Moo takes the Thursday slot
A typical Moo puzzle – not overly challenging, but with a sense of humour and some clever surfaces.
Thanks Moo
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | SEETHE |
Article on spy making you fume (6)
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THE ("article") on SEE ("spy") |
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| 4 | MAOIST |
Doctor first to welcome a revolutionary (6)
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MO (medical officer, so "doctor") + 1st (first) to welcome A |
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| 8 | BOLTING |
Guzzling gin cocktail after escape (7)
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*(gin) [anag:cocktail] after BOLT ("escape") |
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| 9 | EMOTION |
United finally escaping relegation? Such excitement! (7)
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(unite)D [finally] escaping (d)EMOTION ("relegation") |
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| 11 | SLEEPYHEAD |
S for one approaching retirement? (10)
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"S" is the HEAD (capital, so first letter) of SLEEPY |
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| 12 | GOSH |
Igloos occasionally getting hot? My goodness! (4)
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(i)G(l)O(o)S [occasionally] getting H (hot) |
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| 13 | DITTO |
The same policeman getting too much, on reflection (5)
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DI (detective inspector, so "policeman") getting <=OTT (over the top, so "too much", on reflection) |
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| 14 | ESCARGOT |
Key language that’s a bit of a mouthful? (8)
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ESC ("key" on a keyboard) + ARGOT ("language") |
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| 16 | PRISONER |
Old lag quietly faking Renoirs (8)
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P (piano in music notation = "quietly") + *(Renoir's) [anag:faking] |
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| 18 | SUNAK |
Students backing a grand PM (5)
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<=NUS (National Union of "Students", backing) + A + K (1000, so "grand") |
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| 20 | SCAM |
Rogue cut short a fraudulent scheme (4)
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SCAM(p) ("rogue", cut short) |
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| 21 | OUT TO LUNCH |
Having a bite to eat in Barking? (3,2,5)
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Double definition, the second referring to being "barking" mad. |
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| 23 | MEANDER |
Cobbler capturing a snake (7)
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MENDER ("cobbler") capturing A |
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| 24 | DIVINER |
Fortune teller visiting restaurant, I see (7)
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I + V (vide, so "see") visiting DINER ("restaurant") |
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| 25 | PALLET |
Uncomfortable bed put everyone in a bad mood (6)
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ALL ("everyone") in PET ("a bad mood") |
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| 26 | ANCHOR |
TV presenter Jack might drop it (6)
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Double definition, the "jack" in the second referring to a sailor. |
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| DOWN | ||
| 1 | SEOUL |
Music one hears in Asian capital (5)
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Homophone [one hears] of SOUL (music) |
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| 2 | ENTREAT |
Beg nurse to support unmarried men (7)
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TREAT ("nurse") to support (m)EN [unmarried = without M (married)] |
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| 3 | HONEYMOON |
During which one might see sweetheart with bare bottom? (9)
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HONEY ("sweetheart") with MOON ("bare bottom") and &lit. |
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| 5 | ARMED |
Frightened gangster fleeing, carrying a gun (5)
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AL (Capone) ("gangster") fleeing (al)ARMED ("frightened") |
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| 6 | INTEGER |
Perhaps 20 men initially sacked by disorderly regiment (7)
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*(regient) [anag:disorderly] where REGIENT is REGI(m)ENT with M(en) [initially sacked] |
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| 7 | TOOK STOCK |
Weighed up situation, as rustler did? (4,5)
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Double definition |
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| 10 | CELEBRATE |
Pay tribute to a notable judge (9)
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CELEB ("a notable") + RATE ("judge") |
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| 13 | DIRT CHEAP |
Ridiculously priced hat – very inexpensive (4,5)
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*(priced hat) [anag:ridiculously] |
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| 15 | CUSTODIAN |
The Guardian offering a discount on renewal (9)
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*(a discount) [anag:on renewal] |
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| 17 | SEMINAL |
Influential student group changing political allegiance? (7)
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SEMINA(r>L) ("student group") changing from R (right) to L (left) ("political allegiance") |
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| 19 | NOURISH |
Further honour Ishiguro has accepted (7)
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Hidden in [has accepted] "hoNOUR ISHiguro" |
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| 21 | OBESE |
Fat old cow’s complaint about European (5)
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O (old) + BSE ("cow's complaint") about E (European) BSE is bovine spongiform encephalopathy, more commonly known as "mad cow's disease". |
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| 22 | CLEAR |
Unload vehicle carrying case of Lafite (5)
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CAR ("vehicle") carrying [case of] L(afit)E |
Bit of a breeze today although I didn’t like the “The” in 15A: I thought it unnecessary and slightly misleading.
3D was a great clue.
A grin-inducing puzzle with plenty of wit and nothing too taxing.
My favourites were the (ahem) cheeky 3d, 23a and my LOI, 14a.
I didn’t mind the ‘the’ in 15d as I suspect it was there to mislead, albeit temporarily.
Thanks to Moo for the fun and to Loonapick for confirming the parsing of 24a.
CUSTODIAN: Agree with Peter@1
Liked HONEYMOON and SEMINAL.
Thanks, M and l.
Quite enjoyable. I didn’t think of Capone for 5d. 24a was a bit mean. Didn’t know pet was a bad mood.
3 d was very clever.
Missed Pallett. Thought of it but couldn’t see why it was a Bed.
Thanks for the blog, much to enjoy here ESCARGOT my favourite although not my favourite food.
I found this puzzle a bit harder than others appear to have done, but I enjoyed the challenge. I’m not a big fan of the type of clue at 11a, but that’s a minor quibble.
Not sure I’ve ever solved a Moo before so I don’t know whether or not it’s typical but I agree with your assessment, Loonapick. Very enjoyable. Favourite was OBESE. Amusing.
11a got a bit of a groan from me but I don’t mind that type of clue.