Toughie 3393 – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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Toughie 3393

by ALP  

Toughie No 3393 by Chalicea
Hints and tips by ALP

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***/****

Huzzah! I predict total agreement for once. That must be a first. You don’t get gentler than this. Chalicea has, very kindly, put her magic dictionary away (no elusive fabric or exotic plants, etc) and given us a splendid compound anagram to boot. All very jolly. Over to you.

Across

1a Regularly value drive pursued by northern church for papal reception (8)
AUDIENCE: [v]A[l]U[e] D[r]I[v]E + the usual “northern” and “church”.

5a Son with principally positive aims, uses up money (6)
SPENDS: The usual “son” + P[ositive] + aims/goals.

9a With no limits asked the French to note essential framework (8)
SKELETON: [A]SKE[D] + French “the” + “to” from the clue and the abbreviation for “note”.

10a We’re told steed is gruff and husky (6)
HOARSE: Homophone (we’re told) of “steed”.

12a Weariness of troubled dissenter (9)
TIREDNESS: DISSENTER, troubled.

13a Absolutely correct performance pursuing one-time mate (5)
EXACT: Performance/deed after/pursuing “former lover”.

14a Initially lewd, risqué, topless – like some underwear? (4)
LACY: L[ewd] + risqué/saucy minus its first letter.

16a Reaches decision about wooden benches (7)
SETTLES: Double definition.

19a Taken illegally, like many eggs? (7)
POACHED: Definition + definition by example: how eggs can be cooked.

21a Measure of port? (4)
ACRE: Double definition. A measure (of land) = an Israeli port.

24a Snake now and then in beer joint (5)
ANKLE: [s]N[a]K[e] inside the usual “beer”.

25a Clarity of open point (9)
CLEARNESS: Open/unblocked + point/headland.

27a Mocking press report I see (6)
IRONIC: (to) press + ‘I’ from the clue and the letter represented by “see”.

28a Border of some broads I’d explored (8)
ROADSIDE: Lurker, hidden in the last three words.

29a Gaudy fish is essentially ho-hum (6)
GARISH: Pike-like fish + “is” from the clue + [ho]H[um].

30a Poor housing principle blocked by workers (8)
TENEMENT: Principle/doctrine contains (blocked by) the usual-ish “workers”.

Down

1d Fancy let with these items worth having could be tasteless (6)
ASSETS: A (pretty rare from Chalicea) compound anagram. An anagram (fancy) of the six-letter answer (these items worth having) + LET  = TASTELESS.

2d Gloomy set up in empty day (6)
DREARY: to set up/upright in(side) D[a]Y.

3d Correct conclusion is to embrace the compiler (5)
EMEND: Conclusion/finish contains/embraces the usual two-letter “compiler”.

4d Small company satisfactory with intermittently hearty cuisine (7)
COOKERY: The usual small/shortened “company” + satisfactory/fine + [h]E[a]R[t]Y.

6d One who demonstrates in favour of examiner (9)
PROTESTER: The usual “in favour of” + examiner/inspector.

7d In most cases not any Republican male supporter (8)
NORMALLY: A two-letter synonym for “not any” plus the abbreviations for “Republican” and “male” + supporter/friend.

8d Most gentle second small trial (8)
SWEETEST: S[econd] + (Scottish) “small” + trial/experiment.

11d Employs tricks with no reason at first (4)
USES: Tricks/ploys minus R[eason].

15d Exceptionally lithe acts in sporting events (9)
ATHLETICS: LITHEACTS, exceptionally.

17d Talking of Poseidon or Neptune holding power (8)
SPEAKING: What either Poseidon or Neptune is/was an example of (3,4) contains the usual “power”.

18d Clandestine support party outwardly repudiates for starters (8)
BACKDOOR: (to) support + the usual “party” + O[utwardly] R[epudiates].

20d Steer clear of Donald? (4)
DUCK: Definition plus definition by example.

21d American you and I follow – a little amazing (7)
AWESOME: The abbreviation for “American” + “you and I” + a little/few. I do find the cryptic grammar of “follow” a tad odd but it’s perfectly clear what’s required.

