Sunday Toughie No 186 by Zandio
Review by
Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 17th August 2025
Across
1a Mini, well oiled (6)
TIDDLY: A double definition to start, an informal small and slightly drunk.
4a Flying through, breaking a ton where one’s been arrested (8)
AVIATION: A and TON from the clue contain a Latin through VIA, and a Roman one I.
10a Benefit from seeing that group … (5)
ASSET: A conjunction for seeing that AS, followed by a group or collection SET.
11a … 200 drawn in by our band’s happening (9)
OCCURRING: OUR from the clue, draws in two Roman hundreds O CC UR, and a band or RING.
12a One whose partner’s rarely out of line, except when displaying scepticism, perhaps (7)
EYEBROW: A rather nice cryptic definition of a facial feature that is usually in line with its partner, except when showing scepticism.
13a On reflection, what’s captured by Michelangelo’s a Raphaelite shade (7)
PARASOL: A lurker, (what’s captured by) that is reversed (on reflection) found in the three words that precede the definition.
14a Item, e.g. that’s not used in polite company (4-6,4)
FOUR-LETTER WORD: Although we start with a definition by example (Item e.g.), others that share the same number of characters are vulgar words not to be used in polite company.
17a Star possibly in song and dance? (10,4)
PERFORMING ARTS: A reverse anagram (possibly). Where the anagram indicator becomes the first word of the solution and an anagram of STAR the second.
21a Reminder of yours truly stuck with twin until following November (7)
MEMENTO: Yours truly or a name I call myself ME, is repeated (with twin) ME ME, the letter that the code word November suggests N, and a preposition for until TO. A reminder or MEMENTO
23a Fixed outstanding feature where birds make home (7)
EARNEST: Fixed in intention, another facial feature EAR and the place where birds make home NEST.
24a There’s snow all over this crescent – can’t it spread around? (9)
ANTARCTIC: A crescent shaped part of a circle ARC, in an anagram (spread around) of CAN’T IT.
25a More just lacking female frame for a wet T-shirt? (5)
AIRER: A comparative synonym of more just FAIRER, without F for female.
26a Teased herd till given a kick (8)
THRILLED: An anagram (teased) of HERD TILL.
27a Heavens teeming, almost as in a fable? (6)
MYTHIC: An interjection of surprise for Heavens MY, and most of a synonym of a teeming multitude THIC(K)
Down
1d Compromise type of jazz, with energy absent (5-3)
TRADE-OFF: A type of jazz music TRAD, E for energy and absent or away OFF.
2d Sex Pistol getting comeuppance about fix, ending in complete infamy (9)
DISREPUTE: The forename of probably the most infamous member of the Sex Pistols SID Viscious, is reversed (getting comeuppance in a down clue) DIS, one of our usual abouts RE, to fix or place PUT and the ending of complete E. Infamy or DISREPUTE
3d Broad-minded bishop knocked out by tango faithfully interpreted (7)
LITERAL: A synonym of broad-minded LIBERAL, swaps B for Bishop for T for Tango. LITERAL
5d Five immigration agents parking before occupying US office? (4-10)
VICE-PRESIDENCY: A Roman five V, federal agents involved in immigration and customs enforcement I.C.E., the letter that indicates parking P, and a noun for occupying RESIDENCY. The current incumbent has just been holidaying in Scotland, playing golf really badly.
6d Outfit offering the highest service (7)
AIRCREW: Members of an outfit that provide service to passengers in flight.
7d More than one plant is strangling rival (5)
IVIES: Plural plants, IS from the clue is strangling to contend in rivalry VIE.
8d Carp taken from river, including head and tail for grilling (6)
NIGGLE: The head and tail of grilling GG, go into the River NILE.
9d Cool spray put on cheek becoming warmer in bed (3-5,6)
HOT-WATER BOTTLE: Colloquially cool HOT, the spray that cools in a heatwave WATER, and a synonym of cheek BOTTLE, A HOT-WATER BOTTLE may keep you warm at night.
15d An underground element are gatecrashing rather rowdily (4,5)
RARE EARTH: An anagram (rowdily) of RATHER, containing ARE from the clue.
16d Some penned vitriolic ire to setter for flipping cryptic (8)
ESOTERIC: A lurker (some penned) that is reversed (for flipping) hidden between the (indicators).
18d Time to be buried in joy, tearful at the end? (7)
FUNERAL: An all-in-one &lit. A period of time ERA, buried between some joy FUN, and the end of tearful L.
19d Country where many a character appears under 20 (7)
GERMANY: One of the countries that uses the sign in 20d that changes vowel sounds.
20d Sign of mutual ground? (6)
UMLAUT: A sign to change the vowel sound, that is an anagram (ground) of MUTUAL.
22d Engine’s lost oxygen repeatedly, regularly dropping in electronic gauge (5)
METER: An engine MOTOR, loses both symbols for oxygen and replaces them with E’s for electronic. A gauge or METER.
Compiler
Zandio
That’s All Folks…