Sunday Toughie 192 (Hints)

Sunday Toughie No 192

by proXimal

 

Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee

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I seem to have come down with some lurgy or other, and I may have to retire to bed. Apologies if the hints are a bit terse today, 

We have 16a and 14d clues, and I have hinted half. I found the Spooner today quite difficult and the proXimal™ compounds a bit easier. I have left the last of three unhinted, in order to give a nudge to the 13a anagram.

Between paracetamol and naps I will be hoping Europe make light work of at least 2 1/2 points to retain The Ryder Cup. I will provide hints if you ask.

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!

I hope I don’t have to redact any comments, but you have all been so well-behaved that the red pencil is likely to remain in retirement.

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          Spooner’s rodent sounded like a top intricate nest-builder (6,4)

A large tree-eating rodent and the sound that a spinning top made are given the Spooner treatment.

9a          Reportedly, old citrus slicer is a let-down (10)

Homophones of old, a citrus fruit and something to slice trees perhaps.

13a       Wrong date shown for stage musical (9)

An anagram (wrong) of DATE SHOWN. Not heard of this, but as it is a loose remake of Orpheus and Eurydice in the underworld, that should help.

15a       One knight observed keeping king motivated (8)

A Roman one, a chess Knight, and observed clandestinely contains a Latin King.

20a       Following delay, depressed signal to stop (4,4)

An abbreviated following, a small delay, and depressed.

23a       Schools struggling aimed to invest in experts (9)

Some care with your final vowel will prevent the mistake I made. Some flying experts contain an anagram of aimed.

24a       Cycling, catch winged beast (4)

To catch in audition, cycles one letter.

29a       Sickly-looking state of some from agencies, send ill applicants back (10)

When in doubt… a lurker (of some from) that is reversed (back), that is hidden between the (indicators). My skintone is showing a distinct 29a, I hope it isn’t COVID.

 

 

Down

2d         Honest write-ups disheartened son (7)

The write-ups that appear in newspapers and magazines loses two letters at its heart, don’t forget S for son at the end.

4d         Cursed naval commander heads for trouble evidently doomed (8)

A historical naval commander and the heads of the last three words.

5d         Reoriented north-eastward avoiding the tors to move country (6)

At last the proXimal™ compound anagram, avoid the tors in north-eastward and find a topical country in what remains.

8d         Considering canned drink good (10)

A Caribbean drink in a can sounds good to me.

11d       Making enquiries: monarch’s coming in when approximately? (6,6)

Synonyms of when and approximately contain a monarch.

14d       One tends grave in light rain initially (5-5)

A synonym of grave or serious, in the light of a flame and the initial letter of rain.

17d       Happy developing all of business, as one rogue gets dismissed (8)

Compound anagram #2. An anagram of all of business after as one is removed.

22d       Compound anagram # 3. You have had plenty of practice at these today, so finding what to remove from where is over to you.

 

 

Compiler

proXimal

 

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