Sunday Toughie No 156 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 19th of January 2025
Across
1a Help when one’s stuck in position (10)
ASSISTANCE: A synonym of when AS, and a position or pose STANCE, into which is inserted the letter that looks like one and its plural ‘s IS
6a Strip is reportedly censored (4)
BAND: A homophone (reportedly) of being censored, BANNED becomes BAND
10a Second fish nearly rejected mollusc (7)
SCALLOP: Almost all of the fish of the cod family is reversed POLLAC(K) , it follows S, an abbreviation for second
11a One sees one’s behind in these! (7)
ARREARS: My first thought was that mirrors were needed to see your behind! But it is the condition of being behind in paying one’s debts. If you are in arrears you are behind in payments
12a Costume rips, repeatedly holding back sweat (8)
PERSPIRE: A reverse lurker (holding back) in the first three words of the clue
13a Landscape is pictured for the audience (5)
SCENE: A homophone (for the audience) is pictured or sighted. SEEN becomes SCENE
15a Prepared, stopped losing head protecting Queen (7)
ALTERED: A synonym of stopped HALTED, loses its first letter ALT ED, then it goes around (protecting) our late Queens regnal cipher ER
17a They top coverings on cakes, finally (7)
SLAYERS: Multiple coverings are recommended to keep one warm in winter LAYERS, they follow the last letter of cakes S. SLAYERS may “top” or murder you
19a Brief tramp touring island (7)
DOSSIER: A tramp or vagrant DOSSER, around the abbreviation of island I
21a Possibly drill bit runs around radius (7)
PIERCER: A bit or part PIECE, around the abbreviation for radius R, followed by the R for runs
22a Eccentric Conservative standing (5)
CRANK: The abbreviation for Conservative C, followed by one’s standing in an order RANK
24a Sit on seat clutching tether’s ends? (8)
STRADDLE: A seat (for a horse or bicycle) SADDLE, contains both ends of tether TR
27a Opposing wins welcomed by echoing cheers (7)
AGAINST: A reversal (echoing) of informal cheers TA, becomes A T, around some wins or GAINS
28a Beginning to prune, grips bushes (7)
PRIVETS: The beginning of prune P, and grips together with hot metal fixings RIVETS
29a Initially Titian and Turner exhibited here? (4)
TATE: Initial letters of four words in the clue are a place where artists such as Titian and Turner may exhibit
30a Measure rhythm inside heart (10)
CENTIMETRE: Two synonyms, one inside the other. Rhythm or TIME is inside heart or CEN TRE
Down
1d Portion of church primates elevating saint (4)
APSE: Some primates APES, with the shorter abbreviation of saint S, elevated up the order for a part of a church
2d Vague son miserable embracing sweetheart (9)
SHAPELESS: Start with the abbreviation of son S, and add a synonym of miserable HAPLESS, around Beam’s trademark ™ sweetheart E. Vague or S(HAP)E(LESS)
3d Little alternative on board for sailors (5)
SALTS: A shortened alternative ALT, in a ship abbreviation S.S.
4d Discord maybe fabricated for real (7)
APPLIED: Discord here is not a disagreement or strife, but an instant messaging social platform, the abbreviation for such a computer program APP, and fabricated or made up LIED. For real (of an academic subject) put to use for a purpose rather than studied for its own sake, (opposite to pure or theoretical)
5d Prattles about the French holiday homes? (7)
CHALETS: One of the French definite articles LE, in some idle prattling CHATS
7d Stone top of arched entrance (5)
AGATE: The topmost letter of arched A, and an entrance GATE, might be the type of stone that a geologist has at the bottom of his garden
8d Pharmacy putting small scribbles in journal (10)
DISPENSARY: An abbreviation for small S, and scribbles (with a particular writing implement) PENS, go into a daily journal DIARY
9d Organ is flat missing register’s opening (8)
PROSTATE: A synonym of flat P(R)OSTATE, without the opening letter of register R, is an organ of the body – It seems it actually a gland rather than an organ but close enough for me (and Beam)
14d Man current vessel, displaying skill (10)
HANDICRAFT: A manual worker HAND, the physics abbreviation of current I, and a vessel CRAFT, display a particular skill HANDICRAFT
16d Holding article to hide tattoos? (8)
THINKING: An article or THING, contains an informal term for tattoos INK, holding a set of beliefs THINKING
18d Select former unit on hospital department (9)
EXCELLENT: A usual former EX, and a unit of biology CELL, and the hospital otorhinolaryngology department ENT
20d Meaningless performance taking stage for prize (7)
ROSETTE: A repetitive performance without regard to the meaning ROTE, contains the stage or SET
21d A treasure covered by Standard Bank (7)
PARAPET: A from the clue and a treasure or favourite PET, covered by the standard score on a golf hole PAR. A bank or PARAPET
23d Modify plug fitting (5)
ADAPT: To plug or promote with an abbreviated advertisement AD, and a synonym of fitting APT
25d Some certitude is mandatory for belief (5)
DEISM: A lurker (some) in words three to four DEISM a belief in a God or deity
26d Man, perhaps, oddly insulted (4)
ISLE: A definition by example (perhaps) odd letters of the last word I n S u L t E d
Compiler
Beam
That’s all Folks…
Thanks, Sloop and Beam.
In 28a I would parse “rivet” as the verb, A riveting performance would be gripping.
Good spot! With a name like Braze I am not surprised you know more about hot metal fixings than I do😉
Thank you, Sloop. Haven’t done much electronics work since grad school, but Braze is a twisted zebra.
Reminds me of the old joke that you have probably heard before.
A young Zebra asks his dad if he can support Arsenal ?
”No son, you can support Newcastle like the rest of the herd”
Like this;