Toughie No 3502 by Hudson
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment *****
When I commented on this setter’s Independent cryptic crossword yesterday, I said it was a lovely Tuesday treat. His Telegraph crossword is an even more splendid Wednesday treat with lots to make the solver smile from start to finish. I was also lucky enough to get to enjoy it all over again while preparing these Hints.
Please let us know what you thought
Across
1a Irish classic pub gets in a few kegs an’ rum (9,4)
FINNEGANS WAKE A public house inserted into an anagram (rum) of A FEW KEGS AN
9a Order balti and gobi as essential accompaniments (9)
OBBLIGATI A musical accompaniment of importance – an anagram (order) of BALTI and GOBI
10a Lover boy’s half-hearted equestrian event (5)
RODEO Halve the Roman numeral at the heart of a young man very much in love
11a Bowled over, carrying one pound sword (5)
BILBO The cricket abbreviation for Bowled Over into which is inserted carrying) the Roman numeral for one and the abbreviation for a pound weight
12a Pretty smart (4)
CUTE An adjective which can mean both quaintly pleasing (pretty) and clever (smart)
13a First signs of dew attracting warblers near daybreak (4)
DAWN The first ‘signs’ of Dew Attracting Warblers Near
15a Barman Claude Eddery regularly stealing kiss (7)
DEBUSSY The French composer (barman) – the regular letters of eDdErY ‘stealing’ a playful kiss
17a One with a fabulous body seen in tunic or negligee (7)
UNICORN Hidden in the last three words of the clue
18a Turfing out old uniform Police leader (7)
OUSTING The abbreviation for Old, the letter represented by uniform in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet and the leader of The Police
20a Painter of sacred, half-neglected cloistered yard (7)
HOGARTH The first half of a synonym of sacred and an enclosed yard in a cloister
21a Best if Tim shed a stone (4)
OPAL The best of all possible worlds without (shed) TIM
22a Cap of stupid boy when cycling (4)
KEPI Cycle the first two letters of Dad’s Army’s “stupid boy” to the end of his surname
23a Prepare to fight again and back leader of military (5)
REAR A synonym for back and the ‘leader’ of Military
26a Exclusive small store on the High Street (5)
SCOOP The abbreviation for Small and an informal name for a high street store
27a Right, so picked up items for the wedding (9)
TROUSSEAU Homophones (picked up) of right or genuine and so
28a “Art” – my radical new hotel opening in the West End (9,4)
ADMIRALTY ARCH An anagram (new) of ART MY RADICAL followed by the letter represented by Hotel in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet
Down
1d Most of wardrobe thrown out, getting more pants (4,3,2,5)
FROM BAD TO WORSE An anagram (thrown out) of MOST OF WARDROBE
2d Article stolen from ME country upset philanthropist (5)
NOBEL An indefinite article ‘stolen’ from a reversed (upset) ME country
3d Senior job at paper? Oh Piers … it’d run into trouble! (10)
EDITORSHIP An anagram (run into trouble) of OH PIERS ITD
4d American drug cop hastily cleared out – total chaos! (7)
ANARCHY The abbreviation for American, a drug cop and the outside (cleared out) letters of HastilY
5d A bit of sushi at suppertime – it’s traditional in Japan (7)
SHIATSU Hidden in a bit of suSHI AT SUppertime
6d Crooked penny once spent by much-loved railway author (4)
AWRY The abbreviation for an old (pre-decimal) penny removed from (spent by) the author of some much-loved stories
7d Screened copper summoned to murder trial (9)
ENDEAVOUR The forename of a TV policeman (screened copper); an exertion of power towards some purpose (summoned to murder) or a trial
8d Looking glum and about to spit feathers? (4,2,3,5)
DOWN IN THE MOUTH A very old friend of the cryptic crossword solver – you would spit feathers if you literally had this!
14d Large part of Merseyside embracing northern singer (4,6)
BING CROSBY A synonym for large and part of Merseyside ‘embracing’ the abbreviation for Northern
16d Manage a rising cosmetic firm that originated in Brazil (5,4)
BOSSA NOVA Manage or control, A (from the clue) and a reversed (rising) cosmetic company
19d Energy-saving kitchen implement is more sublime (7)
GREATER The symbol for Energy inserted into a kitchen implement
20d Greeting to welcome King of France in Barnet, Sheen (4,3)
HAIR OIL Something to make your hair (barnet in Cockney Rhyming Slang) shine – an interjection of greeting ‘welcomes’ the French word for king
24d Freeman from the south freed Muslim prince (5)
AMEER The reversed (from the south in a Down solution) inside letters (freed) of fREEMAn
25d Health resort put on starter of minced meat out of a tin (4)
SPAM A health resort put on the ‘starter’ of Minced
Time is on my side today so it was a joy to be able to tackle the Hudson toughie, a compiler that I usually get on with. Only the sword at 11a was new to me and easily attainable from the clueing. I liked the anagrams at 9a and 8d, the artist and composer and, my favourite, Thomas’s creator adjusted at 6d. Thanks to Hudson and to Sue whose 5 stars for enjoyment I agree with.
A hugely enjoyable puzzle of course – it is a Hudson, after all! Many smiles throughout, some lovely witty clueing. Did not know the sword but was fairly clued, and did not know the ‘garth’ meaning – but how many artists are there with the name HO….H? Not entirely convinced by some of the 7d word play.
Honours to 20d for the grin when that penny dropped, to 6d, 3d, 21a & 22a.
Many thanks indeed to Hudson and Sue
A very enjoyable Wednesday offering, but then it would be, coming from the setter who never disappoints. Didn’t know the sword at 11A but the cluing got me there.
Particularly liked 26A, 1D,8D and favourite 21A.
Many thanks to CS for the blog and Hudson for the pleasure.
Hudson’s as entertaining as ever. Thanks to him and CS.
I didn’t know the 11a sword and I can’t really understand the middle part of 7d (unless ‘summoned’ is being used as a homophone indicator?).
Top clues for me were 10a, 17a and 22a.
A lovely Wednesday challenge with smiles aplenty.
I enjoyed the railway author, Captain Mainwaring’s stupid boy, the police leader, the French barman and the half-hearted lover boy.
I’m not convinced by the definition element of 16d, but this is a minor quibble on a first class puzzle.
Thank you Hudson and CS.
Not too difficult but very cleverly clued with some super surfaces.
Far too many ticked clues to break down to a podium with many raising a smile, particularly 22a: “Don’t tell ’em your name, Pike!”
The most amusing solve I’ve had for ages.
Thanks to Hudson and CS.
Perfect Wednesday afternoon fare, with 21a my final entry and favourite, and an honourable mention in dispatches for 22a. Great stuff.
Super puzzle. Ticks all over the shop.
I don’t understand the summoned to murder bit either.
Thanks to Hudson & to CS.
Slightly surprised that there are only eight comments for this really enjoyable crossword! I liked ‘don’t tell him Pike’ and the Irish Classic confused me for a while….I was thinking of horse races until the penny finally dropped. Thanks to Hudson and Cryptic Sue
A really enjoyable solve, particularly the long perimeter answers.
Thanks Hudson and CS.
Just finished before bedtime, a couple of answers bunged in but explained by Sue. Thanks to Sue and Hudson. I learned about Spanish swordmaking. Favourites a couple of little ones, the stupid boy and the much loved railway author.