Gurney is the compiler of today's FT
A standard Gurney puzzle with a good range of devices and smooth surfaces. It took a little while to see BACCHANALIAN, and I dithered between TELL and HEEL at 23dn for a while, but couldn't justify the former and went for the latter.
Thanls, Gurney.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | BROADBRUSH |
Lacking details of harbours, extremely bad — change needed (10)
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*(harbours bd) [anag:change needed] where BD is [extremely] B(a)D |
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| 6 | NORM |
Usual thing in London or Manchester (4)
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Hidden [in] "LondoN OR Manchester" |
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| 9 | SLOW-MOTION |
Unfortunately too slim now, not up to speed? (4-6)
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*(too slim now) [anag:unfortunately] |
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| 10 | PERT |
Saucy, a tease at first (4)
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PER ("a") + T(ease) [at first] |
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| 12 | SLEDGEHAMMER |
One critical about recycled hedge tool (12)
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SLEDGER ("one critical") about *(hedge) [anag:recycled] |
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| 15 | LUSITANIA |
At sea a unit sail in liner (9)
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*(a unit sail) [anag:at sea] The Lusitania was a Cunard liner, sunk by the Germans in May, 1915. |
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| 17 | CAN-DO |
Confident firm will accept labourer initially ignored (3-2)
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Co. (company, so "firm") will accept (h)AND ("labourer", initial ignored) |
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| 18 | STAIR |
Commotion about American step (5)
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STIR ("commotion") about A (American) |
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| 19 | GODPARENT |
Sponsor trouble over annual payment (9)
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<=DOG ("trouble", over) + pa (per annum, so "annual") + RENT ("payment") |
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| 20 | TRANSITIONAL |
Nation’s trial — disturbed for a period (12)
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*(nations trial) [anag:disturbed] |
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| 24 | IRON |
Club element (4)
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Double definition, the first referring to a golf club, the second to a metal on the periodic table. |
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| 25 | PILGRIMAGE |
Edge about unpleasant day journey (10)
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<=LIP ("edge", about) + GRIM ("unpleasant") + AGE ("day") |
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| 26 | GOYA |
Artist’s attempt, ultimately masterly, first-class (4)
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GO ("attempt") + [ultimately] (masterl)Y + A (first-class) |
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| 27 | MEANINGFUL |
Significant name in Gulf toppled (10)
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*(name in gulf) [anag:toppled] |
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| DOWN | ||
| 1 | BASE |
Bad starting point (4)
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Double definition |
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| 2 | OBOE |
Music player loves to include British examples at the outset (4)
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O + O ("loves", in tennis) to include B (British) + E(xamples) [at the outset] |
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| 3 | DEMILITARISE |
Free from troops perhaps unexpectedly limited area, high ground (12)
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*(limited) [anag:unexpectedly] + A (area) + RISE ("high ground") |
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| 4 | RATED |
Thought highly of trade moves (5)
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*(trade) [anag:moves] |
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| 5 | SCORECARD |
Nick Jack’s source of sports information? (9)
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SCORE ("nick") + CARD ("Jack") |
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| 7 | OPEN-MINDED |
Liberal media boss supporting work in from Paris, take note (4-6)
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Ed. (editor, so "media boss") supporting Op. (opus, so "work") + EN ("in" in French, so "from Paris") + MIND ("take note") |
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| 8 | MOTORMOUTH |
One saying too much about Formula One? (10)
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Cryptic definition |
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| 11 | BACCHANALIAN |
Wild cannibal — a chap nearly stewed? (12)
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*(cannibal a cha) [anag:stewed] where CHA is [nearly] CHA(p) |
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| 13 | CLOSE THING |
Something to wear, not hot, she found inside, just in time? (5,5)
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CLOTHING ("something to wear") with S(h)E (not H (hot)) found inside |
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| 14 | ESCALATORY |
Raising stakes, key, in the manner of a politician (10)
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esc ("key" on a computer keboard) + A LA ("in the manner of") + TORY ("politician") |
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| 16 | NIGHT-TIME |
Near non-drinker, English, I’m entertained for period (5-4)
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NIGH ("near") + TT (tee-total, so "non-drinker") + E (English) entertaining I'M |
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| 21 | ORGAN |
Somewhat minor gangland mouthpiece (5)
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Hidden in [somewhat] "minOR GANgland" |
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| 22 | WAIF |
Child, maybe, with a condition (4)
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W (with) + A + IF ("condition") |
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| 23 | HEEL |
Rat list (4)
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Double definition |
Well, that was easy.
