Sunday Toughie No 196
by proXimal
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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Whilst enjoying the Sloggers and Betters event in York, I was aware I still had a blog to prepare for this excellent offering from proXimal. Once the Spoonerism dropped, the rest flowed fairly easily despite the curry we rounded off the evening with, repeating on me.
We have 14a and 14d clues today, and I have hinted at half. I am sure a few tricky ones have hit the cutting room floor. I will try and give a bonus nudge or two if required, but I hope you get the checkers to complete this fine puzzle.
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 They provoke prejudice and Spooner’s pal wants to scoff (11)
Spooner’s pal desires to eat. If the first vowel of the second part worries you, remember a Spoonerism involves swapping sounds, not letters.
12a Duck close to grating by former opening in sewer? (6-3)
A type of duck familiar to ornithologists and James Bond fans. A closing letter, a synonym of former, and the opening in an article used for sewing.
16a Left in depression by unhappy scene of hoax (8)
A depression containing l for left and a synonym of unhappy.
Spoiler Alert. More about this hoax here: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2016/august/piltdown-man-charles-dawson-likely-fraudster.html
18a Birds vacated tallish plants by the river? (8)
What remains of tallish when vacated and the plants by the river, for which Moses was thankful.
Note the spots for 19d
24a Calling up musical fellow once in retirement (9)
A musical and an old-fashioned (once) term for a fellow are reversed (in retirement)
27a German philosopher from Heidelberg horribly jilting exotic bride (5)
proXimal’s first ™ compound anagram. An anagram (horribly) of Heidelberg, but first you should extract an anagram (exotic) of bride. Fans of Monty Python’s Philosophers’ Song will know he was out consumed by David Hume.
28a Daughter in Saint Petersburg a while ago, briefly there ignoring her bank charge (7,4)
A former name of Saint Petersburg is (briefly) shortened. It contains the genealogical abbreviation of daughter, and is followed by what remains of there, when you ignore her.
Down
3d Maybe pine after former lover around month end (7)
A large woody plant, of which pine is an example, goes after a usual former lover and around an abbreviation of month. Much more than words…
5d This plant with Norman hybrid might produce mandarin orange (8)
Another proXimal™ compound anagram. If you remove an anagram (hybrid) of Norman from mandarin orange, what remains may produce a variety of plant.
8d …police officer over in mountains drinks (8)
An informal term for a police officer and a cricket scorer’s over goes in some European mountains.
Why do you ask? two dogs…
9d Act slowly as monster fish catches that woman (4,4,5)
A fire-breathing monster and some slippery fish containing a female pronoun for that woman.
15d Desserts adult consumed in sudden efforts below standard (8)
Semi-frozen desserts, a for adult consumed in sudden efforts, goes below a golfer’s standard.
17d Hindered designated driver perturbed, advising drunk to leave (8)
Another compound anagram™, an anagram (drunk) of advising, is removed from designated driver before it is (perturbed) to fit the definition.
19d Spot fungi over sides of knoll north of Spain (7)
A type of edible mushroom (alternatively known as porcini) is reversed (over) the side letters of knoll and the IVR code for Spain. These spots on other mushrooms should be treated with caution, as they may indicate poisonous Fly Agaric mushrooms.
Compiler
proXimal
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Another cracker from proXimal, with so many excellent clues.
The subtraction anagrams at 5d and 17d were particularly good.
My thanks to our setter and SJB.
proXimal is getting more generous with his compound anagrams, we have had three in this and the last one. Nota problem when they are as good as this.
The trademark Spoonery opener is enough to identify the setter but to make doubly sure he’s also provided his traditional compound anagram and two subtractive anagrams; this was very enjoyable. Many thanks to proXimal and SJB.
My podium consists of 24a, 28a and 6d.
4 and 6d were the last to be eliminated from the hints. The Big Dave maxim of hinting first and last clues similarly wasn’t followed in the downs.
Just as SJB described, this puzzle flowed fairly easily with just a slight pause over my last couple in: the crossing 24 & 22.
