Sunday Toughie 157 (Hints) – Big Dave's Crossword Blog
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Sunday Toughie 157 (Hints)

by Sloop John Bee  

Sunday Toughie No 157


by Zandio

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

 

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

Zandio very graciously provided me with an advanced copy of this puzzle. I imagine I will be a “bit under the weather” after the Big Bash and unable to give this puzzle a good blogging. By the time you read this, I should be on a train home but I will respond to comments if and when I can.

I hope I have transcribed the clues accurately, as I haven’t seen the puzzle in print yet. It is quite tricky and has lots of cross-references between clues. Big Dave’s advice when I started these hints almost three years ago was to hint first and last across and down clues with about half the clues hinted. I have stopped at half hints before I got to the end.

I have hinted at half of the 14a and 16d clues. I hope you find the checkers to enable completion, as the journey home from the Big Bash may make bonus nudges a bit tricky.


*Post Bash update*
All had a great time, and it was even better to see so many old and new faces. The Teams link was a little problematic, but I hope those who managed to log on could join in the fun a little. Many thanks to Steve C who got the ball rolling with a donation to the bar bill, even though he may have preferred not to be teased by those displaying “Mythical” Pens. Over the next few days, I  hope to collate photos taken and put them in the gallery.

Here we go…

As it is a Prize puzzle I can only hint at a few and hope that will give you the checkers and inspiration to go further. I’ll be back just after the closing date with the full blog. Don’t forget to follow BD’s instructions in RED at the bottom of the hints!

I hope I don’t have to redact any comments but I am not so new at this 17d and don’t want to rock the boat. If in doubt, I’ll rub it out! I think that sentence is a bit redundant. You have all been so helpful in sorting out prior parsing failures, and I am sure I will need similar help again.

Most of the terms used in these hints are explained in the Glossary and examples are available by clicking on the entry under “See also” Where the hint describes a construct as “usual” this means that more help can be found in The Usual Suspects, which gives a number of the elements commonly used in the wordplay. Another useful page is Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, which features words with meanings that are not always immediately obvious. Don’t forget the Mine of useful information that Big Dave and his son Richard so meticulously prepared for us.

A full review of this puzzle will be published after the closing date for submissions. Some hints follow: Remember the site rules and play nicely

Across

1a           Entertainers that won’t perform unless they are given a hand (5,7)
Two all-in-one &lit’s to start, Shari Lewis and Lambchop an example from my childhood

11a         Yobs roared “No retreating”, scrapped occasionally at close quarters (6)
A reversal (retreating) of alternate letters (scrapped occasionally) of the first three words

12a         13’s equivalent to 10’s spread… (8)
To from the clue and the letters you ought to have in 10a plus the ‘s are spread about to be a synonym of the answer for 13a

15a         One cadges what’s saved by Andrew or Robert in recession? (8)
A reverse lurker (what’s saved by) (in recession)  hidden in Andy or Bob (or Huntsman and the much missed Robert Clark)
Another favourite childhood book/TV programme I cannot illustrate without giving too much away

18a         Set to get new or old pence, apparently (8)
A reversal of new or old pence but the reversal indicator goes in the grid. So it is indicator, old pence, or reversed, and ends with new pence. The set in front of which actors perform
Billy Elliot – Theatrecrafts.com

21a         Hard area to land in agreed with spin bowler – maybe… (8)
Abbreviations of hard and area and agreed from the clue are spun to make bowler a definition by example – maybe.
A nice crickety surface of this and the next clue… but now’t to do with cricket

26a         There it is, five-nil, Italy against the French (5)
A Roman five, the letter that is equivalent to nil, the IVR code for Italy and one of the French definite articles

 

Down

3d           25 times reserved, but not in or on display (9)
The Radio Code letter that your answer to 25d indicates, the mathematical symbol that times things and a synonym of shy or reserved without (but not) in

5d           Possible destination for 15 men on board, on short journey (8)
Sixteen of the men on a chessboard and a short journey, would be  a place where your answer to 15a may get funds

8d           End of plodding Queen cover’s cut – it should soar (6)
The end of plodding and our late Queen’s regnal cipher cut by a synonym of a cover

14d         Called out phoney, an evil snake (8)
A homophone of phoney  plus one of the seven deadly “evils”

How Dangerous Is The Water Moccasin? | Snake Removal

16d         Repeatedly criticise Sunday lunch? (5,4)
Two complaints or criticisms
Roast Rib of Beef with Thyme, Port and Redcurrants

17d         Currently on the up, Yankee in blue advanced and came first (8)
A reversal (on the up in a down clue) of the letter that Yankee suggests in a synonym of blue, an abbreviation of advanced and came first in a competition

18d         British ought to undermine European act (6)
Abbreviations of British and European precede ought to possess. I am not convinced I’ve got this right but I am sure you can help

22d         Husband sounded in a state (5)
A homophone (sounded) of to husband or gather up and store give us a state in West Africa
Rockford Files' Actor James Garner Dead at 86 | TIME

Compiler

Zandio

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After listening to The Story above I always go on to listen to this…

That’s All Folks…

31 comments on “Sunday Toughie 157 (Hints)”

  1. Tough but reasonably enjoyable, marred for me by the unnecessarily high number of interlinked clues. Two raised eyebrow moments, inc 18d. And a couple of very nice cryptics.

    COTD 1a, runner-up 15a.

