FT 13,082/Viking

An overabundance of reversal devices today but, overall, a satisfying puzzle.  I’m far from confident that I’ve plumped for the right guess at 13A though (assuming that’s it’s some kind of cryptic/punning definition?)

Across
1 PERFECTIONIST – (reception FT is)*
9 RISOTTO – (OT +to +sir) rev
10 OVERLAY – overplay – p.  I thought that this device could have been better phrased.
11 ERROR – ROR[o] (truncated form of RO-RO, roll-on/off ferry) + RE (all rev)
12 TESTAMENT – test + men in TA(rev)
13 SKILLSET – the best idea I could come up with, but lacking in justification.
15 STROVE – R in stove.  I must have away from the UK too long, because this made me nostalgic about not having heard the phrase “he stoved his head in” for donkey’s years.
18 DETECT – defect with t for f.
19 EXACTING
22 BAKSHEESH – she in bake + sh.  The middle eastern equivalent of a pourboire.
24 TONGA – n in toga. Island of rotund monarchs and occasional Rugby World cup upsets, he said stereotypically.
25 EMPEROR – rep in Rome (all rev)
26  NOXIOUS – [chairma]N + OX + IOUS.  I think that, pedantically speaking, it’s generally the case that debts are “bad” and the corresponding assets are “toxic”.  Still doesn’t stop it being an enjoyable and venue-appropriate clue.
27 TASTELESSNESS – (senseless tat)* + S.  A stalwart word for the bottom of crossword grids, as it offers such a favourable string of checking letters.

Down
1   PURSERS – se in purrs
2 RESERVIST – (advertisers)* – ad.
3 ENTER – [r]enter
4 TROUTLET – t+r+outlet. Apparently small/young trout are not afforded glamorous names int he same way that their salmon counterparts are (parr, grilse etc)
5 OBOIST – I in (boost)*
6 INELASTIC – cit[-y] + sale + Ni (all rev)
7 TILDE – d in tile
8 MYRTLE – try in elm (all rev)
14 LOCK HORNS – (school rank)* – A
16 ONION DOME – Onion + “do” ME.  “Section of Russian church” is one of the outrageously imaginative definitions I’ve encountered for a while.
17 EXCHANGE – i.e. erstwhile loose money.
18 DABBED – dab + B.Ed
20 GLASSES – L in gasses.
21 DEGREE – hidden.  I always tip my hat to the setter when, as in this case, a hidden clue is among the last couple that I solve.
23 KAPUT – (UK apt)*. After 26A, a stab at more FT editorial comment by Viking?
24 TEXAS – X (vote) in teas[e]

5 comments on “FT 13,082/Viking”

  1. Hello Smiffy
    “The facility to create crosswords” – the skill (to) set?
    Enjoyed this puzzle – much more accessible than usual for Viking.

  2. Hi Smiffy
    I agree re 13a, presumably the intention is a contraction of ‘skill at setting’.

  3. Smiffy

    Thanks for the blog.

    At 13A I had SKILLSET: “facility” is SKILL, “create crossword” is SET.
    Didn’t think twice about it! Do you not agree?

  4. Thanks guys. Bleedin’ obvious now, but I just couldn’t get comfortable with the reasoning at the time. I think my blind-spot wasn’t helped by the question mark, and a nagging doubt as to whether SKILLSET should be one word or two.

    Relieved that I didn’t agonise for long by looking for wrong alternatives. And am always amused to read here of instances where one solver’s mountain is another’s molehill. Here’s hoping that next time, I find myself in the molehill camp!

  5. Hi Smiffy
    13a It seems likely that the enumeration for this clue is wrong. Both Chambers and COED give it as two words.

Comments are closed.