Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of February 16, 2013
This proved a somewhat challenging puzzle for me, especially 20D (SETT) which got me so stumped I had to ask for help. My favourite clues are 1A (HACIENDA) and 13A (RAITA) — both very simple but good. I may be missing something in 11A.
Across
1. HACIENDA – anagram of HAD A NICE
5. PERSIA – PER (by) + SIA[m] (another dropping back)
9. LEAVENED – LEAVE (go) + NED (Kelly)
10. STERNE – hidden word. This was easy to guess once I had some crossing letters but I did not know of a novelist by the name of Sterne and, after a search, remain unsure to whom Cincinnus means this to refer.
12. DONATELLO – DONATE (present) + LL (lines) + O (old). What role does ‘clothes’ play here? I fancy I am missing something. It seems that something must indicate that the O follows the LL but I do not see how ‘clothes’ would do that.
13. RAITA – A (a) in RITA (girl)
14. OBAN – O (round) + BAN (embargo)
16. ABASHED – A[rmy] + BASHED (beaten)
19. ALL EARS – LEAR (king) in ALS[o] (too short)
21. URNS – [b]URNS (poet dispatching British)
24. BEGIN – double definition
25. TAKE COVER – C (caught) in TAKEOVER (coup)
27. TRAGIC – GI (soldier) in CART (tumbrel) all reversed
28. HOEDOWNS – anagram of WHOS DONE
29. NUTTER – N (name) + UTTER (say)
30. UNDERLAY – anagram of D[r]URY LANE — with a nice cryptic definition
Down
1. HALIDE – AL (aluminium) in HIDE (put out of sight)
2. CRANNY – ANN (girl) in CRY (call)
3. EVENT – EVEN (flat) + T[yre]
4. DWELL ON – WELL (source of water) in DON (river)
6. ENTERTAIN – ENTER (log) + TA (that’s appreciated) + IN (in)
7. STRAIGHT – double definition
8. ADELAIDE – A (a) + DEL (key — as on a computer keyboard) + AIDE (adviser)
11. COMA – CO (gas, i.e. carbon monoxide) + MA[sk]
15. BEARNAISE – anagram of ASIAN BEER
17. RABBIT ON – RABBI (teacher) + NOT backwards
18. FLAGRANT – FLAG (draw attention to) + RANT (diatribe)
20. SETT – SET (place) + T (time). I was familiar only with the badger’s-home meaning of SETT. Now I understand it also refers to a small rectangular paving stone, or ‘block’ in this case.
21. UNKNOWN – hidden word
22. AVOWAL – homophone (“a vowel”)
23. FROSTY – FROST (US poet) + [jul]Y
26. CADGE – CAD (stinker) + EG (say) reversed
Pete, the explanation for 12a (not 11a) is I think that DONATE plus O clothes (or encloses) the lines. No, I don’t like it very much either.
10 – Laurence Sterne, author of TRISTRAM SHANDY.
12 – I agree with Peter: “present with old”=DONATE+O, and this “clothes lines”–that is, LL is to be inserted into DONATEO.
Thank you, Peter and Bob. I know of Tristram Shandy but had no idea who wrote it! I understand 12 now. I cannot see that there is anything strictly wrong with the construction but it still grates with me.
Failed on 1d,2dand 9a as well as getting 20d wrong. Couldn’t parse 6d & 24a .
Pretty tough in my book.
Pete
21D
This is a hidden answer (tr)unk now n(eeded) and not an anagram.
Although I did not get 12A immediately I now think that the construction is deviously clever.
Thanks for the blog as always.
D’oh! Of course. Thank you, ernie.
I can’t quite see why people don’t like the clue for Donatello. It seems to me that the wording ‘… old clothes lines’ is very neat. Everyone to their own taste, I suppose.