Gurney is the compiler of today's FT
A standard Gurney puzzle with a good range of devices and smooth surfaces. It took a little while to see BACCHANALIAN, and I dithered between TELL and HEEL at 23dn for a while, but couldn't justify the former and went for the latter.
Thanls, Gurney.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | BROADBRUSH |
Lacking details of harbours, extremely bad — change needed (10)
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*(harbours bd) [anag:change needed] where BD is [extremely] B(a)D |
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| 6 | NORM |
Usual thing in London or Manchester (4)
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Hidden [in] "LondoN OR Manchester" |
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| 9 | SLOW-MOTION |
Unfortunately too slim now, not up to speed? (4-6)
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*(too slim now) [anag:unfortunately] |
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| 10 | PERT |
Saucy, a tease at first (4)
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PER ("a") + T(ease) [at first] |
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| 12 | SLEDGEHAMMER |
One critical about recycled hedge tool (12)
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SLEDGER ("one critical") about *(hedge) [anag:recycled] |
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| 15 | LUSITANIA |
At sea a unit sail in liner (9)
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*(a unit sail) [anag:at sea] The Lusitania was a Cunard liner, sunk by the Germans in May, 1915. |
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| 17 | CAN-DO |
Confident firm will accept labourer initially ignored (3-2)
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Co. (company, so "firm") will accept (h)AND ("labourer", initial ignored) |
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| 18 | STAIR |
Commotion about American step (5)
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STIR ("commotion") about A (American) |
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| 19 | GODPARENT |
Sponsor trouble over annual payment (9)
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<=DOG ("trouble", over) + pa (per annum, so "annual") + RENT ("payment") |
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| 20 | TRANSITIONAL |
Nation’s trial — disturbed for a period (12)
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*(nations trial) [anag:disturbed] |
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| 24 | IRON |
Club element (4)
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Double definition, the first referring to a golf club, the second to a metal on the periodic table. |
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| 25 | PILGRIMAGE |
Edge about unpleasant day journey (10)
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<=LIP ("edge", about) + GRIM ("unpleasant") + AGE ("day") |
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| 26 | GOYA |
Artist’s attempt, ultimately masterly, first-class (4)
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GO ("attempt") + [ultimately] (masterl)Y + A (first-class) |
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| 27 | MEANINGFUL |
Significant name in Gulf toppled (10)
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*(name in gulf) [anag:toppled] |
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| DOWN | ||
| 1 | BASE |
Bad starting point (4)
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Double definition |
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| 2 | OBOE |
Music player loves to include British examples at the outset (4)
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O + O ("loves", in tennis) to include B (British) + E(xamples) [at the outset] |
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| 3 | DEMILITARISE |
Free from troops perhaps unexpectedly limited area, high ground (12)
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*(limited) [anag:unexpectedly] + A (area) + RISE ("high ground") |
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| 4 | RATED |
Thought highly of trade moves (5)
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*(trade) [anag:moves] |
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| 5 | SCORECARD |
Nick Jack’s source of sports information? (9)
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SCORE ("nick") + CARD ("Jack") |
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| 7 | OPEN-MINDED |
Liberal media boss supporting work in from Paris, take note (4-6)
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Ed. (editor, so "media boss") supporting Op. (opus, so "work") + EN ("in" in French, so "from Paris") + MIND ("take note") |
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| 8 | MOTORMOUTH |
One saying too much about Formula One? (10)
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Cryptic definition |
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| 11 | BACCHANALIAN |
Wild cannibal — a chap nearly stewed? (12)
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*(cannibal a cha) [anag:stewed] where CHA is [nearly] CHA(p) |
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| 13 | CLOSE THING |
Something to wear, not hot, she found inside, just in time? (5,5)
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CLOTHING ("something to wear") with S(h)E (not H (hot)) found inside |
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| 14 | ESCALATORY |
Raising stakes, key, in the manner of a politician (10)
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esc ("key" on a computer keboard) + A LA ("in the manner of") + TORY ("politician") |
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| 16 | NIGHT-TIME |
Near non-drinker, English, I’m entertained for period (5-4)
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NIGH ("near") + TT (tee-total, so "non-drinker") + E (English) entertaining I'M |
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| 21 | ORGAN |
Somewhat minor gangland mouthpiece (5)
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Hidden in [somewhat] "minOR GANgland" |
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| 22 | WAIF |
Child, maybe, with a condition (4)
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W (with) + A + IF ("condition") |
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| 23 | HEEL |
Rat list (4)
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Double definition |
Well, that was easy.
I also initially thought TELL for 23d but then HEEL came to mind which had the advantage of fitting the clue 🙂
I thought ‘age’ = ‘day’ was a bit odd in 25a.
SLEDGEHAMMER reminded me of a comedy series I enjoyed from a while ago (not to mention a Peter Gabriel song).