ACROSS
1 Tap dancing with a cute female (6) FAUCET {A+CUTE+F}*
5 I have entered relationship briefly (4-2) LIVE-IN {LI'VE}IN
10 Crushing take-down, nothing but an art form (3,4,2) TAE KWON DO {TAKE+DOWN+O}*
11 Mellow and so to speak wry writer (5) RIPEN (~wry){RI}{PEN}
12 Right time to introduce ace backing vocalist (5) TENOR {R}{ONE}{T}<=
13 Highly detailed crime lab or a tech centre (9) ELABORATE [T]
14 Like a large tree, over furlong in diameter (2,1,4) OF A KIND {O{F}AK}{IN}{D}
16 Girlfriends receiving touching gifts (7) DONATES {D{ON}ATES}
18 Pair working together to identify running mate (3,4) TAG TEAM {TAG} {MATE*}
20 A spiritual offering sister to find total, unlimited sham (7) SRADDHA {SR}{ADD}{
21 It pains admitting to silly bloomer in space (5,4) ELBOW ROOM {OW} in {BLOOMER}*
23 Half-heartedly hauled with difficulty and rode a toboggan (5) LUGED {LUG
25 Bucolic painting depicting river at its origin (5) RURAL
26 Spotted taking in happening number (9) SEVENTEEN {S{EVENT}EEN}
27 One needing money to pay the bill? No kidding! (2,4) MY FOOT {M
28 Water sport sparking fights (6) ROWING [DD]
DOWN
2 Regional organisation release a new offering (5) ASEAN [T]
3 Commander cool about division showing timidity (9) COWARDICE {CO}{WARD}{ICE}
4 Century openers for England added in Old Trafford ultimately in vain (2,2,3) TO NO END {TON}{EN
5 Fat toe caught up inside stretchy fabric (7) LEOTARD {L{TOE<=}ARD}
6 So first drops, a sign from heaven? (5) VIRGO
7 Ill-timed housing scheme put in place firmly (9) IMPLANTED {IM{PLAN}TED*}
8 Modern country, frequently a hub (5-2-3-3) STATE-OF-THE-ART {STATE}{OFT}{HEART}
9 Arrangement to remove redundant sign (13) UNDERSTANDING*
15 Two playful gray seals beginning to bicker and quarrel (4-5) ARGY-BARGY {GRAY*}{B
17 Rarely used first name among north-eastern women (6-3) NEARLY-NEW {N{EARLY}{N}EW}
19 Second beginning? It is time for retiring satellite (7) MOONSET {MO}{ONSET}
20 Singular aroma wafting around very exotic tea urn (7) SAMOVAR {S}{AROMA}* over {V}
24 Gradually collect data from government bank (5) GLEAN {G}{LEAN}
GRID
6d can the number of clue be used in the clue?
ReplyDeleteI think that's it! VI (six, clue number) + ERGO-E (So first drops)
DeleteHave seen the clue number being used as part of the clue on a few occasions.
Brilliant
Delete+1
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DeleteThanks Prasad and Ramki
Delete20D: I read it as S(singular) + AROMA* around V
ReplyDelete6D: I got as far as ERGO (so) -E (first drops) to get RGO, but couldn't proceed further :(
Many nice clues - liked FAUCET, LIVE-IN, STATE-OF-THE-ART to name a few!
You hit it Sree Sree. VI (-e)RGO
ReplyDelete25A: I think the anno should be MURAL (painting) with R (river) replacing the first letter (origin). Otherwise can't account for the "painting" since rural = bucolic
ReplyDelete+1
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DeleteDef. to be just 'Bucolic'.
DeleteBut where is the deletion indication for M to replace by R ? I surmised Rural as Bucolic and put it in !
DeleteThere is no deletion only substitution (depicting)
DeleteWell done, Sree Sree!
ReplyDeleteYes Prasad. Give yourself a pat on your back. If the setter is innovative, solvers can be equally so.
DeleteLovely surfaces all over. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteKnown as a tea (T) specialist, comes up with a nice Samovar. Today's T special is very 'Elaborate'!
I got quite a few parsings from the blog today. Thank you all.
ReplyDeleteMy brand of air-conditioners are ONE OF A KIND.
ReplyDeleteThey are STATE-OF-THE-ART inverter machines.
My sales talk was ELABORATE and almost TO NO END.
The customer was likely to buy SEVENTEEN units!
Customer said that the buy-back units were NEARLY-NEW. But he insisted that
a site visit was necessary for a better UNDERSTANDING of the intricacies.
After the visit my Engineers tone and TENOR was not too encouraging.
"MY FOOT" units to be kept in fifth floor with no accessibility....
I, on my part, was keen that the lead should RIPEN to an order.
Please "TAE KWON DO" the job I pleaded. WE ARE GOing to get a big order!!
The ending is expected to be pleasing and satisfactory to all!!
Thank you CGB. It is pleasing and very well written.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIt is your ground Bhargav, well played!
DeleteNice one, CGB!
ReplyDeleteSamovar was a famous restaurant located at the Jehangir Aet Gallery in Kala Ghoda in Bombay where one could spot the arty-sorty of Bollywood wannabees - If I am not mistaken this is the place where a few scenes of Rajnigandha were shot. It is now closed due to property disputes. The ACed Gallery was a quiet place to browse around during my Summer Sunday afternoons
ReplyDeleteBuzzer's crossies look daunting at first sight but doable as one goes along. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteVery busy day for me. Couldn't do justice with my comments for this wonderful puzzle. Buzzer's puzzles are a great pleasure to solve and must equal Dean's puzzles for the brevity & innovation of the clues.
ReplyDeleteI mean Dean Mayer(Anax)
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