ACROSS
7 Performing well in brief (6) INFORM {IN}{FORM}
8 13 years without our son? Kind of unreal (8) ILLUSORY {ILL}{OUR+S}*{Y}
9 Network map (vast length going underground) for the Tube (6,2) PLASMA TV
10 Wrong indication in English, wrong milk (6) EXTORT {E}{X}{TORT}
11 Shocking roundabout reference to husband (5) OUTRE [T]
12 Band proud of The Wall told to chill (6) FRIEZE (~ freeze)
17 Retiring from Fashion Street (6) MODEST {MODE}{ST}
18 Be dreadful; husband shut up like a clamshell (5) SHUCK {S{H}UCK}
22 Exceptionally large seat for each (6) BUMPER {BUM}{PER}
23 Do work? Droll, rather traditional (3,5) OLD WORLD {DO+W+DROLL}*
24 Detects sun in orbit round planet (8) UNEARTHS {UN{EARTH}S*}
25 Dummy's mistake, taking thousand for hundred (4-2) MOCK-UP (-c+m)MOCKUP
DOWN
1 Sally's about to bust a gut breaking stone (9) ONSLAUGHT {ON}{S{LAUGH}T}
2 Safari possibly avoiding river, gets water tanker (6) BOWSER B
3 Sergeant Major at attention providing specimen for test (5) SMEAR {SM}{EAR}
4 Cosmetic ingredient infusing paramour with energy in case of anaemia (4,4) ALOE VERA {LO{E}VER} in {A
5 It's found in a dirty sewer, so to speak (2,2,4) AS IT WERE {A}{S{IT}WERE*}
6 Conservative gold bonds are/are not relevant for large number of Indians? (5) CRORE {C}{
8 Turned up to cry over name and society — they pretend to deplore status and wealth (8,5) INVERTED SNOBS {INVERTED} {S{N}OB}{S}
13 Sick of pass to cross boundary (3,6) OFF COLOUR {OF}{F{COL}OUR}
15 Mega power projects consolidating network strategy (4,4) GAME PLAN {MEGA+P}*{LAN}
16 Adamant about Red Cross (8) OBDURATE*
19 Unduly upset, caught between heart and home? That's moonshine (6) HOOTCH {H}{TOO<=}{C}{H}
20 Sack the sergeant (5) GUNNY [DD] Should have been given an American ref
21 Mad bees essentially collapsing? Or swelling, in say giant hives? (5) EDEMA {MAD+
GRID
Conservative gold bonds are/are not relevant for large number of Indians? (5) CRORE {C}{aR{OR}E} Not sure of anno
ReplyDeleteCaR(OR)E. I think a: are
Thanks Raghu
DeleteIs it 'OF' Indians or 'FOR' Indians? IMO for sounds better without ambiguity.
DeleteCrore is a large no. only for Indians.
are is a measure of area (1/100 of hectare).
Delete9A-(map vast)* with L in between (underground?)
ReplyDeleteSounds logical
Delete21D- What is the need for 'in giant hives'? Swelling itself is edema.
ReplyDeleteTrue but it gives a nice surface with bees and hives.
DeleteZombied my way through this puzzle..half in the morning and half in a break of a training session...bifd most through crossings..thanks to Col for a most instructive blog..
ReplyDeleteExchequer always beguiles ! Today's is no dud cheque ! Once I got INVERTED SNOBS & THE GLOVES ARE OFF , the job was made easier to complete ! I thought HOOCH was the only correct spelling but HooTch was an eye-opener. Reminded of the Aunties's Hooch dens in Colaba & Juhu which I used to haunt in my Bombay days. PLASMA TV is a beautiful cluing device.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the role of husband in OUTRE? Use of four for a boundary in OFF COLOUR is a good ploy & decoy !
Took more than my usual time to crack this but didn't give up. Thanks,Exchequer !
Husband is the telescopic indicator
DeleteHusbands have different roles to play !! Thanks Deepak
DeleteHappy World Smile Day.
ReplyDeleteSay Cheese!
ReplyDeleteThe first Friday in October is to honour Mr. Harvey Bell who made the first smiley in 1963, in the form of buttons and the design was sold for $45.
DeleteJust $45!! Sure no zeroes are missing?
DeleteAdd as many as you like before the 4.
DeleteThis was done to improve morale among the staff of an insurance company and the employees wore smiley pins.
😀😀😀
DeleteToday's Guardian has a themed crossie on this day
ReplyDeleteThat is how I know
DeleteHow I wish some star ratings are introduced for your crosswords?On the face of it,the number of stars will give us a fair picture of its difficulty level.
ReplyDeleteDifficulty level is a comparative thing in crosswords, I think. What may be difficult for one may be easy for the other.
DeleteWhat if?How else Sudoku framers do?
DeleteWith Sudoku I think it is a bit different..9 numbers to be filled in squares..the more numbers prefilled easier...but with cryptic crosswords it is different isnt it?
Delete