Sunday Toughie No 160
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I wouldn’t recommend trying to set up a new Windows 11 laptop at the same time as a new phone, but technical issues apart this was a fun Sunday Toughie that troubled me less than the aforementioned tech issues.
14a and 14d clues and I have hinted half
I have some doubts about 4d but I am sure someone will throw some light on stocks. Looking at the grid and the clues I have hinted there are a lot of gaps in the East but when in doubt look for anagrams and lurkers and you should get enough checkers to find the rest. I will try and help with a bonus nudge if required.
A good friend pointed out the dangers in 25a, whatever you do make sure you abandon the odd letters. If you don’t you will have the start of a very unsuitable word for the crossword. I assume neither Zandio or CL spotted this 😭, but MP did😁
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 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 Ready also to join bear market? (4-3-5)
Synonyms of also, bear join the readies we may spend in said market
11a Front company with five hundred per cent backing (5-2)
A front as a disguise for secret or disreputable activities, from an abbreviation, a Roman five and a reversal (backing) of something that is a hundred per cent unadulterated
14a Small faction about to acquire energy corporation (5,4)
A small abbreviation and a faction or group that has acquired an extra e for energy, followed by one of our usual abouts. Corporation is an informal term for part of the body enlarged by over-indulgence
16a Bosses stay secure in recession (9)
To stay in lodgings and a reversal (in recession) of to secure a boat perhaps
21a Which strip shows rule among footballers? (7)
A strip of fabric that indicates the “ruler” amongst a football team
24a Bang on about cleric having transferred or left (7)
Another of our usual abouts and a type of cleric, such that or can be transferred to the left
26a One’s collared elite connections (3,6,3)
I can’t decide whether this is a double definition or an &lit. Worn on the collar to indicate an allegiance to an elite
Down
1d One’s keen and quick to have parting answer (7)
A keen or sharp implement, from quick of mind that contains a for answer
4d Foreign character‘s outlet for liquid stocks? (5)
A double definition, a Greek character or the river outlet shaped like the character. I am not sure what stocks adds to the clue unless it refers to the alluvial deposits that slow down and “stock” the liquid, or maybe the fish that can be replenished there
7d Revolutionary records spies, pounds estate agents (7,6)
You have to get the right record here. A reversal of records between a single and an album in size, American spies, the Latin abbreviation of pound weight and an estate or place for rearing commercially important animals. Agents of a British police department which deals with political security
15d One’s scaly wing flap grips poorly (9)
A wing and a Shakespearean flap “much – about nothing” grip a synonym of poorly
17d Officer‘s bitter holding up prize every European dismissed (7)
To hold up or prize unhopped beer but every European abbreviation is dismissed
19d Military vehicle blueprint restricted by X? On the contrary (7)
Restricted by X would indicate that the letters that resemble the Arabic numbers equal to the Roman X contain the blueprint. On the contrary allows the blueprint to contain letters that look like the number X
22d 4 die in desert (5)
To yearn or “die” for follows the letter that 4d indicates
Compiler
Zandio
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As per Silvanus’ request on Friday here is another tune to celebrate the centenary of Ron Goodwin
An error to transpose the last two clips – or is it…
That’s All Folks…
Thanks SJB – for once you have hinted the clues which had question marks against my answers. ☺️
A good way of occupying a cold and dreich Sunday.
Thanks to the setter and SJB.
I was a bit worried that the lack of hints in the East would cause problems, but glad you have been able to get the answers
The east went in without too many problems. I found the west more tricky.
Very smart, very Zandio. It did take a second to get a toehold but then all fell into place pretty smartly. 1a’s lovely, 11a tickled me, and 24a and 8d are clever. Many thanks to Zandio and Sloop. You can never go wrong with a spot of Jam. PS … I just read 4d’s stocks as deposits.
It was either The Jam or a clip from Morse where the main suspect showed disdain for his 26a by using it as a belt
Ha, that would have worke.! Reminds me of an old pub in Oxford where if you handed over such to be pinned up behind the the bar you got a free pint. Nonsense!
I sympathise with the laptop issues, SJB. I have a new computer requiring a replacement motherboard, I am told. Fortunately it is an intermittent fault which doesn’t stop me using it, and the warranty support has been excellent – the engineer is coming on Tuesday. No problematic issues with today’s puzzle from Zandio, though. The answers went in steadily, with a brief scratch of the head only required for the use of ‘rule’ in 21a and ‘stocks’ in 4d. I found my favourite cryptic clues in the across direction: 9, 23 and 24; but my favourite surfaces for their amusing imagery were all in the down direction: 5, 8 and 15. Re: your comments on 26a, I also had this pegged as a double definition.
