Toughie No 3567 by Beam
Hints and tips by ALP
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Beam’s back to tickle us with (most of) his usual tricks. There is, of course, a “sweetheart”, a smidgeon of light cheek and a riot of double definitions. Nowt obscure and all very jolly. Over to you.
Across
1a It’s worth catching performance rehearsal (8)
PRACTICE: Worth/cost catching/containing performance/deed.
5a Concerned with nude getting cold shoulder (6)
REBUFF: The usual “concerned with” + (in the) “nude”.
9a Aptitude including arithmetic, say, for education (8)
LEARNING: Aptitude/bent including/containing “arithmetic” (1) – i.e, one of the triumvirate alongside reading and writing.
10a One provides guard for swordsman (6)
FENCER: Double definition.
12a Some lovers hooting go too far (9)
OVERSHOOT: Lurker, hidden in the second and third words.
13a Catches band second to last (5)
TRAPS: Band/belt, with the usual “second” moved (from first) to last.
14a Hawk‘s head’s rotating (4)
SPIT: Head’s/end’s, reversed/rotating.
16a What’s inflated and sailed around lake? (7)
BLOATED: Sailed/went by ship around/containing the usual “lake”.
19a Acting fit, embracing sweetheart (7)
INTERIM: Fit/athletic embracing/containing Beam’s trademark “sweetheart”.
21a Reversing makes water trickle slowly (4)
SEEP: “Makes water”, reversed. Need I say more?!
24a Initially superfluous, perhaps, and rather extraneous (5)
SPARE: Acrostic.
25a Good chaps with sound Prime Minister (9)
GLADSTONE: The usual “good” + (young) chaps + sound/note.
27a Remorse from mariner finally with bird (6)
REGRET: [Marine]R + bird (heron).
28a Learned of low-calorie fare (8)
LITERATE: The hateful, four-letter “low-calorie” + fare/fee.
29a One giving soft touch for spiel (6)
PATTER: Double definition.
30a Trigger’s principal rogues, Del and Rodney? (8)
TROTTERS: T[rigger] + rogues/scoundrels.
Down
1d Whiteness of china bowl almost turned (6)
PALLOR: The usual “china” + “bowl” (along), minus its last letter and reversed (almost, turned).
2d Maybe actress occasionally declines (6)
ABATES: Alternate letters (occasionally), starting with the ‘A’ of “maybe”.
3d Smacks and spanks gripping thong’s end (5)
TANGS: Spanks/beats gripping/containing [thon]G.
4d Wriggle out of criminal wrong (7)
CONTORT: The usual criminal (not lag!) + (legal) wrong.
6d Choose right lyric poem for conductor (9)
ELECTRODE: Choose/pick + the usual “right” + “(lyric) poem”.
7d Launch astern holding fast (8)
UNCHASTE: Lurker, hidden in the first two words.
8d Home provided over stay (8)
FIRESIDE: Provided/providing, reversed/over + stay/live.
11d Sharp pain being shot? (4)
STAB: Double definition, with “shot” = “attempt”.
15d Soldier on exercise about taking part (9)
PERSEVERE: Exercise/training + the usual “about”, taking/containing (to) part/cut.
17d Take off after ace right here? (8)
AIRSTRIP: Take off/disrobe after/following ace/excellent + the usual “right”.
18d Good hand is shipshape (8)
STRAIGHT: Double definition, with the first relating to cards.
20d Very big match switching halves (4)
MEGA: (Sports) match, moving the first two letters to the end (i.e. switching halves).
21d More nervous holding plug for dimmer (7)
SHADIER: More nervous/coy holding/containing plug/commercial.
22d Hunt enemy welcoming scrap (6)
FORAGE: Enemy/adversary welcoming/containing (a) scrap/shred.
23d Propagates vegetables round front of garden (6)
BEGETS: (Root) vegetables round/containing G[arden].
26d Got a whiff of fish (5)
SMELT: Another double definition.
We’ve got five doubles, a couple of lurkers and three all-in-ones, including an acrostic. No anagrams, obviously. All very Beam: pretty breezy and thoroughly entertaining. I particularly enjoyed 13a’s build, 7d’s definition and 17d’s semi &lit. 20d is fun too. But 15d’s smart elegance takes it for me. How did you get on?
Many thanks to Beam for a most enjoyable puzzle.
My last in was 15d; I was convinced that para would be involved somewhere.
My original favourite was 16a, but I’ve since changed my mind and have selected 15d (soldier on).
Thanks also to ALP for the write-up.
The second part of the dream team on good form although he gets a couple of slaps on the wrist for 14&21a. Not to worry, boys will always be boys no matter how adult they become outwardly…..
Ticks awarded to 16,27,28&30a plus 15&26d with 15d claiming the top step.
Devotions as ever to Mr T/Beam and thanks to ALP for the review.
Wise words, Jane.
I am living proof of the old saying: “growing old is compulsory, growing up is entirely optional”.
Another lovely puzzle. We are being spoiled today.
Thank you Ray and ALP.
The usual excellence from Beam with many ticks on my page which is making choosing a favourite difficult but I’ll go with 6d. Thanks to Beam and ALP.
Beam as enjoyable as ever – thanks to him and ALP.
The clues I liked best were 19a, 7d and 15d.
Enjoyed the solve & appreciated that it wasn’t overly taxing as not really in the mood for a deal of crumpet scratching. As ever some great surfaces created with so few words – the somewhat risqué 3d a case in point & good to hear a bit of Led Zep 111 in the hint. Podium spots for 19&25a + 15d.
Thanks to Beam & ALP
Evening all. Many thanks to ALP for the review and to all for your comments.
RayT
Good evening, Mr T. Excellent puzzle as always but I might be round to wash your mouth out with soap if you continue down the smutty route!
My apologies for having offended your sensibilities!
RayT
Good boy!
Huge thanks for popping in. Supremely entertaining, as always.
That was tremendous, thank you MrT.
Slowed a little by at first going for DIS rather than CON at 4d, but otherwise a steady quarter-by-quarter clockwise progression from the NW. Honours to 28a, 30a & 23d.
Many thanks also to ALP
Why use 20 words when half a dozen do the same job? Mr Concise personified and what a pleasure to solve. It was fun and as Jane says, boyishly naughty. Isn’t that why we enjoy him so much.
So much to like but I’ll pick 9, 13,19A and 8,15D.
Thanks to ALP for the blog and of course Beam for the enjoyment.
It’s Thursday, it’s a Beam toughie, all is well with the world! Lots of fun to solve.
Thanks to Ray T and ALP
Got my RayT fill in the form of Beam today. Made for a good Thursday!
2*/4* for me
Favourites include 5a, 19a, 30a, 6d & 17d — with winner 30a
Smiles from 12a, 25a, 22d & 26d
A fun solve … thanks to RayT/Beam & ALP
1*/4* …..
liked 30A “Trigger’s principal rogues, Del and Rodney? (8)”