Toughie 3717

Toughie No 3717 by Shabbo
Hints and tips by Whybird

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BD Rating – Difficulty ***   – Enjoyment ****

Welcome to the Toughie Week.  I have been expecting a Shabbo for a couple of weeks and I reckon he has spent the time since his last Toughie fermenting extra deviousness.  I found this fairly tricky, and technically is a “DNF” as I had to call in the cavalry to help with the complete parsing of 1a.  There are some absolutely cracking clues, with 9a, 12a, 20d and 27a in particular standing out for me.  However, my top spot goes to the hilarious 8d. 

Thanks, Shabbo, for an absolute blast.

Please let us know how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle. 

Across Clues

1a Opposition policy after local depression is lifted (10)

RESISTANCE A synonym for “policy” (or attitude) follows (after) a synonym of “local” (in the sense of someone living somewhere) from which a four-letter “depression” is removed (lifted).  Thanks to Gazza for lifting the scales from my eyes over the depressed local.  

6a Plans putting junk mail on the counter (4)

MAPS A reversal (on the counter) of a synonym of junk mail

9a Tap with doubly good plating is shiny (10)

GLISTENING Two (doubly) of the usual letter indicating (good) surround (plating) a (5,2) synonym of “Tap” in the covert surveillance sense 

10a Excelled having fired new trainer? (4)

SHOE The usual letter indicating “new) is removed (fired) from a synonym of “Excelled”

12a I’m a Believer is number one? (6)

THEIST Split (3,3) the solution is another way you could describe “number one” in the sense of position, with the second part written out numerically using the letter that resembles “one”.  Seeing how the clue works is one thing, writing it down is another! 

13a Former capital site could be Scotland’s prettiest (8)

BONNIEST A former European capital city followed by an anagram (could be) of “site”.  I can’t say I’m overly keen on the anagram indicator here, but I can’t see what else is intended

15a Work in Washington with American politicians to create research facilities (12)

LABORATORIES A clearly flagged American spelling (in Washington) of a synonym of “Work” is followed by a letter indicating “American” and then a name for a British political party

18a Limiting fraud with firm recycling gin (12)

CONSTRICTING A charade of synonyms of “fraud” and “firm” (in the disciplinary sense) followed by and anagram (recycling) of “gin”

21a Bury – somewhere to go when heading west for a break (8)

INTERVAL A synonym of “Bury” as a verb followed by a reversal (“when heading west” in an across clue) of a three-letter informal term for a toilet.

22a Salesman ought to declare account (6)

REPORT A synonym of “Salesman” followed by a three-letter syllable that sounds like (to declare) “ought”

24a Spirit seen in Ireland (4)

ELAN The solution is found in consecutive letters within “Ireland”

25a Leaseholder maybe pursuing place in France for officer (10)

LIEUTENANT A synonym of “Leaseholder” follows (pursuing) a four-letter French word (in France) meaning “place”

26a Figure dumping husband to see Evergreen? (4)

TREE The usual letter indicating “husband” is removed from (dumping) a small number (Figure) to get something that in some instances (hence the question mark) could be described as “evergreen”

27a Aims to switch to the other side of TV, getting fresh ideas (10)

INVENTIONS take a synonym of “Aims” (or plans) and replace the first instance of the first letter of “TV” with the other letter (switch to the other side of TV)

Down Clues
1d Vindicates old tradesmen losing weight (6)

RIGHTS A generic, old-fashioned term for “tradesmen” from which the letter indicating “weight” is removed (losing) 

2d Harvester possibly showing rest of snooker (6)

SPIDER Probably a double definition. One of the rests used in snooker is also an example of a type of arachnid amongst which “harvesters” (or harvestmen) are commonly included.  I thought so myself until researching this clue 

3d Meet entertaining player? Fine (12)

SATISFACTORY A synonym of “Meet” as a verb surrounds (entertaining) a synonym of “player” in the context of theatre

4d Relative is very thin, hiding head (4)

AUNT Remove the first letter (hiding head) from a synonym of “very thin”

5d Letters from those against working with soldiers (10)

CONSONANTS A charade of synonyms of “those against”, “working” and “soldiers” (in the insect sense) 

7d Sporty young fliers keeping lithe somehow (8)

ATHLETIC An anagram (somehow) of “lithe” is inserted into (keeping) the abbreviated name of an RAF-sponsored youth organisation

8d Second urine sample is most pleasing (8)

SWEETEST The letter indicating “Second” is followed by a (3,4) phrase which is a way you might describe the reason why you were submitting a urine sample. For ultra-sticklers, it is perhaps not an exact synonym, but it is well within Toughie Tolerances, and the clue overall is brilliantly and amusingly put together

11d Release article on part of speech by Bond (12)

ANNOUNCEMENT A charade of an indefinite “article”, a grammatical feature (part of speech) and a synonym of “bond” as a verb (ignore the capitalisation) 

14d Incentive scheme to restrict international levy (10)

MOTIVATION A synonym of a “scheme” (or proposal) surrounds the letter indicating “international” and the abbreviation for a tax levied on many goods and services

16d West has nothing to swap with America for unexpected event (8)

ACCIDENT Take an old-fashioned term for (the) West and replace the letter that resemble the numeric “nothing” with the usual letter meaning “America”

17d Idiot in football team scoffed, a recent recruit (8)

INITIATE A three-letter synonym of “idiot” is surrounded by (in) the letters that resemble the number of players in an Association football team followed by a synonym of “scoffed” (or consumed) 

19d Moan about company tax haven (6)

MONACO An anagram (about) of “Moan” followed by the usual abbreviation for “company” 

20d Rank sculptures out of east (6)

STATUS Remove the letter meaning “east” (out of) from a synonym of “sculptures” 

23d Heartlessly charge for toboggan (4)

LUGE Remove the middle letter (Heartlessly) from a synonym of “charge” (in the sense of attack)