Sunday Toughie No 215 by Beam
Review by Sloop John Bee
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on the 8th of March 2026
Across
1a Do this again showing tenacity! (7)
RESOLVE: The tenacity to start again when you have made an error in this crossword, to RE-SOLVE
5a Culture perhaps found in V&A? (7)
LETTERS: A man of culture or Scholarly attainment, may have letters after his name, of which V&A are examples?
9a Suggest it’s dull speaking about work (7)
PROPOSE: Five letters of dull, unmetrical speaking PROSE, go about two letters for work OP
10a Plug more suitable for electrical device (7)
ADAPTER: More suitable APTER, follows a plug or a brief commercial AD. Chambers allows both this spelling and ADAPTOR without any regional qualification, others suggest that the ER ending is US and OR is British. As it is in Chambers without the regional qualification Beam is on pretty solid ground.
11a Fraud is shameless taking over street (9)
IMPOSTURE: shameless, immoral or obscene thoughts IMPURE, contain abbreviations of over and street O ST. IMP(O-ST)URE or fraud
12a Animal also carried by father (5)
PANDA: An informal father PA, carries a synonym of also AND
13a Be quiet and clean getting broom? (5)
SHRUB: An interjection calling for quiet SH, and to clean by wiping RUB. Broom? Is a horticultural definition by example
15a Concerning to admit past is false (9)
INSINCERE: Two little words for concerning (from Latin) IN RE, contain a preposition for time past SINCE
17a Preparation of feasts inside uncovered fat (9)
READINESS: A type of fat GREASE, is uncovered, by removing its outer letters REA-S, a synonym of feasts DINES, goes inside
19a Greek character captured in water colour (5)
SEPIA: A large body of salt water SEA, captures a Greek character PI
22a Bands settle back covering Queen (5)
TIERS: To settle in a chair SIT, is reversed (back) TI-S, around the Beam™ late Queen’s regnal cipher ER. Bands or TIERS
23a Rapture seeing sunset’s end passed pool? (9)
TRANSPORT: A synonym of passed RAN, follows the end of sunset T, followed by the type of physical pastime that is exemplified by pool? SPORT. Rapture or TRANSPORT
25a Start to roast one’s fish croquette (7)
RISSOLE: The start to roast R, a Roman one I, and its plural ‘ess S, and a type of flatfish SOLE
26a Tapers point with pointed missiles (7)
NARROWS: A point of the compass N, along with some pointed missiles AROOWS
27a Socialist’s leader in fitting decline (7)
DESCENT: A synonym of fitting DECENT, contains the leading letter of Socialist S
28a Cut out employing power drain (7)
DEPLETE: A synonym of cut out DELETE, contains a power abbreviation P
Down
1d Why you shouldn’t trust salesman’s answers? (7)
REPLIES: Split the answer (3,4) and you should see why the salesman is not to be trusted The REP-LIES
2d Possibly cork pieces finally on hat (7)
STOPPER: The final letter of pieces S, goes on a tall hat TOPPER
3d Reel turns making circles (5)
LOOPS: A reel for thread or fishing SPOOL, is reversed (turns) LOOPS
4d Government kill with intravenous injection (9)
EXECUTIVE: To kill or EXECUTE, is injected with an intravenous abbreviation IV
5d The French welcome time off (5)
LEAVE: A French definite article LE, and a Latin welcome AVE, combine to give us some time off work LEAVE
6d Clothes stoutly made, top to toe (9)
TRAPPINGS: Someone stoutly made STRAPPING moves the topmost letter to the other end, Clothes or TRAPPINGS
7d Part of continent entering agreement (7)
ENTENTE: A lurker (part of) continENT ENTEring, defined by agreement
8d Top spot for water sport expert? (7)
SURFACE: The place where a water sport takes place SURF, and an expert at that or other skills ACE. A top or SURFACE
14d Butterfly following borders with colour (9)
BRIMSTONE: A colour or shade TONE, follows the plural borders of a hat perhaps BRIMS
16d Supported American with tinted exterior (9)
SUSTAINED: A synonym of tinted STAINED, around (exterior to) one of our usual Americans US
17d Stopped working and went to bed (7)
RETIRED: A double definition
18d They won’t stand for old people! (7)
AGEISTS: They exhibit a disdain for old people
20d Tease is acceptable in show (7)
PROVOKE: To show or demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt PROVE, contains something acceptable OK
21d Part is tempting absorbing performer (7)
ARTISTE: A lurker (absorbing) in the first three words
23d Spoil sweetheart in Italian eatery (5)
TREAT: Beam’s™ sweetheart E, in an abbreviated Italian eatery TRATtoria
24d Stem carrying grain of rice paddy (5)
STROP: To stem or STOP, carrying a grain (or small part of) rice R
Compiler
Beam
That’s all Folks…