Sunday Toughie No 133 by proXimal
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 11th of August 2024
Across
1a Spooner’s crone offspring makes foul liquid (10)
DITCHWATER: Start with a crone with magical powers WITCH, and her female offspring DAUGHTER, and treat them according to the Reverend Doctor to be a proverbially dull cup of tea perhaps DITCHWATER
6a Way lack of concern gets exposed (4)
PATH: A synonym for lack of concern APATHY is exposed by removing the first and last letters
9a Careful food store worker trapping pest (10)
DELIBERATE: An abbreviated store that sells high-quality cooked meats and cheeses DELI, and the worker insect I am eponymously attached too BEE, that has trapped a rodent pest RAT DELI(BE(RAT)E)
10a Metallic shrill humming sound briefly caught (4)
ZINC: A shrill humming sound is shortened ZIN(G) and adds a crickety caught C
12a Case containing European coin (6)
CREATE: A case or CRATE, contains E for European, coin is a verb
13a Keep isn’t surrounded by water (8)
MAINTAIN: An informal contraction like isn’t AIN’T, surrounded by a large body of water MAIN, to keep in the style to which one has been accustomed M(AINT)AIN
15a Immensely flash penning letter to Greek friend (12)
MONUMENTALLY: A brief flash of time MOMENT, penning the thirteenth letter of the Greek alphabet NU, followed by a friend ALLY
18a Computer designed with hole for electrical component (12)
THERMOCOUPLE: An anagram (designed) of COMPUTER with HOLE that turns your kettle off when it boils
21a Maybe Boris Johnson once hosting south and north European (8)
ESTONIAN: Maybe Boris defined by his schooling ETONIAN, rather than any political posts hosts one of the points of the compass S, (the other more precisely defines the European)
22a Rush around with reminder after memory’s lapsed (6)
CAREER: One of the usual arounds or about CA, and what remains of reminder when the source of memory has lapsed RE(mind)ER, may lead you to rush wildly
24a Flower seen in wine regions regularly (4)
IRIS: Not perfectly regular but the answer is found by taking the 2nd then every 3rd letter of wIne RegIonS,
25a One could arrange duet with such mixes for audio cassettes (10)
ASSOCIATES: A compound anagram (one could arrange – such) The answer we seek when mixed with duet could make audio cassettes
26a Man would lead such efforts to get fruit (4)
GOES: And another compound, these efforts become fruit MANGOES,when Man takes the lead
27a A French guy roughly striking adult is ill-bred (10)
UNMANNERLY: A French indefinite article UN, a guy or bloke MAN, and a synonym of roughly or close NEaRLYwithout A for adult is ill-bred or UNMANNERLY
Down
1d Gather two swallows died (6)
DEDUCE: I gather that this is a term for the two in cards or dice DEUCE it swallows the abbreviation of died D
2d Island bar a journalist rang (6)
TOLLED: A particular type of coral island bar (A)TOLL, without its initial a and an abbreviated journalist ED, rang a bell
3d Making attire for sisters is addictive (5-7)
HABIT-FORMING: Addictive such as a taker will find it difficult or impossible to give up using is like making the attire for sisters in a religious order
4d A siren leaving banks for river (4)
AIRE: A river (local to me) can be found when siren abandons its banks s(IRE)n, and attaches itself to A from the clue
5d Suspect Texas and Rouen to be foreign (10)
EXTRANEOUS: An anagram (suspect) of TEXAS and ROUEN is an adjective to be foreign
7d Cordial from melons primarily consumed by first-rate guy, perhaps (8)
AMICABLE: The primary letter of melons M, inserted (consumed by) an alphanumeric for first-class A1, and a guy or wire perhaps CABLE A(M)ICABLE or cordial
8d Horses having cut joints we’re told (8)
HACKNEYS: A breed of horse ideal for carriage driving, a synonym of cut roughly HACK,and a homophone of joints in the leg KNEES becomes NEYS
11d Art exhibition in depot enthralling everyone (12)
INSTALLATION: IN from the clue and the depot where trains or buses depart STATION, contain a synonym of everyone ALL
14d Eat with authoress, losing heart to beautiful storyteller (10)
MUNCHAUSEN: A fabulous or exaggerated storyteller from a synonym of to eat or chew MUNCH, and a well-known female author Jane AUS(T)EN without the central letter of beautiful T
16d Declaring putting fat on not initially visible (8)
UTTERING: I declare this is the act of putting fat on a piece of toast or scone (B)UTTERING, without its initial letter B
17d Name of woman pounding grain (8)
BEATRICE: A synonym of pounding BEAT, and the grain of a type of grass RICE, give us the name of a woman
19d Metal seat on terrace (6)
PEWTER: A bench-like seat in a church PEW, and an abbreviation of terrace TER. give us a metallic alloy
20d Lively cook is heading for kitchen blocks (6)
FRISKY: To cook in oil in a broad shallow “skillet” FRY, contains (blocks) IS from the clue and the heading for kitchen K lively or FRISKY
23d Scrap patio table not completely required (4)
IOTA: A scrap, jot or very small amount is hidden (not completely required)in patIO TAble
That’s all Folks…