Toughie No 3487 by Beam
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Beam is being extremely gentle with us today and I doubt whether my hints will be required. Thanks to him for the puzzle.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.
Across Clues
1a Clapping, quietly left during an interval (8)
APPLAUSE: insert abbreviations for quietly and left into an interval (1,5).
5a Raise from gambler (6)
BETTER: double definition, the first a verb.
9a Story about evil rejected being human (8)
FALLIBLE: a story or moral tale contains the reversal of an adjective meaning evil or adverse.
10a Charges conserving energy in breathers? (6)
LUNGES: bodily breathers contain the physics abbreviation for energy.
12a Wandering from point in one diatribe (9)
ITINERANT: a point or prong goes between the Roman one and a diatribe or tirade.
13a Sweetheart thrilled originally wearing ring (5)
PETAL: a term of endearment comes from the first letter of thrilled inside a verb to ring.
14a Man, perhaps, lives with large sweetheart (4)
ISLE: assemble a verb meaning lives or exists, the abbreviation for large and Beam’s swEetheart.
16 Might they fill empty beer vessels? (7)
BREWERS: the outer letters of beer and a word for large jugs which is only ever seen in crosswords.
19a Went rogue holding over resentment (7)
RANCOUR: a verb meaning went swiftly and a rogue containing the cricket abbreviation for over.
21a Sinks for cooking utensils (4)
POTS: double definition, the first what a snooker player does.
24a Damn solution consuming last of brains (5)
CURSE: a solution or remedy contains the last letter of brains.
25a Embellish old poetry including rubbish (9)
OVERSTATE: the abbreviation for old and a synonym of poetry containing an informal word for rubbish.
27a Make attractive butt prominent feature (6)
ENDEAR: a synonym for a butt or stub and an outstanding facial feature. Very amusing!
28a Set off device recoiling in action (8)
DEPARTED: reverse a device for catching animals inside a synonym of action.
29a Actively cunning taking peek (6)
SPRYLY: an adjective meaning cunning contains a verb to peek or stick one’s nose in.
30a Experienced cooks perhaps did so (8)
SEASONED: double definition.
Down Clues
1d Female stuck inside a mediocre relationship (6)
AFFAIR: the abbreviation for female goes between A and a synonym for mediocre.
2d Almost drag and upend upended platform (6)
PULPIT: a truncated verb to drag and the reversal of a verb to upend.
3d Stomach is tender in casualty department? (5)
ABIDE: a tender or offer is inserted between the letters identifying a casualty department.
4d Rescue animal finally in wild (7)
SALVAGE: insert the final letter of animal into an adjective meaning wild or untamed.
6d Alien capturing crack soldiers outfit, say (9)
EQUIPMENT: the usual Spielberg alien captures a crack or gag and a term for soldiers.
7d United tie letting in own goal (8)
TOGETHER: a verb to tie or fasten contains the abbreviation for own goal.
8d Section of trestle’s standing on edge (8)
RESTLESS: hidden.
11d Attack with knife getting shot (4)
STAB: double definition, the shot being an attempt.
15d Hedge circles round recent hedge (9)
STONEWALL: a verb to hedge or prevaricate contains the round letter and an adjective meaning recent.
17d Advances and returns (8)
PROCEEDS: double definition, the returns being financial.
18d Print rude remark about unwelcome guest (8)
INTRUDER: hidden.
20d Cross, regretted speaking out (4)
ROOD: this sounds like a verb meaning regretted.
21d Lead then withdraw under pressure (7)
PRECEDE: a verb to withdraw comes after the physics abbreviation for pressure.
22d Immoral refusal upheld supporting hunger? (6)
WANTON: the reversal of a curt refusal follows a synonym of hunger or need.
23d Weakling engages theologian to get married (6)
WEDDED: a feeble individual contains the abbreviation for a theologian.
26d Some cons and maybe swindles, initially (5)
SCAMS: initial letters.
I liked 16a, 3d and 7d with my favourite (for the amusing surface) being 27a. Which one(s) appealed to you?
Many thanks to Beam for an enjoyable puzzle, and to Gazza for the write-up.
The double definition at 17d gets my vote – I liked its surface.
Another friendly but enjoyable puzzle. So far, this week has been the least difficult I can recall for a long time.
As was suggested yesterday, we are probably being lulled into a false state of security before tomorrow’s inevitable brain mashing.
Thanks to Beam and it is always good to have a deck at your joke book, Gazza!
Thanks Beam and Gazza. After the last three days I wonder if Elgar or Osmosis will be as gentle tomorrow!
It’s almost certain to be Elgar and he doesn’t do gentle!
This just shows that a gentle puzzle can still be most enjoyable. I enjoyed every one of these. Out of all the ticks my joint favourites were 16A and 15D. As you said Gazza, we may not have needed your hints but we always need your cartoons, so thanks to you and to Beam for the fun.
All the expected humour from our setter with just a couple in the SW holding me up for a while. Give me enjoyment over brain-mangling every time although I appreciate that’s not the same for everyone. Tops for me were 9,25,27&30a plus 7d.
Devotions of course to Mr T/Beam and a big thank you to Gazza for the review and cartoons – think the tot from the micro brewery gets the gold star today.
I, too, was held up in the SW in an otherwise very user-friendly and gently amusing puzzle. The usual splendid entertainment from Beam, with 30a getting the gold star.
Thanks to Mr T and Gazza.
Yep, SW the last redoubt for me, too. A cracking puzzle from first to last. COTD 16a, with 30a & 18d joining it on the podium.
Many thanks indeed to Beam and Gazza (great selection of cartoons!)
Very gentle for a Thursday Toughie, but most enjoyable. If Elgar is on duty tomorrow, I’ll be washing my hair.
Ray is teasing us again with the sweetheart at 13a. Good clue.
My favourites are 1a, 12a, 13a, 16a, 27a, 1d, 3d, 7d and 8d.
Thank you Beam/Ray and Gazza.
Evening all. My thanks to Gazza for the illumination and to all for your comments.
RayT
Many thanks for a great puzzle.
I liked this puzzle much more than the back pager. RayT/Beam just makes so much sense with his precise and succinct clueing.
I find his puzzles easy to follow and work through as they just make sense.
Favourites include 1a, 13a, 30a, 7d, 18d & 23d — with winner 13a
Thanks to Beam/RayT & Gazza
A lovely puzzle. Probably the easier of the Dream Team’s offerings today & every bit as enjoyable in its own way. Most welcome here after last night’s lamentable performance with yesterday’s Toughie.
Thanks to Beam & Gazza
Me in the SW too. Very difficult and then my phone froze so had to reboot. Favourite was 16a. Thanks to Beam and Gazza.