Sunday Toughie No 212 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 15th of February 2026
Across
1a Soldier dropped in suitable American gear (9)
APPARATUS: A mobile soldier who drops from the sky PARA, in a synonym of suitable APT, followed by one of our usual Americans US. Some gear or AP(PARA)T US
6a Cold and oddly dressed (4)
CLAD: Odd letters of the first two words C L A D are synonymous with being dressed
10a Go back round island creating hassles (5)
BAITS: An informal go or attempt STAB is reversed BATS (round) an island abbreviation I. BAITS or hassles
11a Loathe a pong partner holds in (9)
ABOMINATE: A bit of Lego™ here. A from the clue, the pong that results from poor personal hygiene BO, and one’s partner MATE holding IN from the clue. To loathe or A BO M(IN)ATE
12a Marine possibly acquires objectives (7)
TARGETS: An informal term for one who works in a marine environment A jolly Jack TAR, and a synonym of acquires GETS
13a One gasps embracing hot cougar (7)
PANTHER: One who gasps for breath PANTER containing H for hot. An alternative name for the cougar or mountain lion, although not a true member of the lion subspecies (it cannot roar), it has over 40 variations in name, of which PANTHER is one
14a Makes public expedition to see eclipse (8)
OUTSTRIP: Makes public that which one may have preferred remained secret OUTS, and an expedition or travel experience TRIP
16a Search around over valley (5)
COOMB: A detailed search COMB around a crickety over O – COOMB. The Welsh CWM (3) or Scottish CORRIE (6) term for the valley sits easier with me, but doesn’t fit
19a Separate, perhaps lop in twain initially (5)
SPLIT: A Beam™ initial letters clue
21a Old lady regretted backing majesty (8)
GRANDEUR: A synonym of regretted RUED is reversed (backing) DEUR and follows one of your parents’ mothers GRAN
24a Beam follows opening for show (7)
PORTRAY: A beam (or Mr Terrell’s forename) RAY, follows an opening or PORT
25a Nearly fail to charge certain suspect (7)
SURMISE: Nearly all of a synonym of fail MIS(s) is contained in (to charge) something certain SURE
27a Blab and reveal unattached person (9)
SINGLETON: To blab or divulge confidential information SING, and a (3,2) phrase for reveal LET ON
28a Moaned without wife getting upset (5)
AILED: A synonym of moaned (w)AILED, loses a wifely abbreviation
29a First lady? Queen, always (4)
EVER: The first lady (according to the bible) EVE, and a Latin Queen R for Regina
30a After fish, go into chippy (9)
CARPENTER: Chippy is an informal term for this tradesman, from a type of freshwater fish CARP, and to go into ENTER
Down
1d Excellent golf score for handicap? (9)
ALBATROSS: A double definition, three under par or a millstone round the neck perhaps?
2d Religious leader’s past conviction in America (5)
PRIOR: I think I am going to call this another double definition, a term used in America for having “form” is also a religious leader in a monastery
3d Observe using some miniatuRE SPECTacles (7)
RESPECT: A lurker (using some) in the last two words
4d Beam‘s van taking motorway (8)
TRANSMIT: A TRANSIT van takes the single-letter abbreviation that indicates a motorway M. TRANS(M)IT To beam across the airways
5d Ships with puddle rising on board (6)
SLOOPS: An initialism of screw driven and steam powered ships S.S. contains a puddle of water POOL, that has been reversed (rising on board) S LOOP S. Thanks for the namecheck Ray
7d Large curse roughly being offensive (9)
LOATHSOME: A large abbreviation L, a curse OATH and a synonym of roughly SOME
8d Bard’s despondent Romeo embraced by sweetheart (5)
DREAR: Beam is playing fast and loose with his sweetheart today. We want a synonym of sweetheart DEAR, containing the letter that Romeo suggests R. Bard is a generic poet rather than the author of Romeo and Juliet, so we want a “poetic” rendering of the defined despondent
9d Choose short cut fine for outing (6)
PICNIC: A synonym of to choose PICK, is shortened PIC, and one of fine NICE, is cut NIC. An outing or PICNIC
15d Play patience (9)
TOLERANCE: A double definition, the first of which comes from engineering
17d One providing skill in drinking spree? (9)
BARTENDER: A cryptic all-in-one of someone who provides the means for drinking, from a drinking spree BENDER, containing a skill ART
18d Criminal one’s caught by lying, right? (8)
PRISONER: A synonym of lying PRONEand R for right contains a Roman one I and the plural ‘ess S. A criminal or PR(I’S)ONE R
20d Tweet involving hashtag’s initial buzz (6)
THRILL: A tweet or birdsong TRILL, containing the initial letter of Hashtag H
22d Tell made a bolt upping speed (7)
NARRATE: Made a bolt for RAN, it is reversed (upping in a down clue) NAR, followed by a speed RATE. To NARRATE or tell
23d This compiler’s endless criticism for cryptic (6)
MYSTIC: A pronoun for this compiler’s MY, then some informal criticism STIC(k) that is without its end letter. Cryptic or MYSTIC
24d Act incorporates leader of Staines Massive (5)
POSSE: To act or style oneself in the manner of POSE, incorporates the leading letter of Staines S. Massive is a slang term for a group of people from a locality, or sharing a collective aim, interest, A POSSE
26d Lives on rented piece of land (5)
ISLET: A synonym of lives or exists IS, on one of rented or hired LET
Compiler
Beam
That’s all Folks…