Thoughtful clues with ingenious and entertaining content
Across
1 TOP DOG boss OP (work) in (GOT)* G (German)
4 USED CARS heaps US (unserviceable) (SCRAPED)* minus P (power)
10 ORLANDO Florida hidden in [maj]OR LAND O[wner]
11 EXPIATE pay for EXP[atr]IATE minus (ART)*
12 ETCH eat out C (Cuba) in (THE)*
13 ADVERTISER pusher [b]E[i]R[u]T in ADVISER (coach)
16 COWPOX disease of stock O WP (old word processor) in COX (apple)
17 DOZE OFF &lit DOZE[n] (12 footless) O (old) FF (fellows)
20 EMERALD beryl M (millions) in (DEALER)*
21 MIHRAB niche M[arket] (HAIR)* B (black)
24 KINGFISHER bird [vi]KING FISHER sea areas minus VI (six)
25 OGLE close scrutiny hidden backwards in [fe]EL GO[od]
27 LUMIERE film pioneer re Son et Luminere (show)
29 INERTIA doing nothing (IT RAINE[d])*
30 BRAND NEW mint AND (with) N (nitrogen) in BREW (tea)
31 POPEYE tooting seaman POP (dad) London EYE
Down
1 TWOPENCE coin [co]PP[er] 2 Ps
2 POLICEWOMAN witty &lit O (circle) L (line) in (IM A WPC ONE)*
3 OINK &lit O (ring) INK (contents of pen)
5 SKELETON frame (KEELS)* NOT<
6 DIPHTHERIA disease (PHD IT I HEAR)*
7 AGA range [Afric]A AG< (silver back)
8 SHEARS cutters H (harbour – not in Chambers) in SEARS (burns)
9 TODDY drink ODD (rum) in TWENTY minus WENT
14 SUFFRAGETTE &lit U (united) FF (females) in (GREATEST)*
15 HOUR OF NEED critical situation E (drug) in (HERO FOUND)*
18 GLASS EYE not good looker G (German) LASS (girl) EYE (ogle)
19 ABNEGATE reject AB NEGATIVE (blood group) minus IV (4)
22 SKYLAB NASA high flyer K-Y (jelly) in SLAB (piece of cake)
23 RELIC corporal remains ELI (priest) in RC (Catholic)
26 ZERO nothing R (radical) in [do]ZE O[ff]
28 MOA &lit extinct NZ bird (MAO)*
( )* = anagram [ ] = omit < = reverse
One among united females in greatest movement?
Not &lit, bbecause (1) the ‘on e among’ section is no t in the cryptic, (2) ‘gretaest mpvement’ is an opinion.
Good clue though, and puzzle.
I am only writing this comment because I think this very fine puzzle deserves a lot more attention.
24ac was quite clever with these shipping forecast areas in it.
Also, a special plus to Redshank’s use of the numbers in his clues – great variety.
Redshank is a setter I always look forward to in the FT, IMO (even) better than Radian and Crucible in the other broadsheets.
Redshank’s cluing is just so natural.
Splendid.
That said, today’s Crucible (in the Guardian) was one of the best Saturday challenges of late – hugely enjoyable.
Thanks Jed and Redshank, of course.