Puzzle from the Weekend FT of July 4, 2026
I found this puzzle a delight. 13d (TRAITRESS) is a new word to me, but an easy one to guess. And how about having TREASON (2) in the same grid. My favourites are 3 (ENCHILADA), 16 (DATE PALM), 21 (YOU DON’T SAY) and 25 (SWEATY). Thanks to BC for some help and thank you, Mudd.
| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | BATTER |
Easily defeat baseball player, say (6)
|
| Double definition | ||
| 4 | TROPIC |
Zero, image on centre of matrix, parallel (6)
|
| [ma[TR[ix] + O (zero) + PIC (Image) | ||
| 8 | SILENCE |
Given that, holding French article, wrap it up! (7)
|
| LE (French article) in (holding) SINCE (given that) | ||
| 9 | ALLEGRO |
Lively goer dances past everyone (7)
|
| ALL (everyone) + anagram (dances) of GOER | ||
| 11 | PLASTICITY |
Give credit card with it, last of money (10)
|
| PLASTIC (credit card) + IT (it) + [mone]Y | ||
| 12 | AXLE |
Energy behind a very big rotating rod (4)
|
| A (a) + XL (very big) + E (energy) | ||
| 13 | TONGA |
Country in fact on Ganymede (5)
|
| Hidden word (in) | ||
| 14 | OLD FLAME |
Lover once thrown on the bonfire? (3,5)
|
| Double definition | ||
| 16 | DATE PALM |
See flickering lamp in tropical tree (4,4)
|
| DATE (see) + anagram (flickering) of LAMP | ||
| 18 | STORY |
First bit of silver and blue yarn (5)
|
| S[ilver] + TORY (blue) | ||
| 20 | STOP |
Criminal opts for arrest (4)
|
| Anagram (criminal) of OPTS | ||
| 21 | YOU DONT SAY |
Solver never can tell — is that a fact? (3,4,3)
|
| YOU (solver) + DONT (never can) + SAY (tell) | ||
| 23 | FEMORAL |
Iron right on the upper leg (7)
|
| FE (iron) + MORAL (right) | ||
| 24 | ENLARGE |
Stretch leg, near pants (7)
|
| Anagram (pants) of LEG NEAR | ||
| 25 | SWEATY |
Hot, yet was shivering (6)
|
| Anagram (shivering) of YET WAS | ||
| 26 | ASTERN |
Bird follows while to the rear (6)
|
| AS (while) + TERN (bird) | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | BRILL |
Terrific fish (5)
|
| Double definition. ‘Brill’ is British slang for brilliant. | ||
| 2 | TREASON |
Shocking rate with male crime (7)
|
| Anagram (shocking) of RATE + SON (male) | ||
| 3 | ENCHILADA |
Mexican food left in hacienda for cooking (9)
|
| L (left) in anagram (for cooking) of HACIENDA | ||
| 5 | RALLY |
Republican and comrade meeting (5)
|
| R (Republican) + ALLY (comrade) | ||
| 6 | PREVAIL |
Lifted I declare in record win (7)
|
| I (I) + AVER (declare) in (in) LP (record) all backwards (lifted) | ||
| 7 | COR BLIMEY |
Green located in Northamptonshire town — I’m surprised! (3,6)
|
| LIME (green) in (located in) CORBY (Northamptonshire town) | ||
| 10 | GINORMOUS |
Huge snug, room I rebuilt (9)
|
| Anagram (rebuilt) of SNUG ROOM I | ||
| 13 | TRAITRESS |
Wicked rat, sister, female criminal (9)
|
| Anagram (wicked) of RAT SISTER | ||
| 15 | DES MOINES |
State capital where some bubbly provided in banquets (3,6)
|
| Anagram (bubbly) of SOME in (provided in) DINES (banquets). Des Moines is the capital of Iowa. | ||
| 17 | EXPLODE |
Crawl into river and go off (7)
|
| PLOD (crawl) in (into) EXE (river) | ||
| 19 | OUTRAGE |
Disgust runs through dark period (7)
|
| R (runs) in OUTAGE (dark period) | ||
| 21 | YEAST |
Fungus last seen in westerly direction (5)
|
| (westerl)Y + EAST (direction) | ||
| 22 | ARGON |
Element in patois needing no introduction (5)
|
| [j]ARGON (patois needing no introduction). This one had me stumped for a while thinking that ‘patois’ must clue ARGOT! |
I had the opposite experience to Pete. I generally love Mudd puzzles, but I found this rather pedestrian and not very Muddy.
I ticked DATE PALM and OUTRAGE
I do not think OLD FLAME works too well, and the less said about FEMORAL the better. I could not parse YEAST and thank Pete for showing me how.
Tell me, why does patois = jargon? My dictionary does not justify it: Pelham Barton, can you find an explanation?
Thanks Mudd and Pete
At the gentler end of the Mudd spectrum, but nevertheless very enjoyable. Perhaps too many anagrams. Thanks Mudd and Pete
Pretty much a pen in. Only femoral held me up a bit. Favourite was Treason. Would be great if John could find a sweet spot between a Paul and a Mudd.
Thanks Mudd for the weekend entertainment with my top picks being STOP, SWEATY, ENCHILADA, RALLY, DES MOINES, and OUTRAGE. I know TRAITRESS is in Chambers but I think it’s a ridiculous word. Thanks Pete for the blog.
Raised the same eyebrow, Martyn @1; patois is a bit like argot, maybe, but not much like jargon, tho not a hanging offence.
Thanks Mudd and Pete.
22dn: The large single volume dictionaries have the following, always as the second meaning for patois:
ODE 2010 p 1302: the jargon or informal speech used by a particular social group: the raunchy patois of inner city kids;
Collins 2023 p 1463: the jargon of particular group;
Chambers 2016 p 1131: (loosely) jargon.
[I checked the wording from Collins carefully: I would have expected either “a particular group”, or “particular groups”.]
An enjoyable solve. The NW corner held me up for a bit.
Hurrah! A Mudd on a Saturday again, at last. On top of that I solved it in a couple of goes through within an hour or so and without any outside help of any sort. No wonder I’m pleased. LOI Prevail.
I like Mudd just the way he is. Not as convoluted as Paul can be, but still clever and witty.
I share Martyn@1’s puzzlement about 14a OLD FLAME, but I fail to see his disdain for 23a FEMORAL. I thought it was a decent and upstanding clue.
I also especially liked 9a ALLEGRO, with its image of the ballroom maniac.
Thanks, M & P for the fun and games. Baseball instead of cricket – yay!