Prize Puzzle from the Monday April 4 FT
If you like cryptic definitions, there are some sterling examples here. I particularly liked 14 down; 27 across and 11 across were also pleasing.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | SET OUT dd |
| 4 | VEHEMENT HE-MEN (muscular types) in VET (surgeon) |
| 9 | ELAPSE LAP (circuit) in E, S, E (directions) |
| 10 | CONVERSE dd |
| 12 | TAKE OVER TAKE (provide) OVER (deliveries, in cricket) |
| 13 | SLEEVE cd |
| 15 | CHOW dd |
| 16 | STOCKPILES PILE (a lot of money) in STOCKS (shares) |
| 19 | CONSPIRACY CONS (studies) PIRACY (hijacking) |
| 20 | STUD STUD[y] (“scrutinise,” endlessly) |
| 23 | SIGN ON dd |
| 25 | OBSTACLE dd |
| 27 | CANNIBAL cd |
| 28 | ACUMEN *(MAN + CUE) |
| 29 | WRITE OFF dd |
| 30 | BOARDS dd |
| Down | |
| 1 | SCEPTIC cd |
| 2 | TRACK DOWN dd |
| 3 | UNSHOD *(HOUNDS) |
| 5 | ENOW cd; old form of “enough” |
| 6 | ENVELOPE cd |
| 7 | EERIE E (“mill-race” ends) in ERIE (lake) |
| 8 | THESEUS THE + *(USES) |
| 11 | LECTERN cd |
| 14 | ICE CUBE cd |
| 17 | LATECOMER *(CLEAR TO ME) |
| 18 | APPOSITE A P (quiet) PO (river) SITE (location) |
| 19 | CASH COW CASH (money) COW (stock unit) |
| 21 | DUENNAS cd; not female accompanists who are young, but those who accompany young females |
| 22 | STUCCO *(CU [for copper] + COST); an indirect anagram |
| 24 | GENII *(GIN + I.E. [for “that is”]); another one! |
| 26 | CALF dd; “lower” being one that lows |
Many thanks Agentzero – this was very enjoyable.
Luckily, I had opted for ENOW so it all worked out.
However one ENOW was quite enough.
As always a nice puzzle by Dante who defeated me on one occasion: 11d (LECTERN).
Indeed, Agentzero (thx!), a lot of cd’s & dd’s again, but very smooth cluing along the way with 19ac (CONSPIRACY), 3d (UNSHOD), 18d (APPOSITE) and 14d (ICE CUBE) as my favourites.
Every now and then it happens that Dante and Rufus use identical clues.
Today there were two.
In last Monday’s blog on Rufus (Guardian 25,293) there was some dicussion on GENII (as a plural), which was my first entry in that puzzle as the clue read “Gin that is a mixture of bottled spirits” ….
And we had 12ac (TAKE OVER) just a fortnight ago (Mon 28 Mar 11) in the Monday Rufus – so that was my first entry hére in this Dante.
On some occasions in the past, Rufus/Dante gave us insight in why this might occur, so I don’t want to bother him again. I’m fine with it.
All solved except for a totally blank NE and 11d.
Should have got 7d & 8d.
5d falls into the category of “I would never have got”
13a I looked at the answer and it took a good couple of minutes before the penny dropped.