Monday Prize Crossword/Apr 29
Yes, half of the clues were double or cryptic definitions, but this was once more an enjoyable offering from Dante. That said, I am always a bit annoyed when seeing clues that I saw before (6d, 22d).
Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1 | DIRECT | Give travel guidance the shortest way (6) |
| Double definition | ||
| 4 | ASYLUM | Refuge a youth originally found in squat (6) |
| A + {Y[outh] inside SLUM (squat)} | ||
| 8 | BAMBOOS | Sailor returns with broken booms, they’re hollow-stemmed (7) |
| BA (reversal of AB (sailor)) + (BOOMS)* | ||
| 9 | DETAINS | Doesn’t let go – sets free instead (7) |
| (INSTEAD)* | ||
| 11 | HALF ASLEEP | 50 per cent off? (4,6) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| Sometimes I like them, cryptic definitions. | ||
| 12 | LIES | Is prone to untruths? (4) |
| Double definition | ||
| 13 | CUSHY | Starting comedy university cast finds it easy (5) |
| C[omedy] + U (university) + SHY (cast) | ||
| 14 | INACTION | Rest during battle (8) |
| IN ACTION (during battle) | ||
| 16 | INTRUDES | Interferes and is turned out (8) |
| (IS TURNED)* | ||
| 18 | STRUT | Take vain steps to provide support (5) |
| Double definition | ||
| 20 | DUDS | One assumes them to be failures (4) |
| Double definition | ||
| This was my last entry and boy oh boy I had to think about ?U?S. And boy oh boy how wrong was I with CUTS – see many posts below. | ||
| 21 | HALF NELSON | It’s a wrestling term, son! (4,6) |
| SON is half of ‘Nelson’ | ||
| Quite a clever clue. | ||
| 23 | ARRESTS | Checks, made by police (7) |
| Double definition | ||
| 24 | TESTATE | Leaving things late? (7) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 25 | RETIRE | Go back – but not to work (6) |
| Double definition, but it is difficult to underline the second one properly. Yet, I did. | ||
| 26 | USED-UP | Exhausted when given high level employment (4-2) |
| USED (given employment) + UP (high level) | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | DIANA | She separated from Charles and upset Nadia (5) |
| (NADIA)* | ||
| Perhaps this clue may also upset those who still miss her. | ||
| 2 | REBUFFS | Brushes off and polishes again (7) |
| Double definition | ||
| 3 | CROSS-EYED | Inward-looking (5-4) |
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 5 | SLEEP | Ex-PM’s gone up to rest (5) |
| Reversal of PEEL (ex-PM) ‘S | ||
| 6 | LEAFLET | Tract of grassland left untidy (7) |
| LEA (grassland) + (LEFT)* | ||
| Exactly the same clue appeared in the Guardian that day. Dante and Rufus even managed to squeeze it in at the same position in the grid. Knowing that the grids were different makes it even more spooky. | ||
| 7 | MANGETOUT | Chap to leave a served vegetable (9) |
| MAN (chap) + GET OUT ((to) leave) | ||
| Which is what they said to Saddam after they found him in a hole in the ground: “Man, Get Out”. Don’t quite see why ‘a served’ is part of this clue. | ||
| 10 | PENINSULA | War-zone writer almost isolated (9) |
| PEN (writer) + INSULA[r] (almost INSULAR (isolated)) – the definition may perhaps refer to Crimea (or any other place where young lives are wasted in the name of War). See Eileen’s comment @7 for a better explanation. | ||
| 13 | CONQUEROR | Victor – or William? (9) |
| Double definition | ||
| A ‘conqueror’ can be a winner, someone who the Romans called a ‘Victor’. And, of course, there was William the Conqueror. | ||
| 15 | ABSENTEES | Missing persons (9) |
| Not so cryptic definition | ||
| 17 | RESPECT | Appreciate courtesy (7) |
| Double definition | ||
| 19 | RELATED | Right to be overjoyed when told (7) |
| R (right) + ELATED (be overjoyed) | ||
| 21 | HATER | Heartbroken lover’s converse (5) |
| (HEART)* | ||
| 22 | ON TAP | Where to keep one’s hose readily available (2,3) |
| Double definition | ||
| Another Dante/Rufus déjà vu. Exactly the same clue appeared just three days ago in the Guardian. | ||
Would appreciate explanation of 20a.
