Wednesday 14 February 2018

No 12240, Wednesday 14 Feb 2018, KrisKross


Answer and anno for 8D left for a rookie commenter till 10 AM

ACROSS
1   Compound grass has wilted (6) POTASH {POT}{HAS*}
4   A fine fellow occupying lecture platform (8) SCAFFOLD {SC{A}{F}{F}OLD}
10 Bed-wetter? (9) SPRINKLER [CD]
11 Fine to skin tapir, or another animal (5) OKAPI {OK}{tAPIr}
12 Cold spikes seen in winter? (7) ICICLES [CD]
13 Cunning woman hides travel document when going west (7) EVASIVE {EV{VISA<=}E}
14 Bird, say, red one from Mars perhaps (5) EGRET {EG}{R}{ET}
15 One member leading one party ultimately to freedom (8) IMPUNITY {1}{MP}{UNIT}{p..tY}
18 Relative left shortly, carrying money (8) GRANDSON {G(RANDS}ONe}
20 A bit of timber — it could be used to fence an Indian home (5) TEPEE {Ti...r}{EPEE}
23 The devil, originally cruel, acquires purified heart (7) LUCIFER {LUC{p.rIFi.d}ER*}
25 Cheer over a very small raise (7) ELEVATE {EL{VEry<=}ATE} Seems to be an error here
26 Pure state (5) UTTER [DD]
27 Great measure to block old money (9) EXCELLENT {EX}{C{ELL}ENT}
28 Leave one in control at school, say (8) HOLIDAYS {HOL{1}D}{SAY*}
29 Saw "Born on the Fourth of July" — for the most part, long-winded (6) BYWORD {B}{julY}{WORDy}

DOWN
1   I am wearing socks for dancing and jogging perhaps (8) PASTIMES {PAST{I'M}ES}
2   Row about stray dog (7) TERRIER {T{ERR}IER}
3   Building sign: "Admit only one" (9) SINGLETON {SIGN*}{LET ON}
5   Post match agreement (14) CORRESPONDENCE [MD]
6   Carol finally raised potted plants (5) FLORA [T<=]
7   Prepared to dine without fat, essentially (2,1,4) ON A DIET {TO+DINE}* over {fAt} &lit
8   Stages of terrible disease, mostly (6) D?I?E? (addendum - DAISES - DISEASe* - See comments)
9   Operation paid through credit card? (7,7) PLASTIC SURGERY [CD]
16 Our French friend's expression of disagreement (3,6) NOT REALLY {NOTRE}{ALLY}
17 KrisKross going through decent cryptic set (8) CEMENTED {CE{ME}NTED*}
19 Clarinet is out-of-tune — a large number leaving concert (7) RECITAL CLARInET*
21 Drug ruined able cop (7) PLACEBO*
22 He investigates strange cases of underage sexual harassment (6) SLEUTH {Un...gE+Se..aL+Ha...nT}*
24 Cooked, fried and canned (5) FIRED*

GRID

56 comments:

  1. Survey results of the 9th Anniversary Jumbo Community Grid

    As mentioned earlier I got only 11 responses for the best clue. 25 words got votes. As some have desired I shall therefore publish the result.

    TROUBLE SPOT by Vasant got 3 votes for the best clue and OMELETTES by Ajeesh got 2 votes for the best clue. Others that got a vote each for the best clue were BIRD FLU, ARABIAN SEA, EVOCATIVE, TOM SAWYER, STRESSFUL and SANGAREE.

    OLD HIGH GERMAN by Bhavan and GODSONS by Ramki got 2 votes each for second best clue. Others that got a vote each for the second best clue were MEDIAN, IN UTERO, STRESSFUL, DONER KEBAB, HUMANIST, NETBALL and LITERAL.

    DONER KEBAB by Mona Sogal got 2 votes for third best clue. Others that got a vote each for third best clue were CLEAN LIMBED, SOFTENERS, AMASSER, HUMANIST, GAINSAYER, REBIRTH, OYSTER, AUCTION BRIDGE and CHA.

    Congratulations Vasant. Please send me your postal address to enable me to mail your prize to you.

    ReplyDelete

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col.
      I had sent in Auction Bridge as my first choice in the format given by you. But I did not give nos. 2 & 3. Probably it was not included.