The first vowel of the second part of the Spoonerism didn’t really worry me, although I do actually pronounce it as it is spelt (many perhaps would not). Indeed, 1a is on my Across podium along with 12 and 28 – which just edged out 16 & 26. Unusually, only one out of the three compound anagrams makes it onto a podium this week – my Down picks include 17 along with the conventional anagram in 7 (I really liked the surface reading) and 21 (again, a lovely surface). The use of the ellipsis in 7d and then again in 8d doesn’t appear to add much to either clue – the only link I can see being the ‘gin’ and the ‘drinks’. Did I miss something? SJB’s ‘two dogs…’ comment also mystifies me, so perhaps it is related?
Many thanks to proXimal and to SJB.
I had similar doubts as to the necessity of the ellipsis’ I just took the break- up as another insertion indicator so the police officer could go in the mountain.
Two dogs was a popular 8d in my salad days and took its name from a rather rude and politically incorrect joke about a young boy asking why his tribal tradition dictated his name was to derived from the first thing seen after his birth.
Ah, so it is an 8d. I’ve never heard of it before. In my ‘salad days’ I don’t think there was such a thing as an 8d. The closest I’ve ever come to drinking one of those might be a craft-beer IPA with a hint of citrus!
I was drinking a very citrusy IPA at the Friday party of this weekends S&B in York
Is this a case of thirsting after righteousness?
Yes indeed👌it was very refreshing
Think I’m finally getting to grips with the proXimal trademarks, at least I did today which made the solve seem far more straightforward!
My absolute favourite was 26a and it’s joined on the podium by 18&24a.
Many thanks to proXimal and to SJB for the hints.
Lots for the ornithologists to like today.
I did think the musical in 24a would appeal today.
This was my first attempt at a proXimal™ puzzle. I got there in the end with a little help from AI. Quite a juggler of letters, is he not?
I’ve never heard of subtraction compound anagrams before (neither had Google) but got them anyway without understanding (till now!).
I will be on the lookout for the signature openers in future.
Gratitude to the setter and SJB, and all the erudite commenters.
I remain impressed by proXimal’s way with juggling letters. The philosopher stood out because although he was born in Stuttgart, he did most of his important work at Heidelberg University.
Very clever semantics. Perhaps he (*****) was wedded (*****) to his work…
His last words (apocryphal) were:
There was only one man who ever understood me, and even he didn’t understand me.
(Sorry I will have to redact that- Sloop)
By the time he went to Heidelberg he did have a wife and children both legitimate and illegitimate.
Oops. My mistake. I had thought the answer was given away in your hint, and was in the “public domain”, by deduction if not actually spelt out. Will be more circumspect in future, and appreciate you feedback.
A rare excursion into Sunday toughieland for me and what a joy it was. Perhaps the best crossword of the week. Didn’t know the philosopher in 27a but fairly clued. How does one pick a favourite from so many contenders? I’ll go with 16a as it took me a while to see what should have been obvious. Many thanks to ProXimal and SJB.
My first thoughts for 16a included Ötzi the iceman found in the Ötztal Alps. I settled on the right answer only when I remembered that Ötzi was real and 16a was the hoax.
Like Rossophile, this was my first attempt at a ProXimal toughie. I did find it quite hard work but a very enjoyable solve, with too many good clues to pick a favourite. 7d was my first in and 16a the last, both very clever clues, I thought.
Seeing Julie Covington reminded me of her eponymous 1978 album, it was a real favourite then and still a good listen now. I remember seeing her with the Albion Band in Oxford around then.
Many thanks to ProXimal and SJB
I wish I was there, I have seen The Albion Band at Cropredy but never with Julie. Any mention of that musical should be accompanied by Julie rather than Madonna. Time will tell if thr latest production with Rachel Zegler merits an airing.
Also my first prize toughie with the strange anagrams I had never encountered before. I found it tough but got there in the end. Very clever stuff!
They do get easier with practice, good luck at securing the mythical pen✒️
Halle(soddin’)lujah – finally twigged the Spoonerism. Must have looked at 20 times. Found the majority of the puzzle reasonably gentle for proXimal but struggled in the upper reaches & not entirely sure I have 4d correctly parsed either. All very enjoyable.
Thanks to P & to John.
The Knight (with a lance) is exposed then adds an end letter.
Reckon I’m losing the plot John – had the lancing event + the letter but am then trying to work out how the chess piece single letter comes into it 🤔
Doesn’t augur well for tomorrow’s hints.
This is a Knight that has nothing to do with chess.
realise that now – hence losing the plot comment😀
I had similar plot losing thoughts trying to see the Spooner, especially as I was digesting a post S&B curry during the solve.