Financial Times 16,823 by JASON

12 comments on “Financial Times 16,823 by JASON”

1. Although I finished this quite easily I was not sure how STAB means PINK. I know of pinking shears but they cut, not stab.

   Also not convinced that FACILE is a synonym of READY. Happy to be enlightened.

   But thanks anyway Teacow for confirming my guesses.

2. Think this was my first Jason grid and I thoroughly enjoyed both the solving and parsing. My favourites included SINGE and COMBO once I got ‘coo’ (bill) and liked the surface for BALDERDASH though there were many others I ticked.
   I remembered my old pinking shears so I was fine with 20a but though 1d could only be AMAZE, it was my last one in as I hesitated over ‘kill’ for the definition. I suppose it to be a performance, joke or story that amazes/kills.
   Whatever the answer, I had fun so thanks both to Jason and Teacow.

3. Numerous dictionaries give ‘pink’ as to stab, pierce or wound but you’re right about the shears, Peter, which have a serrated edge to prevent fraying.

4. I did know “pink” for stab but didn’t know “citadel” for “meeting hall”. According to Chambers, this is a term used by the Salvation Army. Like Peter, I find it hard to equate “facile” with “ready” and, although familiar with the expression “bill and coo”, I don’t know how “coo” equates to “bill” in 13a.

   I took 16a as a DD rather than a CD, with first def “a big smile” (cryptically) and the second “a car headlights”. Both definitions are a bit iffy but ok for a cryptic.

5. Thanks Jason and Teacow
   16ac: I took this as FULL (perfect) + BEAM (smile) with the definition “such as dazzles?”

6. Pelham Barton @5. That was essentially what I meant but equating “full” to “perfect” does say it a lot better and makes the first definition not “iffy” at all.

7. Hovis @6: I draw a distinction between giving two definitions for the whole phrase, and giving one overall definition and a secondary indication (here at the beginning of the clue) which defines each word separately. Done well, either approach can of course make for a fully satisfying clue.

8. Pelham Barton @7. For sure and I wholeheartedly agree. Putting the two words together leads to an iffy first definition but separately it works much better.

9. Thanks Jason and Teacow
   A couple of tricky definitions, but rather enjoyed this one, starting off with 1 ACROSS.
   Travelled solidly enough through the grid with those interesting devices with slight eyebrow raises with ‘bill’ =. COO and ‘ready’ = FACILE.
   Favourite was ADHERE when I finally twigged to the AD HERE sign being on the ’empty hoarding’.
   Finished in the SW corner with FULL BEAM (clever whimsical definition), FACSIMILE and FEATURE (which I found quite tricky to twig to it being an anagram).

10. Thanks to Jason for a fun, slightly quirky puzzle. Particularly liked ACROSS and ADHERE.
    A bit hesitant over AMAZE, but it couldn’t be anything else and I rationalised it like Diane@2 as the theatrical “go out and slay them” sort of usage. Unfamiliar with “plank” meaning exercise (or with much exercise at all…) but abundantly clear from the wordplay. I agree that billing and cooing are actually different, but they are so closely related in the phrase “bill and coo” that I really can’t grumble. A good way to start the week.

11. Except for missing the “cryptic definitions,” FULL BEAM and ADHERE, this was a satisfying crossword with ACROSS, ASININE, STEVEDORE, and AWESTRUCK being favourites. Thanks to both.

12. Thanks for the blog. All my points been covered, will just add that for KILL , Chambers gives – overwhelm with amazement – so good enough for me .

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