My thanks to Zandio for a fun puzzle, and to SJB for the entertaining hints and tips.
I have a new phone that won’t stop beeping like an idiot and a new laptop that won’t make the sounds it should. You are bang on about 24a too
Don’t get me started on my computer. I just wish some of you techie types lived next door to me!
Got lulled into a false sense of security by 1a which yielded easily – it then became a fight for every answer and a few of those were down to guesswork and checkers. To my surprise, I did end up by having several ticked clues – 1&13a plus 5,8&15d all worthy of mention.
Thanks to Zandio for the Sunday work-out and to SJB for the hints.
I do like it when such a wide range of clues get approval.
I hope the 9a gym work out was worth it
Spot on for a Sunday Toughie, packed with lots of very clever clueing, particularly 24a, 2, 7, 17 and 18d. Thanks Zandio and SJB.
I am only sorry my search for granny sketching in her underwear was NSFW!
Don’t make assumptions about grannies underwear 😌 you might be surprised.
An east west divide for me. Started in the NE & worked anti clockwise around the grid. All going swimmingly other than a couple of head scratches in the west country then hit a brick wall with 4 to go (1&2d +9&11a) in the NW. Lost patience, sneaked a peek to see if any hinted & glimpsed the pic for 1d (I’d have been tempted to have Hugh Grant from Bridget Jones) & the additional checkers had the required domino effect. Had got myself into a pickle at 11a convinced D for five hundred surely featured which hadn’t helped. Enjoyed the puzzle & particularly the 4 long ‘uns though a number of others tick worthy.
Thanks as ever to Zandio & to John.
I too tried to cram a D or another C into 11a.
I wish I still had the butcher block and 1d that were in my granddad’s shop in Ashington
A top-notch puzzle for our Sunday pleasure – thanks to Zandio and SJB.
I read the 4d stocks as meaning quantities or supplies, so quantities of liquid.
Ticks from me for 24a, 26a, 8d and 15d.
I suppose that is bang on about stocks. Not as clear cut as the youth gang in the Beam though
Hello, compiler here. Thanks very much for taking the time to solve, hint and discuss. Much appreciated.
Thanks for a fine puzzle that entertained and informed. Thanks for reminding me of the Allan Clarke ephemera I have had in the attic for years.
Got there eventually, held up stupidly by 23a and the military vehicle. I was trying to get X in instead of 10.
Thanks Zandio and SJB
That fooled me too an “on the contrary” and transposing Roman to Arabic numbers were definitely Toughie level parsing
Just finished st breakfast before dashing off to Yoga. I agree that one side went in fairly painlessly but the other side was a struggle. Many thanks to Zando and SJB.
Good steady solve.
21A and 22D were bung-ins for me so I was pleased to see your explanations for those.
After working on this Toughie for a couple of days I’ve managed to complete everything except for 9A which sadly you haven’t hinted! If you can’t indulge me with any further hint then I’ll have to have another couple of days of head-scratching.
Thanks to you and the setter for your sterling work, as always.
Someone on the Dada blog asked about 9a but coming here for help is a much better option.
A synonym of no way is reversed (being retired) and it is inserted (to visit) the abbreviation of gym or similar exercise (as practised by military types) leaving just bar as the definition
Ah, I’m kicking myself for not getting that, but thanks for the hint.
I’ve not come across the Dada blog. I did try googling it and ended up visiting pages about recipes, a programming concept, a care home, an art movement, crochet patterns, therapy resources and the Darebin Appropriate Development Association – but nothing crossword-related!
Sorry I should have been clearer,
Phanciful asked about the parsing of 9a in this toughie but he asked it on Senf’s blog of Dada’s Sunday Backpage puzzle. It is quite confusing if Phanciful or others ask about queries on the wrong blog. You got the hint as you asked in the right place
I see what you mean now and have just read that comment. Thanks again.
Hi Jon
Unfortunately I’ve burnt the Sunday toughie lighting the fire today. If you can remind me of the clue I’ll try and explain it for you! I only subscribe mon to Saturday, so can’t find it on line!
9a Being retired, no way to visit gym or bar (7)
Thanks Jules, but SJB has come to my rescue!