1 - A company unreasonably circumscribed by design (7) - {PLA{TOO}N} How can a Platoon be a Company, it is a sub-division of a company?
5 - Vocal disapproval from Tom or Kitty (7) - {CAT}{CALL}
10 - Tyrant was fortunately posted abroad (6) - DESPOT*
11 - Rush off from the violent youngster (8) - {TEAR}{AWAY}
12 - Animal demolished the fibre of the abaca plant (6) - MANILA*
13 - Country achieving equality in a pronounced way (8) - THAILAND Anno pending (Addendum - (~tie){THAI}{LAND} - Thanks to Maddy)
14 - Attended, getting the two ten out (4,2) - WENT TO*
15 - Hot move by sailors to make points (6) - {THO*}{RNS}
18 - It may assist the arrest of bleeding (6) - STASIS [CD]
20 - A sailor is given a mark (6) - {TAR}{GET} Given and get ?
23 - The rat taking a delivery scoffed (8) - APOSTATE Anno pending(Addendum - {A}{POST}{ATE} - Thanks to Richard)
25 - Tries a form of literary persiflage (6) - SATIRE*
26 - The container, a tin, tries to open (8) - {CAN}{ISTER*}
27 - To rush about the Home Counties can be a problem (6) - {TEA{SE}R}
28 - Hanging makes little impression on writer (7) - {PEN}{DENT}
29 - Rent-a-party storm (7) - {TORN}{A}{DO}
DOWN
2 - Make room to manoeuvre (6) - LEEWAY [CD]
3 - Will they entertain on only the best ships? (3,6) - {TOP} {LINERS} [CD]
4 - Survive to the tenth wicket perhaps (7) - {OUT}{LAST}
6 - A hold-up a worker finds very hard (7) - {A}{DAM}{ANT}
7 - Method of progress that is faster in water than on land (5) - CRAWL [CD]
8 - Discovering that a listing is about right (8) - {LEA{R}NING}
9 - Modern painting's condition (5,2,3,3) - STATE OF THE ART [DD]
16 - Prepare excessively for performance of extra coach (9) - {OVER}{TRAIN}
17 - Sorting post, a boy can cause a hold-up (8) - {STOP*}{PAGE}
19 - Extremely tough fight to get a bronze (7) - {SPAR}{TAN}
21 - Teacher turning up with man leaving seat for food (7) - {RIS<-}{OTTO
22 - "A companion of the devil” is about right (6) - {F{R}IEND} Nice clue
24 - Watched to collect information (5) - SPIED [CD]
Good morning everyone
ReplyDeleteThe puzzle appeared tough at first look. But the clues 'melted' one by one, esp., with crossings.
Liked the clues for APOSTATE, CANISTER, TORNADO, FRIENDS and a few others.
23A - The rat taking a delivery scoffed (8) - APOSTATE Anno pending
ReplyDeleteA delivery - A POST
scoffed - ATE ('scoff' is another word for 'eat')
= APOSTATE, a deserter, rat
Enjoyed STATIS, CANISTER, STOPPAGE, TORNADO, THORNS, ADAMANT, STATE OF THE ART and OUTLAST
ReplyDeleteMERGANSER had come in Sunday’s CW as 2d - Misguided rangers coming after me, a fish-eating duck. It had also come in Saturday Bangalore ET 4343 as 4d ‘Nothing wrong with unusual German service that gets the bird‘ with the anno: German ser(-vice)*
13 - Country achieving equality in a pronounced way (8) - THAILAND Anno pending
ReplyDeleteCould it be
achieving - Land
Equality - Tie
Hence homophone(in a pronounced way) of Tie+Land
1a As the Col rightly knows, a platoon is usually around 30+ men (3 sections plus bosses) whereas a company is around a 100 men (3 platoons +bosses), so one third of a company would be a better definition.
ReplyDelete20a If we are given one thing, we get it. Get it? (pun intended)
837 typo STASIS
ReplyDeleteNice pun used at a few places - list and lean (8D, train and coach (16D - here of course, courtesy English language. A rare word. They mean almost the same, both in teaching and railways).
ReplyDeleteBut, of course, Deepak, I have the same reservations about 1A and 20A. Besides, I took THAILAND (13A) with the help of the crossings. Can't figure out anno.
@Kishore,
ReplyDeleteThough you feel you have given it, I still don't get it!
When I posted my comment @ 8:47 I hadn't refreshed the page and hence missed Maddy's 8:41 post. His anno on THAILAND fits perfectly.
ReplyDelete@ Col: :-)
ReplyDelete18 A - It may assist the arrest of bleeding (6) - STASIS [CD]
ReplyDeleteSTASIS is anagram of ASSIST
Good one Svemuri, I didn't notice it.
ReplyDeleteRe Jeffrey Archer clue:
ReplyDeleteGathering of those in favour of buccaneering (10)
Giridhar answered CONSPIRACY correctly. The anno is interesting:
Clue=Gathering of those against anti bucaneering (for=against anti)
=Gathering of those against//anti bucaneering
=conspiracy//cons-piracy
@ Col 856: It is twice blest:
ReplyDeleteIt blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
Interesting explanation, but I don't see why it cannot work as a standard cryptic definition.
ReplyDeleteConspiracy: Group of conspirators = Group conspiring to engage in a shady activity (here, which happens to be buccaneering) IOW "Gathering of those in favor of buccaneering."
Kishore,
ReplyDeleteI went to the answer from buccaneering = piracy, gathering = some kind of meeting, 10 letters, and then jumped on 'Conspiracy'. I was not sure and hence the question mark at the end. I was not convinced conspiracy(more a meeting of minds) could stand in for a gathering. So no points here for me. This is the first time I am coming across a double negative in the clue.
@ Giridhar: Full marks to you. In fact, the further twist is that the book is a conspiracy. So the author is laughing in his sleeve(s) when giving us this clue. Many such hidden stuff in other books too. For eg: In EGB
ReplyDelete@VJ: Agree with you, but more fun in the convoluted method :-)