Puzzle from the Weekend FT of February 8, 2025
I found this to be a very satisfying crossword. My first-in was 29 (YES-MAN) and last was 10 (GOOGOL) with the top-right quadrant proving to be the most difficult. There are many clues to be lauded especially 14 (HARRISON FORD), 18 (CHART-TOPPERS), 12 (AIRSHOWS) and 5d (BASMATI). Thank you Buccaneer.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | THE MOB |
Wise guys, not us, cry when losing face (3,3)
|
| THEM (not us) + [s]OB | ||
| 5 | BULLETIN |
What might be found in magazine — trendy report (8)
|
| BULLET (what might be found in magazine) + IN (trendy) | ||
| 9 | TOPCOATS |
Also inspiring Constable, artist evenly removed layers of paint (8)
|
| PC (constable) in (inspiring) TOO (also) + A[r]T[i]S[t] | ||
| 10 | GOOGOL |
Huge figure to move round and turn left (6)
|
| GO (to move) + O (round) + GO (turn) + L (left) | ||
| 11 | BARROW |
Might one get pushed around in drinkers’ quarrel? (6)
|
| BAR ROW (drinkers’ quarrel?) | ||
| 12 | AIRSHOWS |
Sky Entertainment broadcasts entertaining TV programme (8)
|
| SHOW (TV programme) in (entertaining) AIRS (broadcasts) | ||
| 14 | HARRISON FORD |
Solo performer cross after Prince, briefly, is playing (8,4)
|
| HARR[y] (prince briefly) + IS (is) + ON (playing) + FORD (cross) with a great cryptic definition referring to Han Solo | ||
| 18 | CHART-TOPPERS |
Smashes Spooner’s pastry cutters (5-7)
|
| Spoonerism of “tart choppers” | ||
| 22 | ONE ACTER |
Arranged encore at brief performance (3-5)
|
| Anagram (arranged) of ENCORE AT | ||
| 25 | HEE-HAW |
That chap, given a whiskey, admits “what an asinine utterance” (3-3)
|
| HE (that chap) + EH (what) + A (a) + W (whiskey) | ||
| 26 | BLADES |
Drug inhaled by British kids, perhaps some grass (6)
|
| E (drug) in (inhaled by) B (British) LADS (kids) | ||
| 27 | LAS VEGAS |
Getting a makeover salvages better attraction? (3,5)
|
| Anagram (getting a makeover) of SALVAGES with a cryptic definition | ||
| 28 | TRUNCATE |
Time to execute eg Tom Cruise’s ultimate stunt (8)
|
| T (time) + RUN (execute) + CAT (eg tom) + [cruis]E | ||
| 29 | YES-MAN |
Neymar’s not right to mistreat unquestioning supporter (3-3)
|
| Anagram (to mistreat) of NEYMA[r]S | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 2 | HOORAY |
Beam after husband loves making whoopee (6)
|
| H (husband) + OO (loves) + RAY (beam) | ||
| 3 | MACARTHUR |
Army general, roughly breaking arm, hurt bum (9)
|
| CA (roughly, i.e. circa) in (breaking) anagram (bum) of ARM HURT (corrected) | ||
| 4 | BRATWURST |
Fare from eg Munich to Split, carrying despicable person west (9)
|
| RAT (despicable person) + W (west) in (carrying) BURST (split) | ||
| 5 | BASMATI |
As bad, almost, working with Tim Rice (7)
|
| Anagram (working with) of AS BA[d] TIM | ||
| 6 | LUGER |
Toboggan supported by right arm of a German (5)
|
| LUGE (toboggan) + R (right) | ||
| 7 | EPOCH |
After an upset, manage Hearts for a long time (5)
|
| COPE (manage) backwards (after an upset) + H (hearts) | ||
| 8 | IRONWARE |
Press on with a cover of reggae or some heavy metal (8)
|
| IRON (press) + W (with) + A (a) + R[egga]E | ||
| 13 | SIN |
Is lion periodically scratched in pride? (3)
|
| [i]S [l]I[o]N (periodically scratched) | ||
| 15 | OVERHASTY |
Old cleric from the south contracts case of tickly rash (9)
|
| O (old) + REV (cleric) backwards (from the south) HAS (contracts) T[ickl]Y | ||
| 16 | FASTENERS |
Maybe catches people who don’t eat sandwiches gent’s filling (9)
|
| [g]EN[t] in (sandwiches) FASTERS (people who don’t eat) | ||
| 17 | CHANDLER |
Vacant consumer stores deal with maker of wicked items (8)
|
| HANDLE (deal) in (stores) C[onsume]R with the definition referring to a candle maker | ||
| 19 | TIC |
Credit reduced for eccentric behaviour (3)
|
| TIC[k] (credit reduced) | ||
| 20 | PAROLEE |
Person promising to reform games accepting a job (7)
|
| A (a) + ROLE (job) in (accepting) PE (games) | ||
| 21 | PAPAYA |
Tropical fruit always brought in twice a year (6)
|
| AY (always) in (brought in) PA PA (per annum twice) | ||
| 23 | ADD-ON |
Naked lady put on accessory (3-2)
|
| [l]AD[y] + DON (put on) | ||
| 24 | TESLA |
Car completely ready to reverse after learner gets out (5)
|
| ALL SET (completely ready) with one ‘L’ (learner) removed (gets out) reversed (to reverse) |
Thanks Buccaneer and Pete
3dn: I took this as CA (roughly) in (breaking) anagram (bum) of (ARM + HURT).This avoids double duty for “roughly”.
I do not quite share your satisfaction with this. I cannot name one clue that has a good surface. There was also a lack of variety- so many charades and cryptic definitions.
Thanks Buccaneer and Pete
Parsed 3d MACARTHUR as Pelham Barton@1, with only one “bum” anagram. Is this Buccaneer’s swan song? Boo. (Not 2d). Excellent puzzle.
I really enjoyed this, but also wondered, like FrankieG, if was the last Buccaneer from the FT.
I’m with Pelham Barton and FrankieG for the parsing of MACARTHUR.
I’m confused by your criticism Martyn @2, I make 1 cryptic definition if you count the Spoonerism. Rather a lot of charades, I’ll grant you.
Thank you to Pete MacLean and Buccaneer, with best wishes for the Telegraph job
It was good to see Buccaneer’s name on this puzzle. I do hope the editor has one or two more in his drawer.
My ticks were for 25ac HEE-HAW, 4dn BRATWURST, 5dn BASMATI, 13dn SIN, 17dn CHANDLER, 21dn PAPAYA and 24dn TESLA. I had the same parsing of MACARTHUR as others above.
Many thanks to Buccaneer and Pete.
Oh dear I did not mean to post the comment @2. That was an early and half-written draft I was leaving for later to rewrite and complete
I don’t know why MACARTHUR should trigger suspicions of Buccaneer’s departure. While MacArthur did make the famous “like an old soldier, just fade away” speech, he also at least as famously said “I shall return”–and return he did.
Bob C @ 7
James Brydon (Buccaneer / Picaroon / Rodriguez) has taken the position of Deputy Puzzles Editor at the Daily Telegraph, so is currently precluded from setting for other publications.
This felt more like a Quiptic. A fine puzzle nonetheless. Enjoyed HEE HAW. Made me chuckle.