Toughie No 3354 by Hudson
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
You know exactly what to expect from a Hudson crossword and this one didn’t disappoint.
Please let us know what you thought
Across
1a Peasant, a German, very unwell at the outset (7)
VILLEIN The abbreviation for Very and a synonym for unwell go before (at the outset) of the German word for one
5a Closing a bandaged wound dressing (7)
PLASTER Closing or final inserted into (bandaged) a preposition meaning a or for each
9a Tax collector probing firm at the Wharf (7)
MATTHEW A New Testament tax collector is hidden (probing) the last four words of the clue
10a Reindeer, bear Radley mentioned (7)
CARIBOU Homophones (mentioned) of a verb meaning to bear and the forename of a character (Radley) in To Kill a Mockingbird
11a Possible hangover remedy found in wine for pub Isabel knocked back (9)
IBUPROFEN Hidden in reverse (knocked back) in wiNE FOR PUB Isabel
12a Relative turns colder every now and again (5)
UNCLE The even (every now and again) letters of tUrNs CoLdEr
13a Lament, say, set in cathedral city (5)
ELEGY The abbreviation meaning for example, say, inserted in Crosswordland’s favourite cathedral city
15a Throw after party in Scotland, admitting university’s essentially making a great effort at St Andrews (9)
ALBATROSS A fairly new Scottish political party and a verb meaning to throw, into which is inserted the ‘essential’ letter of univeRsity’s. A score of three strokes less than par on a golf course such as St Andrews
17a Confine drug dealer, one with dull office job (3-6)
PEN-PUSHER A verb meaning to confine and a drug dealer
19a Rebuff Penny during dance (5)
REPEL The abbreviation for Penny inserted into a dance
22a Setter squeals out loud, a result of the frosty atmosphere (5)
ICING How our setter would refer to himself and a homophone (out loud) of another informal word meaning to be an informer (as is squeals)
23a Form mutated bacteria following onset of fever (9)
FABRICATE An anagram (mutated) of BACTERIA following the ‘onset’ of Fever
25a Pompous? Not our funny daughter! (7)
OROTUND A rather splendid synonym for pompous. An anagram (funny) of NOT OUR followed by the abbreviation for Daughter
26a First-class subaltern suppressing soldiers complaint (7)
AILMENT The usual abbreviated first-class and an abbreviated military rank (subaltern) ‘suppressing’ some soldiers
27a Spot designer with large loose trousers (7)
FRECKLE A synonym for loose ‘trousers’ a designer known by his initials and the abbreviation for Large
28a Plastic souvenir I dropped in a stew (7)
NERVOUS An anagram (plastic) of SOUVENiR without the I (I dropped)
Down
1d 5A cables stripped, that’s taking a bloody liberty (7)
VAMPIRE The Roman numeral for five, the abbreviated unit of electrical current represented by the symbol A and some cables without their outside letters (stripped)
2d Balt put on odd bits of 12 salad (7)
LETTUCE A citizen of Latvia (Balt) put on (in a Down solution) the odd letters of the solution to 12a
3d Front half of leader of flock disappears into thin air (5)
ETHER The first half of the leading sheep of a flock [bellwether] disappears
4d Report just in: Welsh fans rioting (9)
NEWSFLASH An anagram (rioting) of WELSH FANS
5d Female bird nibbling shell of cola nut (5)
PECAN A female swan ‘nibbling’ the outside letters (shell) of ColA
6d One played for fun with no strings attached? (3,6)
AIR GUITAR A cryptic description of an imaginary instrument used to play rock music
7d Leaves company after explorer keeled over (7)
TOBACCO The abbreviation for company goes after a reversal (keeled over) of an explorer. A pairing often used when these leaves are to be found in a crossword
8d A big name in the media, Freud discovered short cut (7)
REUTERS A well-known international news agency – the inside (dis covered) letters of fREUd and a truncated (cut) synonym for short in the sense of concise or brief
14d Beaten UK yogurt fed northern rebel (5,4)
YOUNG TURK An anagram (beaten) of UK YOGURT ‘fed’ the abbreviation for Northern – a rebel trying to make changes within an organisation, especially a political one
