Toughie No 3345 by Dharma
Hints and tips by ALP
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment *****
Spot on. Dharma’s best yet, for my money. Smart synonyms, garlicky constructions, sharp surfaces and, as ever, very fair definitions. It all flew in pretty briskly but some knotty parsing persuaded me to bung an extra half on for difficulty. I hope that suffices! All yours.
Across
1a Shameless tirade released aboard vessel (6)
FLAGON: Shameless or outrageous without/releasing tirade or bombast + a two-letter word for “aboard”.
4a Improprieties of Conservative overwhelmed by flip-flops? (8)
SCANDALS: The usual Conservative overwhelmed by/contained by what flip-flops are an example of.
10a Country manor remodelled by South American purchasing home (3,6)
SAN MARINO: The usual South American + MANOR, remodelled, purchasing/containing the usual “home”.
11a Calling hotel, lovely sandwiches (5)
NICHE: The usual “hotel”, sandwiched/contained by lovely/delightful.
12a Collector of precious metals visiting official casually rebuffed (7)
FORAGER: Two two-letter precious metals visit/are contained by a colloquial/casual (football) official, reversed/rebuffed.
13a Digest yogurt regularly and cut wrinkles (7)
OUTLINE: yOgUrT + the usual “wrinkles”, minus the last letter, ie cut. Fun surface. If only it were true!
14a Work zip on Per Una’s latest (5)
OPERA: Zip/zero on/before (!) PER from the clue + Una’s last (letter). Glorious proof, if proof were needed, that the “on” rule is one for breaking. And why not? I’ve never wholly understood this standard convention.
15a Caught ferret facing partner’s animals (8)
PRIMATES: A homophone (caught) of (to) ferret/snoop +/facing partner’s/companion’s.
18a Stand in gallery, bored by part right at the end (8)
TOLERATE: The usual-ish gallery is bored by/contains (film) part, with its initial r[ight] moved to the end.
20a Put coat on lamb as technique to seal? (5)
BASTE: A lurker, hidden/sealed in the fourth, fifth and sixth words. I think we can safely call this an all-in-one. A nice one, too.
23a With composure, equalise and settle match (7)
BALANCE: A quadruple definition. Does it really need the first two words? I think I’d prefer it as a triple without the “with” but each to their own. Smart, mind.
25a Select group of motorists to enter one-time race (7)
EXTRACT: Motorists’ group (not the AA!) enters one-time or old and a (motorbike) race.
26a Fellow taken aback by empty notice board (5)
SYNOD: (Lecturing) fellow taken aback/reversed by/after (to) notice/see, minus its middle letter, ie empty. Reads well, this.
27a Reserved? Try ditching husband to get dramatic! (9)
EARMARKED: Try (in court) minus/ditching the usual “husband” + dramatic/striking.
28a Prudent time to appear ahead of schedule for individual (8)
DISCRETE: Prudent/tactful, with its T[ime] ahead of schedule/pushed back (by one letter). I always get these two words confused and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one!
29a Teacher given the sack on reflection remains (6)
DEBRIS: (Male) teacher + (sleeping) sack, reversed/on reflection.
Down
1d Footballers topping table fuelled by street cuisine? (4,4)
FAST FOOD: The usual-ish group of footballers + table (ie, what might be on it), fuelled by/containing the usual “street”.
2d Course cockney isn’t attending having run early (7)
AINTREE: How a Cockney might say “isn’t attending” (this place, etc), with the second word’s R[un] coming early, ie moved back a letter. Whip-smart.
3d Drink Peronis essentially and agree to relax (9)
ORANGEADE: perOnis + ANDAGREE, relaxed.
5d Waterworks that could produce cool cider? (9,5)
CROCODILE TEARS: A lovely little reverse anagram, made much easier by the fact that “cool cider” contains nine letters. So just anagram those and add a five-letter anagram indicator.
6d I won’t put up full marks, maybe score of nine? (5)
NONET: A two-letter word meaning “I won’t” + what full marks might be (on Strictly, etc), put up/reversed.
7d Main centre sharing hospital records (7)
ARCHIVE: Synonyms for main/chief and centre/hub “share” the H[ospital] that ends one and starts the other, ie there’s just one in the answer.
8d Appeared to be stitched up by the Speaker (6)
SEEMED: A homophone (by the Speaker) of stitched up/sewn. Another super surface.
9d Hint for Philip after cutting cheek – remedial surgery? (3,11)
HIP REPLACEMENT: Another reverse anagram. Take/cut the “cheek” off Philip, which provides three useful letters and work out how one might hint or clue it, ie with an 11-letter anagram indicator. I did briefly wonder whether “remedial” was there to suggest that the hint/clue involved (and it vaguely suggests it) looks like an anagram but I remain unconvinced. Largely because I’ve never seen it used as an anagram indicator before. But it’s possible (and there’s always a first time!) as surgery with a question mark could be the definition on its own.
16d Supporter raised appeal over charge to show umpire (9)
ARBITRATE: The usual “supporter” raised/reversed + the usual (sex) appeal + charge/fee.
17d Having taken tips, sleek edit tweaked by son flows in the main (3,5)
LEE TIDES: Take the tips off sLEEk and add EDIT, tweaked (reversed, really), plus the usual “son”.
