Toughie No 3501 by Donnybrook
Hints and tips by Whybird
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BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
Good morning from a distinctly dreich Wirral. I suppose the garden will benefit, but it’s not what I want from late June! It was at least dry enough earlier for Lord Alfie of Sniffington to have his constitutional without the all-pervasive odour of Wet Spaniel.
I’ve double checked my calendar, and it IS apparently a Tuesday…. Today’s seemed harder that the expected standard, even once I had twigged the recurring theme – “29 possessive” being very important. I’m not a big fan of crosswords that keep referring to the same two clues- it doesn’t do a lot for the surfaces. I’ve also had to do some research to plug gaps in my memory and general knowledge, and there were several expressions that were new to me. That said, there were still some lovely clues. I liked 1d (although I suspect that may be a bit Marmite); 29a was very well pitched, but my standout this week was 14d. It took a while for the penny to drop, but it brought a big smile when it did – Bravo, Donnybrook, and thank you for the opportunity to expand my vocabulary.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.
Across Clues
1 Some sheep, not fine, graze in 29’s 6 (3,7)
OLD SCRATCH Remove F from a collective noun for sheep (no, not the obvious one, the one more commonly used for the pen they are kept in) and follow that with an alternative for “graze” as an injury to give the first of today’s hell-themed answers. Not a term I knew
6 Call individual lacking in love accepts in the morning (4)
NAME Remove the letter that looks like zero from the individual number, and insert the abbreviation for “in the morning” to give a synonym for “call”
10 China doing away with resistance in 29’s 6 (5)
FIEND “China” here is rhyming slang, not crockery. Remove the abbreviation for “resistance” from a synonym of that meaning, to give another of today’s theme
11 Jack in Devon say tortured in 29’s 6 (4,5)
DAVY JONES Insert the usual letter for “Jack” into an anagram (tortured) of “Devon say” to give a nautical version of today’s theme
12 Six Langley staffers surrounding rocky hill station (8)
VICTORIA The Roman numeral for “six” is followed by the US agents headquartered in Langley, Virginia around a three-letter name for a rocky hill to get a London rail and coach terminus
13 Hard to be expelled from immaculate social group (5)
CASTE Remove the usual letter for “hard” from synonym for “immaculate” (or pure) to get a grouping associated with Hindu society
15 Old clan, Scots on holiday in Asian city? (7)
OKINAWA The single letter for “old” followed by a synonym of “clan” (or family) and how the Scottish may write “on holiday” (or not here) to get a Japanese city
17 Recluse finally in love ruined 29’s 6 (4,3)
EVIL ONE An anagram (ruined) of the final letter of “recluse” and “in love” to get another infernal term
19 Grassy surface devours one in Paris facing star (7)
SUNWARD A name for a grassy surface surrounds the masculine “one” in French to give a word meaning “directed at Earth’s nearest star”
21 Getting brown label to cover one among three 6s? (7)
TANNING Three of the letter abbreviation for 6 across surround the letter that looks like the number one, and these are inserted into a three-letter label to get something you might do if you turned 19a! Although good luck with that on the Wirral today…
22 Something worth 2 in 29’s 6 (5)
DEUCE A double definition, the first sense being commonly associated with card games in America, the second being another of the themed clues, often used as a mild exclamation
24 Friends abroad stuffing cabbage – 12’s Secret Item? (8)
CAMISOLE An article of underwear is formed by inserting the French word for “friends” into a type of cabbage, or other brassica
27 Union matching deal (9)
AGREEMENT A triple definition
28 Dravidian male feeding dog (5)
TAMIL Insert the abbreviation for “male” into the usual word meaning “dog” in the sense of “follow” to give a people inhabiting Southern India and (Northern) Sri Lanka
29 Cooler condition (4)
NICK A double definition, the former sense being associated with the penal system.
30 Drawing together neat knots to secure chain (10)
ASTRINGENT An anagram (knots) surrounds a synonym for chain, to give a word meaning “drawing together”. I didn’t know this sense of the word, I’m more familiar with its use for “pungency”
Down Clues
1 Mercian monarch‘s American assassin caught? (4)
OFFA A Mercian king (famous for his dyke) is a phononym (caught) of how an American by describe an assassin.
2 Draw last breath striking red regime changer? (9)
DIETITIAN A charade of what you do if you draw your last breath and a red colour gives the professional who may persuade you to change your eating habits
3 Something like 500 Enxet disembowelled younger son (5)
CADET The two-letter “about” followed by the Roman numeral for 500 and the outer letters (disembowelled) of Enxet gives another term for a younger son. Another sense of a common word that I did not know.
