Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of December 28, 2013
I found this puzzle more challenging than most but also highly satisfying. While 17D (TANGERINE) stands out as a particular gem, I think there are several very good clues including 11A (CATAMARAN), 4D (GASTROPOD), 6D (COR BLIMEY) and 16D (DEMITASSE).
ACROSS
1 Some member has to like the party (7)
SHINDIG – SHIN (some member) + DIG (to like)
5 Leading corporation, lift prize (7)
JACK (lift) + POT (corporation — as in a pot-belly)
9 Flower above ground among nothing that’s been taken back (5)
LUPIN – UP (above ground) in NIL (nothing) reversed
10 Gripper breaking legs, pure ugly for a start (9)
SUPERGLUE – anagram of LEGS PURE U[gly]
11 A river preserved, might you say, for boat (9)
CATAMARAN – A (a) + TAMAR (river) together in CAN (preserved, might you say!)
12 Bottom left point (5)
LEAST – L (left) + EAST (point)
13 Numpty thumping head right into seat when leaning back (5)
TWERP – T[humping] + R (right) in PEW (seat) backwards
15 Vatican saint touring cupola, one checking one’s stride? (9)
PEDOMETER – DOME (cupola) in PETER (Vatican saint)
18 Port mother put on compost heap, perhaps? (9)
ROTTERDAM – ROTTER (compost heap, perhaps) + DAM (mother)
19 A long time that keeps appearing hollow (5)
YONKS – YON (that) + K[eep]S. A tricky one!
21 Lament rejection in leadership of engineering network (5)
DIRGE – E[ngineering] + GRID (network) all backwards
23 Incomparable, unlike the arsonist? (9)
MATCHLESS – double/cryptic definition
25 Pub accepts time to cut a deficit that’s a burden (9)
ALBATROSS – T (time) in BAR (pub) together in A LOSS (a deficit)
26 Attack informer from behind tree, finally (5)
KNIFE – FINK (informer) reversed + [tre]E
27 Turn in unemployment benefit, nothing to lose – then decline (7)
DWINDLE – WIND (turn) in D[o]LE (unemployment benefit, nothing to lose)
28 Sound manager’s taken home – it’s serious (7)
EARNEST – EAR (sound manager) + NEST (home)
DOWN
1 Proposition so fine (7)
SOLICIT – SO (so) + LICIT (fine)
2 Restless time with paint all over the place (9)
IMPATIENT – anagram of TIME PAINT
3 Material showing energy in the brain raised (5)
DENIM – E (energy) in MIND (brain) backwards. Some might bridle at using ‘brain’ to clue ‘mind’ but, in a crossword, it seems fine to me.
4 Slimy type needing great power to contain a tantrum (9)
GASTROPOD – A (a) + STROP (tantrum) together in GOD (great power)
5 Nation certainly requiring translation over god (5)
JAPAN – JA (certainly requiring translation) + PAN (god)
6 Tree discovered in Northants town, well I’m blowed! (3,6)
COR BLIMEY – LIME (tree) in CORBY (Northants town)
7 A killer initially cut up in Bohemian movement (5)
POLKA – A (a) + K[iller] + LOP (cut) all backwards
8 Speaker, chirpy social networker? (7)
TWEETER – double definition
14 First in party hated to be introduced (9)
PRESENTED – P[arty] + RESENTED (hated)
16 Cup is steamed for brewing (9)
DEMITASSE – anagram of IS STEAMED
17 Orange, brown, green and indigo initially mixed (9)
TANGERINE – TAN (brown) + anagram of GREEN I[ndigo]
18 Embarrassed character at sign of dismissal (3,4)
RED CARD – RED (embarrassed) + CARD (character)
20 Possible criminal caught in dodgy set-ups (7)
SUSPECTS – anagram of SET UPS
22 Teacher details fast multiplier (5)
RABBI – RABBI[t] (details fast multiplier)
23 Second source of metal for sculptor (5)
MOORE – MO (second) + ORE (source of metal)
24 Backpacker greeting royal couple (5)
HIKER – HI (greeting) + K (one royal) + ER (another royal)
Most of my problems were in the NW.
1a I only had ??i???g which just wasn’t enough.
9a I only had ??p?? and I didn’t think of up as being above ground.
11a The Tamar is not the first river that would come into my head.
Didn’t have 1d or 3d .
I guessed couldn’t get 7d or 12a and didn’t know that polka was a Bohemian movement.
Thanks for the enlightenment
I would never have guessed POLKA from “Bohemian movement” alone! But Wikipedia confirms that the polka originated in Bohemia so the cryptic definition certainly works.