      Delete
    2. Three out of three. I find that all three clues I entered got one vote each. That's a simple gratification for me. No need to identify the clues with me, please.

      Delete
    3. Paddy all questions had to be answered only then would your response get submitted

      Delete
    4. Got it Col. Will be more careful in future.

      Delete
    5. Congrats Vasant :). Very happy that two of my clues got votes Doner Kebab and bird flu..
      Congrats to all and thank you Deepak Sir!

      Delete
    6. Thanks All. I am on cloud nine!

      Delete
  2. Typical Kriskross crossword. Some well made clues.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 10a seems to refer to hillside strangler. Bed wetting was one of the common childhood behaviour of strangers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Strangler is the answer given by TH on line.

      Delete
    2. But will the strangler be the bed wetter or the victim?

      Delete
    3. SPRINKLER is the right answer I had in mind.

      Delete
    4. Where did TH get 'Strangler' from?

      Delete
    5. Sprinkler was the 1st word that entered my mind..but since the IA version was not allowing it to enter I entered only the crossing letters i.e. S, R, N, L and R

      Delete
  4. Several excellent surfaces. Particularly enjoyed the clever use of fencing for epee,old money for ex-cent,fourth of July for Y- to cite a few.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sincere apologies about the boo-boo in 25A: The answer is ELEVATE but the wp is wrong :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes my initial anno was {EL{E}{V}ATE} with the question mark as where the E came from. This happens to all setters quite frequently when on letter gets overlooked

      Delete
  6. 10A is SPRINKLER (not sure why the online answer was wrong - maybe I made a mistake in the file I submitted to THC :()

    ReplyDelete
  7. 8D - disease mostly is diseas
    terrible is anagram indicator
    {diseas}* = DAISES

    ReplyDelete
  8. Re 8D: One could not fill in DAISES in the online version. It showed DRIVEL. Secondly Chambers shows plural of DAIS as DAISIES? Maybe a typo in it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. http://www.learnersdictionary.com/definition/dais
      Daisy plural daisies.
      Online seem to have problem again.

      Delete
  9. 13a e(visa)ve<=, my understanding

    ReplyDelete
  10. WP seems to indicate reversal only for visa. Anyway, conveniently eve reads the same either way.

    ReplyDelete
  11. a la EDWARD LEAR

    There once was an excellent singleton
    Always evasive when asked for fun
    Why does she utter so
    Thought many a fellow
    Until one was intoduced to her grandson!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Some very nice clues Ramki. Enjoyed solving the crossie.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Looks like it is not a singleton- meaning it is is likely to continue like yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh before the summer HOLIDAYS!

    Among the FLORA stood Robert in the garden. A SINGLETON always accompanied by his TERRIER. After mixing mud with some POTASH he placed the pot on the CEMENTED platform, below the temporary SCAFFOLD.
    As he entered the house his GRANDSON approached him asking him for a maxim which would elevate the morale of the students. He had to announce it after RECITAL of the school prayer.
    Without being EVASIVE Robert said:
    "Always UTTER the Truth!"

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks Vasant for your comments about your daughter. I wish compilers used their own names so that we can identify them with the pattern or style of each, though more or less , one can still guess now.

    Secondly, I didn't see the results grid of the Anniversary puzzle on Monday or on Tuesday or----- How come? Did any one else saw ? Please clarify, Col, as to hw this has happened . Wham, bam, swallowed by Spam ?

    Lastly, Thanks for publishing the results of the survey. Congrats to Vasant for topping the list and all others with a lesser grade. This will help others to improve their own standards.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The solution grid is at the bottom of the main post of the Anniversary crossword

      Delete
  16. 18a - RAND is only in South Africa, the clue could have been more specific.
    29a - 'at' is redundant right?
    3d - not sure about the anno.. let=admit, on=only? how?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 18A Possibly.
      29A: 'at' is redundant but is perfectly acceptable to suit the surface.
      3D: I too thought 'let in' was admit, but https://www.thefreedictionary.com/let+on gives 'let on' 1. To allow to be known; admit:'let on'

      Delete
    2. Thanks. Let on as admit is not in oxford or chambers..

      Delete
  17. Well..Esha does remind one of Meghna of yore..with her cup brimful of worries and doubts..
    It would also be nice to note the good things in a puzzle, Esha.

    ReplyDelete

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