Great to see Goliath in this morning’s slot.
A slightly tricky puzzle – quite a few semi &lit clues – but most enjoyable and all completely fair! I thoroughly enjoyed untangling the wordplay. Plenty to enjoy here, so many thanks to Goliath.
Double definition
‘Greasy spoons’ refers to cheap cafes/restaurants, usually serving fried food. 14 refers to 14 across.
NOT RUMP might be sirloin
An example of a different cut of steak, hence the ‘?’.
Cryptic definition
A play on the literal and figurative meanings of the phrase ‘to put food on the table’
HE’s into C[ooking] F[ood] (primarily) &lit
&lit means the full clue is both the wordplay and the definition
[a]S[i]A [s]T[e]A[m]Y (regularly served in)
TEAS* (*prepared) across ERIE (lake) – semi &lit
In an &lit clue, the full clue is both wordplay and definition. In a semi &lit clue, we need the full clue for the definition, but the wordplay is only part of the clue.
16. Religious group restricting a source of water as a weapon (8)
CULT (religious group) restricting A + TAP (source of water)
Double definition
CO[m]MA (heartless)
The clue contains the referenced COMMA symbol (,) that we must use
INFINITE (endless) split by IV (four, Roman numerals) – semi &lit
A reference to the English grammar rule which is to not split infinitives 😉 Wikipedia link here.
Cryptic/double definition
[s]LI[p] (unclothed) amongst SQUAD (crew)
G[u]A[r]AN[t]EE[d]* (after treatment, TURD free)
“SEE RED” (be very angry, “they might say”, wrong way round)
The ellipses (…) at the start of the clue tell us to refer back to the previous clue, where the definition was SEA
ORGAN* (*transplantation)
EARS (listeners) + HOT (sexy)
AS< (<raising) + T[he] O[dds] (starts) between ME, YOU (us)
Double definition
OFF ICE (not skating) + R (right)
A general is an example of an officer, hence the use of the ‘?’
S[triker]’s (head) + CORELESS (lacking substance)
OBJECT (protest) + “IF I” (in case I, “audibly”)
SO (thus) A POP ERA (a time for a kind of music)
ETCH* (*creatively) to take over [u]NIQUE (peerless, top)
A + MING (dynasty) giving refuge to A, Z (extreme characters)
Extreme characters of the alphabet, i.e. first and last
CUT (injure) + LASS (girl) – semi &lit
The use of the ‘?’ is because a CUTLASS is just an example of something that might be used to injure a girl.
[spa]IN DIA[l] (from)
An interesting clue. The definition is a bit literal, but it works nicely for the surface I suppose. You could argue ‘dial’ is playing double duty, but I think what I’ve underlined as the definition is enough on its own without the word ‘dial’ as calling codes are so recognisable. Any other thoughts?
V[io]LA (an instrument, in which we see IO< (moon, <rise))
Goliath at his playful best. I enjoyed the interconnected food-themed across clues in the top half of the grid and the apt use of ellipsis between the ‘seas’.
Favourites were INFINITIVE, the priceless ‘turd-free’ AEGEAN (so topical), the snippy PRUNE and the best wordplay I’ve seen for the much-used INDIA in a while.
Thanks to Goliath and Oriel.
Can’t really add much to your intro, Oriel (except the word “see” in the first sentence 🙂 ).
I find it fascinating the way setters (and Goliath in particular) come up with such brilliant subtractive anagrams such as the one for AEGEAN. Loved it.
Oops – thanks Hovis. Will edit that 🙂
Thanks Goliath and Oriel.
Loved the AEGEAN-RED SEA combo (there was a similar combo done by Stamp yesterday). The individual wordplay+the smart use of ellipses.
Liked INDIA, PERIODS and INFINITIVE.
INDIA
You have said it all. Maybe an intended CAD (not an &lit tho).
