Toughie No 3361 by Dharma
Hints and tips by ALP
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****/*****
Another charmer from Dharma. Very toothsome indeed. The top half flew in, thanks largely, as ever, to very fair definitions. A surefire oner, I thought, as I headed for an early night. But I did slow a little in the South, so I’ve bumped it up to a two. I hope that’s a happy compromise. All yours.
Across
1a Autographs from inferior writers … (10)
SUBSCRIBES: Inferior/below par + writers/copyists.
6a … prove ultimately worthless by the way (4)
SHOW: [worthles]S + by the way/the way, as in “by what means” or “manner”. I’m truly not sure whether the “by” is just a positional link or part of the definition. To my mind, “the way” is a more obvious substitution in the sentence “that’s how it’s done”, etc, but, equally, “by the way” is pretty close to “by what means”. I’ve swung back and forth on this (and yes, I should probably get out more) but either parse gets you there, it doesn’t really matter and I’ve blathered on long enough already. The things we worry about in the middle of the night, eh?
9a Bridge across India and another country (5)
SPAIN: (to) bridge, containing NATO’s India.
10a Made up two appeals over tax credit, having lost case twice (9)
TITIVATED: The usual (sex) appeal, repeated twice (two) and reversed (over) + the best-known tax + [cr]ED[it] (having lost case twice).
12a Snacks, possibly wrap and noodles to begin with (5,8)
PRAWN CRACKERS: A reversed anagram (“possibly”). Gazza should be pleased! You’ll need an anagram of WRAP+N plus an appropriate eight-letter indicator, etc.
14a Shy of masculine guys designated as eligible (8)
ENTITLED: Guys/blokes minus/shy of the abbreviation for “masculine” + designated/called.
15a Rest of papers taken by counter agents (6)
SPIDER: The usual (identity) papers are taken/absorbed by the usual agents, reversed (counter).
17a Boost assuming hotel is given new mark (6)
HYPHEN: Boost/big up assumes/contains the usual “hotel”, plus the usual “new”.
19a City cave in, somehow Arsenal’s wingers penetrating (8)
VALENCIA: CAVEIN, somehow, with A[rsena]L inside.
21a Promising pro gaining points had to be paid (13)
FORESHADOWING: The usual-ish three-letter “pro” (backing, etc) + two (compass) points + HAD from the clue + a synonym of “to be paid”. Lovely piece of Lego.
24a Country’s idle put to work shifting earth (9)
LANDSLIDE: Country’s (or countries, ie generic) + IDLE, put to work.
25a Pass time, stick around (5)
ENACT: The usual time + (walking) stick, reversed/around.
26a Agent Mulder’s back on board and perky (4)
SPRY: The other usual “agent” contains [mulde]R.
27a Customary of course to sit behind premier (10)
MAINSTREAM: Premier/chief, with (water) course afterwards, ie sitting behind.
Down
1d Crack unit with hard belt (4)
SASH: Crack/special unit/troops + the usual “hard”.
2d Conference section possibly, according to Spooner, not a safe place to be (4,3)
BEAR PIT: The “possibly” refers to what a Conference is an example of. Then add a section/chunk and Spoonerise.
3d Touch left sense around – these will enhance another (7,6)
CONTACT LENSES: Touch/meeting + L[eft] + SENSE, around.
4d Cockney’s innuendo finished off fiancée (8)
INTENDED: How a cockney might say innuendo/nudge + finished (off).
5d Record number cycling final parts of Le Tour (5)
ENTER: A number/digit cycling (move the first letter to the end) + [l]E [tou]R. A surface close to my heart and one that merits a banger. Sorry Jane!
7d Desperado played to death, hit finally replaced by Henley’s opener (7)
HOTHEAD: An anagram of HODEATH, ie “TODEATH” with one [hi]T changed to an H[enley].
8d Sweeping extra delivery at Lord’s over cover (10)
WIDESPREAD: An incorrectly bowled ball in cricket that necessitates an extra delivery + cover/overlay. Why are cricket terms so easy to know and understand, yet so hard to explain? I once had to try to flesh out what an LBW was “in a few simple words for readers who don’t know the game” for a balloon of a cricket-hating newspaper editor. It is and was nigh on impossible, let me tell you!
11d Failing to get parking depressing one in home and one in office (4-9)
VICE-PRESIDENT: Failing/sin + P[arking] + one in/at home. I rather like “depressing” as a link in a down. I might have to nick that at some point!
13d Fit of pique shown by the French after abrupt holiday changes (10)
RESHUFFLES: (Fit of) pique/sulk +/by one of the three French “the”s, after holiday/break, minus its last letter (abrupt).
16d General de Gaulle’s refusal to accept a fellow European (8)
NAPOLEON: A lovely bit of subterfuge. The French/de Gaulle’s “refusal” accepts/contains A + European (the usual) national.
18d Garden largely split up to display better half (7)
PARTNER: (Public) garden(s), minus its last letter (largely) + split/torn, reversed/up.
20d Gent regularly seen wearing Mac perhaps close to college – it could be related (7)
COGNATE: G[e]N[t] inside/wearing what a mac[intosh] is + [colleg]E. I have to admit the surface read had me scratching my head, trying to work out the implication. Related to what? But a little mystery is no bad thing.
22d Lady Gaga’s bottom trimmer, wouldn’t you say? (5)
ANITA: [gag]A + a homophone of trimmer/tidier.
23d Uplifted, bumped into one or two people sleeping together? (4)
ITEM: Bumped into/encountered + the usual “one”, uplifted/reversed.
