Prize puzzle from the Weekend FT of August 27
Here’s another great puzzle from Cincinnus with five clues that I think are especially good: 1A (MUDDLED), 18A (ANDROMEDA), 21A (IDOLS), 3D (LOSEY) and 6D (GARROTTER). There is something I do not understand about 5D.
Across
1. MUDDLED – MUDD (another setter) + LED (was in first place)
5. LAGGARD – L (left) + [h]AGGARD (Rider, heading off). This refers to the author of, for example, “Solomon’s Mines”, Rider Haggard.
9. TEXAS – X (cross) in TEAS[e] (josh has not finished)
10. SEVERALLY – EVER (always) in SALLY (Sarah). Took me a while to get this as I did not know that Sally was a nickname for Sarahs.
11. EVERY WHIT – VERY WHITE (so pale) with E moved to the beginning (sent back to front)
12. OUTDO – OUT (garden) + DO (party). ‘Garden’ (or is it ‘for garden’?) cluing OUT seems a little questionable to me but I am probably missing some meaning.
13. SMART – double definition
15. RURITANIA – [p]URITAN (Roundhead doffing cap) in AIR (song) backwards
18. ANDROMEDA – anagram of MAN ADORED. I had to think about ‘rock’ as an anagram indicator but decided it works okay.
19. RUING – I (I) in RUNG (step)
21. IDOLS – anagram of SOLID
23. COLLAPSED – anagram of OLD PLACES
25. ON THE WING – N (knight) in [midl]OT[ian] + HEWING (using a chopper)
26. IAMBI – A (a) + MB (doctor) both in II (two)
27. MACDUFF – MAC (computer) + DUFF (not able to hack it). And if any of you think the correct quote is “Lead on, Macduff” then please look it up!
28. TRAINER – double definition
Down
1. MUTTERS – UTTER (say) in MS (writing — i.e. manuscript)
2. DIXIELAND – DIX (number for [Maurice] Chevalier) + IE (that is) + LAND (country)
3. LOSEY – LOSE (miss) + [tand]Y. With the surface presumably referring to Jessica Tandy.
4. DISCHARGE – S[tag] + CHA[p] (penniless chap) both in DIRGE (sad song)
5. LOVAT – LOV[e] (honey, mostly) + T[oast]. And where does the ‘a’ come from?
6. GARROTTER – GAR (fish) + ROTTER (swine)
7. ALLOT – ALL (everyone) + OT (books — i.e. old testament)
8. DAYTONA – DAY (time) + TO (to) + N[orth] + A[merican]
14. TROUSSEAU – anagram of USE SURE TO
16. REAR LIGHT – EARL (lord) in RIGHT (fitting)
17. NEIL SIMON – anagram of SLIM ONE IN
18. ALIFORM – ALI (the greatest) + FORM (bed for a hare). This is a new meaning of ‘form’ to me. (From http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/devon_bap/hare.htm : Where a hare has been lying, a shallow depression is made, which is a bit deeper and wider at the back than at the front. This is known as a ‘form’.)
20. GODLIER – GO[n]D[o]LIER. Clever use of ‘separate’ here.
22. OPTIC – O[ffal] P[ut] T[winkle] I[n] C[at]
23. CLIFF – double definition
24. AKITA – KIT (gear) in AA (motorists’s group — i.e. the Automobile Association)
Re 12a
The question mark at the end of the clue is significant.
The setter expects us to look at OUTDO as OUT DO, that is, a DO in the OUT (‘that which is outside’ [Chambers]).
A Madras party might be interpreted as a party in Madras.
Pete
I think the FT might have made a typo. Surely Cincinnus would have written “on a slice of toast” ?
cheers
John
Rishi, Thanks for that. Just what I was missing.
John, That’s a relief!