Splendid puzzle. Really nicely clued with clean, accurate wordplay and lots of creativity and fun. I’d agree with Oriel that ‘+91 to reach …’ constitutes sufficient definition in itself to avoid ‘dial’ doing double duty. OBJECTIFY was LOI – one of those where the def is certainly fine in hindsight but it is tricky to get from def to solution. I had the TIFY ending in place for a while until the excellent waiter clue gave me the vital B. Other favourites include the linked EATERIES and GREASY SPOONS, CHEF, COMA, SAME TO YOU and VOILA. I did like the spot for AEGEAN – with a secondary anagrind for the deleted ‘turd’ that is freed, it would have been perfect (given that the letters of the offending item are in a different order in the fodder). Only raised eyebrow in an otherwise cracking puzzle.
Thanks Goliath and Oriel
Very pleasant. I’m used to bidding “No trumps” plural.
My favourite clue was PERIODS.
Thanks Goliath & Oriel.
Thanks for the blog, so many clever , neat clues . I will just pick out VOILA , great idea and containing my third favourite moon.
AEGEAN I am in two minds over the secondary anagram indicator, it all depends on the order but this one is borderline , guaranteed after treatment = AEGEANTURD then removal , but it is sort of in the middle.
I’m feeling truly blessed today, with puzzles from three of my favourite setters.
I’ve nothing really to add to the comments from Diane and PostMark – I agree with all of your favourites – except thanks, as always, to Goliath for a super puzzle and to Oriel for a blog to match.
I don’t usually do the FT, but for Goliath I’ll make an exception. Enjoyed the CO(M)MA and the turd-free AEGEAN (would that the Thames was as clean), PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE and PERIODS. Failed to parse SAME TO YOU and OBJECTIFY.
Especially liked the subtraction anagram for 25a AEGEAN
Thanks G&O
INFINITIVE
Some second thoughts…
Cryptic reading: INFINITE split by IV; (but) INFINITIVE shouldn’t be split
Is this reading correct?
Without analysing very much the clue appeals to me a lot.
Trying to understand it in depth confuses me.
Any thoughts?
KVa@11 the word play is as you say – that shouldn’t be (split) is the definition.
The split infinitive is one of the great controversies of English grammar ( see Fowler) , modern views seem to accept it in most cases.
Star Trek has perhaps the most famous example – To boldly go …..
What Diane@1 and Hovis@2 wrote
Additionally, I could not parse COMA or SOAP OPERA. I groaned when I read Oriel’s blog and saw what I had missed. I do not have have a problem with AEGEAN, and thought it the pick of the bunch. Agree with Roz@12 in reference to KVA@11″s reading of INFINITIVE: it works for me too.
Thanks Goliath for a somewhat challenging but enjoyable puzzle, and thanks Oriel for a great blog.
INFINITIVE
Thanks Roz@12! Oriel probably read it somewhat differently.
Retrieved this beautiful clue by NUTMEG (G 28820) from the archives:
Desert in 5, housing in it to gradually disappear, perhaps (5,10)
5 was BOTSWANA (not used in the WP).
The Wiki link included by Oriel (to not split infinitives) in the blog is quite informative.
I found this article interesting as well (posted by paddymelon@23 (in the comments section of G-288220’s blog)):
https://www.theguardian.com/science/shortcuts/2017/sep/25/to-boldly-go-split-infinitive-grammatical-error-research
Thanks Goliath. It’s always a welcome sight to see a Goliath crossword. There was much to enjoy including CHEF, COMA, and OFFICER. I revealed OBJECTIFY and I concur with PostMark that it was tricky to get from definition to solution. Thanks Oriel for the blog.
Nothing really to add to all the favourable comments already made. Thanks, Goliath and Oriel.
Excellent puzzle, Goliath. Thank you for an enjoyable solve.
I’d just add that, when i worked there, the split infinitive was not allowed at the FT. Hence i really appreciated that clue! 👍
KVa@14 – That Guardian link misquotes Star Trek(1966-9) – it’s “to boldly go where no man has gone before”
It wasn’t till Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987-94) that they cut out the sexism, but continued “to boldly split INFINITIVEs where no one has gone before”
Thanks (“to boldly”) G&O