Toughie No 3633 by Shabbo
Hints and tips by Whybird
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BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment *****
Warm wishes from a damp, grey Wirral!
We have a wonderful puzzle from Shabbo today – Floughie it ain’t, but equally there is no obscure GK or archaic vocabulary required. With the possible exception of 26a, the toughness arises mainly from the very cleverly constructed clues, all with very smooth surfaces. Many of them are set up so they look like they should be solved one way, which turns out to be a dead end, but then turns out to be “clearly” something entirely different. And all done with a remarkable economy of words, too.
I struggled to get going, eventually getting a foothold with 23a, and then worked from SE to NW as the respective pennies went clunk. 1a gets my top spot today, as well as being my last one in, but there are too many other very good clues to list – smiles all over the age today.
Thank you, Shabbo, for an excellent challenge.
Please let us know how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.
I have a short break from the Blog for the next couple of weeks whilst I have a tour around India trying to see, but avoid being eaten and/or trampled by, various large felines, canines, reptiles and herbivores. You will have the pleasure of Gazza on a Tuesday for the rest of the month, so thanks to him for stepping into the breach.
Across Clues
1 Some job at hand? We’ll soon see (4,3,5)
BATH AND WELLS The solution is lurking (Some) in the letters of “job at hand? We’ll soon”. Remarkably well hidden given the proportion that the solution occupies
9 Planned to remove drug from dodgy cigarettes (9)
STRATEGIC An anagram (dodgy) of “cigarettes” with one example of a the letter short for a recreational drug removed
10 Articulated style for large house (5)
MANOR The solution sounds like (Articulated) a synonym of “style”
11 Decides to abandon pit stops (6)
DETERS Remove a four-letter synonym of “mine” from a synonym of “Decides”
12 Grabbed eggs before start of Easter Day (8)
CLUTCHED A collective noun for “eggs” precedes the initial letter (before start) of Easter and the letter indicating “Day”
13 Busy phoning, taking the Tube? (6)
SYPHON This type of tube is lurking in the letters of “Busy phoning”
15 Soldiers unhappy with church wealth (8)
RESOURCE A charade of one of Crosswordland’s favourite two-letter abbreviation for a part of the British Army, a synonym of “unhappy” and the abbreviation for Church of England
18 Depart accompanied by contrary child (8)
WITHDRAW A charade synonym of “accompanied by” and a reversal (contrary) of a term for a child under someone’s care
19 Kept time, getting wound up (6)
TENDED The usual letter indicating “time” followed by (getting) a synonym of “wound up” (or finished)
21 American guys experienced Open (8)
AMENABLE A charade of the single letter for “American”, a synonym of “guys” and a word meaning “experienced” (as in “can do something”)
23 Socially acceptable fur is available (6)
USABLE The Mitfords’ term for “Socially acceptable” followed by the fur of a type of marten
26 Little late to start ordering publication (5)
TITLE An anagram (ordering) of “Little” lacking its initial letter (late to start)
27 Areas embracing oddly laic beliefs (9)
RELIGIONS Insert the odd-numbered letters (oddly) of “laic” into a synonym of “Areas”
28 Redesign that could be tidied up (12)
STRAIGHTENED An anagram (could be) of “Redesign that”
Down Clues
1 Amongst other things, Elizabeth consumes fish (7)
BESIDES One of the alternative names for someone called “Elizabeth” (think Hardwick or Good Queens) surrounds (consumes) a three-letter fish
2 Card sharp is holding nothing (5)
TAROT A synonym of “sharp” surrounds (is holding) the letter that resembles zero
3 The last bit of cut Waterford (9)
AFTERWORD An anagram (cut) of “Waterford”
4 Appreciates temporary accommodation (4)
DIGS A double definition
5 Retired journalist admits small group did well (8)
EXCELLED A (2,2) term that could be used to describe someone who used to be a journalist surrounds (admits) a synonym for a small group, for example, of terrorists
6 End of motorway externally illuminated (5)
LIMIT The motorway that connects London with North of Leeds via Watford Gap is surrounded by (externally) a synonym of “illuminated”
7 Tied up and bored by work (8)
ANCHORED Insert (bored by) a synonym for work (of the tedious variety) into “and” from the clue
8 Ms Jones has no time for cards (6)
BRIDGE Remove the letter indicating “time” from Helen Fielding’s diarist to get a popular card game
14 They might be treated with restraint reportedly (8)
PATIENTS The solution sounds like (reportedly) a synonym of “restraint”
16 After changing direction, sudden mistake (9)
OVERSIGHT Take a word meaning “sudden) (eg the time often used to describe people who achieve fame or success rapidly) and swap the middle letter (a compass point) for the opposite one (changing direction)
17 Island shopping centre killer (8)
MALLORCA A charade of a synonym (chiefly US) for “shopping centre” and another name for a “killer” cetacean
18 Means to break the law (6)
WEALTH An anagram (to break) of “the law”
20 Perhaps decent, like certain salads (7)
DRESSED A double definition, the first being what you may need to be in order to be described as decent.
