Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of June 25
Cincinnus is in good form here with four clues that I especially applaud: 16A (HARANGUE), 21A (HOUSEBOUND), 26 (AGHAST) and 3D (STRIPLING). And maybe 10D (VINGT-ET-UN) as well. The two clues at the top, 1A (SPARSE) and 5A (DACTYL) challenged me for a while.
Across
1. SPARSE – SPARS (boxes) + [stor]E
4. DACTYL – ACT (play) in YD (yard) backwards + L (left)
8. RIVIERA – anagram of I ARRIVE
9. REPAINT – REP (salesman) + AINT (is not)
11. UP TO A POINT – anagram of PUT ON PATIO
12. HOOK – double definition
13. STASI – STASI[s] (almost making arrest)
14. GABONESE – GAB (talk) + ONE (individual) + S[ierra leon]E
16. HARANGUE – anagram of HEAR A GUN
18. DODGE – double/cryptic definition
20. SPUR – SPUR[n] (reject extremely deficient)
21. HOUSEBOUND – anagram of OH NO BUS DUE
23. OPTIONS – OP (work) + anagram of IS NOT
24. HIDALGO – HID (cloaked) + A (a) + L[ocal] G[overnment] O[fficial]
25. LINNET – INN (hostelry) in LET (allowed)
26. AGHAST – hidden word
Down
1. SKIMP – SKIM (superficially read) + P[eriodical]
2. ARIZONA – ZON[e] (region not the last) in ARIA (song)
3. STRIPLING – S (small) TRIPLING (small, small, small)
5. ALERT – ALE (porter) + RT (right)
6. TEACH-IN – A (a) + CHI (Greek character) in TEN (10)
7. LANGOUSTE – anagram of GELAT[i]NOUS
10. VINGT-ET-UN – VINGT (the French score) ET UN ([the French] one more)
13. STAR PUPIL – STAR (astronomical) + PUPIL (eyepiece). “Astronomical” and “star” are certainly close in meaning but can one justifiably clue the other? I cannot find a definition to support this but Cincinnus is usually so precise that I want to give him the benefit of my doubt.
15. BADGERING – BADGE (one item of personal adornment) + RING (another item of personal adornment)
17. ARRAIGN – homophone (“a reign”)
19. DIORAMA – I[r]O[n] in DRAMA (play)
21. HENCE – FENCE (receiver) with F replaced by H (has new top)
22. NIGHT – [k]NIGHT (headless man)
Many thanks Pete & Cincinnus
This was very enjoyable except that 4a DACTYL was too tough for me.
Or otherwise I would have submitted a Prize entry, assuming that I could have sent it Freepost.
As you said, Pete, Cincinnus on good form here.
And if you (in general, so not just you, Pete :)) liked this one, why not try the easier but brilliantly clued Quiptic (by Orlando) at the Guardian website – only till Sunday on display.
I had some trouble in the NE where DACTYL and ALERT were the last two in.
I couldn’t fully see how SPUR (20ac) worked but thanks to your blog I do now – as easy as that.
For me, HOUSEBOUND (21ac) with its magnificent surface is this week’s winner, but I smiled at the silliness of STRIPLING (3d) and NIGHT (22d) too.
One remark about 1ac (SPARSE).
There is something very unusual going on here.
A definition (‘Meagre’) plus two cryptic constructions.
The one you gave plus: SPARE (not used) around S (sulphur).
Ah, thanks Sil, yes I forgot to include the second wordplay for 1A.
In STAR PUPIL I think both the inclusion of the question mark and looking at “astronomical eyepiece” as a phrase, equivalent (in a playful way) to “star pupil’, make this clue fine, with ‘star’ and ‘astronomical’ not needing to be absolutely exact equivalents.