Well, oldham, my interpretation of this clue is as follows.
CUTS could be ‘failures’ – think of power cuts.
And in everyday life people consider CUTS (think politics) to be negative things ie perhaps ‘failures’.
If anyone has a better explanation (or even another solution for 20d), I am happy to welcome it.
20a duds? Double definition. Ragged clothes / tatters & failures
I had DUDS too
Many thanks, Sil & Dante
I also had DUDS @ 20a and I never even thought twice about it.
In fact, I prefer it!
Thanks Sil. I thought of duds too, but can’t see how “one assumes” works with either suggested answer. Perhaps we need a word from Rufus.
I am also not comfortable with peninsular as a definition of war-zone. Why should it be any more a war zone than anywhere else?
I have to say that I didn’t get mangetout. It is quite clever isn’t it? Could it be that “served” is in there because the vegetable is “pea”, and it only becomes “mangetout” when it is served in the form of being able to be eaten as a whole?
Thanks for the blog, Sil.
10ac refers to the Peninsular War http://www.peninsularwar.org/penwar_e.htm
According to both Chambers and Collins, duds can simply mean ‘clothes’, which can be assumed [put on].
I have to apologise for two similar clues appearing in recent puzzles in different outlets. I do try to ensure my clues don’t appear with similar wording by checking my records. However, in case of illness or holidays, I do keep months ahead with the crossword editors, who usually publish them in order. For some reason this crossword, which had been submitted some years ago, was left at the bottom of the editor’s pile. Weirdly 6 down in both the FT and Guardian puzzles on this date were the same. I don’t know when and how the editor decides which crosswords to use, so my “system” failed. Incidentally it looks as though the ones from the bottom have been, or are now about to be, published.
Incidentally, my intention for 20 across was DUDS; thanks to Eileen for explaining the clues for DUDS and PENINSULA!
Many thanks, Rufus
As we all know, no system is perfect and, sadly, poor Sil is now embarrassed by his selection of CUTS which is a complete Dud if ever I saw one.
Apologies to Roger / Dante / Rufus @8 for not having said thanks for the puzzle. I actually missed solving this one [forgive me] but always enjoy reading the blogs – and can’t resist sticking my oar in! 😉
This is the first time that I had a solution wrong since I started blogging. It is not a coincidence that this happened in a Dante puzzle as I am used to missing out on just one solution in many crosswords by Rufus.
No, Bryan, I am not embarrassed at all. I am not a perfect solver and today was a good example of that.
I always solve these Monday Prizes on my own. Only when I fail on the final bits I call in my PinC. I am quite sure I discussed 20ac with her but to no effect. However, tonight she said “I nearly said DUDS to you”. Nearly? Nearly! She didn’t know that DUDS could mean ‘clothes’.
BTW, blogging FT puzzles is in a way harder than blogging crosswords for, say, the Guardian or the Indy. The latter broadsheets give the solver the opportunity to cheat, the FT doesn’t. It makes me realise what a great job my daily ‘colleagues’ do when blogging eg a Monk, Loroso, Redshank or Alberich.
Thanks Eileen, for clearing peninsular things up.
Dear Rufus, thanks for dropping by.
I cannot be bothered too much by the duplication of clues. I know how it works when setters have such an enormous output as you have. Yet, I am surprised to hear that you submitted this puzzle years ago.
I hope all is relatively well with you.
Oh, and we really missed you last Saturday in Manchester.