Toughie No 3527 by Light
Hints and tips by ALP
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
BD Rating – Toughie difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****/*****
Typical invention from Light today, with imaginative synonyms/definitions and quirky surfaces. Cricket, music, politics – and even the bible – are all covered. Not too tricky for a Thursday … as long as you’re on wavelength. All yours.
Across
1a Absolutely Fabulous and another sitcom … Not Going Out? (4,4,7)
JUST GOOD FRIENDS: Absolutely/quiet + good/excellent + US (1994-2004) sitcom. Could there possibly be a more Light clue? He clearly knows his sitcoms – three in the surface/wordplay plus one in the definition.
9a So what wood goes on bridge, at intervals? (3,4)
BIG DEAL: (Soft) wood on/after B[r]I[d]G[e].
10a Sally right by mailman, one going to the van (7)
RIPOSTE: The usual “right”, and then “mailman” (informally), with its usual “one” moved to the front/van.
11a Pull up AI expert misguidedly taking heart from ChatGPT (9)
EXTIRPATE: AIEXPERT, misguidedly, containing/taking the middle letter/heart from the last word.
12a Stand by load being delivered (4)
WAIT: Homophone (delivered) of load/burden.
13a Island in south with reserve (6)
SICILY: The usual “south” + an adverb meaning “with reserve”.
15a Sensitive Parisian to go about embracing Joe (8)
ALLERGIC: The French for “to go” + the one-letter “about” contains/embraces a (US) Joe.
18a Open, deserted eastern area in the course of walk (8)
AMENABLE: E[aster]N + A[rea] inside/in the course of walk/stroll.
19a Spanish painter hosting international whiskey festival (6)
DIWALI: Artist (Salvador) hosting/containing the usual “international” and “whiskey”.
22a Giving speech, create stink (4)
REEK: Homophone (giving speech) of create/cause.
23a A prime time to leave classes for break (9)
ELEVENSES: Prime (number) + classes/streams, minus the usual “time”.
26a Roundabout a mile away from friend’s work (7)
OPERATE: The letter shaped like a roundabout + the three-letter ‘A’ + “friend” minus the abbreviation for “mile”.
27a Recalled next runs India must get in second Test? (7)
RETRIAL: Next/subsequently, recalled/reversed, with the usual “runs” and “India” inserted/getting in.
28a Hitherto elegant, posing naked (2,3,10)
IN THE ALTOGETHER: HITHERTOELEGANT, posing.
Down
1d Like a deficient Old Testament reprint recently dismissed? (7)
JOBLESS: How one might describe the Old Testament if its 18th book were missing.
2d Learner’s driven out of small spot (5)
SIGHT: Small/insignificant, minus the usual “learner”.
3d Regulars in field inspired by regular fighting partisan (9)
GUERRILLA: [f]I[e]L[d], inspired by/inside REGULAR, fighting.
4d Renault reversing with a new container in the boot? (6)
OILCAN: (Nicole’s?) Renault reversing/ed + ‘A’ N[ew].
5d Once in favour of blithely dismissing Rhode Island (8)
FORMERLY: In favour of/pro + blithely/cheerfully, minus the abbreviated “Rhode Island”.
6d Irreverent old American spurns African group (4)
IMPI: Irreverent/ungodly spurned by/without the usual “old” and “American”.
7d Reminiscence of Glastonbury without Plant sadly – fine, on reflection (9)
NOSTALGIA: GLASTON[bury], sadly, plus fine/excellent, reversed/reflected.
8d Maybe one who scoffs a lot is poisoned eating root of manioc (7)
SCEPTIC: Poisoned/rotten containing/eating [manio]C (root, in a down).
14d Most fly in col, not over mountain (9)
CLEVEREST: “Col”, minus the usual “over” + (highest) mountain. This is almost certainly an avian surface but it screamed Tour de France to me. Take your pick!
16d Ambitious meal course unfinished, plates having slipped here? (9)
EPICENTRE: Ambitious/impressive + “meal course” (a word that, oddly, can mean starter, middle or main), minus its last letter.
17d Melancholy call that’s encountered in woodland (8)
BLUEBELL: Melancholy/low + call/ring.
