Sunday Toughie No 194 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 12th of October 2025
Across
1a Detectives do reprimand taking nothing down (12)
DISCONSOLATE: A plural rank of detective DI’S, to do or deceive CON, and to reprimand SLATE, around the letter that looks like nothing O.
9a Release from Queen rejected in part (9)
SECRETION: Beam’s usual regnal cipher ER, is reversed RE, in a part or SECTION.
10a Work over capturing sexy snap (5)
PHOTO: A synonym of sexy HOT, in a reversal (over) of a work abbreviation OP becomes P-O.
11a Origin of globular spherical Earth (6)
GROUND: A first letter G,and a synonym of spherical ROUND.
12a Cancellation of show containing empty rows (8)
REVERSAL: A synonym of show REVEAL, contains what remains of rows when empty RS.
13a End of kids’ shows for kids (6)
SPROGS: The last letter of kids S, and informally abbreviated shows on the radio or TV PROGrammeS.
14a Literal race on motorway (8)
MISPRINT: The “motroway” that merges with the Great North Road between Aberford and Bramham Cross Roads M1, and a short, fast race SPRINT. Literal is a printing term for a MISPRINT.
17a Radiate energy flashes rebounding once (8)
SOMETIME: Some short periods that pass in a flash MOS,. Einstein’s energy abbreviation E, and to radiate EMIT, are reversed (rebounding). EMIT E MOS becomes once or SOMETIME.
19a Wrestled stronghold from dictator (6)
FOUGHT: A homophone (from dictator) of a stronghold FORT becomes FOUGHT.
22a Guide of sailor on oceans, reportedly (8)
LODESTAR: Our usual jolly jack TAR, follows another homophone (reportedly) of oceans as large amounts LOADS becomes LODES.
24a Platform beginning to push hatred (6)
PODIUM: From the last two words, a beginning letter of push P, and a synonym of hatred ODIUM.
26a Almost doesn’t start in good time (5)
EARLY: A synonym of almost NEARLY, doesn’t have its starting letter.
27a English bank backed charge creating stress (9)
REITERATE: An abbreviation for English E, and a synonym of bank TIER, are reversed (backed) REIT E, and add a monetary charge RATE.
28a Understand fitting, chaps? Time for alteration (12)
READJUSTMENT: To understand by book-learning READ, fitting or impartial JUST, some chaps MEN, and a timely abbreviation T.
Down
1d Stoops going round small plots (7)
DESIGNS: A synonym of stoops DEIGNS around S for small.
2d Relief derived from sap we gather (7)
SUCCOUR: Another homophone (we gather) of a sap or foolish person SUCKER becomes SUCCOUR.
3d Public outside nearly until morning? (9)
OVERNIGHT: A synonym of public OVERT, around a synonym of nearly NIGH.
4d Spoke, articulated in diction initially (4)
SAID: A Beam™ initial letters clue.
5d Stall that is providing underwear (8)
LINGERIE: To stall or be reluctant to leave LINGER, and a Latin that is I.E. Another Beam™ trip to the underwear department.
6d Head, occasionally even in pith helmet (5)
TOPEE: A head or summit TOP, and occasional letters of even EE.
7d A little shrub on saikei? (6)
BONSAI: Saikei is a Japanese miniature landscape, one of the shrubs that make up that landscape is lurking in the clue (a little) hidden in shruB ON SAIkei.
8d One trapped inside vacant lavatory (6)
TOILET: The letter that looks like a Roman one I, is trapped inside the sign that a property is vacant TO LET.
15d Support single noisiest vacuous supporter (9)
PROPONENT: A support for a washing line PROP, a single cricket score ONE, and what remains of noisiest when vacuous N-T.
16d Defective express in endless delay (8)
IMPAIRED: To express or AIR, in most of a synonym of delay, hinder or obstruct IMP(AIR)ED e.
17d Join commando, perhaps wiping out unit (6)
SOLDER: A commando or SOLD(I)ER, without the letter that looks like a Roman one I.
18d Navy under way finding current (6)
MODERN: The Royal Navy R.N., goes beneath a synonym of way MODE.
20d Kindness wreathes this compiler’s face (7)
GRIMACE: A synonym of kindness GRACE, around a contraction for this compiler I’M.
21d Faced rising irritation causing storm (7)
TEMPEST: To have faced MET, is reversed (rising in a down clue) TEM, and an irritation PEST.
23d Sort of pen line with sweetheart (5)
STYLE: A pig-pen STY, a line abbreviation L, and a Beam™ swEetheart.
25d Place of smallest room, some say (4)
LIEU: A homophone (some say) of the smallest room LOO, in place of or LIEU.
Compiler
Beam
That’s all Folks…