Sunday Toughie No 231
by Beam
Hints and Tips by Sloop John Bee
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After Thursday I was hoping, but we haven’t seen a Robyn here in Sunday Toughie land since #175, 1st June 2025, over a year ago; however, Beam is a more than adequate replacement. The daunting castellated grid (nice description, ALP) soon filled itself as I watched a slightly laboured performance of England last night. I was able to turn in before Keane and Neville had their say.
14a and 14d clues and I have hinted half. Beam trademarks are there, under six words per single word solutions, no anagrams, Queens, sweethearts, and initialisms, although we have been spared a trip to the lingerie department today.
I can’t hint them all, but will try and give a nudge if you ask
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!
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
8a 
9a Playing in time practised right (10)
Playing or going, in a period of time, followed by a synonym of practised
11a Still Caledonian’s first dressed in tartan (6)
Another word for tartan contains a first letter
12a Gold one found inside quiet tomb (9)
The chemical symbol for gold and the condition of being just one only go inside an informal term for being quiet
15a Wife shrinking strong material (7)
A synonym of shrinking (like a tide) follows a wifely abbreviation
22a Marine is fierce suppressing fear, oddly (9)
A fierce, hot temperature like the current heatwave around the odd letters of fear
25a Amorous heart accepting sex appeal returned (6)
Take the heart of an apple perhaps, that contains informal sex appeal then reverse (returned) for amorous or sexually charged
27a Hostile man, aggressive, dropping one (10)
Man as a gender and a synonym of aggressive, but drop the Roman letter for one
Down
1d Reporting about finished on time (8)
A usual about, something finished and a longer period of time than the one needed for 9a
3d Object about channel being sensational (9)
A very small brook or channel with an object going about it
4d United almost start trying (7)
Being united and almost all of to start or cause to become awake
6d Shell swiftly supporting Ferrari? (8)
A synonym of swiftly supports what Ferrari? is an example of
18d Batted, never getting upset about rivalry (8)
A lurker (getting) that is reversed (upset about) in the first two words
19d Transparent material in glasses when delivered (7)
Through or in and a homophone (when delivered) of an informal term for glasses
23d Take stock of other people? (6)
A cryptic definition of stealing the livestock of other people
Compiler
Beam
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Maybe a hint for 22a, but I have put this on my wishlist for its August release
An enjoyable tussle from Beam with the usual trademarks in evidence. As Sloops mentioned in his comment on Dada’s offering there is a connection between a clue in each puzzle. I know nothing about these things but did Shell sponsor Ferrari? Good clue though and it nearly earned top spot but my COTT is the amorous heart at 25a.
Thank you, Beam for an enjoyable tussle. That’s three shots at The Mythical this weekend. Thank you, Sloops for the hints. Not that it matters but you left the clue out at 8a.
8a was one over the half hints I aim for but I left the game picture in as I had another fancy in mind (port out…) for a while
I didn’t notice it last night but Shell do indeed sponsor Ferrari.
I remembered the distinctive Gulf colours but they sponsored Ford
I found this quite tricky but easier than Dada on the other channel.
Many thanks to Beam and to SJB.
Top three were 9a, 15a, and 4d
I’m making a return to the Sunday blog after a three week hiatus occasioned by two weddings, a birthday party and a house full of visitors. It was lots of fun but quite intense!
Having watched the football until late last night I made a start on this Beam puzzle in the wee hours but, despite (or perhaps because of) a nice glass of Kilkerran 12yo, failed to get over the finish line, the last four hold-outs (13, 26, 2 & 19) finally giving way during my morning mug of tea. I’ve seen 26a in various guises before, but this version took me some time to twig and deservedly gets an Across podium spot along with 9 & 10. My Down podium places went to 3, 4 & 16. I also thought 14d was nicely disguised within the surface reading.
My thanks to Beam for helping raise my spirits (some contained in a glass) after a rather lacklustre England performance and to SJB for his Hints and Tips
A turgid first half was relieved by the arrival of the puzzle during the second half. The goals in the second half bookended most of the puzzle. I was rather pleased with the video for 19d
…is that because you thought it was more exciting than the ‘turgid first half’?
It has a ‘pythonesque’ charm, but I don’t think I’ll be subscribing to the Hydraulic Press Channel
Not really, just the serendipitous arrival of a video crushing plastic safety glasses as I solved the clue
8a went in immediately and then a blank until 27a, after which it was a steady plod around the houses capitalising on the checkers as they arose. I particularly liked the fierce marine 22a and the hostile man 27a, but my COTT is 19d.
Many thanks to Beam and SJB.
Afternoon all.
I was really hoping for a hint for 20 across which has left me stumped, even with two letters out of five
It has left me quite 26a (my COTD); any gentle nudge much appreciated.
A light hit and a Beam’s™ regnal cipher
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So grateful!
A missing o in your email sent this to moderation – now corrected
I forgot to use my iPhone keyboard shortcut. Keep up your great work – much appreciated.
It’s a DNF for me.
Some cracking clues favourites being 12a, 25a and 27a
But I needed help with 16d and 19d (so obvious I know) and am left with 13a cannot get there for the life of me. I have a word that fits but cannot make it for the clue.
Such is the way with a toughie.
I did enjoy this though
Thanks all
Obtained a total without a ton, Colin Dexter in Morse was a well known exponent of this small part
It was fun trying to spot him. He also appeared in Lewis and Endeavour although it was his picture in the later episodes of the latter because he died in 2017. Apparently, he was so impressed with John Thaw’s portrayal of Morse, he decreed that nobody else should be allowed to play him.
Oh gosh I had guessed the word from the first part of the clue but couldn’t make it fit thank you so much
Just finished this, having gone back to look at throughout a busy day – thankfully cooler than the past week. I liked 12a just because I like the word, there is a nicely concealed lurker, I also like the word at 27a and thought 2d was very clever, altogether a very satisfying solve. Many thanks to Beam for the entertainment and to SJB for the hints. How did Mama Bee cope with the extreme heat? It knocked my sideways.
Mama coped better than I did, but her preference for tea rather than my coffee probably helped. Hopefully the cooler nights will also allow a better nighrs sleep
Up with lark – the temperature in my flat now fallen to a slightly more manageable 28C.
4d & last in 13a doubled the solve time.
9,13,22&27a + 4,16&19d among particular likes.
Thanks to B&J
Larks doing overtime, just on my way to work.
John, thought you might like a pint here!! It’s in Porthgain, Pembrokeshire. Had a very nice pint of their own pale ale.
Finished the crossword yesterday, typical Ray T, so clever and very enjoyable.
Thanks to Ray T and your good self.
I will make a point of visiting next time I am in that part of the world