22 Confirm time to stop (5)
AVERT A synonym of “Confirm” (or state) followed by the letter indicating “time”
24 Former Prime Minister drifted, changing from left to right (5)
BROWN Take a synonym for “drifted” (think snow) and swap the abbreviation for “Left” for the abbreviation for “right”
25 At first, French girl mounts Jack? (4)
FLAG Take the initial letter (At first) of “French” and follow that by an inversion (“mounts” in a down clue) of an informal term for a “girl”
My old English master at grammar school, Basil Dowling, instilled in us that when writing an essay, it was vital to grab the reader’s attention and make an impression early on.
Shabbo has picked up on this maxim and ran with it, with his clever lurker at 1a. A cracking starter.
This was a genuinely accomplished puzzle, full of flowing surfaces, clever wordplay and most importantly for me, an injection of humour.
I can also detect a distinct style coming through.
Amongst many ticks, I’ll highlight the contrary child in 18a, 17d (where Huntsman’s off to, to escape his Coventry blues) and the madamoiselle and the matelot getting it on in 25a.
Chapeau Shabbo, this was hugely enjoyable. Well done mate.
My thanks also to Whybird for the blog, enjoy your well-earned.
I really relished the challenge of this and seemed to be on the right wavelength for most of it. However, 1a was one of the last to fall – such a cunningly disguised lurker. My COTD.
Tricksy but fairly clued, even if parsing was an afterthought. I liked 1 across, once the D dropped (my LOI), 18a and 8d.
Thanks to Shabbo and Whybird.
I might be accused of being biased but I thought it was a great puzzle. I especially liked 1A. Well done Shabbo 👏
You are indeed biased! And undoubtedly the second best crossworder in the family.
Now, now boys and girls, play nicely together. We don’t want any ‘Beckham shenanigans’ here
This was a perfect Tuesday Toughie, which was an absolute joy to solve. I echo Whybird’s preamble. Shabbo may be the new kid on the block, but this gave the impression of being the work of an established master.
I had ticks all over the place and 1a gets my vote as favourite – what a storming starter!
Many thanks to Shabbo and to Whybird.
Do I detect an Americanism here RD? ;))
This took me a while to get going, but I enjoyed every part of it.
1a was nicely hidden, and my last in.
Great stuff! Many thanks to Shabbo, and to Whybird.
Another fine example of Shabbo’s expertise as a setter but, perhaps, a little tougher than his first was. ***/****
Favourite a toss-up between 1a, what a magnificent way to start a puzzle, and 1d, that little fish making a second appearance today.
Thanks to Shabbo and Whybird.
Don’t think Shabbo’s sister need worry about bias coming into it – her bro has avoided any 2nd album misstep & produced a chart topper better than his debut effort. Another vote for 1a as fav (my last in too) with ✅s all over the shop & 5* enjoyment here too. Only the randy French lass offended my delicate sensibilities so we’ll need to keep an eye on that sort of thing.
