Another cruciverbalist feat from Gozo . . .
. . . or should I say FeaT? It probably did not take solvers long to recognize that something thematic was going on in this puzzle. In fact, every solution as at least one “F” followed by at least one “T,” and there are a total of 30 “F’s” and 30 “T’s” altogether, suggesting possibly a reference to the FT30 stock market index managed by the Financial Times.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | FEASTS |
Lavish spreads from 29 (6)
|
| Anagram of (from) SAFEST ([solution to] 29A) | ||
| 4 | GET OFF IT |
Stop being a fool and leave the train! (3,3,2)
|
| Double/cryptic definition | ||
| 9 | EFFORT |
Hard work from Unicef, fortuitously (6)
|
| Hidden in (from) [UNIC]EF FORT[UITOUSLY] | ||
| 10 | FILTRATE |
Percolate much of the muck in front of judge (8)
|
| FILT[H] (muck) minus last letter (much of) + RATE (judge) | ||
| 12 | CLIFF TOP |
Richard at No. 1 up on the coast (5,3)
|
| CLIFF (Richard) + TOP (No. 1) | ||
| 13 | FILLET |
French daughter having time to bone fish (6)
|
| FILLE (French daughter, i.e., in French) + T (time) | ||
| 15 | EFTA |
Some chieftain’s European set-up (4)
|
| Hidden in (some) [CHI]EFTA[IN], referring presumably to the European Free Trade Agreement | ||
| 16 | POMFRET |
Small liquorice cake of fish (7)
|
| Double definition | ||
| 20 | FALTERS |
Frances changes trips (7)
|
| I cannot quite parse this one. Clearly, the intention is: F (France[s?]) + ALTERS (changes), but I cannot see any attestation for F = Frances. Fanny as a diminutive for Frances appears in the abbreviated euphemism sweet FA. F is an abbreviation for France, no “s,” or we might get away with “France’s”??? | ||
| 21 | FATE |
Destiny of 27 on the radio (4)
|
| Homophone of (on the radio) FÊTE ([solution to] 27D) | ||
| 25 | REFUTE |
Disprove arbiter on Aussie truck (6)
|
| REF (arbiter) + UTE (Aussie truck) | ||
| 26 | INFINITE |
Limitless popular penalty covering city centre (8)
|
| IN (popular) + {FINE (penalty) around (covering) middle letters of (centre [of]) [C]IT[Y] | ||
| 28 | FOOTSTEP |
Fitbit measure reflected in the trumpets – too fast (8)
|
| Hidden in [TRUM]PETS TOO F[AST] reversed (reflected) | ||
| 29 | SAFEST |
Cape Town celebration is most free from risk (6)
|
| A “Cape Town [South Africa] celebration” might be described as a SA-FEST | ||
| 30 | THE FATES |
Mythological sisters run away from playhouses, carrying female (3,5)
|
| THEAT[R]ES (playhouses) minus (away) R (run) around (carrying) F (female) | ||
| 31 | FETTER |
Say ‘Cheese’ is to restrain (6)
|
| Homophone of (say) FETA (cheese) | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | FLETCHER |
Inmate at Slade who provides bowmen (8)
|
| Double definition, the first referring to the character Norman Stanley Fletcher, an inmate at HM Slade Prison, in the sitcom Porridge, and the second referring to a maker of arrows | ||
| 2 | AFFLICTS |
Strikes, when left in charge during staff troubles (8)
|
| {L (left) + I/C (in charge)} inside (during) anagram of (troubles) STAFF | ||
| 3 | THRIFT |
Prudence in bed! (6)
|
| Double/cryptic definition, the second presumably referring to the flowering plant also known as the lady’s cushion or sea pink (genus Armeria) | ||
| 5 | E-FIT |
Police’s electronic picture of heartless thief at large (1-3)
|
| Anagram of (at large) T[H]IEF minus H (“heart-less”) | ||
| 6 | OFTTIMES |
Frequently love having two papers (8)
|
| O (love) + {FT + TIMES} (two papers) | ||
| 7 | FLATLY |
Riverdance star is suggested, definitely (6)
|
| Homophone of (is suggested) [Michael] FLATLEY (Riverdance star) | ||
| 8 | THEFTS |
Article on our losses? (6)
|
| THE (article) + FT’S (our) | ||
| 11 | GO FORTH |
Set out and travel to Scottish firth (2,5)
|
| GO (travel) + FORTH (Scottish firth) | ||
| 14 | AFFRONT |
Insult a fellow on the prom? (7)
|
| A + F (fellow) + FRONT (the prom) | ||
| 17 | FANTASIA |
Is at an FA review of Disney film (8)
|
| Anagram of (review) IS AT AN FA | ||
| 18 | MANIFEST |
Customs official’s list is very obvious (8)
|
| Double definition | ||
| 19 | DEFECTOR |
Fault other ranks and turncoat (8)
|
| DEFECT (fault) + OR (other ranks) | ||
| 22 | PROFIT |
Favouring healthy yield (6)
|
| PRO (favouring) + FIT (healthy) | ||
| 23 | OF NOTE |
Often love turns out to be significant (2,4)
|
| Anagram of (turns out) {OFTEN + O (love)} | ||
| 24 | FIXATE |
Direct one’s eyes on nine amongst 21 (6)
|
| IX (nine) inside (amongst) FATE ([solution to] 21A) | ||
| 27 | FÊTE |
Tory leader involved in payment for honour (4)
|
| First letter of (leader [of]) T[ORY] inside (involved in) FEE (payment) |