18d Stuffing for Boris after journalists start to retaliate, Independent deduced (1,6)
A PRIORI: [b]ORI[s] after journalists/press agency + R[etaliate] + the usual “Independent”.
20d In general, US nincompoops turning xenophobic? (7)
INSULAR: Reverse lurker, hidden in the second, third and fourth words.
21d I rowed around odd fish (6)
WEIRDO: IROWED, around.
24d Smart Sierra, fancy (5)
SWISH: S[ierra] + to fancy/desire.
25d Post adverts, essentially to support chum (4)
PALE: [adv]E[rts] supports/follow chum/mate.
Five anagrams, a couple of homophones and a lurker. I particularly enjoyed 1a, 9a and 4d but I think I’ll go for 18d – a fun way to clue what must be a stinker. What did you make of it?
Not overly difficult, just good fun.
The one that caused the most difficulty to parse was 18d (the first two letters).
My last in was 4d.
Ticks to 23a, 26a, 27a (my favourite), 4d, and 17d.
Thank to Light and to ALP.
Not too tough but lots of fun. I enjoyed the mailman in 10a, the second test at 27a and the one who scoffs a lot in 8d. Also enjoyed QOTSA and Prince Fatty [they used to play their version of White Rabbit in my local gym].
Thanks to Light and ALP.
Lovely puzzle, just right for a lunchtime diversion. Worked from S to N and W to E, with longest time spent justifying and parsing my answer to the Yoda-esque 6d!
Honours to 1a, 1d & 28 – great spot.
Many thanks to Light (remind me please, Light is Twm in disguise?) and of course to ALP
Yep, (thinly) disguised. No one does sitcoms quite like him, in either guise!
Our second cracking puzzle of the day which I thoroughly enjoyed – thanks to Light and ALP.
Ticks from me for 9a, 23a, 27a and 1d with my favourite being the absolutely fabulous 1a (which reminded me of that great comedy scriptwriter John Sullivan who wrote 1a as well as a host of other classic shows including Only Fools, Citizen Smith and Dear John.
My favourite crossword for many weeks. So many light bulb moments bringing smiles. Could tick most of them but enjoyed 1d and 4d
Thanks to ALP and especially to Light.
A thoroughly enjoyable Thursday Toughie which I felt deserved more than a ** rating for difficulty and definitely ****/***** for enjoyment. There was so much to like with 7,14,16 and 17D deserving a special mention. My favourite was 1D.
Many thanks ALP for the blog, and Light for the Absolutely Fabulous challenge.
Top stuff, clever and amusing.
Honours to the rebel in 3d, the neatly parked car in 4d and the sentiment memories of Led Zep evoked by 7d.
Glad this wasn’t too demanding as I’ve managed to find time to sneakily look at it whilst keeping grandchildren entertained.
My thanks to Light and ALP.
Arghhhh, so annoying!
Auto incorrect has lopped the final two letters from sentimental.
I loved 1a … Cheers to the setter!
Thank you, Light. This took me too sessions (started at lunchtime, and returned to it once the children were in bed) but was so worth it. My top few include the stuffing for Boris in 18d, the deficient Old Testament in 1d, and 27a with its second Test.
Thanks also to ALP for nudging me to the African group in 6d, and explaining a couple of others. And to X-Type, for having previously explained the 9a wood, which I apparently can now remember.
I found this harder than most, seemingly, but nevertheless really enjoyed the challenge. I’m not on Light’s wavelength (same for Twm… but more so!). Lots of lovely clues. 1a, 1d, 9a, 10a, 27a… So thanks to Light for the time well spent!
6d took some digging out: never heard of them, and failed to properly parse 22a. What is it about four-letter answers? Anyway, thanks to ALP for clearing that up, and for the blog generally.
Way tougher than ALP’s rating for me. 3 letter reveals needed to finish & struggled to get on wavelength. 1a was worth the price of admission on its own & plenty of ticks elsewhere.
Thanks to Light & to ALP.
Many thanks to all solvers and commenters, and to ALP for the review.
Huge thanks for popping in. An absolute cracker.