Thanks to Shabbo & to Whybird – hope that you saw my recommendation for H is For Hawk on the off chance that you’ve not seen it or aren’t aware of the film.
Thanks, Huntsman. I’ve read the book, but not tried the film – yet! I haven’t turned to the back-pager yet; a bag of anti-mozzie and other sub-continental necessities has been demanding attention.
A tremendous puzzle from Shabbo – many thanks to him and Whybird.
1a is as good a hidden answer as I’ve seen for ages. That’s my favourite with further ticks for 11a, 18a, 7d and 16d.
Don’t generally do the toughie, but found this one very amusing and not really tough at all.
My two of the day were 1a and the great use of eggs in 12a, super fun!
A sheer delight from start to finish. Our vote for top clue goes to 1a despite the answer being of the type that we most fear from our part of the world.
Thanks Shabbo and Whybird.
Thank you all for your very kind comments.
They are much appreciated.
Thanks for dropping by, Shabbo. I hope you can cope with the sibling rivalry…
And thank you yet again for such a fantastic puzzle!
There are seven of us altogether so there have been plenty of good humoured rivalries over the years! I am very proud of my big brother 😊
Hugely enjoyable, and 1a is one of the best clues I have seen in years. I am really bad at spotting lurkers and it was my last one in, but really smiled when I got it
What a cracker, I will join the throng in praise of 1a but many others equally good. Nice to see that Baby eating cleric as played by Ronald Lacey. Blackadder was always worth watching – well maybe after season one.
Thanks to Shabbo (and Shabbo’s parents for raising a whole clan of cruciverbalists) and Whybird (why the class 37?)
Hi SJB. Re 13a: Train spotting terminology -that’s their nickname. No idea why!
I’m also very fond of Blackadder series 1 – not as polished as the later series, but plenty of great moments. Send for the Witchsmeller Pursuivant!
Just been doing some research on the English Electric type 3 – a new nickname to me
A bit more tuneful than the engines that dragged me around Scotland in the early 80s! I can only remember a handful of the nicknames (Hoovers, Rats, McRats, Choppers, Whistlers, Duffs) but there’s a very obscure themed crossword in there somewhere!
I do the Toughie when I have time, and especially make an effort when I see a recommendation from the Back Page Blogger! This was good fun from start to finish with 1a being LOI. 12a, 27a and 14d are my top picks. Many thanks to the setter and reviewer.
What an absolute joy this was to solve. I can’t add much to what everyone has said, but I loved how well the surface and cryptic worked together – 1A has to be clue of the year (I spent some time stuck on “bits and . . .” before the penny dropped.) So many good clues, and so much clever misdirection, and it was always satisfying when they just clicked. Thanks to Shabbo, and to Whybird for the hints.
A decent challenge, if a little on the easy side, but with lots of concision reminiscent of a Beam toughie. The anagram at 28 Across and the 2 down card among the favourites. 1 across is great but unfortunately it’s also an old and much quoted one.
Today was spent up at the hospital for a one of those PET scans where they inject you with radioactive dye and then wait for 90 minutes for it to do its work. During that time I managed to complete the cryptic, quickie and mini crosswords on my phone (very fiddly….). Back home I have now completed Shabbo’s toughie to complete my day. A superb one if just a tad tricky for novice toughie solver me so a few of Whybird’s hints were needed. Especially for 1A where I would have never have spotted the incredibly well hidden lurker. Thanks to both of you, it cheered me up no end.
What can I add, this was an immensely enjoyable Toughie with some clever parsing and misdirection. As a relatively novice Toughie solver, the fact I finished without the hints is very pleasing.
1a is a cracking lurker which I identified early on, but only later saw the ‘see’ indicator, but I also liked the tube at 13a.
Many thanks to Shabbo and Whybird.
3*/5*
2*/5* …
liked 18A “Depart accompanied by contrary child (8)”