19d Figures old boy lusts after (7)
OBLONGS: The usual “old boy” + lusts/pines (coming after).
21d One following leading character in Suits’ gossip (7)
STALKER: The leading/first character of Suits + (a) gossip/chatterer.
22d Put down a sandwich served up by my boss (6)
ABUSED: A from the clue + (a long and thin) sandwich, reversed, plus the setter’s usual boss.
24d Name show enthralling Germany – Bottom? (5)
NADIR: The usual “name” + (to) show/broadcast, enthralling/containing the one-letter Germany.
A belting mix of clues: an all-in-one, a quadruple, a lurker, homophones and some letter manipulation, etc. There are three regular anagrams (all partials to some degree) plus two reverse anagrams. Witty and tight throughout. It would be simpler to list the clues I didn’t tick, so I’ll just stick a pin in and go for 2d, but 9d ran it very close. What did you make of it?
I found this quite tough, certainly Dharma’s toughest Toughie to date (and also his most entertaining). Thanks to him and to ALP.
The clues I liked a lot were 4a, 12a, 28a, 5d and 9d. My favourite was 2d.
Yes, I’m definitely on form today. I know this has a lowly star rating but I so rarely manage an unaided finish. So much to like with a few quirky clues and plenty of humour. I loved the two long ones at 5d and 9d but favourite was 18a. Thanks to Dharma and ALP. Loved the fishy cartoon.
Bravo. Don’t forget that Gazza deemed it tough. And he’s got a brain the size of a sofa!
Strange how differently puzzles strike people: Dharma’s Toughies are for me usually better suited to later in the week than a Tuesday, but I found was one much more straightforward and, unlike Gazza, I found it by some margin the most gentle of his Toughies to date. Horses & courses. Some lovely surfaces and great clueing. Particularly liked 5d & 9d, 13a & 28a.
Many thanks to Dharma for the challenge and ALP for the great review.
I’m with Gazza – his best and toughest yet. I was worried I would never get started until 10a surrendered, then had the same problem starting the bottom half. Dharma is really getting into his stride with loads of cracking clues so it was difficult to pick faves. I’ll settle for 29a, 2d, 6d and 9d [failed to parse the last and still kicking myself].
Thanks to Dharma and Alp. You really spoiled me today – The Specials, Slim Harpo and 2 crackers I wasn’t familiar with [Little Hurricane and Blackwater Fever]. Cheers.
I’m pleased to have completed it. Been trying toughie more often lately and still find it generally harder than DT cryptic. I guess practice improves performance
It took me quite a long while to get onto the right wavelength for this, but when I did it all came together nicely and very enjoyable it was too.
I solved 1d right at the start with a sigh. The FA are not footballers, they are the governing body for football in the UK. I was going to add that this is analogous to the AA and RAC who are not themselves drivers but require some qualification when used as part of wordplay, and, lo and behold, one of them appears in 25a duly moderated.
23a is quite a clever idea for quadruple definition, but “with composure” doesn’t feel quite right to me, and I’m a bit dubious about “tears” in 5d being an anagram indicator.
Those minor points aside, I had a plethora of ticks with special mentions for 4a, 12a, 2d & 9d.
Many thanks to Dharma and to ALP.
Unlike our reviewer, I found this a very tough ask but there was a great sense of achievement when the grid was finally filled.
Top three for me were 2,8&9d with 8d on the top step.
Thanks to Dharma and to the obviously clever ALP for the review.
Thanks to everyone who has commented on my puzzle thus far and especially to ALP for his usual top-notch review, much appreciated.
Huge thanks for popping in, and for an absolute corker.
I’m a “toughie newbie”, but enjoyed this challenge! 2D my favourite – though I needed BigDave’s help with this! 😃
I finished this some time ago but hadn’t got round to commenting. I too found this hard but enjoyable needed the hints to parse 1a and 26a and I’m not sure I understand them now. Favourite was a toss up between 12a and 28a and I’ll go with (flip) 28a. Thanks to Dharma and ALP.
You may well have cracked them by now but in 1a, take the RANT off FLAGRANT and add ON. In 26a, DON>NOD after S[p]Y = a governing body, ie a board.
Thoroughly enjoyable top notch puzzle.
Thanks Dharma and ALP.
Had to resort for many hints for bottom left corner! (But I’m a relative newbie to Toughies!) Enjoyed the others though!
Am sure I didn’t find this one anywhere near as straightforward as MG did but I’m with him in not finding it nearly as chewy as some other Dharma Toughies. Thoroughly enjoyed the solve & had plenty of ticks but if forced to pick a podium it’d have to be 2,5&9d.
Thanks to Dharma for an excellent puzzle & to ALP for his usual top quality review & music choices – loved the Blackwater Fever track so must check them out. Felt sure CSN would figure
Ha, I felt sure you and halcyon would like The Blackwater Fever. Surprised you hadn’t heard of them. Right up your street, I’d have thought. Definite whiff of The Black Keys about them. Funnily enough, I did flirt with CSN but I don’t love, love that track. And I did clip them last week. Hope your medical nonsense all went well.
It did thanks – all it took was a few porky pies to the hepatologist.