4 Table talk about party on Republican right in state (7)
ANDORRA An archaic three-letter word meaning “gossip” surrounds the usual two-letter party and the abbreviations for “Republican” and “right” to give a principality in the southern Pyrenees
5 Attention needed to carry through fine food (7)
CAVIARE The usual, Latin-derived “through” is inserted into what you need to take if you pay attention gives an expensive fish-related foodstuff
7 Sainted woman picks engagement rings up (5)
AGNES A female Saint is lurking in reverse (“rings up” in a Down clue) in “picks engagement”
8 Grease gets stirred for seasonal specialities (6,4)
EASTER EGGS An anagram (stirred) of “grease gets” gives a seasonal, chocolate treat.
9 Bubbly on ice with jet for discharge (8)
EJECTION An anagram (bubbly) of “on ice” and “jet” gives a synonym for discharge
14 Powerfully moved, with this Stubbs commenced to paint? (5-5)
HORSE-DRAWN Given the animal that Stubbs is most famous for painting, he may have started with a sketch, and this describes a means of animal power associated with carriages, etc
16 Roused a hooligan keeping watch over corpse (8)
AWAKENED “A” from the clue and a (Scottish) three-letter hooligan surrounds a watch over a corpse (more commonly used for the social gathering afterwards) to yield a synonym of “roused”. I didn’t know the hooligan
18 Standard round: rounds endlessly loaded into gun (9)
ORIFLAMME A type of flag is formed from the round letter followed by the abbreviation for “ammunition” lacking its letter inserted into a type of gun
20 Elevated hero in Scotland knows 29’s 6 (7)
DICKENS A Spanish hero is inverted and followed by the ways the Scots would says “knows” to give another themed term and mild euphemistic exclamation
21 Pet term abused in 29’s 6 (7)
TEMPTER An anagram (abused) of “pet term” gives another of our themed answers
23 NHS must avoid badly crushing certain tongues (5)
UGRIC A family of languages (including Hungarian) is formed by an anagram (badly) of “crushing” but lacking the letters (must avoid) NHS
25 Ships at anchor carrying 29’s 6 (5)
SATAN Another themed solution is found (carrying) in “ships at anchor”
26 Deadly sin husband escapes in designated period (4)
SLOT One of the deadly sins, minus the letter indicating “husband” gives a designated (time) period, the missing of which is often associated with delays in air travel
As I commented to SJB on the back page blog, “a cracking Toughie […] lots of fun, reasonably accessible, infernally clever, and immensely satisfying to solve […] One of Donny’s best ever, and that’s coming from someone who generally dislikes themed puzzles and connected clues.”
Seeing the many references to 29/6 I made a point of tackling those first and, fortunately, they fell in my first three solved clues. That opened the door to the rest of it, and I even remembered 18d from somewhere, though I could not parse fully my answer to 4d having once again forgotten that meaning of ana.
Very clever clueing & construction, too many ticks to list. Edit: ok, 24a was brilliant, and other highlights included 12a, 15a, 30a, 2d, 16d & 20d.
Many thanks indeed to Donny and to Whybird. Nothing wrong with eau de wet spaniel – we have three springers and I find their damp whiff quite appealing, so long as they have not also rolled in or eaten fox/badger/other excrement for added bouquet!
Fortunately neither Alfie nor his late brother were “rollers”, so that’s never been a problem. I am touching wood… I like the aroma too. It’s a mark of duties completed and a reminder of their younger days when walks had to happen whatever the weather. There’s a lot more leeway now.
I am sure that the recurring theme and linked clues will be a bit “Marmite” but I loved them.
The possessive part of 29 was key and a very useful Wikipedia page aided the solve on the train down to The George. I hope to see Donnybrook later and will ask if this is going to typically Tuesdayish.
Btw did you see “Your” perfect Spoonerism in the Sunday Toughie?
I might well grump at some of Donny’s Saturday offerings, with clues scattered around the grid like a game of pick-up-sticks, but all is forgiven and forgotten when puzzles such as this appear. Please pass on my thanks should you see him today.
The Spoonerism was excellent and I do hope Whybird saw it!
I did meet PB (aka NYDK etc ) and he was really pleased we liked his puzzle today.
Thanks to Whybird for a great blog
Thanks SJB. Nice to see you!
I did, yes. It was my last one in (I’m pretty useless at Spoonerisms) and Zandio usually ties me up in all sorts of knots, although that one was “mostly harmless” on that score.
Splendid proper Toughie – lots to enjoy but the clue that made me smile the most was 24a
Thanks very much to Donnybrook – wish I could have joined you at the George – and to Whybird for the blog
I think my BRB needs to lie down in a darkened room, I might just collapse in a heap! This was well above my pay grade and packed with ‘stuff’ I didn’t know so it was pure b-mindedness that got me through. Have to admit that there was a lot of brilliant fiendishness to be found, best for me being 14d, the last to fall. Other ticks went to 12&24a plus 16&20d.
