Financial Times 13,434 by Mudd

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Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 10
Another strong puzzle from Mudd. My favourite clue here is 8D (TOOTHPICK).

Across
1. SQUAD CAR – QUAD (one of four) in SCAR (trauma)
6. PALATE – AT (at) in PALE (white)
9. REPAIR – REP (salesman) + AIR (strain)
10. IMPRISON – IMP (little terror) + NO (no) + SIR (teacher) backwards
11. NEWS – opposite of OLD + N
12. WISHY-WASHY – double definition
14. LOTHARIO – LOTH (reluctant) + A (a) + RIO (port)
16. DAIS – DAIS[y] (girl in chains almost!)
18. KNOT – double definition. There is a type of sandpiper known as a knot.
19. PILLOCKS – LIP (cheek) backwards + LOCKS (hair)
21. SPACE CADET – ACE (another card) + C (clubs) together in SPADE (card) + T[ricks]
22. IMPI – hidden word
24. VIRGINAL – double definition
26. LAUNCH – A (article) in LUNCH (food)
27. GENTRY – G[ain] + ENTRY (access)
28. YEARLING – NIL (nothing) backwards in anagram of A GREY

Down
2. QUEUE – is this a homophone? (“cue”)
3. ANAESTHETIC – anagram of TEN IS A CHEAT. Is “untrustworthy” a good anagram indicator?
4. CAREWORN – ROWER (oarsman) backwards in CAN (vessel)
5. RAIN STOPPED PLAY – anagram of DIP APPARENTLY SO
6. PAPAYA – PAP (tripe) + A (a) + YA[m]
7. LEI – [a]L[g]E[r]I[a]
8. TOOTHPICK – P[ieces] in TOO THICK (thin…designed incorrectly)
13. AUDIO-VISUAL – anagram of I AVOID USUAL
15. OENOPHILE – anagram of PI[g]EIONHOLE
17. FLOTILLA – LOT (great number) in FILL (stock) + A (a)
20. SCANTY – SCAN (examine) + T[r]Y (essay, not right)
23. PECAN – PE[li]CAN (bird lacking lithium)
25. GUT – TUG (yank) backwards

3 comments on “Financial Times 13,434 by Mudd”

  1. Yes, a strong puzzle from Mudd.
    It looks like Mr Halpern saves some of his better ideas [which he normally puts in Paul crosswords] for his FT alter ego.
    The fabulous TOOTHPICK (8d) is a good example [so agree with you, Pete].

    But there’s a lot more to enjoy here, especially in some Down clues.
    I have no problem with ‘untrustworthy’ as an anagrind, in fact I find “Number Ten is a cheat, untrustworthy” a superb clue for ANAESTHETIC (3d).
    And what about that tennis clue (RAIN STOPPED PLAY) – another corker.

    Finally, I took QUEUE (2d) as a homophone of the letter Q, which is “a character”.

  2. My first attempt at a FT crossword, although I was drawn by the compiler who I enjoy in another daily. However todays by the same compiler is not going so well.

  3. rrc, welcome to the blog and the world of FT puzzles. I have been doing these FT puzzles for well over 20 years now. I hope you come to enjoy them as I do.

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