16d Airhead, maybe 15, first seen in baby shower (9)
BIRDBRAIN An avian such as the solution to 15a, the first letter of Baby and a shower
17d Two ducks leaving to form couple (4,3)
PAIR OFF Two lots of something (ducks in cricket scoring perhaps) and a synonym for leaving
18d Feeling upset, taking time out for son? That’s unhealthy (7)
NOISOME A reversal (upset) of a feeling where the abbreviation for Time is taken out and replaced by the abbreviation for Son
20d UK firm accepts American honour for uplifting medicine? (7)
PLACEBO An abbreviated UK firm ‘accepts’ the abbreviation for American, followed by a reversed abbreviated honour (for uplifting)
21d Hardened Madrid side turned killer at close of play (7)
LAERTES A reversal (turned) of a synonym for hardened and the Madrid football team. I don’t know much about Hamlet but this person who kills the title character at the end of the play makes regular appearances in crosswords
23d Cook sweet (5)
FUDGE Cheat or fake (cook) or a type of sweet
24d Not a hard worker, actress Bette taking month off (5)
IDLER The surname of Bette the American actress without (taking … off) the abbreviation for Month
I found this slightly less testing than the back pager, but still great fun to solve. I really enjoy this setter’s style and his puzzles are always a delight. From a long list of possibles, I chose 21d as my favourite.
My thanks to Hudson and Sue.
Super-smooth. I do think 1a’s a tad naughty and 1d’s definition is perhaps pushing it but this was an absolute treat. Some lovely construction – 5a, 27a etc. Every clue told a little story. 21d (exquisite def) just about takes it. Many thanks to Hudson and CS.
Hudson can be relied upon to provide an exquisite mid-week tough – nicely challenging (definitely more than 1* for us mortals, CS!) and a joy to solve.
One of my best friends, who is a retired GP says 11a is almost always useless as a hangover cure and, unless all the alcohol is out of your system, it is just as likely to cause stomach irritation. At least the setter prefaced the definition with “possible”!
Given the excellence of all the clues, I keep changing my mind regarding my favourite, so I am not even going to try to pick even a podium selection.
Many thanks to Hudson and to CS.
A terrific puzzle that was a joy to solve from first to last. Perfect for the likes of me as it wasn’t a great deal more demanding than the back-pager. Loved 1a&d & thought the lurkers at 9&11a well disguised. The double homophone at 10a raised a smile & I obviously loved 15a (great pic) – never had one but have witnessed the rare bird on two occasions playing with far better golfers than I. Among a host of ticks another vote for 21d as the pick of an excellent crop.
Thanks to Hudson & to Sue
Ps can’t resist posting Peter Green’s beautiful instrumental
25a was a new word for me and I needed the hints to parse 5a and I still don’t understand 20d. The rest were all very doable but fun. Favourite was 21d. Thanks to Hudson and CS.
PLC (Public Limited Company) UK firm accepts A (American) followed by a reversed (uplifting in a down solution) OBE (honour)
Thanks for that. I was fixed on the company being the Post Office.
Hudson’s done it again; what a great puzzle. Thanks to him and CS.
My podium (picked from a host of good contenders) consists of 15a, 17d and 21d.
We were beaten by 15a. Had never heard of the Scottish party and ended up settling for AMBITIOUS as it fitted the checkers and did have a U for university in it. That will teach us not to go for unparsed ‘bung-ins’.
Thoroughly enjoyed the rest.
Thanks Hudson and CS.
Very entertaining puzzle. Several great clues but my favourite has to be 15A. **/**** overall for me; thanks to setter.
Super puzzle. COTD the wonderful lurker in 11a, runner-up 1d. Many thanks to Hudson and CS
I think that the hint for 3d needs adjusting. It is the first five letters (i.e., front half) that disappear.
Of course it does
As we bloggers are wont to say on these occasions, what did you think of the crossword?
Thought I was going to finish without help, but spelt 10a with an “O” at the end.
Thanks for the hints and to Hudson for a Toughie I almost completed.