Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of September 29, 2018
As is often the case, I found this Goliath puzzle very enjoyable and also moderately easy. My clue of the week is 9,21 (BODICE-RIPPER) and I also applaud 6dn (MUMBO JUMBO) and 25dn (GOSH).
| Across | ||
| 1 | TRENDY | In attempt to secure objective . . . . (6) |
| END (objective) in (to secure) TRY (attempt) | ||
| 4 | STAMPEDE | . . . . team sped off in a rush (8) |
| Anagram (off) of TEAM SPED | ||
| 10 | INCOMMODE | Put out where one might go (9) |
| IN COMMODE (where one might go) | ||
| 11 | MOTTO | Catchword about bottom (but not top) (5) |
| [b]OTTOM backwards (about) | ||
| 12 | GLEE | Happiness is having good shelter (4) |
| G (good) + LEE (shelter) | ||
| 13 | DICTIONARY | Book and journal to cover armed conflict starting off (10) |
| [a]CTION (armed conflict starting off) in (to cover) DIARY (journal) | ||
| 15 | TRUFFLE | Starts on forbidden fruit, lacking in authentic luxury food (7) |
| F[orbidden] F[ruit] L[acking] in (in) TRUE (authentic) | ||
| 16 | EQUIPS | Provides the ultimate in coarse jokes (6) |
| [coars]E + QUIPS (jokes) | ||
| 19 | BRIEFS | Legal work is pants (6) |
| Double definition | ||
| 21 | RUB IT IN | Accentuate the negative part in bankruptcy (3,2,2) |
| BIT (part) in RUIN (bankruptcy) | ||
| 23 | POSTSCRIPT | Jobs by vault, said note (10) |
| POSTS (jobs) + CRIPT homophone (said) of “crypt” (vault) | ||
| 25 | GOSH | My turn, keep quiet! (4) |
| GO (turn) + SH (keep quiet) | ||
| 27 | UVULA | Unwrapped fun DVD, but old man saying “ah” to see it (5) |
| [f]U[n] [d]V[d] [b]U[t] [o]L[d] [m]A[n] | ||
| 28 | THESAURUS | Among stars, the boy’s 13 (kind of) (9) |
| HES (the boy’s) in (among) TAURUS (stars). I got stuck for a few moments trying to make sense of the wordplay with ‘the boy’ cluing ESAU. | ||
| 29, 30 | NOBLESSE OBLIGE | Status dictates that sensible logo be designed (8,6) |
| Anagram (designed) of SENSIBLE LOGO BE | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | TAILGATE | Closely follow what pops up in the tagliatelli (8) |
| Reverse hidden word – and a very good example | ||
| 2 | EXCHEQUER | Previously promise to pay right state coffers (9) |
| EX (previously) + CHEQUE (promise to pay) + R (right) | ||
| 3, 24 | DAMP SQUIB | Politicians half quibbled after poster put up – such a disappointment (4,5) |
| AD (posted) backwards (put up) + MPs (politicians) + QUIB[bled] | ||
| 5 | THEATRE | You once took in art, may be drama (7) |
| Anagram (may be) of ART in THEE (you once) | ||
| 6 | MUMBO JUMBO | Nonsense being quiet on Boris Johnson’s round wobbly bum (5,5) |
| MUM (quiet) + anagram (wobbly) of BUM in BO JO (Boris Johnson) | ||
| 7 | EXTRA | Sussex traditionally has more (5) |
| Hidden word | ||
| 8 | EPONYM | Name for Goliath up astride horse (6) |
| PONY (horse) in ME (Goliath) backwards (up) | ||
| 9, 21 | BODICE-RIPPER | Possible price dip in South African novel (6-6) |
| Anagram (possible) of PRICE DIP in (in) BOER (South African) | ||
| 14 | AFTERSHAVE | Puddings possess a certain fragrance . . . . (10) |
| AFTERS (puddings) + HAVE (possess) | ||
| 17 | POTPOURRI | . . . . that of prior up to no good (9) |
| Anagram (no good) of PRIOR UP TO | ||
| 18 | UNCHASTE | For brunch, a steak’s somewhat indecent (8) |
| Hidden word | ||
| 20 | SPRITES | Dancing priests and fairies (7) |
| Anagram (dancing) of PRIESTS | ||
| 21 | See 9 | |
| 22 | UPTURN | Put out vase: there’s an improvement (6) |
| Anagram (out) of PUT + URN (vase) | ||
| 24 | See 3 | |
| 26 | GARB | Clothes to boast about (4) |
| BRAG (to boast) backwards (about) | ||
Thanks Goliath and Pete
Found this one a bit easier than normal for this setter as well, getting it all out in a single half hour session. Interesting to see four hidden answers throughout.
Hadn’t heard of the term BODICE RIPPER before – it was my last one in and probably one of my favourites as well. INCOMMODE was the other one that I liked.
Thanks Goliath and Pete
29/30 ac: The anagram fodder must be SENSIBLE LOGO BE. To make this work, I think the definition should be all of “Status dictates that”, leaving “designed” as a perfectly good anagram indicator.
I too loved BODICE RIPPER, but MUMBO JUMBO. I enjoyed the latter so much that I sent it to my Remain colleagues. Thanks very much Goliath, and Pete.
Ah, yes, I had 29-30 a bit off. Thank you, Pelham.
28a should actually be HES (the boy’s) in TAURUS (stars). Thanks for always doing a great job of the heavy lifting on these.
Thanks, Bob. I have corrected the explanation.
6dn, the MUMBO JUMBO clue, was highlighted in the Guardian’s Crossword Blog today (https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2018/oct/22/crossword-roundup-boris-johnsons-bottom-at-breakfast).