It is only Tuesday, isn’t it?!!
Thanks to the evil mind of Donnybrook and also to Chris for the review – you’ve certainly earned your BD salary today!
Thanks Jane. I might invoice for double the usual rate… 😀 I thought all the clues were very fair, and the grid was helpful (very few unchecked initial letters). But yes, a lot of ferreting required,
P.s. there is nothing hidden under the click here for 16d
That’s odd. The answer is in the Blog post, and I’ve taken it out and put it back, and hidden it, but still nothing yet…
Now fixed. It was ok, then threw an IT wobbly… And the hint needed a slight tweak anyway!
A cracking puzzle and a proper theme to boot – thanks to Donnybrook and Whybird.
I have masses of ticks on my printout (just one page because I thwarted the attempt at a second just in time) including 12a, 15a, 24a, 29a and 2d with my favourite being the outstanding 14d.
I’m afraid no matter how clever the puzzle, cross referencing so many clues to one particular clue is not for me. Having completed, I still don’t feel I’ve enjoyed myself. I guess it’s marmite day for me.
Thanks to Whybird for the blog and to Donnybrook who is still a favourite of mine.
Great fun – a very classy grid. It didn’t take too long for the theme to be extremely helpful. If I’ve ever known “table talk”, I’d forgotten it. Good to know. 12a, 29a and 14d stood out for me. Best thanks for Donnybrook and Whybird.
This was well worthy of being designated a Toughie.
Getting the theme early on helped, though making a mess of the subtraction anagram in 23d did not. Somehow I came up with ‘runic’, which held me up until the penny dropped for the linked clue at 22a, and I corrected my error.
Not familiar with the 1a term and wasn’t keen on the Americanism in 1d, though I remembered the Scottish hooligan in 16d from reading Shuggie Bain.
Plenty of ticks for me too though, including 12a, 24a, 2d, 5d and 16d.
Very satisfying to solve.
Many thanks to Donnybrook and Whybird. As Jane above says, you’re not having it easy in your early blogging career, but you’re smashing it, mate!
Thanks – much appreciated! I have big shoes to fill!
Great puzzle .
Thanks to Donnybrook and Whybird.
Enjoyed this a lot and for once the themed clues actually helped the solving. At first I thought there must be something wrong with 3d; Chambers was no help but a Google found what Enxet means and the “Something like 500” bit is v clever. Other top clues were 14d [last in] 16d and 18d.
Thanks to Doonybrook and Whybird.
Onc we had twigged the theme it all flowed smoothly enough for a most enjoyable solve.
Thanks Donnybrook and Whybird.
Great to hear from you. I always look forward to the Bar-tailed Godwit news. What a ridiculous (and amazing) migration. We get plenty in the Dee Estuary in the Northern winter, a very few over summer. Last year, spectacularly, we had black-tailed, bar-tailed and Hudsonian all together at the RSPB’s wonderful Burton Mere Wetlands reserve. Chapeau to the Hudwit finder(s).
A great puzzle, solved on the way to The George today with the current Mrs Shabbo acting as co-pilot on both the train journey and the puzzle.
Cracking the theme early on helped a lot.
I have already thanked Donnybrook in person today, but I will repeat it here. Thank you.
Thanks also, of course, to Whybird. Delighted to see that we have another birder in our midst!
Hi Shabbo, good to meet you!
A dnf for me today. I needed a couple of hints to kick-start my stalled progress in the SW and a fair bit of electronic help to complete. That coupled with a lot of words I’d never heard of, either part of the make up or answers (eg 18d) took the shine off this a bit for me. Favourite was 29a as it took ages for the penny to drop as to why? Thanks to Donnybrook anyway and Whybird.
I really liked this.
It was on the limit of my capabilities, and I usually groan when I see interlinked clues, but this was both testing and fun.
Almost didn’t finish, but re-visited just before bed, and saw the last two.
Thank you.
Welcome to the blog, a7simon.
I was on a train today and the aircon was working. Train as usual was running late.
I had this crossword saved up as the back page on a Monday is normally fairly straight forward. It was a lot trickier than I was expecting for a Tuesday until I eventually clocked the importance of 29’s 6, and not 29 6. 23d and 18d were new to me. I have mixed feelings with these types of crosswords but I thought this one worked. Once you figured out the 29’s 6 it opened up, but this is definitely not a Tuesday Toughie.
I actually like the way we are going in toughie land. Keep the Tuesday slot variable.