Falcon provides today's FT puzzle.
This may well be the easiest puzzle I have solved in years.
I don't know whether to feel cheated, as I had the whole thing done (including writing up the explanations) in 20 minutes, or relieved that the blog is written quickly enough to allow me to take time over my breakfast before starting work.
On my first read through, only three across answers were missing, and all of the down ones went in immediately due to the high number of crossing letters already in place. The remaining across answers were then also obvious.
This would be a great puzzle for beginners, as there are no complicated words or obscure meanings.
As far as I can see, there is no theme or NINA.
Thanks, Falcon.
| ACROSS | ||
| 7 | BRIO | Vigour of Thatcher ultimately shown in life story (4) |
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(thatche)R [ultimately] shown in BIO ("life story") |
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| 8 | EXPOSITION | Trade fair’s former location (10) |
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EX ("former") + POSITION ("location") |
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| 10 | CHOPIN | Hack confronting popular composer (6) |
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CHOP ("hack") confronting IN ("popular") |
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| 11 | IN A SENSE | Sort of home when seen refurbished (2,1,5) |
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IN ("home") + AS ("when") + *(seen) [anag:refurbished] |
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| 12 | MICRODOT | Greatly reduced exposure of secret agent? (8) |
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Cryptic definition |
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| 13 | ASSIST | A sign, primarily, is put in street to help (6) |
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A + S(ign) [primarily] + IS put in ST (street) |
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| 15 | HOLE IN THE WALL | Cash dispenser in small insignificant place (4,2,3,4) |
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Double definition |
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| 18 | SPOT ON | Most accurate, boy bagging trophy (4,2) |
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SON ("boy") bagging POT ("trophy") |
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| 20 | IRON LADY | Mrs T’s youth portrayed in satire (4,4) |
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LAD ("youth") portrayed in IRONY ("satire") |
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| 22 | CLAPTRAP | About to drink gin or cobblers (8) |
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C (circa, so "about") + LAP ("to drink") + TRAP ("gin") |
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| 24 | PRIORY | Religious building in previous year (6) |
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PRIOR ("former") + Y (year) |
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| 25 | STAFF NURSE | Hospital worker, man, unsure heading off for resort (5,5) |
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STAFF ("man") + *(nsure) [anag:for resort] where NSURE is (u)NSURE [heading off] |
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| 26 | HEAR | Pick up that woman carrying article (4) |
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HER ("that woman") carrying A ("article") |
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| DOWN | ||
| 1 | ARCHBISHOP | Senior cleric, shrewd man (10) |
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ARCH ("shrewd") + BISHOP (chess "man") |
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| 2 | CORPORAL | Petty officer material (8) |
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Double definition |
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| 3 | PERNOD | Alcoholic drink in hamper, no doubt (6) |
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Hidden [in] "hamPER NO Doubt" |
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| 4 | ESCAPADE | Get away, pocketing diamonds after a wild adventure (8) |
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ESCAPE ("get away") pocketing D (diamonds) after A |
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| 5 | STRESS | Force small lock (6) |
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S (small) + TRESS ("lock") |
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| 6 | BOSS | Manager sobs, distraught (4) |
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*(sobs) [anag:distraught] |
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| 9 | PAINT STRIPPER | Do a mural of erotic nightclub performer? Use this to remove it! (5-8) |
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PAINT ("do a mural of") + STRIPPER ("erotic nightclub performer") |
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| 14 | SALAD CREAM | Daughter unfortunately knocked over lotion, dressing (5,5) |
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<=(D (daughter) + ALAS ("unfortunately")) [knocked over] + CREAM ("lotion") |
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| 16 | IGNORANT | Uninformed, I admit, about reduced number (8) |
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I + GRANT ("admit") about No. (reduced number) |
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| 17 | ALL RIGHT | Nothing left in well? (3,5) |
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If everything is to the right (ALL RIGHT), then "nothing" is to the "left" |
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| 19 | TIP OFF | Point of loud warning? (3-3) |
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TIP ("point") + OF + F (fortissimo, so "loud" in music) |
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| 21 | OSPREY | Bird, in consequence, turned up over quarry (6) |
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<=SO ("in consequence", turned up) over PREY ("quarry") |
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| 23 | LATE | Departed behind schedule (4) |
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Double definition |
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Agree with your intro. Having both a Serpent and a Vlad puzzle to tackle today, that’s no bad thing. Wasn’t sure that “corporal” could have the same meaning as “corporeal” but Chambers confirmed.
As someone trying hard to break the mysteries of the FT Cryptic Crossword I found this easier than some but still only managed to complete about three quarters. I enjoyed it and hope for more of the easier variety! Thank you both.
Yes, it was easy, but enjoyable with some witty surfaces. I especially enjoyed 17dn ALL RIGHT. Thanks, Falcon, for a pleasurable session. and loonapick for aome speedy hard work.
Yes, a quick but welcome solve as previously noted. I attributed my unusually speedy completion to the smooth surfaces. PAINT-STRIPPER, IRON LADY and ALL RIGHT were favouites. Didn’t know what a gin-trap was but the definition and letters already in made 22ac, my LOI, pretty clear. Thanks Falcon and Loonapick for today’s quick fling.
Thanks Falcon and loonapick
An all-time record solving time for this one today and an excellent puzzle for someone in the starting up phase of this pastime, such as Flameboy@2. Can’t remember seeing STAFF NURSE in a crossword previously and here we’ve had in consecutive days – odd how that can happen.
Started this one off in the SW corner with LATE the first one in – and gradually worked my way around anti-clockwise to finish with PERNOD and MICRODOT the last two in. Took a while post solve to see the relevance of the second part of the crypticness for MICRODOT.
Short but sweet and enjoyable midweek diversion.
Easy but enjoyable — not every run needs to be a marathon — favorites were IN A SENSE, IGNORANT, and TIP OFF. Thanks to both.
Agreed, easy – finished in about 1/2 hour, which is a record for me. Flameboy@2, you will get better at these! I used to be unable to complete one at all; now I can at least half the time.
Couldn’t parse CLAPTRAP, thanks Loonapick for explanation; also MICRODOT puzzled me but now I see the cryptic def.
Thanks, Falcon.
Well, I’ve just started trying the FT crossword last week, so this was great for me as a beginner. Thanks Falcon and to you others for all the commentary that’s helping me learn.
It may have been easy, a doddle, even, but it was a welcome relief after Serpent’s grueller in the Indy. Thanks, Falcon and loonapick.
Thanks to both for the enjoyment and elucidation. My main problem was CORPORAL as I was unsure how it aligned with petty officer seeing, in my mind, they come from different services. Both NCOs was as close as I could get and then I checked my eChambers which had it. I do crosswords to learn and that was the point here. I am guessing the proliferation of STAFF NURSEs is a sign of the times as they seem to be turning up everywhere.
I don’t time myself but that was my quickest ever solve. Thanks to all.