Toughie No 3395 by Kcit
Hints and tips by Gazza
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BD Rating – Difficulty */** – Enjoyment **/***
I’m thankful that I’ve got a shortcut in Word for the word ‘abbreviation’ because there are an awful lot of them here. The puzzle didn’t pose any great problems and really belongs at the start of the week rather than on a Thursday. Thanks to Kcit.
Please leave a comment telling us how you fared and what you liked about the puzzle.
Across Clues
1a Who’ll straighten out any sliding teeth? (6,9)
DENTAL HYGIENIST: an anagram (straighten out) of ANY SLIDING TEETH. I’m not sure this individual has the right level of training for that sort of procedure.
9a Opening stage in kidnapping seeing sailor escaping (9)
INDUCTION: IN and a synonym of kidnapping without a 2-letter abbreviation for sailor.
10a Fine move, eliminating bishop, is a dodge (5)
FUDGE: the pencil abbreviation for fine and a verb to move without the chess abbreviation for bishop.
11a Justification not acceptable in – say – backing bribe (6)
GREASE: a word meaning justification or grounds loses its adjective meaning acceptable. Insert that in the reversal of the abbreviation meaning ‘say’.
12a That guy in charge keeping court very busy (6)
HECTIC: a male pronoun and the abbreviation for in charge contain the abbreviation for court.
15a Power and work accepted by active mortals – that’s the stuff of life (10)
PROTOPLASM: start with the physics abbreviation for power then insert our usual abbreviation for an artistic work into an anagram (active) of MORTALS.
17a Equestrian initially coming in cross after losing a new horse (4)
GREY: the initial letter of equestrian is inserted in an adjective meaning cross after we’ve removed A and the abbreviation for new.
19a Region about to be annexed by America repeatedly (4)
AREA: a preposition meaning ‘about’ has an abbreviation for America on either side of it.
20a Returned amounts given to one London hospital? It’s not an ideal look (10)
STRABISMUS: string together a word for amounts or totals, the Roman numeral for one and the usual abbreviation for a famous teaching hospital in London. Now reverse the lot.
22a Prohibit circling sheltered area for stuff from whales (6)
BALEEN: a verb to prohibit contains a sheltered area.
23a Second recording including rock arranged for orchestra? (6)
SCORED: abbreviations for second and a recording medium contain a type of rock from which minerals can be extracted.
28a Caught leaving illegal drink, leading to a fuss (3-2)
HOO-HA: remove the cricket abbreviation for caught from a word for illicitly-made strong liquor then append A.
29a Discount not right when receiving a scholarship (9)
EDUCATION: remove the abbreviation for right from a synonym of discount and insert A.
30a Following agreement, part of railway station is no place for buskers (7-8)
CONCERT-PLATFORM: charade of a word meaning agreement or harmony and a structure at a railway station.
Down Clues
1d Active wild dog moving tail (5)
DOING: move the last letter of an Australian wild dog up a bit.
2d Suggestion for one to solicit payment upheld (5)
NUDGE: stick together the abbreviation meaning ‘for one’ and a verb to pester someone for the payment of a debt then reverse it all.
3d Steps to right dodging daughter and grandmother? (8)
ANCESTOR: assemble a word for steps (in a ballroom?), TO and the abbreviation for right then remove the abbreviation for daughter.
4d 1960s musical: source of hippie attitude (4)
HAIR: the first letter of hippie and a synonym of attitude or demeanour.
5d Busy singer not initially appearing in interval? One’s a cracker (10)
GINGERSNAP: an anagram (busy) of SINGER N[ot] inside an interval.
6d Decadent celebration after Spain meeting France (6)
EFFETE: the IVR codes for Spain and France and a word which for us normally means an outdoor entertainment with stalls but can also mean a religious celebration.
7d Impolite behaviour in English firm that’s put in part of kitchen? (9)
INDECORUM: start with IN then insert abbreviations for English and firm into something found in the kitchen (a nickname for the percussion section of an orchestra).
8d Current name disdained by adolescents (4)
TEES: remove the abbreviation for name from adolescents.
13d An entire Greek city beginning to transmit good wishes (3,3,4)
ALL THE BEST: a phrase (3,6) which could mean an entire ancient Greek city and the first letter of transmit.
