Sunday Toughie No 152 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 22nd December
Across
1a Make note of scatterbrain kicking out at riots (10)
TRANSCRIBE: A partial anagram (riots) to start – “kick out” the two letters suggested from SC(at)TERBRAIN. Write this down! TRANSCRIBE
6a More than one party clown (4)
DODO: A crossword setter’s favourite party DO, is repeated DODO, for a clownish extinct bird.
9a Very strong in battle, essentially lacking combat gear (6,4)
DUFFEL COAT: The musical notation for very strong FF, goes in a battle between two combatants DUEL, followed by what remains of CO(mb)AT, when it lacks its central or essential letters. Gear as worn by Paddington Bear and Michael Foot.
10a Dance and shout in karaoke? (4)
BALL: Is “in karaoke” a homophone indicator? If so I think we want a synonym of shout BAWL, to sound like a formal dance BALL.
12a Trim after retirement having taken power walks (6)
TRAMPS: A synonym of trim SMART, is reversed (after retirement) TRAMS, and it takes the abbreviation P for power.
13a Fine rewrite of Alamo winning hearts as musical (8)
OKLAHOMA: Two letters for fine OK, and an anagram (rewrite of) ALAMO around the abbreviation for the Hearts suit of cards H. OKLA(H)OMA
15a Protest state’s housing is shaming (12)
DEMONISATION: An abbreviated protest DEMO, and a synonym of state NATION, around IS from the clue. DEMONISATION will shame you like the devil.
18a Book with numerous strip scenes? (7,5)
GRAPHIC NOVEL: With pictures it could be a collection of comic strips, without, it would be writing of a salacious nature with gratuitous scenes of the stripping off of clothes.
21a Trouble backing this individual? Half of US can work together (8)
LIAISING: Work this lot together… To trouble is reversed AIL becomes LIA, adds a first personal pronoun I, and half of a well-known US “can” or prison Sing Sing LIAI(SING)
22a Dropping off regularly at eulogy, brat’s shown revolting taste (3,3)
TRY OUT: An alternate letters clue (dropping off regularly) that is reversed in aT eUlOgY bRaT (shown revolting) TRY OUT or Taste Me!
24a We see this twinkling forth (4)
MOON: I first had this down as just a cryptic definition of something that can be seen on a clear night, but there is some wordplay. A short twinkling of time MO, and a synonym of go forth ON.
25a Graffiti maybe seen by one copper delayed express (10)
ARTICULATE: The graffiti of Banksy perhaps maybe considered so creative ART, add the letter that looks like one I, the chemical symbol for copper CU, and a synonym of delayed LATE. I don’t think I expressed that very clearly.
26a An objection over one giving low blows (4)
TUBA: A reversal (over) of an objection, A BUT becomes TUBA
27a Day care cost that’s discounted over reconstituted chicken (7-3)
SCAREDY CAT: An abbreviation (reconstituted) of DAY CARE C(O)ST, but discount O for over
Down
1d Heading skywards, alien being in turmoil – first to travel so far (2,4)
TO DATE: A reversal (heading skywards) of our usual film alien being ET, a bit of a turmoil A DO, and the first letter of travel T. ET A DO T becomes TO DATE
2d Scrap of adult feminine wear (6)
AFFRAY: Abbreviations of adult A, and feminine F, followed by a synonym of wear around the edges FRAY.
3d Building up to a point, Conservative has energy for 4 … (12)
STEEPLECHASE: A building with a pointed roof STEEPLE, an abbreviation of Conservative C, HAS from the clue and E for energy. The solution is a type of RACE.
4d … people – impressive, putting Right on top (4)
RACE: A synonym of impressive ACE, and R for right goes on top for a people or RACE.
5d British want my covering papers – this could be dangerous (5,5)
BLACK WIDOW: B for British, a want or shortage LACK, an exclamatory my! WOW, covering our usual papers ID. Dangerous if bitten by a BLACK WIDOW.
7d Music from orchestra or a small group, with zero content (8)
ORATORIO: This piece for an orchestra “or a” group of three OR A TRIO, that contain the letter that looks like zero O. an ORAT(O)RIO
8d Means to create trouble after work – time to move as far as possible! (3,5)
OIL PAINT: Start with some hard work TOIL, follow with some trouble or suffering PAIN, then move the T for time as far as possible down the grid for the means to create artworks.
11d There’s drilling here – one could get ear pad? (6,6)
PARADE GROUND: An anagram of EAR PAD – but where is the anagram indicator? It is a reverse anagram (one could get) ear pad where the indicator becomes the second word of the solution EAR PAD when GROUND becomes PARADE GROUND a place where soldiers practice their drill
14d With a single heart and clubs, North wrapping up after contracted trick (10)
CONCENTRIC: An excellent surface that makes one think of Contract Bridge. Start with an abbreviated suit of cards C, a synonym of after ONCE, wrap up with N for North and most of (contracted) TRIC(k).
16d Essential in Serengeti: mile gauge showing elevation, and numerical compass (3,5)
AGE LIMIT: Essential in is a lurker indicator, showing elevation is a reversal indicator in a down clue. in SerengeTI MILE Gauge reversed the numerical boundary or compass AGE LIMIT
17d Pet goes on a hunt in tunnels (8)
CATACOMB: A favourite pet CAT, on A from the clue and a hunt for a grooming implement COMB, finds a subterranean burial tunnel instead, a CATACOMB.
19d Patchwork part of fasCIA SO Messily erected (6)
MOSAIC: Another lurker (part of) that is reversed (erected) a patchwork MOSAIC
20d Prove most chunky when topless (6)
ATTEST: A synonym of most chunky FATTEST, loses its topmost letter F. To prove or ATTEST
23d Level, e.g. both teams getting 99 runs (4)
TIER: The result of a match where both teams score the same TIE, and R for runs. A level or TIER
Compiler
Zandio