For some reason there was no blog for the FT yesterday, so here is my effort…
Hold the mouse pointer over any clue number to read the clue.
Across | ||
1 | EUROSCEPTIC | (OCCUPIER SET)* |
7 | GAS | double defintion |
9 | DAMNS | N (indefinite number) in DAMS (bars,blocks) – definition ‘convicts’ |
10 | MAKESHIFT | double definition |
11 | NONPLUSES | NONE (noboby) S (succeeded) takes in (wins) PLUS (bonus) – definition ‘puzzles’ |
12 | SIEVE | I (one) in SEVE Ballesteros – definition ‘strain’ |
13 | EDIFICE | IF (providing) taken in by (is earned by) E (online) DICE (bet) – definition is ‘pile’ |
15 | NEED | NEE (born) D (died) |
18 | KRIS | K (king) with SIR (knight) reversed – definition is ‘dagger’ |
20 | PALOOKA | A LOOK (spy) in PA (Panama) – definition is ‘bungler’ |
23 | OPENS | O (love) PENS (confines) |
24 | LIMESTONE | LIMES (fruit) TONE (colour) |
26 | INTERFACE | (REINFECT A)* device=anagram |
27 | RAISE | sounds like (on the radio) “rays” (beams) |
28 | HOT | sHOT (photo) with S=special omitted |
29 | EVENING STAR | EVENING (becoming smooth) STAR (celebrity) |
Down | ||
1 | ENDANGER | END ANGER (so bring peace) – definitio is ‘hazard’ |
2 | ROMANTIC | ROM (computer memory) ANTIC (hanky-panky) |
3 | SISAL | |
4 | EN MASSE | MASS (church service) in E, N and E (directions) |
5 | TAKES ON | TAKE (kidnap) SON (child) |
6 | CAST STEEL | STEEL CAST (set into a new shape) makes SLEET |
7 | GUIDES | U (university) in Andre GIDE’S – definition is ‘tutors’ |
8 | SETTER | cryptic definition |
14 | IN RESERVE | IN (fashionable) RESERVE (book) |
16 | MOTORIST | One who takes (in this solution you will find) … OR (otherwise) in (acompanying) MOT (driving test, sort of) and IST (first) – definition is &lit I think |
17 | CAMELEER | |
19 | SALTATE | SALT (season) ATE (wore away) – definition is ‘spring’ meaning jump |
20 | POMPEII | starting letters of Panic Once Major Planetary Eruption Inundates Inland |
21 | POLISH | double definition |
22 | BEAT IT | “a small bird might BE A TIT” |
25 | SCRAG | S (small) BLUFF (crag) |
*anagram
Many thanks, PeeDee, for riding to the rescue.
I’ve never heard of CAST STEEL previously, only CAST IRON but it was nice to know thet I had guessed correctly.
Also, many thanks Fishpok – which is how I pronounce your otherwise unpronounceable alias.
Thanks PHSSTHPOK and PeeDee for stepping into the breech. It took me a while to sort out the anagram at 1 across. There’s a minor typo at 18 across – should be ‘K’ for king. Also, I thought 3 down was a container: succesSISALways. Also, for 5 down you parsed this correctly but wrote in ‘TAKES UP’ rather than ‘TAKES ON’
17D
I took this just to be part of the consecutive letters (cutting) of
(over)CAME LEE R(iver)
Thanks Steve and Ernie, these are much simpler explanations than my rather cumbersome ones.