Sunday Toughie No 190
by Beam
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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I wasn’t expecting Beam last night, Sunday Toughie 187 was his last outing, but even without the byline, you couldn’t mis-identify this. Concise clues (I don’t need to do the math to know he is well under six words per clue) Initial letters, a few bits of “ooh er missus” innuendo, Queens, sweethearts and policemen too.
A generous 16a and 16d clues today, and I have hinted half.
Here we go, Folks…
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 return with the full review blog just after the closing date. Don’t forget to follow BD’s instructions in RED at the bottom of the hints!
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 Sharp detectives in top case’s start (6)
Our usual group of detectives, an alphanumeric top and the start of case is somewhat sharp.
11a One studies bug, otherwise keeping quiet (9)
A bug that is divided into sections, and a conjunction that suggests otherwise keeps the musical notation for quiet.
12a Spikes demon drink with soda, principally (7)
A little demon, an unhopped beer and the principal letter of soda.
17a Men in leather trousers displaying rear (5)
I think this could be an &lit, but I am going for a double-definition. For which the following image should be sufficient to hint.
18a Rhubarb is seasoned by time (5)
Seasoned or ready to eat goes alongside (by) T for time.
23a More masculine one providing beef? (7)
A double definition.
25a Brief obstruction if stone gets lodged (9)
An obstruction into which an abbreviation has been lodged.
28a Shot around goal is in (6)
Two synonyms, one around the other.
Down
2d Concise, really, if somewhat pithy, initially (5)
A Beam ™ initial letters clue.
5d Upset American who’s buying underwear item? (9)
One of our usual Americans is reversed (upset) and one who’s buying underwear.
Not the item of underwear you may have expected, but the Americanism is indicated by the stars and stripes.
6d Rocked for the audience in leather (5)
A homophone (for the audience) of a synonym of rocked.
Under a spoiler, as I couldn’t find a link without the leather.
9d Good, then scoff up veggies (6)
To scoff or express contempt is reversed (up in a down clue) and follows G for good
15d Support control in favour of Church (9)
The control for a horse, a preposition in favour of and one of our usual Church abbreviations.
16d On record, detectives essentially censure protester (9)
Abbreviated detective inspectors and the essential letter of censure, to record in a database to follow.
17d An intermission, In the medium of oils…
22d Muddies watercolour finally with paints (5)
To make turbid or turbulent. From a final letter and a medium for painting.
24d Squirrel is grey furred, ultimately (5)
Turned greyish-white with age or frost and an ultimate letter.
Compiler
Beam
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A diamond could not be more polished than a Beam puzzle. This one was full of well-crafted surfaces and precise clues. Beam appears to make it all look effortless – a bit like a Joe Root innings; an exhibition of skill and deft touches! I also like the odd bit of social commentary in the wordplay, as in the 8d tax and the 21a judge. You might think I enjoyed this – and you would be right
Across and Down podium places were awarded to 5, 17 & 18 and 4, 8 & 17 respectively, although I could have ticked most of the clues.
My thanks to Beam and to SJB. I missed the Last Night of the Proms when broadcast live, but do intend to catch up on iPlayer. I’m looking forward to the Bohemian Rhapsody anniversary arrangement as well as Bill Bailey’s typing skills.
You will love it! Great atmosphere – i would have been there if i lived nearer and was not so old!
The hoops you have to jump over to get a ticket for the Last Night are onerous, I think you have to attend a vast majority of the other proms just to get a place in the queue. You get a better seat at home anyway.
Best LNOTP for years, both bits you want to see were in the second half, but don’t miss the first, I enjoyed it a lot.
Took several sittings to crack this one but it was most entertaining with no dubious parsings. 17a top clue for me.
Just in from tidying the garden in the autumn sunshine before sneaking off for a few holes of golf at Murcar.
Thanks to Beam and SJB
That’s interesting, I’m doing the puzzle online and I have a different clue for 17d…. Criminal’s yarn captivates British Bobby.
Almost there, still three to go and checked in to see if you hinted one of them (you did, thanks!). It’s probably a bit of an oldie but Chile’s so long made me chuckle.
