Toughie No 3390 by Robyn
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty */** – Enjoyment ****
Another excellent Wednesday Toughie from Robyn, although it probably helped that I knew several things which others might consider as ‘unknowns’. I haven’t counted all the appearances but it became obvious when typing the blog that there are quite a lot of clues requiring something to be inserted into something else.
Please let us know what you thought
Across
1a Stuffing coffee grinder that hasn’t finished working (5-7)
FORCE-FEEDING An anagram (working) of COFFEE GRINDEr without the final R (hasn’t finished)
9a Decent computer technology keeps page in browser (5)
OKAPI An informal word meaning satisfactory (decent) and some computer technology, the latter keeping the abbreviation for Page
10a Interrupted by English cheers, Bill derided linesman (9)
POETASTER A writer of contemptible verses – an advertising bill ‘interrupted’ by the abbreviation for English and an informal word of thanks (cheers)
11a Frank is pro-Conservative after leaving Spain (10)
FORTHRIGHT A three-word phrase meaning pro-Conservative without (after leaving) the IVR Code for Spain
12a Oddly, setter to retain this in print (4)
STET The odd letters of SeTtEr To make an instruction to retain the original wording after marking for deletion
13a Supposed place is overrun by grass (7)
REPUTED A verb meaning to place is ‘overrun’ by a type of grass
15a Some force wife out of Milton Keynes and Peterborough, say (7)
NEWTONS The second appearance of Wife is removed (out) from what places such as Milton Keynes and Peterborough are examples
17a I, for example, ring with information (7)
HALOGEN Iodine is an example of this element
19a Part of group infiltrated by US agents (7)
SEGMENT A group ‘infiltrated’ by agents of the FBI
21a University course, dry and dull (4)
MATT A postgraduate university course and the abbreviation meaning abstaining from alcohol (dry)
22a Yours truly, astride a horse, intended to clear area for running (10)
MANAGEMENT How our setter would refer to himself (yours truly) goes around (astride) A (from the clue) and a poor horse, the result followed by a synonym for intended without (to clear) the abbreviation for Area
25a Letter police are returning, getting stamp out (9)
ERADICATE A reversal of a Greek letter, an abbreviated police department and ARE (from the clue)
26a Pacific deity‘s island with Frenchman on it (5)
IRENE The Greek goddess of peace (pacific in the sense of peace making) and wealth – the abbreviation for Island and a French man’s name
27a Currency‘s more valuable, one’s stated, after fluctuations (2-2-8)
UP-TO-DATENESS An adverb meaning more valuable and an anagram (after fluctuations) of ONES STATED
Down
1d Gift left with pretty wrapping (5)
FLAIR The abbreviation for Left ‘wrapped’ by a synonym for pretty
2d Energy conserved by affluent male’s diet (9)
REICHSTAG This diet is a parliament – the abbreviation for Energy ‘conserved’ by a synonym for affluent and followed by a male of various kinds
3d Bound to follow European legislator showing effects of vacation? (7)
EMPTIED Bound or fastened together goes after (to follow) the abbreviation for European and an abbreviated legislator
4d Butler’s work in house with fancy newer cladding (7)
EREWHON The title of a satirical Utopian romance by Samuel Butler – an anagram (fancy) of NEWER ‘cladding’ an abbreviated house
5d Tot right to get dressed by mother (4)
DRAM The abbreviation for Right ‘dressed’ by a mother (usually of cattle or horses)
6d Astronaut’s silhouette blocking change of the moon out (3,2,4)
NOT AT HOME The outside letters (silhouette) of AstronauT inserted into (blocking) an anagram (change) of OF THE MOON
7d Chest is tender following cold (6)
COFFER A tender follows the abbreviation for Cold
8d Enlisted Americans to install water-repellent material up on the house (6)
GRATIS A reversed (up) water-repellent material is inserted into some abbreviated enlisted Americans
14d Possible indicator of current plan to pen one hit (5,4)
PILOT LAMP The Roman numeral for one is penned by a plan, the result followed by a slang verb meaning to punch or thump (hit)
16d Ring lover, maybe, in wet gear, needing to change (9)
WAGNERITE An anagram (needing to change) of IN WET GEAR
17d Tragic figure‘s line inspired by actor on Terms of Endearment (6)
HAMLET A poor actor and the abbreviation for Line inserted into (inspired by) the outside letters (terms) of EndearmenT
18d River – a river over to the north (7)
NIAGARA A reversal (to the north in a Down solution) of A (from the clue), an abbreviated river and an adverb meaning over or once more
19d Arsenal’s wingers in passage of play with uneven sides (7)
SCALENE The ‘wingers’ of ArsenaL inserted in part of a play
20d Some recite the rosary, showing restraint (6)
TETHER Hidden in words two, three and four of the clue
23d Possibility for better form of rugby hasn’t succeeded (5)
EVENS A form of rugby without the abbreviation for succeeded
24d Female sweetheart’s vow to provide pet name (4)
FIDO The abbreviation for Female and a vow taken by a sweetheart
This was quite straightforward and, for me, a blessed relief after yesterday’s struggle. I was slowed down in the SW by the wrong choice at 25a eventually corrected to the alternative that parsed properly. Favourite clues were, 22a [nicely hidden definition] 17d [I liked Terms of Endearment] and 18d [over].
Thanks to Robyn and CS.
Loved this. Many misdirections and therefore smiles at the solve. Thanks to Robyn and CS
Having just had my annual battle with Telegraph subscriptions to renew for next year, this came as a welcome relief and I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. 16 and 23d were my top two.
Many thanks to Robyn and Sue.
A very enjoyable Wednesday solve with so much to like I can’t pick a favourite.
Thank you CS for the blog and Robyn for the challenge.
I wanted to say exactly what PJ @4 has said.
This is a ‘proper job’ as we say in my part of the country – thanks to Robyn and CS.
There are some great clues here including 10a (‘derided linesman’), 17a, 2d, 7d and 17d.
Lovely puzzle, although I hadn’t heard of 10a, which I confirmed was a word in brb. Ugh came to mind with 27a!
11a, 17a and 19a the ones I liked, with16d cotd.
Thanks CS and Robyn
Yep easier than Dada yesterday though it took me just as long to crack it. Found the south trickier than t’up north even though both of the unfamiliarities were upstairs. Not sure I’ve ever heard of Sam never mind his utopian satire nor had I encountered the word for the iffy linesman but the wordplay thankfully clear for both.
As ever another gem of a puzzle from Robyn with too many goodies to pick out a fav.
Thanks to him & to Sue for the review.
Three answers that needed checking – 10&26a plus 4d – but I expect that in a Robyn Toughie. What I didn’t expect was the dreadful 27a, the existence of which my brain still refuses to accept!
Ticks here went to 9,12&22a plus 1,17&23d.
Thanks to Robyn and to CS for the review – if you say 27a exists then I suppose it must be true………..
I was rendered speechless when I found 27a in Collins … 👎
Me too
Easier than yesterday, I thought.27ac was loi, having made a silly bish at 16d. Most enjoyable. Thanks to Robyn and CS.
15a I have a very short memory, but this reminds me of Harlow in today’s Cryptic (17d)
ps. Prior to the new “print” facility, the name of the Toughie Setter used to be revealed. Alas, not today!
A brilliantly clever and literate puzzle. Congratulations to Robyn. ***/****
2*/4* …..
liked 24D ” Female sweetheart’s vow to provide pet name (4)”