Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of May 31, 2014
This was for me and, I gather, for others a very easy puzzle. Too easy perhaps? I would never deem a puzzle too easy if it were outstanding in other respects. This one is certain is certainly decent but maybe not quite enough to compensate? The only clue that gave me any trouble was 6a for which I had to look up ‘ra-ra’ (it is a kind of skirt worn by cheerleaders among others). My top clues are 21d (GREED) and 25d (OIL).
ACROSS
1 Draws one, a parasitic plant (9)
RAFFLESIA – RAFFLES (draws) + I (one) + A (a)
6 Sketch includes cheerleader’s behind in ra-ra? (5)
SKIRT – [cheerleade]R in SKIT (sketch)
9 Runs slip away, resulting in setback to recovery (7)
RELAPSE – R (runs) + ELAPSE (slip away)
10 Income on location (7)
REVENUE – RE (on) + VENUE (location)
11 Scoundrel’s accent, not British (5)
ROGUE – [b]ROGUE (accent, not British)
12 Pleasing tavern back in Leeds I used (9)
DESIRABLE – BAR (tavern) backwards in anagram of LEEDS I
14 Tell, for example (3)
SAY – double definition
15 These people act overemotionally in play NY borough put on (5,6)
DRAMA QUEENS – DRAMA (play) + QUEENS (NY borough). Did you know that New York City has boroughs named both Queens and Kings? Kings is better known as Brooklyn.
17 They appear to be powerful, but they’re not good during rows on daily (5,6)
PAPER TIGERS – PAPER (daily) + G (good) in TIERS (rows)
19 Snaffle coin (3)
BIT – double definition
20 Footballer strangely angry about performance against foremost of sides (4,5)
RYAN GIGGS – GIG (performance) in anagram of ANGRY + S[ides]
22 To the point, language used at conclusion of summit (5)
TERSE – [summi]T + ERSE (language)
24 Active and energetic, one got working around hospital (2,3,2)
ON THE GO – H (hospital) in anagram of ONE GOT
26 Senseless, one point about one in charge (7)
IDIOTIC – I (one) + I (one) in DOT (point) + IC (in charge)
27 Top copper put back inside – that’s easy to understand (5)
LUCID – CU (copper) backwards in LID (top)
28 Figure lad swimming? I’ll help him, if floundering! (9)
LIFEGUARD – anagram of FIGURE LAD
DOWN
1 Not as common in cellar are rats (5)
RARER – hidden word
2 Patsy to come down and stay (4,3)
FALL GUY – FALL (come down) + GUY (stay)
3 One watching what is said? (3-6)
LIP-READER – cryptic definition
4 Series of person-to-person meetings in career, going back (5,6)
SPEED DATING – CAREER (speed) + DATING (going back)
5 Tune from musical husband’s forgotten (3)
AIR – [h]AIR (musical husband’s forgotten)
6 Stern almost split (5)
SEVER – SEVER[e] (stern almost)
7 Soldier taken over impressive base (7)
IGNOBLE – GI (soldier) backwards + NOBLE (impressive)
8 Wealthy globetrotters on a 747? (3,3,3)
THE JET SET – double/cryptic definition
13 Petrified stinking cedars, rigid (6,5)
SCARED STIFF – anagram of CEDARS + STIFF (rigid)
14 Hooter goes at end of excellent annual championship game (5,4)
SUPER BOWL – SUPERB (excellent) + OWL (hooter)
16 Out of bed compiling crosswords? That could be worrying (9)
UPSETTING – UP (out of bed) + SETTING (compiling crosswords)
18 Large company stocking Italian wine – you need credit cards (7)
PLASTIC – ASTI (Italian wine) in PLC (large company)
19 A bitter cocktail – it may go to a cardinal’s head (7)
BIRETTA – anagram of A BITTER
21 Accepted going topless is a sin (5)
GREED – [a]GREED (accepted going topless)
23 Take great risks over capturing large Spanish hero (2,3)
EL CID – L (large) in DICE (take great risks) backwards
25 What may be extracted from half of olives treated? (3)
OIL – anagram of OLI[ves]