Thanks to SJB for the ints and tips and Beam for another excellent puzzle. Now for the last three!
I have the same 17d as you, the intermission was just an aside to the paint medium needed for 22d and the artist illustrated being the “bobby”
I guessed that….after I’d filled the last one which, of course, was 22d. Very cunning! It’s not a word I’ve come across. Thanks for the hints, I was a bit stuck in the SE and not sure why really.
I remember my early days looking at this blog when Kath used to blog Thursdays. I struggled with a Ray T puzzle then, now I look forward to them and his toughies.
Parisian’s me too! (3,5)
Fairly straightforward for a Sunday Toughie, but very enjoyable.
Unfortunately however, I have been mentally scarred by the image of Village People mooning at me from 17a.
Thanks to the appropriately monikered Beam for the fun and to John as ever for the blog.
Some of the images suggested for 17a were definitely NSFW, same for 5d.
Very succinct and fair making it a pleasure not a chore! I liked 17d and the American shopper. Many thanks to Beam and SJB. Regards to Mama B.
As gentle a Sunday Toughie as I can ever remember with some smiles along the way – thanks to Beam and SJB.
I’m not sure anyone would buy a single 5d (although I suppose it could be a present for a one-legged woman)..
I liked 28a, 4d and 18d with my favourite being the amusing 17a
When paired with belt they could hold up several pairs. Mama Bee had individual clips, that one could use several of, if a heavy burden was expected. I used them all when attending a performance of The Rocky Horror Show dressed as Frank-N-Furter. Thankfully no pictorial evidence remains.
Praise the lord!
Beam excels himself yet again. Particular clues that grabbed my attention today were 17&18a along with 5&17d – maybe 5d takes the gold medal.
Devotions as ever to Mr T/Beam and thanks to SJB for the hints.
As I mentioned on the other channel (puzzle 3334), I printed both puzzles off this morning, and I would normally solve a cryptic first, followed by the toughie, however by mistake, I solved this one first (and fairly quickly). Needless to say, I was fairly surprised this morning, when reading the write-up on the cryptic, 1a: “the last letter of bureaU is inserted into…..”. At that point, I had not looked at the cryptic!
As Gazza says above (in so many words), about as gentle as it gets for a toughie, but nevertheless, for me, a very enjoyable puzzle.
17a was the only one which I had to think about to parse correctly (as SJB says – &lit or double def?).
Many thanks to Beam, and to SJB.
I think Beam has forgotten that he’s supposed to be a bit trickier than his alter ego in t’other place. Maybe I am becoming more familiar with his ways, since I am exposed to his puzzles more often than in the Kath/RayT days that Moonraker referred to.
I remember 10 years or so ago I found his puzzles quite difficult, but now they are like a comfortable slipper.
Still….. one of my favourite setters.
Elegantly clued & good fun as ever but a Toughie it certainly wasn’t. Don’t know whether it’s the fact that you know there are no anagrams to bother with but I’m beginning to find the Beamers if anything easier than his back-pagers. Last in 22d was new to me & the only real pause. 10a my fav.
Thanks to Ray & John
22d was my LOI too, and it evicted 27a from the hints as I think the language hidden in the middle has appeared before.
This was a truly lovely Sunday puzzle. Beam’s Toughies, gentle or otherwise, are always most acceptable.
Oh dear! So much to enjoy here its most difficult to single out any clue for top spot. 5d made me chuckle. 17d also appealed to me as it also invoked the artist. 22d was a new word for me. I rather like the sound as it matches the meaning so well.
Many appreciative thanks to Beam for the entertainment.
Many appreciative thanks to Sloop John Bee for the illustrated hints and tips which I didn’t use but have enjoyed reading through now.
The Last Night of the Proms was as excellent as ever. Bill Bailey and the Bohemian Rhapsody arrangement were super. Love the Proms and listen to them on Radio 3. Some standout broadcasts on TV as well. Very well done to all concerned.
Glad you enjoyed it, I did too. Busy preparing for Zandio in tonight’s Toughie