22d Scheme of French depravity (6)
DEVICE: The French “of” + depravity/sin.

23d Way of viewing space differently – and time! (6)
ASPECT: SPACE, differently, plus the usual “time”.

26d Cooler to avoid loud band (5)
RIDGE: Cooler (as noun) minus/avoiding the usual “loud”.

An extremely brisk mix of clue types and a most welcome early night. I especially enjoyed 21a and 17d but 1d breasts the tape for me. How did you get on?

20 comments on “Toughie 3393”

  1. The Floughie Lady, using the same grid as Mr Plumb, at her very best! */*****

    Candidates for favourite – 19a, 27a, 29a, 6d, and 20d – and the winner is 20d.

    Thanks to Chalicea and ALP.

  2. Went all in with a win double on Withnail making an appearance at 19a & the difficulty rating. Not really a Toughie but very enjoyable nonetheless & as ever delightfully clued. Look forward to listening to the music & properly reading the review when home.
    Thanks to Chalicea & to ALP

    1. Love a bit of Jim & Nick & will need to check out Fionn but fav was the great illustration for 20d – nearly missed the packaging.
      Wish I had a few as presents for crestfallen Kamala fans 😀

  3. Definitely a Floughie, but nevertheless hugely enjoyable.

    I do enjoy a good measure of port, so that clue gets my vote.

    Many thanks to Chalicea and to ALP.

  4. A light delight from the Floughie lady which I thoroughly enjoyed. Top of my pops today were 17&20d.
    Thanks to Chalicea and to ALP for the review.

  5. Pretty straightforward with the odd head scratcher thrown in to the mix. A most enjoyable solve. I’m sure things will toughen up as the week progresses. Favourite was 9a. Thanks to Chalicea and ALP.

  6. Brilliant! A very enjoyable solve and I have never before solved sixteen clues in a Toughie on the first pass. Getting 1a immediately helped me to get going and the half dozen I solved of the across clues gave many checkers for the downs enabling me to solve ten. The rest followed slowly. I spent too long try to use “us” in 21d so got nowhere with that for a long time. My COTD is 30a with its principle blocking workers.

    Thank you, Chalicea for the entertainment and making my day. Thank you, Alp for the hints.

  7. Most enjoyable. While I could not know who had set the puzzle when printing it, the mystery did not last long. My only question mark was with 1a, where I felt that the answer is used for a wider range of receptions than just the papal variety.

    Many thanks indeed to Chalicea and to ALP, with whose “challenge rating” for once I agree!

  8. Thanks to all who recommended the Toughie today, it’s normally beyond me but I finished it more quickly than todays cryptic – I doubt that’ll ever happen again, but thoroughly enjoyed it!
    Thanks to setter and ALP

  9. I’m afraid I have to go against the flow here. One or two lovely clues but some surfaces just seemed clumsy. The compound anagram doesn’t really read well and it wasn’t alone. Maybe I’m just having a bad day; roll on spring!

  10. They don’t come any floughier than this! Great fun though. I did like the compound anagram and the stolen eggs but top spot goes to the measure of port – my last one in. Very appropriate as like RD I do enjoy one after a tasty meal and this was certainly a tasty offering!

  13. Thank you ALP and thank you to all of you who have enjoyed my ‘Floughie’ It makes setting really worthwhile to receive such an enthusiastic response. I’m all smiles too and wishing you all the best for the coming festivities.

    1. Huge thanks for popping in and for such a lovely puzzle. I’m sure we all wish you a very merry Christmas.

    2. Thank you, Chalicea – you are my favourite setter. Your guzzles encourage novices such as I. Who knows, under your guidance I may tackle the Enigma! 😊
      I hope you have a great Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

  14. I am pleased that I listened to those on the blog who said that this was worth trying. It was a delight and I managed to complete it so am feeling very happy.

    Many thanks to Chalicea for the fun and to ALP for the hints

  15. Don’t often venture over here but a steady solve as the toughie was conquered for the first time. Double delight as the backpager also fell in similar fashion.

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