14d Watches end of game for sure (4)
EYES: the last letter of game and a response meaning ‘for sure’.
15d Simple to rule out current scheme (4)
PLAN: remove the symbol for electric current from an adjective meaning simple or clear.
16d Exaggerated part of speech spoken quietly? Working to smother that (9)
OVERBLOWN: a part of speech and an adjective meaning ‘spoken quietly’ are contained in an adjective meaning ‘working’.
18d A pitcher’s thrown? Here’s presentation of stats (3,5)
PIE CHART: an anagram (thrown) of A PITCHER.
21d French area seeing son in a tie (6)
ALSACE: insert the genealogical abbreviation for son into A and a verb to tie.
24d African animal I note in part of Greek writing (5)
RHINO: insert I and an abbreviation for note into a Greek letter.
25d The writer’s supporting study of cotton fabric (5)
DENIM: a contracted form of ‘the writer is’ from the setter’s viewpoint follows a synonym of a study or retreat.
26d Smart military leader securing hospital (4)
CHIC: the abbreviation for a supreme military leader contains the map abbreviation for hospital.
27d Source of criminal web address providing twist (4)
CURL: the first letter of criminal and the abbreviation used for an address on the web.
My favourite clue was 4d. Which one(s) came up to scratch for you?
Although the NW put up a little fight, this crossword was definitely on the floughie side for a Thursday
Thanks to Kcit and Gazza
I thought it a bit trickier than that! There were a lot of subtractions, which I always find challenging. Maybe **/*** for me. But you’re right Gazza -1a is definitely not the correct dental professional. It’s an orthodontist you need and I’m sure kcit knows that! But it was fun and I particularly liked 23a [neat and fits with nice surface] 7d [kitchen was cunning] and 2d which took me quite a bit of figuring out.
Thanks for the blog and thanks to kcit for the puzzle.
Even with the explanation do not understand 2 down. Can you explain it further please as it has baffled me! I put nudge in but did not know how it could be correct. Many thanks
2d EG (for one, for example) is followed by DUN (verb meaning to make demands for repayment of a debt). Finally reverse it all (upheld in a down clue).
Light but enjoyable about sums this up. Even tricky ones like 2d were gettable through accurate wordplay. I particularly liked 23a.
My thanks to Kcit and Gazza.
A pleasant solve today
Nothing controversial but a good work out
My COTD is the excellent 20 a.
Thanks to all
Great fun, not too taxing. I very much enjoyed 20a and 23a. “Part of kitchen” and “solicit payment” were also charmingly cunning. Many thanks to Kcit and Gazza.
I certainly did not find this straightforward at all. I needed the hints to parse 2d (hadn’t heard of ‘dun’ before) and 7d. 20a was definitely a new word for me but on the plus side I did manage to parse it. Favourite was 16d. Thanks to Kcit and Gazza.
Most enjoyable.
Having just returned from the dentist, I can confirm that the dental professional mentioned does not straighten teeth, but who cares – it is a lovely anagram!
It took me forever to get the first word of 30a. No reason – I just couldn’t see it and my alternative suggestions made no sense.
20a was a DNK, but gettable from the wordplay.
I biffed ERUDITION at 29a, which, of course makes no sense whatsoever.
I also biffed the wrong African animal having got the final O.
Anyway, despite these self-imposed diversions, I got there in the end and thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Thank you Kcit and Gazza.
29a – erudition? Me too!
I always enjoy KCIT toughies and this did not disappoint. Favourite was 20a, also a new word for me, prompting further investigation of the condition. Thanks to KCIT and Gazza.
I’m with TG in not finding it particularly straightforward either. Completion took about the usual time & a couple of consultations with Mr G as 20a was new & 22a only vaguely rang a bell. Nothing really stood out as a favourite but did enjoy the solve.
Thanks to Kcit & Gazza
Pleasant solve for us. 7d our favourite for the penny drop moment when we twigged the kitchen.
Thanks Kcit and Gazza.
Certainly agree with Gazza’ s rating. Mostly straightforward with only the French region and the payment solicitation providing hold-ups. Did not know 20a but checkers allowed a bung in and verification c/o Google. Thanks to KCIT and Gazza – brilliant cartoons!