I also initially thought TELL for 23d but then HEEL came to mind which had the advantage of fitting the clue 🙂
I thought ‘age’ = ‘day’ was a bit odd in 25a.
SLEDGEHAMMER reminded me of a comedy series I enjoyed from a while ago (not to mention a Peter Gabriel song).
The app is still showing yesterday’s puzzle and nothing new for today. Getting withdrawal symptoms.
Thanks Gurney and loonapick
loonapick, in 12 you have inadvertently given “One critical” as SLEDGER: it should be SLAMMER.
@ #2 Yes I can’t see the puzzle either.
I enjoyed this although I found it hard to tune in to a few and I had Open Handed for 7D and Tell instead of Heel.
Anyway, it was fun.
Yes, that was quite an easy one. But sometimes we need an easy one to boost our self-confidence. Thank you, Gurney, and loonapick.
I went with TELL, which I think also works, but HEEL is better.–JMc
The online (interactive) version is available now, and it confirms HEEL for 23d.
Cineraria. I didn’t feel TELL really equated with ‘list’. “Tell/list me your reasons.” sort of works as equivalent phrases but I still don’t think ‘tell’ = ‘list’.
I gave up on the app, printed it off and filled it in the old fashioned way. No cheating or even semi cheating such as “check grid” possible. Rather refreshing. Good puzzle although not as easy as some are saying IMO. Liked bacchanalian
Thanks Gurney and Loonapick
23dn: With HEEL as the intended answer, this clue meets my preference for a double definition in that the definitions refer to two words which have different origins but have converged in spelling to become heel¹ and heel² respectively, using the numbering from Collins 2023 p 908. That does not in itself mean that TELL is not a valid alternative answer. Similar to Hovis @9, Collins p 2033 has tell¹ 3 to give an account or narration (of something): she told me her troubles. This comes close to fitting “list”; I would have no quarrel with anyone who took either side of the question whether it is close enough. “Rat” definitely fits tell¹ 10 informal to reveal secrets or gossip (about).
Of the other double definitions, 1dn gives us base² then base¹ (Collins 2023 pp 167-168), so I was completely happy with that. I found 24ac less satisfying, as the second definition relates to the metal iron which gives its name to the type of golf club from the first definition. Again, I have no quarrel with those whose opinions differ from mine.
Was puzzled by Goliath’s crossword still showing early today and eventually bought a copy of the FT with my morning coffee so as James P said, no option to check or cheat.
Like others, I wavered over ‘tell’ and ‘heel’ and didn’t know if I had the correct answer till I came here. Happily, I did. However, I struggled to get onto Gurney’s wavelength for a time but BACCHANALIAN prised the grid open and I could finish.
I liked MOTORMOUTH and GOYA.
I did notice as Simon S mentions, that 12 should be ‘slammer’ around a recycled ‘hedge’ , interesting since ‘sledge’ might also be interpreted that way.
Thanks to Gurney and Loonapick.
I was not near a printer or newspaper shop earlier and now I have run out of time.
A bit anagram-heavy we thought, but a pleasant enough solve.
Thanks, Gurney and loonapick.
Many thanks for the excellent blog, loonapick. Thanks also to all who commented.
I had the same initial difficulty with the online version but I have also an FT subscription. I used it like James P and Diane,an excellent discipline.
The online version came in later in the day after a small fanfare and I then had to log on, which was never required before. I expect the FT has stopped supplying it for free.
I had HEEL after discarding TELL.
Thanks to both.