Financial Times 17,988 by Leonidas

11 comments on “Financial Times 17,988 by Leonidas”

1. Excellent crossword from Leonidas with some very amusing clues, chief of which was DOUBLE ENTENDRE.
   I also liked TAIWANESE, SPINNEY, SNAILMAIL and SKINFLINT.
   Perhaps I was feeling a little 9a on the first go round but a reset the next day, snagging that 15a, helped things click more readily.
   Thanks for the blog, Pete, which explained the definition of ROYAL (a neat intersection with 11a).
   And cheers to Leonidas.

2. Thanks Leonidas for the challenge. I was able to solve most of this but I revealed INHIBIT & couldn’t fully parse HEARTFELT. I thought 18a and 22a had clunky surfaces otherwise I thought this was a good crossword with CABARET, RUSTY, DOUBLE ENTENDRE, DETERMINE, IDEAL, and FARSI being favourites. Thanks Pete for the blog.

3. Not much to add from me. Difficult with a helpful break for me too to get me on track. Several unparsed clues with thanks to Pete for the help. Some fun along the way too – with favourites already covered

   Thanks Leonidas and Pete

4. My faves: SNAIL MAIL, DOUBLE ENTENDRE, HEARTFELT and PUT ON.

   Thanks Leonidas and Pete.

5. Got absolutely nothing on the first pass but managed to struggle through. Finished with the help of a wordfinder for ASPHODEL…and this after unsuccessfully trawling through lists of lilies!
   Same favorites as Tony@2
   Difficult crossword….not quite an IO but getting there.
   Thank you Leonidas and Pete.
   Oh and I like the Sunday evening blogs for the Saturday puzzles. Much better than waiting for the non-prize non-deadline. Thanks to whomsoever for this change.

6. {typos 18a: ‘…+ ST (stone) +…’ — 25a: ‘[b]R[e]A[d] I[n] T[r]A[y]’ — 6d: ‘…with “H” shifted to the top…’}

7. In addition to the two typos (?) mentioned by FrankieG let me add that 14d should say DOG + NOB reversed.

8. I read the comments and wondered what was challenging about the top left, then realised I didn’t have a problem with ROYAL, defined as a sail. It went in on first read through, with a double-check that the faint echo was what I thought it was. I *think* it’s from seeing tall ships with my father, and him saying: they’re getting the royals up.

   Fun puzzle, thank you to Leonidas and Pete Maclean.

9. Shane @8: my knowledge of sails comes entirely from Hornblower and his ilk so ROYAL was familiar to me, too.

   Like our blogger, I did take a little longer to twig CABARET than I should have. A typically smooth and entertaining puzzle from one of my favourite FT setters. Lots I could tick: a short shortlist would include TOPIC, DOUBLE ENTENDRE, HIPPO, IDEAL, HEARTFELT, BONGO DRU, NASTINESS and, COTD, the lovely SNAIL MAIL. What a spot for the latter. Absolutely superb.

   Thanks Leonidas and Pete M

10. I really can’t do better than echo PostMark @9, particularly re SNAIL MAIL. (I had a pretty long shortlist, too. 😉 )

    Many thanks to Leonidas and Pete.

11. Thanks for the blog, tricky in parts but the grid was very helpful with the perimeter and lots of first letters . Great set of clues but DOUBLE ENTENDRE works on so many levels .

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