Sunday Toughie No 190 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 14th of September 2025
Across
1a Sharp detectives in top case’s start (6)
ACIDIC: Our usual group of detectives CID, an alphanumeric top A1 and the start of case C, is somewhat sharp. A(CID)1C
5a Banks to study branch structure (6)
SYSTEM: The outer letters (banks to) study SY, and the branch of a rose STEM, provide a structure or SYSTEM.
10a Chile’s so long! (5)
ADIOS: So long, in Spanish, the language most spoken in Chile.
11a One studies bug, otherwise keeping quiet (9)
INSPECTOR: A bug that is divided into sections INSECT, and a conjunction that suggests otherwise OR, keeps the musical notation for quiet P. An INS(P)ECT OR studies.
12a Spikes demon drink with soda, principally (7)
IMPALES: A little demon IMP, an unhopped beer ALE, and the principal letter of soda S.
13a Perform with former sweetheart? Sweet! (7)
EXECUTE: Our usual former prefix EX, Beam’s ™ sweetheart E,and something that is sweet or daintily pleasing CUTE. To perform or EXECUTE.
14a Crossed river assuming battle advanced (9)
FORWARDED: To have crossed a river without bridge or ferry FORDED, that has assumed a battle or conflict WAR. Advanced or FOR(WAR)DED
17a Men in leather trousers displaying rear (5)
CHAPS: I think this could be an &lit, but I am going for a double-definition. Leather trousers that don’t cover the bottom CHAPS.
18a Rhubarb is seasoned by time (5)
TRIPE: Seasoned or ready to eat RIPE, goes alongside (by) T for time. Rhubarb or TRIPE
19a Demanding part of cost ring entailed (9)
STRINGENT: A lurker (part of) the last three words. Demanding or STRINGENT.
21a Concerned with release involving English judge (7)
REFEREE: One of our usual concerning’s RE, a synonym of release FREE, that involves E for English. A judge or RE (F) E (REE).
23a More masculine one providing beef? (7)
BUTCHER: A double definition.
25a Brief obstruction if stone gets lodged (9)
BARRISTER: An obstruction BARRIER, into which an abbreviation for stone ST, has been lodged.
26a Barrack men occasionally showing restraint (5)
BRAKE: Occasional letters of the first two words BaRrAcK mEn, show restraint BRAKE.
27a More abrupt language in discontented temper (6)
TERSER: An alternative name for the Irish Gaelic language ERSE, is inserted into discontented temper T R.
28a Shot around goal is in (6)
TRENDY: Two synonyms TRY and END, one around the other. In or TRENDY
Down
2d Concise, really, if somewhat pithy, initially (5)
CRISP: A Beam ™ initial letters clue.
3d Aggravate illness taking pill, oddly (9)
DISPLEASE: An illness DISEASE, takes the odd letters of pill PL.
4d Pirates with origin of cross bones (5)
CRIBS: The origin of cross C, and the bones that protect the chest RIBS. C RIBS To commit an act of piracy or plagiarism.
5d Upset American who’s buying underwear item? (9)
SUSPENDER: One of our usual Americans is reversed US (upset) SU, and one who’s buying SPENDER.
6d Rocked for the audience in leather (5)
SUEDE: A homophone (for the audience) of a synonym of rocked. SWAYED becomes SUEDE
7d Imprudent, our agenda includes train (9)
ENTOURAGE: A baggage train is lurking (includes) in the first three words.
8d Disagreement over a Republican tax (6)
TARIFF: A minor disagreement TIFF, contains A from the clue and the abbreviation of Republican R.
9d Good, then scoff up veggies (6)
GREENS: To scoff or express contempt SNEER is reversed (up in a down clue) REENS, and follows G for good.
15d Support control in favour of Church (9)
REINFORCE: The control for a horse REIN, a preposition in favour of FOR, and one of our usual Church abbreviations CE.
16d On record, detectives essentially censure protester (9)
DISSENTER: Abbreviated detective inspectors DI’S, and the essential letter of censure S, to record in a database ENTER, to follow. A protester or DISSENTER.
17d Criminal’s yarn captivates British bobby (9)
CONSTABLE: A yarn TALE, that captivates a British abbreviation B, follows our usual criminal’s CONS.
18d Turned out tough steals pounds (6)
THROBS: What remains of tough when it has been turned out TH, followed by a synonym of steals ROBS.
20d Scathing about, say, flipping butt (6)
TARGET: The butt of jokes, from a synonym of scathing TART, that goes about a reversal (flipping) of say as an example EG becomes GE.
22d Muddies watercolour finally with paints (5)
ROILS: To make turbid or turbulent. From the final letter of watercolour R, and a medium for painting OILS.
23d Shatter sculpture embodying Queen (5)
BURST: A head and shoulders sculpture BUST, contains (embodying) a Queenly abbreviation R for Regina.
24d Squirrel is grey furred, ultimately (5)
HOARD: Turned greyish-white with age or frost HOAR, and the ultimate letter of furred D..
Compiler
Beam
That’s all Folks…