A very enjoyable puzzle from Basilisk.
Clever wordplay, especially with the compound words. Basilisk is on top form with this morning’s puzzle. Thank you for the challenge.
I think compound words are the theme here, also denoted by the plus signs in the black squares of the grid.
(EVICT MAN IN AREA)* (*sporting)
Cryptic definition
CA (calcium) + LI (lithium) + CO (cobalt), i.e. made up of three metals
CLASS (pupils) + ACT (exploit)
For ACT think heroic act / daring exploit
Cryptic definition
NITROGEN* (*mixed) with H (hydrogen) produces NEON RIGHT
(CORE (content, essentially) containing IT (sex))< (<makes a comeback)
A play on words: MALE DICTION might be the way men speak
P[art]Y (case for) + LINE (policy) disrupted by OVERT (obvious)
P (pressure) to stop (U (universal) + TICK (credit))
[record]ED IF AN OB[servation]< (some, <retrospectively)
B (book) + ATHROB (pulsating) with E (energy)
SEVER[s] (cuts, abruptly) + E[conomies] (lead to)
ONE (somebody) + ARMED (provided weapon for) + BANDIT (criminal)
‘One-armed bandit’ is the nickname for a coin-operated slot machine with a lever on one side
(E (English) + MAN)< (<return) following NICK (arrest)
TELL TALE (to lie)
VICTOR[ia] (state, out of final pair)
A play on words: MOLE STATION could be MI6 headquarters
REST (support) + ROOM (opportunity)
A RESTROOM is an American (i.e. 4 across) can (slang for WC/toilet)
“CHASED” (pursued, “reporter’s”)
Double definition
(ILL + BEREAVED)* (*treating)
(ERRORS)* (*corrected) involving CE (Common Entrance)
For ‘spelling’ think magic spells
DID END (stopped), VI (six) cuts
VET (old soldier) embraces HE MEN (virile chaps)
(BELO[w])* (almost, *ground); has UP< (<risen) before
SUE (take action) about TAT[e] (gallery, losing its last)
RA (gunmen), having CAME (got there) first
Exactly what Oriel said.
Liked MALEDICTION and ‘4 can’ (RESTROOM).
Thanks both for a fine puzzle and an equally fine blog.
Thanks Basilisk and Oriel!
Loved the puzzle and the blog!
A lot to like. Mentioning a few:
CALICO, NITROGEN, MALEDICTION, ONE-ARMED BANDIT (COTD) and RESTROOM.
Why is RA gunmen? Google only offered me rheumatoid arthritis.
GDU@3: Royal Artillery
I thought there was more to the wordplay for NOTICE, but I could not figure out anything extra. Thanks for clarifying.
I do not quite understand the definition for DELIVERABLE, or how the division into DELIVER ABLE adds anything to the clue/solution?
Found this tough and gave up on the last few but enjoyed the challenge.
Favourites: CALICO, ONE-ARMED BANDIT, MOLESTATION, POVERTY LINE, NICKNAME
Can’t believe I didn’t spot BONA FIDE
Thanks Basilix and Oriel
Cineraria@4
DELIVERABLE
An objective yet to be delivered/realised. That’s the intended sense here, I think.
(Receivables and DELIVERABLES are often used in billing. And DELIVERABLES while referring to project goals).
Cineraria @4: I agree with KVa, but there may be a further subtle intention: when treating the ill or bereaved, your objective might be to DELIVER (bring to fruition) ABLE (or ability).
Oriel@7
DELIVERABLE
That’s a fine layer. Thanks.
Thank you, Cineraria.
This was a DNF(5,6&10)
but we really enjoyed the puzzle nonetheless and let out a huge groan when reading the solution to 5 D despite having figured out the second half of the clue. I really liked the brevity of 9A. Thank you to Basilisk and Oriel.
I found this slow going in parts. I may have been tired, but I often found it difficult to identify the type of clue I was facing, and the compound words made it difficult to just find the answer from the crossers. The grid tripped me up for DELIVERABLE. I did identify it as an anagram but, with the grid splitting it in two, I then spent ages trying to work out how the letters fitted into two words (forgetting the clue told me it was one).
MOLESTATION was my favourite clue.
Thanks for the blog, excellent spot for the plus signs in the grid.
Very enjoyable tough challenge with clever, neat clues throughout.
24d might have been better with “here” instead of “there”.
Very nice, just the right level of difficulty and challenging enough for my mood at the moment, really liked it, thought the cluing and construction was very clever.
Couldn’t parse “Rest Room” or “Class Act” and totally missed the plus signs in the grid (facepalm moment).
Thank you to Basilisk and to Oriel for the blog
A very good crossword but sadly too good for me. I loved 5,14 dn – but only once I’d looked up the answer and Oriels explanation
We can’t agree that this was enjoyable – lots of help required and too many ‘oh, of course’ moments.
Thamks, though, to Basilisk and Oriel.
A real lateral thinking one here. Fun but a brain smoker. Thank you everyone
I usually don’t enjoy Basilisk’s puzzles but I thought this one was brilliant—just the right level of difficulty for me. Thanks to you and to Oriel for a great blog (as always).
Many thanks to Oriel for the excellent blog and to everyone who has taken the time to solve the puzzle and leave a comment.
So it seems “it’s” in 23 is an error, and to my mind an unforgiveable one. The FT puzzle has shown little sign of having any attention from an editor for some time now (since Colin Inman’s retirement, I think) with clues being effectively repeated (in one recent case as soon as the following day) and all sorts of errors which should have been picked up long before publication.
Just found this website – bookmarked — found Basilisk too hard for my liking but can appreciate the clues once I had answers. Got about 10 answers late last night.
One question – I’ve not come across SEX = IT before. 13a – could someone help me please? Thanks
Mike@21 – For oed.com’s ‘it’ (lower case) click here…
…and here. In CrosswordLand ‘it’ can mean SA (Sex Appeal) or just sex(ual intercourse). [Note that IT (upper case) is Information Technology – not sexy at all.]
I got there but found it tough and not especially enjoyable
I agree with Moly. This was not fun. 6 & 10 were really horrible clues .