Two enjoyable FT puzzles in a row, first Monk now Mudd. Some of the clues had me metaphorically scratching my head but then the penny would drop and I had to smile at the misleading nature of the clue. My only slight concern is with 24d where I assume the ‘many pairings’ refers to having a number of sexual partners but this is not a definition of ‘knave’ that is given in any of the usual dictionaries.
Across
1 ALBUMEN ALBUM (book) EN[d] (conclusion abridged)
5 LOST OUT LO (look) STOUT (round)
9 LOG ON LOGO (sign) N (name)
10 REVERSION RE (on) VERSION (account)
11 TOTEM POLE TO TEMPO (speed) LE (the, in French)
12 PANDA PAN (god) D (died) A
13 RELIC L (left) in REIC[h] (old German state incomplete)
15 IDEALISED *(AIDE IS LED)
18 PRESIDENT cd P (premier leader) RESIDENT (in office) &lit – Edit: Thanks to Agentzero for pointing out the wordplay I had missed (see comment #1)
19 BRUSH cd
21 BROOM cd
23 BLOCKHEAD cd
25 INTENSIVE IN TENS (decimal) [f]IVE (number not the first)
26 AROMA M (motorway) in A ROA[d] (a street not entirely)
27 HANDS UP dd
28 THEATRE cd
Down
1 ALL-STAR ST (way) in ALLA[h] (god not entirely) R (right)
2 BAGATELLE A GAT (a gun) in BELLE (beauty)
3 MINIM MIN (little time) IM (Mudd’s)
4 NARCOTISE *(CREATIONS)
5 LEVEE LEVE[l] (almost flat) E (earth)
6 STRIP CLUB STRIP (band) CLUB (bash)
7 ONION ON (now showing) [l]ION (top cat)
8 TANKARD TANK (military transporter) [h]ARD (‘efty)
14 CHIPMUNKS I PM (lunchtime) in CHUNKS (pineapple pieces)
16 EXTROVERT EX (old) ROVER (dog) in TT (races)
17 SAUCE BOAT *(CASE ABOUT)
18 PUBLISH B (book) LI (51) in PUSH (press)
20 HYDRATE *(DRY) in HATE (don’t like)
22 OFTEN NET (catch) FO (government department) reversed
23 BLIMP B (second-rate) LIMP (less than rigid)
24 KNAVE cd
Gaufrid,
I thought 18a was actually a charade: P (“premier leader”) + RESIDENT (“in,” or maybe even “in office,” which would make it an &lit, as in “the resident professor of XYZ”).
Agreed, this was an enjoyable puzzle.
Agentzero, you are indeed correct! I looked at this clue a couple of times to try and find some wordplay but failed to see that which is now obvious 🙁
This was a delightful puzzle with a variety of cryptic devices. Totally enjoyable. It’s a real pity not many are availing themselves of the FT puzzles.
Can you please explain 24D Card in many pairings? (5) more fully. Thanks
re 24d – I did wonder if “many”=K but I can’t think of any justification for “pairings”=NAVE. Something to do with the way cathedrals are laid out, perhaps?
As I mentioned in my preamble, 24d was the one clue over which I had any concern because my interpretation of ‘many pairings’ was not supported by dictionary definitions.
After finishing today’s FT (the third in a row to give above average enjoyment!) I revisited this clue and have found that one of the definitions of ‘pair’ in Chambers is ‘a pack (of cards; obs)’, and ‘pairing’ is a nounal derivative of ‘pair’, but I don’t think this takes us any further forward.