    Many thanks to Zandio and SJB

    1. Can’t argue with your favourites but would add 22d once the “Rockford” homophone dropped

      (Sheffield Railway Station in a downpour – waiting for a connection to York)

  2. Firstly it was a great pleasure to meet you and the delightful Mama Bee yesterday – and yes, George was thrilled with the macaroons which were some consolation to him for not being able to accompany me to the Bash. If I had realised there was a bill of any sort I would have contributed but I paid for anything I ordered and was not aware that there was tab. It was such a lovely occasion and I was thrilled to meet my heroes and Senf was a Star! We had 24 hrs notice of this guzzle as you know but I am still struggling with 13a and 14d. 1a is sheer genius and 9a and 26a made me laugh. Many thanks to Zandio and SJB with another thank you for making yesterday such a success.

    1. It was delightful to meet you yesterday
      13a is a double definition the first of which is the opposite of 11a and the second may facilitate TV viewing
      14d is a type of snake I think it is so called because its head resembles the shoe.
      (Stuck on a train that is so rammed they wouldn’t let cattle travel this way – but Mama Bee has managed to blag us seats by playing the little old lady card)

  3. A very enjoyable puzzle – thanks to Zandio and SJB.
    My podium selections are 1a, 18a and 4d.

  4. Glad that Zandio provided you with an advance copy – did wonder how you’d fit it all in. A very enjoyable puzzle which I felt was pretty tricky in places. Ticks against 1,9&21a + 3,5&22d.
    Thanks to Zandio & to John – thanks for 17d parse & pleased it all went well after all of your work organising. Look forward to the pics.

    1. (Wakefield – even fuller and wetter)
      Pic for 22d was a bit cheeky but another childhood favourite)

        1. Ah yes The Great Escape was a fine film, although I could do without Steve McQueen on the bike. The hills looked familiar and I thought he was about to burst into song with Julie Andrews

  5. All completed, but I found 18a really confusing. I assume that ‘appsrently’ is the reversal indicator? If so, I don’t think I’ve come across it before. Thanks Zandio and SJB.

  6. Hello, compiler here. Thanks very much for taking the time to solve, hint and discuss. Always appreciated.
    Nudge, “apparently” isn’t a reversal indicator. It means “as we can see” (in the solution). The answer can be seen as an instruction. Hope that helps!
    Many thanks again, particularly to SJB for doing the hints while organising the birthday bash.

    1. (finally home – I am so glad we didn’t spend the afternoon in London The BM is partially closed by a disgruntled IT worker, Kings X is closed too and all trains north were not fit for cattle)

      Thanks again for giving me an early look at the puzzle -it really helped and more thanks for explaining the hidden reversal indicator whilst I was travelling.

  8. I usually find it easier to fathom our setter’s intentions in his Toughies as opposed to his back-pagers, but not today! Crawled across the finish line decidedly bruised and battered although, along the way, I did enjoy 1,23&26a.

    Thanks to Zandio for the challenge and to SJB for the hints – bet you were glad to get an advance copy of this one!

    By the way, for anyone who may be interested, one of the speakers at the puzzles conference to be held in Magdalen College in March is our own Eccles, a BD graduate from quite some time ago. He’s come a long way since those early days!

    1. The heart certainly missed a beat when I saw all the numbers and cross-references but they sorted themselves out pretty well (I hope)
      I will have to see if I can make that conference thanks for the heads up

    2. Had no idea Eccles was a BD graduate – I rarely get round to the Indy but have noticed that both you & RD comment on his puzzles

      1. He was Snape in Rookie Corner and the NTSPP series, changing his “name” to Eccles when he made the Independent

  9. Hi all,

    First time commenting. Found this blog searching for an explanation for 18a.

    That was bruising but got through it. Last in was 18a where I relied heavily on the crossers. A bit confused still but reading the setter’s comment and the hints I have twigged it now. I think it’s fair to say that’s a toughie.

    Also needed to get Chambers out for 24d. My new word of the day.

    Liked: 14d, 26a

    Thanks Zandio and blogger

    1. Welcome to the blog,
      Now you have found us I hope you will come back often and comment again

  10. Very enjoyable solved with some awesome clues, notably 1a, 18a, 28a and 18d. Took a while to sort out the linked clues, but got there in the end.
    Glad you’re home safe and sound SJB, I’m glad I don’t need to use trains any more, usually only to Twickenham, but the cost of tickets there are off the scale now, so prefer to watch on the box, when the 13 is 11!

  11. Nothing to do with the crossword but thank you for ‘In Search of Angels’, what a lovely performance. Malcolm Jones is such a good guitarist.

  12. The family event that took up my weekend also set aside any consideration I may have had about attending the anniversary celebration. I’m sure much fun was had by all, and glad to hear that despite the discomforts of travelling you made it home safely in the end, SJB. Our family event also meant that my usual weekend crossword solving has taken place mid-week, however Zandio has delivered as per usual and the puzzle had certainly not passed it’s ‘best before’ date…
    Podium places have been awarded for each direction. Proudly populating the Across steps are 1, 18 and 21. On the Down steps are 3, 5 and 16. I’m happy to report zero obscurities, and all the parsing i’s and t’s are duly dotted and crossed – not always the case with my crossword solving!
    Many thanks to Zandio and SJB.

    1. I don’t know how Senf does it – he did the Dada Sunday, a back pager Wednesday and all that and travelling. He didn’t even have an early peek like I did.

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