Topical fare from NEO
Apologies, but I don’t have much time for a detailed critique of the puzzle today (not helped by it taking me a while to sort out the top left corner, where I was determined to fit GREECE in instead of GREXIT (a new term to me).
After last week’s walk in the park, this Tuesday’s offering was quite a bit tougher.
| Across | ||
| 1 | REM SLEEP |
Policeman round to collect manuscript in crucial time off (3,5)
MS in <=PEELER |
| 6 | DEFACE |
Two words that signal splendid ruin (6)
DEF + ACE |
| 9 | GREXIT |
King stops bastard nation leaving 10 perhaps (6)
G(REX)IT |
| 10 | EUROZONE |
Regret returning to bracing atmosphere in pressured financial area (8)
<= RUE + OZONE |
| 11 | CHOP |
Composer drops in for mutton slice (4)
CHOP(in) |
| 12 | DEBT CRISIS |
Getting stuck occasionally in rubble is reason 9 might occur (4,6)
(s)T(u)C(k) in DEBRIS IS
|
| 14 | DEMOCRAT |
Populist met with Draco explosively (8)
*(met Draco) |
| 16 | LEAN |
Film director in bank (4)
Double definition
|
| 18 | GOBI |
One on spit where temperature famously varies (4)
GOB + I The temperatures can vary by up to 35 degrees within a 24 hour period in the Gobi Desert |
| 19 | REALISED |
Saw Arab men used to cut tough grass (8)
RE(ALIS)ED I really don’t like “Arab men” for ALIS |
| 21 | MARTINGALE |
Trading centre in bad weather provides strap for horse (10)
MART IN GALE |
| 22 | POST |
Contribute online column (4)
Double definition |
| 24 | DISRAELI |
Ex-PM dies – Blair beheaded in riot (8)
*(dies lair) |
| 26 | EASTER |
English flower festival (6)
E + ASTER
|
| 27 | ACCENT |
Money put with account to give emphasis (6)
AC + CENT |
| 28 | MALADIES |
Troubles in the morning over women (8)
<=AM + LADIES |
| Down | ||
| 2 | EARTH |
Ground near the middle? (5)
n(EAR TH)e |
| 3 | SAXOPHONIST |
Player stoked hot passion, receiving kiss (11)
*(hot passion X) |
| 4 | ECTODERM |
External layers to the German mark that underpins EC? (8)
EC + TO DER (“the German”) M |
| 5 | PRESBYTERIANISM |
Repent? Barmy Isis remodelled faith! (15)
*(repent barmy isis) |
| 6 | DIRECT |
Frank unswerving in control (6)
Triple definition |
| 7 | FEZ |
Metal found by Zulu in African city (3)
Fe (iron) + Z
|
| 8 | CANDIDATE |
Conservative and I go out with runner (9)
C AND I DATE |
| 13 | ILL-DISPOSED |
Malicious Lil? (3-8)
Reverse anagram. LIL is ILL disposed |
| 15 | EGOMANIAC |
Self-centred person come again to party (9)
*(come again) |
| 17 | FAREWELL |
Manage comfortably in vale (8)
FARE WELL VALE is the Latin for “farewell” |
| 20 | INSECT |
Worthless person who has joined religious group (6)
IN SECT |
| 23 | STEVE |
Former soldiers turned on English man (5)
<=VETS + E |
| 25 |
Gypsy gentleman Gerry enters house (3)
|
|
Just realised some definitions have not been underlined, and haven’t solved 25dn. Rushing out the door, but will edit later. Apologies!
Thanks Neo and loonapick
Nice puzzle with the Grecian troubles mini theme … and an amusing surface for the possible outcome of it at 9a.
Finished up in the NW corner with SAXOPHONIST, GOBI and GREXIT (which I hadn’t seen before and had to deduce the word and check whether it existed in the end). A good mix of devices and some twists with some of the definitions to keep the ride interesting.
25 RYE Romany Rye is a Gypsy Gentleman (George Borrow). Rye is housed in Gerry enters
Many thanks all. I was glad to have been able to knacker old Mister Blair.
Cheers
Neo
And you did!
[and the editor accepted it – whoa]
Perhaps the best clue for DISRAELI that I saw in my crossword life thus far.
Enjoyable puzzle with many nods to the world the FT lives in.
Thanks Neo and loonapick and also to Maagran for explaining Gypsy Rye – a reference that I was not previously familiar with.
Are there any rules about acronyms? REM – if I recall correctly – stands for RAPID EYE MOVEMENT so shouldn’t it be indicated as 1, 1, 1, 5 at 1ac – or would that have been too much of a giveaway?
Also there seems to be a stray s at the end of ‘layer’ in the clue for 4dn. I blame the editor.
Otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle so thanks again.