My first Guy puzzle.
I believe this may be Guy's second FT puzzle. It is certainly the first by this setter that I have come across, and I have to say that I was very impressed by the diversity of clues and the wit inherent in many of them. I ticked several clues, notably those for ELOPE, CONSTABULARY, the hilarious GREEN GODDESS, the meta THREE DOWN, the clever AGNOSTIC and TENERIFE (my favourite). I hope we'll see more of this setter soon.
Thanks Guy
DO ("to make") + VET (veterinary "surgeon") + AIL ("feel queasy")
CUB ("youth") describes HER ("female objectively")
"Describes" as a container indicator seems a stretch to me, but it is included in the list of possible indicators in the Chambers Crossword Dictionary.
*(taps run) [anag:when turned]
P (penny) in REAPER ("harvester")
For non-Brits, Harvester is a chain of restaurants in the UK
Cryptic definition
[centre for] (ps)EU(ds) and PHONIES ("fakes")
TABULAR ("like a spreadsheet, perhaps") on CONS ("criminals") + Y ("unknown", in mathematics)
*(needs doggers) [anag:to move]
The Green Goddess was a fire engine used by the Auxiliary Fire Service and put to use in the UK during firefighter's strikes in 1997 and 2002.
[first to] O(ffer) + <=(EVITA ("musical") + REP(ertory) ("theatre") in recession)
C (Conservative) + LOUT ("boor")
LET ("allowed") on TRIP ("holiday")
EAST ("point" of the compass) aft of AB (able-bodied seaman, so "sailor") + R (right)
R (run) through CEASE ("finish")
In cricket, the crease is the line that the batsman stands on or near.
*(scared us) [anag:exploding]
I (one) missing from DOSS(i)ER ("file")
*(devon) [anag:traded] + [close to] (exete)R
If "three" green bottles have accidentally fallen ("down") in the children's counting song, Ten Green Bottles, then "presumably" there are "seven green bottles left".
*(simons priest is) [anag:suffering]
HIP ("in", as in trendy) + PO (Post Office)
Hidden backwards [carries around] in "umbrelLA SIR PERcival"
YE ("you") must carry *(brides) [anag:trembling]
DROP ("drink") + HANDLE ("deal in") + BARS ("gets")
CUR ("dog") + ED (editor, so "journalist") found after (s)UNSE(t) [out of bounds]
[turning up] <=(CI (Channel Island) + (Jo-Wilfried) TSONGA ("French tennis player"))
T(her)E [on vacation] + N (note) + E (English) + RIFE ("everywhere") and &lit.
Hidden in [concealing it] "minuteS ON A TAttoo"
[empty] S(ea)T + AT ("intended for") + US ("you and me")
AT LAS(t)("finally", not quite finished).
A map could be considered a birds-eye view of something, so a collection of such views in diagram forms could be an atlas.
I agree with all you said about this puzzle. Well done and thanks to both setter and blogger. I never knew that bird’s eye was a name for primrose.
I’d done one by Guy before and enjoyed it but this one was a disaster for me. After an hour less than half done, and some clues that I thought were iffy. Why are impressionists funny turns? Why is “at” intended for? Suntraps and bangers (as in cars) I’ve not heard of in the Antipodes. But not being aware that Harvester is a restaurant chain didn’t matter.
Perhaps I’m just not on Guy’s wavelength this time.
Thanks for the blog, really enjoyed this, many fine clues. THREE DOWN and ATLAS very neat, also liked the TABULAR in 14Ac,
Bird’s Eye is a beautiful plant, lilac with very yellow centres.
Geoff@2 an impressionist is someone like Rory Bremner , imitating people in an alleged comic manner, I suppose some people find it funny.
AT is a bit of a stretch. The meeting is AT 10 o’clock ? Planned for would be a bit better I think. Harvester is pretty obscure here really, but as you say it did not matter for the clue.
Ah yes, for impressionist I was thinking of Monet & co, and the alternative meaning didn’t occur to me! Thanks Roz.
I wish I knew how to copy and paste an image here but the Birds Eye primrose is primula farinosa in case anyone would like to Google it. Pretty little flower.
A tricky crossword but I enjoyed it very much. My favourite is 3d
Thanks to Guy and loonapick
Lots of ticks from me. As well as those already mentioned, I would add DOVETAIL, HIPPO and DROP HANDLEBARS. AT for ‘intended for’ at 20d went in with a shrug and I still don’t really get it.
I agree that TENERIFE was the pick of the crop, a true &lit in my book.
Thanks to Guy and loonapick
I’m in agreement with the picks of today’s bunch mentioned above and will just add a shout out for the clever use of Tsonga, one of my favourite players on any surface.
Thanks to Guy and Loonapick.
re 20D (and linking to 26A), how about “His throw was at / intended for the stumps, but was way off”?
As has become usual, I have just finished this with my breakfast coffee and I really needed the overnight brain reset to do it. A real challenge for me.
Thanks for the explanations Loonapick as I had a couple of bung and hopes here. Um, for 7d, surely the definition is just “sally”?
Thanks for the workout Guy – I enjoyed it.
Mystogre @ 10
As the reversal indicator is ‘around’, ‘returned’ has to have a function in the clue. A sally is not a reprisal per se, but a sally in reply to an offensive sally would be a ‘returned sally’, or reprisal.
Thanks Simon S – I hadn’t picked that bit up.
Thanks Guy and loonapick
This setter is certainly one on the rise within the FT stable of setters with this follow up puzzle equalling, if not exceeding, his debut puzzle last November. As stated, many clever devices used throughout with none better than THREE DOWN – a gem ! A special mention to be able to find a clue to use the reversal of Jo-Wilfred at 16d.
Not heard of the GREEN GODDESS and was tricked by this meaning of IMPRESSIONISTS (was with Geoff, stuck on the artistic meaning – so thanks Roz for pointing out the alternative meaning).
Finished in the SW corner with ATLAS, TENERIFE and CREASE which were all excellent clues with that subtle twist in all of them.