Financial Times 12,740 by Mudd

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This puzzle has no fewer than three clues that I lack a complete understanding of: 26A, 5D and 21D. My copy of the paper did not include the clue for 23D and I retrieved it from the FT web site.

Across
1. EGGHEAD – double definition. Eggcellent!
5. POMPOUS – POM (Englishman abroad) + anagram of OPUS
9. CEDAR – hidden word
10. SEVENTEEN – EVENT (occasion) in SEEN (observed)
11. SCAPEGOAT – S (seconds) + A PEG (a pin) in COAT (jacket)
12. FUNGI – homophone. I have a friend who has used this pun about himself before!
13. WHOOPEE CUSHION – cryptic definition. Not terribly cryptic though.
19. CURRENT ACCOUNT – double definition
20. DEMON – MO (doctor) in DEN (study)
22. TWITTERED – T (model) + WITTERED (waffled on)
24. MENAGERIE – anagram of EMERGE IN A
25. LIMBO – LIMB (arm) + O (love)
26. CROUTON – ???
27. LIAISON – anagram of SAILO[r] IN

Down
1. EXCESS – homophones
2. GODFATHER – D (daughter) in OF (of) all in GATHER (marshal)
3. EYRIE – [af]RI[ca] in EYE (one looks)
4. DISHONEST – DISH (serve) + ONES (one’s) + T (time)
5. PIVOT – PI (good??) + VOT[e] (choice of candidates, short)
6. MANIFESTO – MANIFEST (clear) + O (zero)
7. OCEAN – reverse hidden word
8. SENTIENT – anagram of INTENSE + T (temperature)
14. OVERNIGHT – OVER (finished) + NIGH (near) + [stree]T
15. COCHINEAL – COCHIN (Indian port) + anagram of ALE
16. IGNORAMUS – anagram of ORGANISM around U (pipe bend)
17. ACADEMIC – double definition
19. ADJOIN – A (a) + DJ (record player) + O (nothing) + IN (popular)
21. MANGO – ???
22. TURIN – [Alan] TURIN[g]
23. TULSA – A (a) + SLUT (prostitute) reversed

4 comments on “Financial Times 12,740 by Mudd”

  1. 21D MAN (piece) + GO (be eaten)

    26A ROUT (hiding) in CONsomme (no ‘somme’ needed)

    5D PI + VOT as you have them, PIVOT = spin

    23D clue also missing in the US edition, but not hard to guess TULSA!

  3. Well, if something has been eaten it’s gone. Seemed OK to me. But don’t we always feel peeved at the ones that defeat us? I’m now hoping somebody will explain 21D in 12741. Looks like PREEN (= tidy), by why “… up? No, down!”?

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