Prize puzzle from the FT of December 6, 2014
I found this Mudd as good as ever and, unusual for me, managed to finish it in one short sitting. My favourite clues are 19a (HERPES) and 23a (CRAZY HORSE) and the rather brilliant 14d (TROPHY WIFE). The only clue that gave me much trouble was 28a (SQUILLION).
ACROSS
1 Technical expert disappeared among the rubbish? (6)
BOFFIN – OFF (disappeared) in BIN (among the rubbish)
4 In film movement he got in trouble as an agent of harm (8)
PATHOGEN – anagram of HE GOT in PAN (film movement)
10 Unit of writing for a card (9)
CHARACTER – double definition
11 A win . . . a win? (5)
AGAIN – A (a) + WIN (gain)
12 Contact sheet (4)
PAGE – double definition. Easy but surely one of the best double definitions.
13 Security device left by seat, loose (6,4)
SAFETY BELT – anagram of LEFT BY SEAT
15 Jazz musician welcoming appearance of strippers for the night’s entertainment (7)
CABARET – BARE (appearance of strippers) in CAT (jazz musician)
16 Soak half of children with both taps (6)
DRENCH – [chil]DREN + CH (both taps, i.e. Cold and Hot)
19 A dose of another pestilent disease (6)
HERPES – hidden word
21 Right to split up couple, that is plain (7)
PRAIRIE – R (right) in PAIR (couple) + IE (that is)
23 Brave shoer? (5,5)
CRAZY HORSE – reverse anagram for SHOER
25 River rush (4)
DART – double definition
27 Bones, they are really small in all heads (5)
TARSI – T[hey] A[re] R[eally] S[mall] I[n]
28 Issue absorbing old writer, one very great figure (9)
SQUILLION – QUILL (old writer) in I (one) in SON (issue). I tend to use gazillion and was not familiar with squillion. It is however a fine dictionary word.
29 Inn shortly undergoing refurbishment, energy being invested (8)
HOSTELRY – E (energy) in anagram of SHORTLY
30 Wet bum? (6)
SPONGE – double definition
DOWN
1 Second team finding kit bag (8)
BACKPACK – BACK (second) + PACK (team)
2 Weak bang, rifle going off (9)
FRANGIBLE – anagram of BANG RIFLE
3 Nation close to Mali, country after uprising? No thanks! (4)
IRAQ – [mal]I + Q[at]AR (country…no thanks) backwards
5 A for Ass? (7)
AIRHEAD – reverse clue for A
6 Music genre beginning to turn into stodge? (5,5)
HEAVY METAL – T[urn] in HEAVY MEAL (stodge)
7 Serious hole (5)
GRAVE – double definition
8 Figure number one turning up in a state (6)
NINETY – TEN (number) + I (one) together backwards in NY (state)
9 Terrorist leader overcome by global plan, finally (2,4)
AT LAST – ATLAS (global plan) + T[errorist]
14 Man United’s cup? (6,4)
TROPHY WIFE – cryptic definition. A wife might not like to be referred to as her husband’s cup but I believe there is good usage to support this.
17 Blooming thing, people on the road? (9)
CARNATION – CAR NATION (people on the road?)
18 Time for some writing (8)
SENTENCE – double definition
20 Fund trail around poles (7)
SPONSOR – NS (poles) in SPOOR (trail)
21 Pretender flipping regrets surgery! (6)
POSEUR – RUES (regrets) + OP (surgery) all backwards
22 Ruin a drink (6)
SCOTCH – double definition
24 A hundred embraced by God, large amount (5)
ACRES – C (a hundred) in ARES (god)
26 Mistake – might one catch you out? (4)
SLIP – double definition
Thanks Mudd and Pete
Started this off as a solve similar to yourself, until I reached the SW corner with your three favourites being my last few in – and probably formed my three most liked as well! TARSI was my fourth last in – and nodded in appreciation at how such a commonly used device as ‘leading letters’ was so well disguised … sucking me into looking for small bones in the head !!
Didn’t have your problem with SQUILLION as it was part of my ‘growing up’ vocab.
My argument in the use of dd’s that was spoken about with the last Mudd was weakened with the almost Rufusian-like efforts at 7d, 22d, 12a and 25a – although DART did hold me up for a little while
Last in was 5d where I needed a?r?e?d. I doubt if there is any way of getting it until you have all those crossers in place.
I couldn’t see word play for 23a so thanks for sorting that out.