First puzzle in the new year and it is one of my favourite setters.
The usual cryptic definitions galore as one expects from this setter. Liked too many clues to list them all here. Thank you DANTE.
* anagram, + charade, – deletion, DD double definition, CD cryptic definition, <- reversal, ~ homophone
ACROSS
1 Dreadful family heard in abusive outburst (8) DIATRIBE [~dreadful=DIRE + family=TRIBE]
5 Girl and boy get cured (6) SALTED [girl=SAL + boy=TED]
9 Five hundred wrongly laid off – it’s a bloomer (8) DAFFODIL [five hundred=D + LAID OFF]*
10 When companies provide capital (6) ASSETS [when=AS + companies=SETS]
11 Meat loaf put out for outdoor party (8) CLAMBAKE [meat=LAMB inside loaf=CAKE]
12 Packed as a precaution? (2,4) IN CASE [DD]
14 The early morning air? (4,6) DAWN CHORUS [CD]
18 Got really close to someone (8,2) SNUGGLED UP [CD]
22 I’m not one to weaken (6) IMPAIR [I’M + not one=PAIR]
23 Flight path? (8) STAIRWAY [CD]
24 Detectives in US agency, when retired remain sharp (6) ACIDIC [detectives=CID inside US agency=CIA<-]
25 Spin, slide and skid (8) SIDESLIP [spin=SIDE? + slide=SLIP]
26 In the east a strange sign, giving assistance (6) EASING [East + A + SIGN*]
27 Can’t be fired at bosses’ order (8) ASBESTOS [AT BOSSES]*
DOWN
1 Conclude it’s a nasty deed, when copper admitted being upset (6) DEDUCE [DEED* outside copper=CU<-]
2 A very loud man creates a commotion (6) AFFRAY [A + very loud=FF + man=RAY]
3 Figures Rob has to switch with him (6) RHOMBI [ROB HIM]*
4 Workman who should do his level best in courses (10) BRICKLAYER [CD]
6 A drink – Ben has it as a cocktail (8) ABSINTHE [BEN HAS IT]*
7 Hear suit about writers’ needs when lacking an alternative (8) THESAURI [HEAR SUIT]*
8 The last thing a crowd will do (8) DISPERSE [CD]
13 Big banker experiments in commercial enterprises (10) INDUSTRIES [big banker=INDUS + experiments=TRIES]
15 Reckon the deceased’s property is about one million (8) ESTIMATE [deceased’s property=ESTATE outside one=1 + Million]
16 Runs into entertaining relatives, from the country (8) BUMPKINS [runs into=BUMPS outside relatives=KIN]
17 Key to fire engine? (8) IGNITION [CD]
19 No tricks, that’s a promise (6) MISÈRE [CD]
20 Not being fully illuminated makes it wilt (6) TWILIT [IT WILT]*
21 New York politician seen with his extremely beautiful girls (6) NYMPHS [New York + politician=MP + HiS]
Thanks Bhavan and Dante. Quite an entertaining puzzle this even though I found it a bit heavy on the cryptic defs, that necessarily needed crossers before the solution could be deduced. 13d was an excellent clue. 19d eluded me.
Ref 25ac, I think the first part of the clue refers to snooker terminology for spin.
Cheers
Thanks Dante and Bhavan
A bit tougher than normal, probably because of the numerous cryptic definitions – still fun though!
Finished with MISERE and SIDESLIP. I had the same thinking with SIDE as Turbolegs.
Interesting to see two I-finishing plural words in the same grid.
Yesterday’s Rufus I found almost a write-in, unlike some others (see Guardian blog).
However, this one by the same setter defeated me in the SE.
MISERE is just impossible to find if you’re not into a game called whist. My PinC helped me out but I cannot say this is really a fair clue.
SIDESLIP (25ac) is also very unsatisfactory. Side = Spin? Thank you very much.
And as a bonus, the two even crossed each other.
Let’s leave it there.
Thanks Bhavan.
PS, don’t tell solvers at the Guardian end of Fifteensquared that Dante is one of your favourite setters – you may be in trouble soon …. 🙂
Hi Sil
I can remember it from playing a game called 500 many years ago !!! Otherwise like you said, it would’ve been hard to get.
But no harder than knowing the term ODS BOBS with a very cryptic clue that was thrown up in another FT puzzle last year (by Io I think).
The good thing is … is that you’ll always remember it now :).
Sil van den Hoek @ 3
PS, don’t tell solvers at the Guardian end of Fifteensquared that Dante is one of your favourite setters – you may be in trouble soon …. 🙂
I have always wondered why people get into arguments about that instead of just ignoring puzzles of those setters that they don’t enjoy.