites were 2d, 3d and 17d.
Thanks to Elgar and SJB, RIP Dutch.
As gentle as Elgar gets and a very fitting theme – thanks to the maestro and SJB.
I’m a bit confused by the 7d ‘footballer’; I assumed that (h}alves was a reference to splitting the bill or going Dutch. Surely a proper name should have a capital letter (and Wikipedia tells me that the footballer is Brazilian not Dutch).
My ticks went to 1a, 15a, 2d, 17d and 23d.
You are of course correct, I had dismissed splitting the bill as it is only that fraction when there are two sharing the cost. I did like the fact that ‘Alf ‘Alves was an expensive signing by Middlesbrough from a Dutch side
I think JH told me it was a double definition as you describe, but “some” alcohol had been consumed when I showed him my first stab at this at the last York get together
There’s a theme? I mean I can see the word Dutch (my LOI) , and that it can precede 1a, 22a, 16d and maybe 25d, but without recourse to the BRB that’s about it for me. Otherwise a very enjoyable and slightly less challenging than usual Elgar, W easier than E, some great clues, and so good to see the hugely missed Dutch name-checked and honoured.
Thank you to SJB and Elgar.
And now, having read the blog, it makes more sense. Very clever, and how sensible / fortunate one could complete the puzzle without knowing the linking theme. Highlights for me were 2d, 17d and COTD 23d.
I have always fancied the idea of making that Rietveld chair – even researching the special joint to put it together. It doesn’t look too 1d’able though so I would have to learn upholstery to make red and blue leather cushions to go on the seat and back
Thank you. A fantastic tribute from Elgar to my very dear freind Richard. We used to meet regularly to sit down and solve the Guardian cryptic (Richard’s choice of paper) however if he had an Elgar to solve he became extra excited and you could visibly see his concentration level increase.
Thanks also to John for the blog and the poignant insertions of the songs from Richard’s funeral. Best wishes to all.
Chris.
One of my fondest memories of Dutch was after a Big Dave Birthday Bash waiting for a train in a bar at Euston (The Doric Arch if memory Serves) I was a newbie making a first dip into meeting crossword people, we did the Sunday Times together and he had a rather clever trick of playing on the fact that English wasn’t his first language to drag a better understanding of how clues work from me.
Very gentle today, Elgar. Finished in one go and early enough to comment. The only groan was elicited by 1ac. Enjoyed nevertheless even though the theme recipient was unknown to me.
Didn’t spot the theme at all, but such a lovely tribute from the setter. Definitely a bit easier than usual as I only needed a couple of minor bits of help!
Thanks.
I was impressed by the number of thematic elements and that they didn’t interfere with solving the puzzle for those who didn’t know Dutch
A lovely tribute to a dearly missed friend.
I didn’t know all the themers but now I have heard of Dutch comfort, I’ll probably use it all the time. At least we had the time we had.
Many thanks Elgar and Sloop John Bee.
Lovely (and pleasingly gentle) puzzle. My only quibble is the middle part of 28a. I can’t see that definition in my (admittedly slightly ancient) Chambers and can’t think of any context in which it works
I had my doubts too but the v useful Chambers app has this;
ray1 /rā/
noun
A line along which light or other energy, or a stream of particles, is propagated
A narrow beam
A gleam of intellectual light
A look or glance
A radiating line or part
The radially extended fringing outer part of an inflorescence
A supporting spine in a fin
(4th definition is a look or glance)
Well, fair enough, though it’s not in my Chambers print edition or in Collins online. And I’d still be interested in seeing a sentence with ray used with that meaning, though I suppose there must be examples…
SJB’s comments pointed me in this direction and I was very glad I visited the puzzle as it is a lovely tribute. I must say I missed several of the themed links, so thanks for enumerating them all, SJB, and Elgar has exhibited his usual considerable craft by fitting so many into the puzzle. As commented, it was not Elgar’s toughest puzzle, but still a challenge to solve, including a new word for me at 6d. Favourite clues were split between directions: 15, 19 & 26a and 14, 20 & 23d, with 7d and the overall theme in addition.
Most of my crossword solving takes place using batches of printouts from the DT archive, so I will continue to enjoy Dutch’s reviews, especially his astute hints on the trickiest Elgar crosswords, for some time to come.
Many thanks to Elgar, SJB and, of course, Dutch.
Thank you
I am sure there will be quite a few people (myself included) who will be joining you in the archives