Easy than avaerage for the FT but interesting nonetheless. I enjoyed the surface readings of many of the clues, something that I often forget to look for when I have my head down on a toughie. Thank you Flimsy.
A good crossword for any readers starting out at solving. You can download a PDF of the puzzle here.
| Across | ||
| 1 | MEANS TESTS | Malicious Head of State examines checks that could assess how much benefit one receives (5,5) |
| MEAN (malicious) State (head letter of) and TESTS (checks) | ||
| 7 | TRUE | Right time to grieve (4) |
| T (time) with RUE (to grieve) | ||
| 9 | SAGA | Talk about a long story! (4) |
| GAS (talk) reversed (about) then A | ||
| 10 | BRAND NAMES | Twix and KitKat? Mars banned, unfortunately (5,5) |
| anagram (unfortunately) of MARS BANNED | ||
| 11 | SOLACE | Cheer very quietly, leaving location (6) |
| SO (very) pLACE (location) missing P (piano, quietly) | ||
| 12 | DRESSERS | They put clothes on chests of drawers (8) |
| double definition | ||
| 13 | TRADE OFF | One leaves string of invectives with rotten type of compromise (5-3) |
| TiRADE (string of invectives) missing I (one) then OFF (rotten) | ||
| 15 | ECHO | Italian novelist grabbing hard copy (4) |
| Umberto ECO (Italian novellist) contains (grabbing) H (hard) | ||
| 17 | OPUS | Work over, returning to drink (4) |
| O (over) and SUP (to drink) reversed (returning) | ||
| 19 | INKSTAND | Something for writers involved with end of book to put up with (8) |
| IN (involved with) booK (end of) then STAND (put up with) | ||
| 22 | AIRBRUSH | Model rubs hair and gets spray (8) |
| anagram (model) of RUBS HAIR | ||
| 23 | LOVAGE | Adore purchasing a good salad plant (6) |
| LOVE (adore) contains (purchasing) A G (good) | ||
| 25 | ATTAINMENT | At Territorial Army in time to capture soldiers, showing talent (10) |
| AT TA (Territorial Army) then IN T (time) contains (capturing) MEN (soldiers) | ||
| 26 | SPAT | Slap following second argument (4) |
| PAT (slap) following S (second) | ||
| 27 | TROD | Starts to test rules? Our dad put his foot down! (4) |
| starting letters of Test Rules Our Dad | ||
| 28 | RISING TIDE | Incoming water – desiring it at sea? (6,4) |
| anagram (at sea) of DESIRING IT | ||
| Down | ||
| 2 | ENAMOUR | European chap upset by our charm (7) |
| E (European) MAN (chap) reversed (upset) then OUR | ||
| 3 | NYALA | Antelope set to be raised in North America (5) |
| LAY (set) in NA (North America) | ||
| 4 | TABLE TOP | Servant able to polish concealed part of furniture (5,3) |
| concealed inside servanT ABLE TO Polish | ||
| 5 | STANDOFFISHNESS | Unhappily sniff assent with dosh being withdrawn (15) |
| anagram (unhappily) of SNIFF ASSENT with DOSH | ||
| 6 | SEDGES | Creeps after small flies (6) |
| EDGES (creeps) following S (small) | ||
| 7 | TRANSIENT | Passing shot at tennis captivating Queen (9) |
| anagram (shot) of AT TENNIS contains R (regina, queen) | ||
| 8 | UNEARTH | Discover uranium on new planet (7) |
| U (Uranium) on N (new) and EARTH (planet) | ||
| 14 | DASHBOARD | Wild animal died after smash against car’s instrument panel (9) |
| BOAR (wild animal) D (died) following (after) DASH (smash against) | ||
| 16 | SKELETON | Doctor lost knee bones! (8) |
| anagram (doctor) of LOST KNEE | ||
| 18 | POINTER | Professional lacking heart to bury dog (7) |
| PrO (professional) missing middle letter (lacking heart) then INTER (bury) | ||
| 20 | NIGGARD | Yank with alcohol keeled over – one’s tight (7) |
| DRAG (yank) with GIN (alcohol) both reversed (keeled over) | ||
| 21 | RUNNER | Something attached to a sledge? Bolt, perhaps (6) |
| double definition | ||
| 24 | VISIT | See – tv is rubbish without electric current (5) |
| anagram (rubbish) of TV IS containing I (electric current) | ||
*anagram
definitions are underlined
Thanks PeeDee: I agree, I can think of only good things to say, especially about the surfaces. I had to resort to Chambers to work out whether 6dn was SEDGES or SIDLES, but that was quickly decided. Thanks, Flimsy.
Thanks Flimsy and PeeDee
Agree that this was a very quick solve compared with other puzzles. He did manage to draw the error with SEDGES however – should have taken note when it was so hard to equate IDLES with ‘flies’. I have not heard of the SEDGE FLY though.
Had not heard that Umberto Eco had succumbed to cancer earlier this year – interesting the news that you pick up from doing the daily crossword. An incentive to pick up my copy of “The Name of the Rose” and read it now …
Needed help to parse the MEANS part of 1a, got stuck with the thinking of M (malicious head) and trying to unsuccessfully make something from ‘EANS’ !
Finished in the SW corner with POINTER, DASHBOARD and ATTAINMENT the last few in.
Thanks Flimsy and PeeDee.
All over in one quick session apart from SOLACE at 11ac which required that break of thought.
As you point out, a good clean puzzle which deserves plaudits for its clarity and elegance.