Sunday Toughie No 211 by Light
Review by Sloop John Bee
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This puzzle was published on the 8th February 2026
Across
1a Book, volume that poet edited (4,2,3,3)
ROOM AT THE TOP: A synonym of volume or space ROOM, and an anagram (edited) of THAT POET
8a Release clutch when parking behind relative briefly (7)
UNCLASP: A synonym of when AS, and a parking symbol P, go behind most of a male relative UNCLe. To release ones clutch UNCLASP
9a Automatic rifle shell warning (7)
ROBOTIC: To rifle or steal ROB, and most of a warning n)OTIC(e that has shelled its outer letters
11a More and more cross grass bank (7)
RATTIER: To grass or inform on RAT, and a bank or level TIER, combine to be more and more cross RATTIER
12a Bird biting round bilberry now and then (7)
WARBLER: A synonym of biting RAW, is reversed (round) WAR, and alternate letters of bilberry BLER
13a Heed the terms of Forestry Commission fences for pine (5)
YEARN: Heed by lending me one of your shell-like appendages EAR, and insert it in the terminal letters of Forestry Commission Y_N
14a Congrats from university, after old academic year beset by some stickiness (4,2,3)
GOOD ON YOU: Some Lego™ here, O for old, an academic DON and a year abbreviation Y, are inserted into some stickiness GOO. A university abbreviation U, goes after
16a Handle on post? (9)
ADDRESSEE: A cryptic definition of the intended recipient of post
19a Port and some curaçao negligently knocked back (5)
GENOA: A lurker (and some) that is reversed (knocked back) in the other two words of the clue
21a Study husband cutting gristly meat at last (7)
THOUGHT: Something gristly TOUGH, is cut by H for husband and followed by the last letter of meat T
23a Remains in court with son and quarrels (4-3)
DUST-UPS: Remains of dead skin and other fine particles DUST, in court or UP before a judge, and the genealogical abbreviation of son S
24a Dig near fragments in settlement on the Thames (7)
READING: An anagram (fragments in) of DIG NEAR would be READING a settlement on the River Thames
25a Hurricane possibly seen here in two broadcasts (7)
AIRSHOW: Two synonyms of broadcast AIR and SHOW, may be a place where a Hurricane may be seen
26a “Meet and greet” in Glasgow that precedes the big fight? (9-3)
GATHERING CRY: The social act of meeting GATHERING, and what a Glaswegian is doing when he “greets” CRY
Down
1d Cheese starts to ripen in August, firm and dry inside (7)
RICOTTA: The starts of ripen in August RIA, contain our usual firm CO,and an abbreviation for one who is dry or abstains from alcohol TT. RI CO TT A. a soft cheese not dissimilar to cottage cheese
2d Speech helping to support head of organisation (7)
ORATION: A helping RATION, follows the head of organisation O
3d Taking lid off, burps as Aga cooks veg (9)
ASPARAGUS: An anagram (cooks) of b)URPS AS AGA, but take the lid off the first one
4d Put cover on sofa, maybe (5)
THROW: A double definition, the first being what Geoff Capes does with a shot put, the second a cover on a sofa. I think “maybe” allows the second definition to be a little looser
5d Prohibition boosted interest in hardcore rock genre (7)
EMBARGO Boosted in a down clue indicates a reversal of to interest or catch the attention of GRAB becomes BARG, it goes into a hardcore rock genre characterized by expressive, often confessional, lyrics EMO
6d In match, perform better than away game (7)
OUTPLAY: Synonyms of the last two words. My team, Leeds United, tend to do this more at Elland Road, except when Arsenal hammer four past us
7d Goal heralding defeat for boss of mine (12)
QUARRYMASTER: The goal of a prey seeking animal QUARRY and to defeat or surpass MASTER
10d Leaflet saying “Spades and Cutting Tools” (8,4)
CIRCULAR SAWS: A saying or adage SAW, follows a leaflet CIRCULAR, and finishes with the playing card abbreviation for Spades S
15d Completed tie ending in Everton showing a loss (9)
OVERDRAWN: Synonyms of completed OVER, and tie DRAW and the ending Everton N, show a financial loss OVERDRAWN
17d Small scene, one revolving around Jupiter in Cymbeline? (7)
DIORAMA: One of the astronomical bodies that is revolving around Jupiter IO, in a play that Cymbeline? is an example of DRAMA
18d Finally, foal neighs, wiggling tongue (7)
ENGLISH: A final letter of foal L in an anagram (wiggling) of NEIGHS
19d Juice in US leads to spasm around base of tender stomach (7)
GASTRIC: An American term for the juice I power my (non-electric) car with GAS, and a muscular spasm TIC, around the base letter of tender R. GASTRIC – An adjective relating to or involving the stomach
20d Held in New York, American thug angrily defiant (7)
NAUGHTY: A usual American A, and an anagram (angrily) of THUG, are held in the abbreviation of New York NY
22d Wild animal concerning ass when upset (5)
TIGER: A usual concerning or about RE, and a person who is deemed to be a contemptible ass GIT, are reversed (when upset) RE GIT becomes TIGER
Compiler
Light
That’s all Folks…