We’ve got four anagrams (partials mostly) plus a reversal/margana, a fun Spooner and a very gentle spot of cycling, plus the usual smattering of clever wordplay. Surfaces are pretty tight, I’d say, though 20d’s still has me a tad puzzled … in a good way. Twas an absolute hoot. I especially liked 10a, 12a, 21a, 13d and 16d. As for a favourite, I’m torn because of some tasty Lego, but I think I’ve got to plump for 12a’s reverse anagram, since it reads so sweetly and convincingly. How did you get on?
I think Dharma is my favourite setter. So many lightbulb moments and smiles. Yet I find some of his clues tough.
My take on 6ac is ultimately worthless is an s and “the way” is how. By I think just means next to. But we will all have different thoughts on this one.
Many many thanks to Dhama and ALP
For me a more tortuous experience than ALP’s, and this was as a Thursday puzzle on a Tuesday. Solid & sound rather than remarkable or memorable. The final third took as long as the first two thirds. 7d the highlight for its surface read. One or two definitions certainly didn’t sit comfortably with me (eg 3d, despite wearing them for well over 40 years), and while it doesn’t usually bother me, the “pick a name” game played at 22d rubbed me up the wrong way today.
Thank you to Dharma and ALP
Ha! I did suspect the name game might irk a few, yes. Fun surface, to be fair. As for 3d, do they not enhance your (sense of) sight then?
I am utterly un-irked by 3d. If the wordplay leads to a male or female name that is fair game in my book.
Huzzah! I’m with you RD.
Our erstwhile commenter has given us a proper Toughie this afternoon, with plenty of head-scratching needed and two sittings either side of a walk to get across the line. Like our blogger, 12a was my standout favourite. Great fun.
Thanks to Dharma and ALP.
Great stuff from Dharma – thanks to him and ALP.
I liked 15a, 4d, 8d and 16d but, as forecast, my favourite is 12a.
22d: I put Alina. I think that’s a perfectly valid answer. Any objections?
A very good point, Mark. That hadn’t occurred to me, or to Dharma, presumably. Slightly less common name, arguably, but equally valid. No question.
I also put Alina for 22d
Not finished yet but had v similar experience as our blogger North was filled in before much headway in the south but I will keep plugging away before resorting to the hints
Thanks to Dharma and ALP
I also thought this wasn’t the breeze you thought it was ALP. I started off feeling I was on the setter’s wavelength and then slowed down and had to give more careful thought. I’m still having trouble parsing reverse anagrams even though 12A had to be what it was.
Lots of good clues, all fairly constructed with favourite going to 17A.
Many thanks to ALP and Dharma.
Ha, it certainly wasn’t a total breeze, by any stretch! Definitely some light gales down south.
Don’t think I found our setter’s wavelength today but I guess that’s the way it goes – some you win etc……….
Top clues for me were 15a plus 4&11d.
Thanks and apologies to Dharma and thanks to ALP for the review – no need to say sorry for the Metallica clip, I’ve learned not to click on any of your ‘music’ choices in order to retain a little of my sanity!
Ha. Och, you don’t know what you’re missing!
Ah – but I do know exactly what I’m missing!
I also found this at the more difficult end of the spectrum. Needed the hint to parse 28d but that’s not bad for me. I did enjoy the challenge. Favourite was a toss up between 24a and 11d with 11d just shading it. Thanks to Dharma and ALP.
Yep, 28d was really tricky!!
I really enjoyed this despite the huge difference in difficulty between the relatively straightforward top half and the brain-mangling bottom half.
I had a plethora of ticks with 12a, 8d & 16d making up my podium.
Many thanks to Dharma and to ALP.
2* ALP! You have got to be joking. This was at least a Thursday, even a Friday toughie and, I’m afraid, I don’t think Dharma’s best. I’m with Mustafa G re the surfaces but I’ll forgive 22d cos it made me smile and it works. My faves were that one, plus15a and 16d plus Metallica [always good to hear the old Devil’s chord]. Thanks for the blog and thanks to Dharma for the contest.
Right back atcha. Friday tough? You having a laugh? Haha. This wasn’t Elgar territory, surely?!
No, but recent puzzles by proX or Sparks and even the blessed Osmosis were solved [by me] in less time than this. Maybe I was just having an off day.
Yes, that is very true. They have been slightly gentler of late on a Friday. Elgar still makes me cry, mind. You, an off day? Never. I missed you when you were on your hols!
Took me all day, but solved without any help in the end. 2D my favourite.
Many thanks to ALP for another excellent review and to everyone who has taken the time to comment.
Shame about the alternative name in 22d, I’d never heard of it though have to admit it’s a rather nice one!
Huge thanks for popping in. Great fun as always, ta lots.
A difficulty rating of below average? It certainly wasn’t for us.
A really enjoyable solve with considerable head-scratching involved in the south.
Thanks Dharma and ALP.
A game of two halves for me also. Not too demanding up north but the nether regions an entirely different proposition. Am irked that I lost patience & looked at the review for my one holdout at 22d, which I really ought to have twigged. Always enjoy Stephen’s puzzles even if they do seem to be getting tougher. Another vote for 12a as pick of the clues.
Thanks to Dharma & to ALP – another typically eclectic selection of music. I do think you were a bit mean depriving Jane of the chance to click on Don crooning Desperado (which I rather Iike incidentally) or are you like The Dude?
Don’t open if profanity offends.
Ha, I’m definitely Dudish when it comes to the dirEagles, yes. Ugh. And Jeff is NEVER wrong, of course. Typically eclectic, eh? You’re so polite, sir. Jane has two very different words, I believe..
Got there in the end, with a good sleep after my pathetic start last night helping to unlock the rest. SW last corner in. 12a favourite, with 8d and 21a runners up.
Pleased to have finished unaided, which I didn’t think would be possible right til the LOI 26a
Thanks ALP and Dharma