Sunday Toughie No 166 by proXimal
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 30th of March 2025
Across
1a Spooner’s comment about cart: it is a slow means of transport (10)
NARROWBOAT: A cart with handles and one or more wheels BARROW, and a written comment NOTE, are given the Spooner treatment
6a Post stuff second-class (4)
JAMB: A post at the side of a door or window frame. To stuff to capacity JAM, and someone below the A-list – B
9a Formal female suits returned (5)
STIFF: An abbreviation of female F, and a synonym of suits FITS, is reversed for formal or STIFF
10a Loose nut initially stopping operation remedied (9)
UNSECURED: The initial letter of nut N, goes into (stopping) a synonym of the activity of operation USE, and one of being remedied CURED. Loose or UNSECURED
12a Grant perhaps advanced using brain, in essence (13)
FUNDAMENTALLY: A sum of money given as a grant FUND, and an advanced level abbreviation A, precede using your brain MENTALLY
14a Painting reportedly shameful property (8)
PORTRAIT: Homophones (reportedly) of shameful property POOR TRAIT, – not quite right to this ear – it sounds more like a dog’s foot to me
15a A limb turned to ice (6)
GELATO: Half of the icy treat is given in the clue A and TO, the other half is a reversal (turned) of a lower limb LEG becomes GEL. GEL(A)(TO) an Ice Cream
18a Since appearing, losing heart (6)
SEEING: A conjunction usually followed by that or as appears when a synonym of appearing SEE(M)ING, loses its central letter (losing heart)
19a Very cold one along with others of community (8)
SOCIETAL: A synonym of very SO, an abbreviation of cold C, a Roman one I, and an abbreviation of the Latin phrase for along with others Et Alia, abbreviates as ET AL. SO-C-I-ET AL
20a Regularly counsel duo seen in bars – they never found fame again (3-3,7)
ONE-HIT WONDERS: Regular letters of cOuNsEl ONE, and a synonym of bars HINDERS, contain a duo TWO
24a Walk around in island church displaying haughtiness (9)
ARROGANCE: A synonym of walk is reversed (around)GO becomes OG, it is inserted (in) a delightful Scottish island I had many childhood holidays in ARRAN, it is followed by a church abbreviation CE. Displaying haughtiness or ARR(OG)AN-CE
25a Professor’s a don in the know (5)
AWARE: In crosswords, professors are often dons and vice versa; here, it is a slightly unusual homophone indicator. To profess or say a from the clue and a synonym of don some clothes A WEAR, means you are in the know or AWARE
26a Article learner penned in the old university (4)
YALE: Take an old term for the YE, and pen an indefinite article A, and the letter that signifies a learner L, within
27a Ski jumping with this former PM could be sportsmanlike (10)
PALMERSTON: My last one in today, and although I should have been expecting a compound anagram, it took me an embarrassingly long time to spot that a former (19th century) PM was an anagram of what remains of (s)PORTSMANL(ik)E when ski has been removed
Down
1d Hideout fine structure conceals (4)
NEST: A lurker (conceals) where avian snipe live or snipers hide out
2d Support soldiers in great numbers (9)
REINFORCE: Soldiers that are sappers RE, IN from the clue and a great number FORCE, to provide support REINFORCE
3d Progressing well, Anglo-Saxon king discharged dominion to turn back current (3,3,7)
OFF AND RUNNING: An Anglo-Saxon king (who built a dyke between Mercia and Powys) OFFA, a reversal (to turn back) of what remains of dominion when the central letters have been discharged DN becomes ND, and a synonym of current RUNNING
4d Asian people shortly drive away to receive shelter (8)
BHUTANIS: To drive away BANISH, loses its last letter BANIS, and inserts a small shelter or HUT
5d Upset Snow Queen clutching head in icy passage (5)
AISLE: The firstborn daughter of King Agnarr and Queen Iduna in Disney’s Frozen ELSA is reversed (upset) ASLE, and clutches the head of Icy I. A(I)SLE a church or supermarket passage
7d Girl was very ill every now and then (5)
AVRIL: Alternate letters (every now and then) in words two, three and four
8d Brother completely topped singer (5,5)
BUDDY HOLLY: A brother or close pal BUDDY, and a synonym of completely (W)HOLLY, that has been “topped” of its first letter
11d Queen rather agitated with a prince (9,4)
CATHERINE PARR: An anagram (agitated) of RATHER with A PRINCE
13d Exposed team hiding shooter with lines found in letters (10)
EPISTOLARY: What remains of team when exposed EA, hides a small firearm or shooter PISTOL, followed by the abbreviation of lines or tracks RY. EPISTOLARY written in the form of or carried on by letters or correspondence
16d Witness attending trial, six-footer (9)
ATTESTANT: To attend AT, a trial TEST, and one of our usual six-footed creatures ANT
17d Hardwood toy maker cut put on each model’s top (8)
HORNBEAM: A toy maker (of model trains) HORNBY, loses its last letter (cut)HORNB, and adds an abbreviation of each EA, and the top of model M
21d Register felonry after unmasking criminal (5)
ENROL: An anagram (criminal) of f)ELONR(y after it has been unmasked
22d Presenter once moving up north for money (5)
WONGA: A former TV and Radio presenter Terry WOGAN. moves the abbreviation of north up the order for an informal term for money
23d Duchess giving out tips for good housekeeping of little value (4)
MEAN: Specifically, The Duchess of Sussex ME(GH)AN loses the tips of good housekeeping GH, from her forename
Compiler
proXimal
That’s all Folks…