Financial Times 12,764 by Mudd
Posted by Pete Maclean on May 22nd, 2008
Mudd gave me a very satisfying challenge this week. I especially like 13A, 20A, 24A, 6D and 18D. I found 4A tricky; I guessed the answer quickly but took a while to figure out the word play.
Across
1. POTENT - TEN (figure) in POT (crucible)
4. SPLATTER - PS (rider) backwards + LATTER (second)
10. CABINET - double definition
11. OIL WELL - [t]OIL (heading from work) + WELL (fine)
12. LEEK - homophone
13. FAR EASTERN - FARE (food) + ASTERN (at the back)
15. CLIMAX - C (cold) + LIMA (capital city) + X (cross)
16. MONARCH - ON (on) in MARCH (Spring)
20. KETCHUP - KETCH (boat) + UP (finished)
21. LAUNCH - A (article) in LUNCH (eat)
24. LOCOMOTIVE - LOCO (illogical) + MOTIVE (reason)
26. ONUS - [b]ONUS (extra pay, although not originally bringing)
28. CRICKET - double definition
29. CHAGRIN - CHA (drink) + GRIN (something cheesy)
30. REPORTER - RE (on) + PORTER (booze)
31. PROMPT - double definition
Down
1. PICKLOCK - PICK (best) + LOCK (shut up)
2. TABLE WINE - BLEW IN (wasted) in anagram of TEA
3. NONE - NO (unknown???) + N (number) + E (ecstasy)
5. PHONE BOX - P (president) + HONE (better) + BOX (fight)
5. ABLE SEAMAN - anagram of MABEL + SEAN + A
7. THERE - double definition
8. RELENT - RE (about) + LENT (40 days)
9. STRAP - PARTS (bits) backwards
14. MATCHMAKER - MATCH (equal with) + MAKER (God)
17. CONUNDRUM - CO (fellow?) + NUN (sister) + DRUM (beat)
18. SUBTITLE - IT (it) in SUBTLE (faint)
19. CHESTNUT - double definition
22. SLICER - ICE (rocks) in SLR (camera)
23. EVICT - E (European) + VICT[or] (champion stripped of gold)
25. CHIMP - M (male) in CHIP (golf shot)
27. FAIR - double definition
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:23 am
Re 3d: NONE.
Maybe it is N,ON,E
on = taking, as in “he has been on anacin for the past four days”.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:35 am
Re 17d:
co must be co- (fellow) as in ‘co-worker’.
May 23rd, 2008 at 4:42 am
Ah yes, Rishi, thanks. You are a good co!