Sunday Toughie No 229
by Zandio
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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A bit of a slow start, but once some checkers came, I picked up the pace. As it is a Prize Puzzle I am unable to hint them all, but I will try and give a nudge if I can.
Here We Go…
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 be back just after the closing date with the full blog. 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 I am not so new at this and don’t want to rock the boat. If in doubt, I’ll rub it out! I think that sentence is a bit redundant. You have all been so helpful in sorting out prior parsing failures, and I am sure I will need similar help again.
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 “White tie with hot pants” ad redesigned to cover backside (3,3,3,5)
The backside of a coin perhaps, is covered by an anagram (redesigned) of hot pants ad
10a One believes appeal Sir Humphrey’s opening looks retrograde in pen (9)
Sexual appeal, and Sir H(umphrey) are reversed in an informal term for a penitentiary
15a Run out of cannabis with 90 per cent reduction initially (4)
Zandio’s Roman maths again. Find a synonym of cannabis (that starts with a Roman numeral) and replace it with another Roman numeral 90 per cent smaller
17a Work regime that could mean four being cut (4-2-4)
A typical work regime (for Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda at least), which could be what results when cutting four from another number
18a No safety net and no rubber ring? (4,2,4)
The options when thrown in the deep end without a buoyancy aid
27a Feigned tenderness in speech toasted with this? (9)
Homophones (in speech) of synonyms of the first two words. I raise a glass 🥂
28a No right digit found by emergency room – left also seeking location (14)
Lego™ time. Assemble no from the clue, a right abbreviation, one of your digits, an emergency room, a left abbreviation, finally a synonym of also
Down
3d Harry takes winter vehicle, skipping Germany (6)
A synonym of takes and a winter vehicle without the IVR code that German cars display
5d What Islington postcode starts with zero? (4)
Most Islington postcodes start with this alphanumeric, spell out the numeric part for the synonym of zero
7d Lead-free facilities prepared for bank on paper (9)
An anagram (prepared) of what is left of facilities when the leading letter has been freed.
8d Go out more, avoiding unknown creep when talking tough stuff (9,5)
Rephrase go out more (4,2,4), but omit the mathematical unknown, and add a homophone (when talking) of to creep surreptitiously
9d Disorderly teen’s breaking a raw academic member’s connection (8,6)
A from the clue, a synonym of raw in temperature and a fellow of an academic institution contain an anagram (disorderly) of teen’s
16d Possible way to get lolly stick more frozen? (3,6)
A sharp stick and a comparative for more frozen may be the means to access your “lolly” at an ATM
25d Sting starts on Stewart Copeland, Andy mediates (4)
Initial letters (starts on) of the rest of the clue
Compiler
Zandio
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One for 23a;
That’s All Folks…
This puzzle kept me occupied for most of the morning and I was quite smug with myself managing to complete it – especially 28a and 8d which needed the Lego SJB referred to.
Thanks for the reminder about Zandio’s Roman maths as I was struggling to parse 15a.
So much for Global Warming. A week away from Midsummer and it is too cold and windy for golf here in NE Scotland.
Thanks to Zandio and SJB.
Magnificent!
From 1a to 25d, virtually every clue is so cleverly crafted.
I tend to put a tick by a clue I particularly admire: don’t think I’ve ever double-ticked so many.
Impossible for me to pick out a winner or even a podium, my LOI was 15a, the answer to which I was certain but couldn’t initially parse. When the penny eventually dropped, I sat back in admiration, it summed up the whole puzzle.
Chapeau, Zandio, for putting together such a high quality piece of work.
My thanks also to SJB for the blog.
I quite enjoyed that…
I’m glad this wasn’t too taxing, as I had one of those eyes wide open nights, and managed only about 40 minutes of sleep somewhere between 4 and 5 am!
Many thanks to Zandio and to SJB.
The couple I liked the most were 7d (..bank on paper) and 17a (work regime..).
I have a new apple watch which charts my nightly activity – it is quite an eye opener – no pun intended !
Reasonably straightforward but I confess I just bunged 28a in having assembled the lego, but I don’t understand why it is a “seeking location”.
I tend to agree, I shouldn’t have underlined seeking. It is just a link word between the Lego.
Although I did put Bamburgh Castle in as it was where you would have seen the Kings of 28a
For some reason my Chromebook doesn’t copy and paste underlinings and special characters as before. One if these days I will learn how to do different underlinings for straightforward and cryptic definitions like Falcon or double underlinings like MrK
A cracking puzzle – thanks to Zandio and SJB.
I liked 12a, 15a, 17a, 7d, 19d (substantially funded – brilliant) and my favourite 8d.
Another fine mess to untangle – how clever was all that?! I really liked 28a but had the wrong state in 26a and had to apply Tippex. 5d was guesswork but everything else was bang on the button. Many thanks Zandio for taking my mind off the fact that DD2 is suddenly going off for a week in France including Father’s Day and my 92nd birthday. Why should I be upset? And thanks to SJB for helping me round 9d and 7d.
5d was my LOI too, not helped by the fact that Islington covers several postal districts
15a held out on me and I needed help from here to see it – how clever.
Too many top notch clues to choose from today
17a and 18a are in joint first place for me.
I quite liked 25d – another appearance by The Police lead singer!!
Completed in two sittings….first half after breakfast and I thought that was as far as I was going. Then after lunch, 1a popped up from nowhere and that was enough to get going again. Too many good’uns to pick a favourite but 5d made me smile, once I’d finally worked out the (obvious!) answer.
There was a time when a Zandio cryptic filled me with dread but now I really look forward to a Sunday Toughie from himself!
Thanks to SJB for the hints – there were a couple of parsings that needed explaining, I’ll have to try and remember the Latin arithmetic! And thanks to Zandio for the puzzle.
What a great SPP. Plenty to think about, but everything was in plain sight with a bit of attention. Last in was 15a based on the first word of the clue but which needed SJB to explain the why; I’m never good on the drug related clues! My pick of many contenders is 8d.
Many thanks to Zandio and SJB
Very slow out of the stalls but completed in a reasonable time (for me anyway). As is often the case with me & Zandio Toughies a good number of the whys travelled on a later bus – 15a was the last to board but 1a is still at the stop. Despite being familiar with the principal Islington postcode 5d was the last answer in.
Thought the puzzle absolutely tip top. ✅s all over the pitch so tough to pick a top ten but I’ll go for – 13,17,27&28a plus 5,7,8,9,16&19d with 8d in at Number One.
Thanks to Zandio & to John – I see Fred’s mug but I’ll ponder before reading your explanation 🤔