Monday Prize Crossword/Feb 4
A very satisfying crossword by Crux who is one of my favourite setters at the easier end of the FT’s spectrum (but only when he keeps the number of cds to a minimum – as he did today). It’s all very fair what’s happening here, and perhaps therefore – for once – I didn’t feel the need to make any additional comments. Many thanks to Crux for the enjoyment!
Definitions are underlined wherever possible and/or appropriate.
| Across | ||
| 1 | ABBREVIATION | Somehow put Britain above the EU, for example (12) |
| (BRITAIN ABOVE)* | ||
| 10 | ABDOMEN | Could be bad sign for the corporation (7) |
| (BAD)* + OMEN (sign) | ||
| 11 | LUNETTE | Old instrument with central mesh that’s crescent-shaped (7) |
| LUTE (old instrument) with NET (mesh) at its centre | ||
| 12 | GLEAN | Pick up antiseptic that’s good for cold (5) |
| CLEAN (antiseptic) that has the C (cold) replaced by G (good) | ||
| 13 | SHORT CUT | Bob, for instance, has a way to save time (5,3) |
| Double definition, the first BOB being a hairstyle | ||
| 15 | INSPECTORS | Scripts one translates for the examiners (10) |
| (SCRIPTS ONE)* | ||
| 16 | EDGE | Press chief, say, about to gain advantage (4) |
| ED (press chief, editor) + GE (reversal (‘about’) of EG (say)) | ||
| 18 | GODS | Dogs let loose in the gallery (4) |
| (DOGS)* | ||
| 20 | GEOGRAPHER | George, extremely eager to acquire chart of Mercator? (10) |
| {GEO (George – yes it’s in Chambers) + E[age]R} around GRAPH (chart) | ||
| 22 | TEMPLATE | Model office worker not staying behind (8) |
| TEMP (office worker not staying) + LATE (behind) | ||
| 24 | DISCS | Recordings of debate that excludes America (5) |
| DISCUSS (debate) minus US (America) | ||
| 26 | CHIANTI | I’m with child and opposed to drink (7) |
| CH (child) + I (hence, I’m with child) + ANTI (opposed to) | ||
| 27 | GHILLIE | Highland attendant is grand, like the Highlands, they say (7) |
| G (grand) + HILLIE (homophone of ‘hilly’ (like the Highlands)) | ||
| 28 | GRAVE DIGGERS | Serious Aussies working in excavation (5,7) |
| GRAVE (serious) + DIGGERS (Aussies, esp. soldiers from down under) | ||
| Down | ||
| 2 | BADGERS | Bullies sporting logo on middle of jersey (7) |
| BADGE (logo) + [je]RS[ey] | ||
| 3 | REMINDER | The rest don’t need a hint (8) |
| REMAINDER (the rest) minus A | ||
| 4 | VINO | Exotic wine number six comes top (4) |
| NO (number) with VI (six) coming first (‘on top’) | ||
| 5 | ALL THE RAGE | Possibly lethal temper is most desirable now! (3,3,4) |
| (LETHAL)* + RAGE (temper) | ||
| 6 | INNER | Ring has bull inside (5) |
| Cryptic definition – think darts (or bullfighting, in the surface of this clue) | ||
| 7 | NOTICED | How less sugary cake might be regarded (7) |
| NOT ICED (how less sugary cake may be) | ||
| 8 | LAUGHING STOCK | Aunt Sally’s happy cows, one presumes (8,5) |
| LAUGHING STOCK (happy cows, one presumes) | ||
| 9 | BEETLE-CRUSHER | Large boot in small car – a “compacter” machine? (6-7) |
| BEETLE (small car, a VW) + CRUSHER (a “compacter” machine, a device that makes things, er, compact) | ||
| 14 | STREETWISE | Wily, like your London cabbie, no doubt (10) |
| Double definition, the second cryptic | ||
| 17 | SADDLING | Preparing to ride, attach inside strap (8) |
| ADD (attach) inside SLING (strap) | ||
| 19 | DAMNING | Holding back, they say, can be incriminating (7) |
| Homophone of DAMMING (holding back) | ||
| 21 | HUSTLER | Luther’s Reformation exposed fraud (7) |
| (LUTHER’S)* | ||
| 23 | LINDA | Girl with nothing on, notice, appears all upset (5) |
| LIN (reversal of NIL (nothing)) + DA (reversal of AD (notice)), both separately reversed | ||
| 25 | UGLI | A trug likely to contain mixed fruit (4) |
| Hidden solution: [tr]UG LI[kely] | ||