Sunday Toughie 158 (Review)

Sunday Toughie No 158 by proXimal

Review by Sloop John Bee

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

This puzzle was published on the 2nd of February 2025

 

Across

1a           Spooner’s spouse mined rock in enclosed space (5-4)
CUBBY-HOLE: The opening Spoonerism™ had me fooled for a while as I assumed Spooner’s spouse was his wife! We want an informal term for the male half of a relationship HUBBY, and a rock mined for fossil fuel COAL, and swap the initial sounds

6a           Problem acquiring credit for struggling people (5)
SCRUM: A mathematical problem SUM, acquires an abbreviation for credit CR

9a           Doggedness making comeback, European victor defeated opponent (7)
RESOLVE: An abbreviation of European E, and the code letter that Victor suggests V, are joined by a defeated opponent LOSER, then they are reversed (making comeback) for doggedness or RESOLVE

10a        Progressive bhangra Dua Lipa sampled (7)
GRADUAL: A lurker (sampled) in the preceding three words

11a        Do you see me as work friend? (5)
AMIGO: A three-word phrase, synonymous with the first six words of the clue AM I GO?, as a question? As one word it would be a Spanish or Mexican friend AMIGO

12a        Teen that spies beer I’m unsure should nab ten free (4,5)
ALEX RIDER: A beer usually made without hops ALE, and an interjection for I’m unsure ER, contain (nab) a Roman ten X, and a synonym of free RID. ALE X RID ER. I am not familiar with this fictional fellow but he flowed nicely from the clue

13a        Work within firm in the French city formerly (14)
CONSTANTINOPLE: A synonym of firm CONSTANT, IN from the clue, an abbreviated work OP, and a French definite article LE, give us the former name of the city now known as Istanbul

16a        Maybe self-publicist’s euphoria to brag outrageously (14)
AUTOBIOGRAPHER: An anagram (outrageously) of EUPHORIA TO BRAG

20a        Loose tea covered by university study that has been retracted (9)
UNCHAINED: Our favourite word for tea CHA, is contained by an abbreviation of university UNI, and a reversal (that has been retracted) of a study DEN becomes NED

22a        Country’s king before unframed paintings (5)
RURAL: That part of the country that is not urban, a Latin king R, and paintings of, on or attached to walls (M)URAL(S) without the framing letters

23a        Pensioner is confused, erasing one’s novel for Kindle (7)
INSPIRE: The capitalisation of the definition is deceptive. It is a compound anagram from “PENSI(one)R I(s)” after one’s has been removed

24a        Used machine to hoist as revolutionary parts turn (7)
WINCHED: Our ubiquitous revolutionary CHE inserted (parts) into a synonym of turn WIND

25a        Colour covered by rust, in general (5)
TINGE: A lurker (covered by) hidden in the last three words

26a        Indulgence of treacle on bananas (9)
An anagram (bananas) of TREACLE ON becomes TOLERANCE

 

Down

1d          Fish nearly all bone (6)
CARPAL: A type of fish CARP, and nearly all of AL(l), a CARPAL bone in the wrist

2d          A loner at odds with this warrior code might be dishonourable (7)
BUSHIDO: Another compound anagram, this time with a hidden central definition. A loner and this warrior code can be anagrammed to be dishonourable. Therefore DISH(on)OU(ra)B(le) without A LONER leaves the fodder for the warrior code of Japan BUSHIDO

3d          Liverpudlian hit scared soldier after advance (6,9)
YELLOW SUBMARINE: A synonym of scared YELLOW, and a soldier serving at sea MARINE, that follows after an abbreviated advance or SUB

4d          Love great character of Greek (5)
OMEGA: The letter that love represents O, and a synonym of great MEGA. OMEGA a character of the Greek alphabet

5d          Kitchen utensil for one consumer outside this land (3,6)
EGG BEATER: For one as an example EG, the letters that represent our International Vehicle Registration GB, and a consumer or EATER. A utensil for preparing an omelette perhaps

6d          Helper for training group in bar role regularly in tears (8,7)
SPARRING PARTNER: A bar or rafter SPAR, a group or collection RING, an acting role PART, and regular letters of iN tEaRs NER

7d          About finished? Gather together (5,2)
ROUND UP: A double definition – the first a bit “looser” the summary you may give when you are about finished with a presentation, hence the?

8d          Graduate high-flier rebuffed the old claptrap (8)
MALARKEY: A higher arts graduate MA, a bird that flies high LARK, and a reversal (rebuffed) of an old word for the YE becomes EY

14d        Trouble first of nurses in room adjoining hospital department for dressing (9)
ADORNMENT: Some Shakespearean trouble (much ADO about nothing) and the first letter of nurses N, in an abbreviated room RM, and that otorhinolaryngological hospital department ENT

15d        Storyteller‘s book is at separate points held in censure (8)
FABULIST: A synonym of censure or blame FA_UL_T, contains (held in) at separate points an abbreviation of book B, and IS from the clue

17d        Friar with greed, perhaps, eats heartily (5,2)
TUCKS IN: There are six other moral failings but greed is the most apt to follow the fictional Friar TUCK SIN

18d        Take home captivating article made of clay (7)
EARTHEN: What you take home from gainful employment EARN, contains (captivating) a definite article THE

19d        Banks in Portugal limit security (6)
PLEDGE: The banks of Portugal P L, and a limit EDGE, are the security you may promise to honour a debt PLEDGE

21d        Be successful after clipping fastening (5)
DOWEL: Clip the last letter off a phrase to be successful DO WEL(L)

Compiler

proXimal

That’s all Folks…