Financial Times 17,398 by PETO

16 comments on “Financial Times 17,398 by PETO”

1. For 16 I entered SEAM without much thought, and the app accepted it as correct. But now that I read the blog, SEEM appears to be the better answer. Such are the perils of homophones. Otherwise the puzzle had much to like. Thanks to Peto and Loonapick.

2. Quite enjoyable, thanks Peto. My knowledge didn’t extend to SCARLET LETTER, SPOKANE or MIRACLE PLAYS. Head-scratchers: clip/high speed, u/unionist. I vaguely recall Jacques Tati from a previous cryptocruciverbalistic experience. I’ve only known Kurt as the name, never Curt.

   Thanks for the blog, Loonapick.

3. Liked SAND MARTIN, ADIEU and SCARLET LETTER.
   Thanks, Peto and loonapick.

4. GDU@2
   I keep hearing ‘bowled at a good clip/at a fast clip’ in the cricket commentaries.
   Does ‘clip’ just mean ‘speed’, but not ‘high speed’?

5. Very similar solving experience for me, Loonapick. Lots of fiddly constructions that took a while to unravel but it all came together nicely in the end.

   Thanks, Peto and Loonapick.

   ub @1 – I entered SEEM as what I thought the most natural reading of the clue, but as you say, according to the app, SEAM is correct.

6. KVa@4 Chambers has “a high speed” as one of the meanings of “clip”.

7. Thanks, Rudolf.

8. Found the SE tricky here with TAMARIN making this (another) DNF. I liked 14d where I failed to lift and separate “Film star” for far too long, a moral victory there to the setter.

   Minor quibble: is “plays” really an equivalent for “sports”? I was looking for “displays” to feature somewhere but in vain. Could be an equivalent for “disports” but I am struggling otherwise.

   I was relieved to have heard of the French actor.

   Tx to Peto and loonapick.

9. Nick – from John Betjeman:
   Outside the carefree children sported in the summer haze
   And released their inhibitions in a hundred different ways

10. Finished with a bit of effort.

    Never, ever heard of Spokane and don’t think that to Sand something is to Polish it. There is, no doubt, such reference somewhere, but in my book, polishing involves bringing up a shine. Try doing that with sand. I’m going to polish my shoes, or polish the table, or polish a mirror. With sand?

    Curt with a C is also disappointing clueing in my book.

    Despite these grumbles, there was much to commend, and I particularly liked Seam

    Thank you for helping with some of the mysteries.

11. Thanks Peto for an excellent crossword. For some reason I had difficulty with INTRANSIGENT but all else eventually came into focus. My top picks were CLIPPER, COMET (great surface), IMITATE, PINA COLADA (another good surface), CASABLANCA, and GUTS. I had SEAM but I think seem is better. Thanks loonapick for the blog.

12. 10 I don’t disagree, but Chambers has “to smooth or polish with abrasive material” as a definition of “to sand”.

13. Sorry, that should have said Moly@10

14. Widdersbel @9 many thanks that does indeed work:)

15. Thanks for the blog , good set of clues , COMET was very funny , good for Beth . Did not know SPOKANE but the clues was very fair. SEEM for me but it is ambiguous.

16. same stuff=cram device as Paul in the guardian today, and IMITATE crops up again as it did yesterday from Fed. I learned NOISOME this week in some other puzzle too. that’s Baader-Meinhof for you. thanks s&b

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