Great crossword which really exercised my mind. Got almost nothing in the first pass.
ACROSS
1 - Do exercises in school (5) - TRAIN [DD]
4 - Perform with copper and doctor, to a degree, in a sort of play (9) - {DO}{CU}{DR}{A}{MA}
9 - Use the least useful thing available, and fix the lot! (6,3,6) - SCRAPE THE BARREL [CD]
10 - Earliest PM (7) - PREMIER [DD]
11 - Appear in disguise close to ancient balustrade (7) - {PARAPE*}{T}
12 - Swag in sack (4) - LOOT [DD]
13/17 - Saying there's doubtful merit talking with skinhead (5,5,5,5) - GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE*
18 - Bird spotted in Leatherhead (4) - RHEA [T]
20 - Little Bernard has line in flattery (7) - {B{L}ARNEY}
21 - Cat shown in newspaper next to pretty girl (7) - {RAG}{DOLL}
22 - Ignored an untidy bleeder in resort (6,1,5,3) - TURNED A BLIND EYE*
23 - Item on list, part of a shoe (9) - {HEEL}{PIECE}
24 - Person beyond saving, individual imprisoned by King George (5) - {G{ONE}R}
DOWN
1 - High flier up for trial? (4,5) - TEST PILOT [CD]
2 - Drop unresolved argument with side with a greater ego, possibly (5,2,8) - AGREE TO DISAGREE*
3 - Serviette, sort mostly used after game (6) - {NAP}{KINd}
4 - Put off, in crude terms (5) - DETER [T]
5 - Inexpensive, flag of inferior quality (9) - {CHEAP}{JACK}
6 - Drawings of Mardi Gras, not right somehow (8) - DIAGRAMSr*
7 - Very little indeed of what returning US astronauts may expect? (1,4,2,3,5) - A DROP IN THE OCEAN [DD] Not nowadays though as they land their Shuttles like a plane.
8 - Earmark a tax to be raised (5) - {A}{LLOT<-}
14 - Note amateur runs ahead of champion in track event (5,4) - {RE}{LAY} {R}{ACE}
15 - Trivia is what one may get in the pub (5,4) - SMALL BEER [DD]
16 - Shallow type involved in leak (4-4) - {S{KIN-D}EEP}
19 - Urge small number to have good warming drink (6) - {EGG}{NO}{G}
20 - Clubs in English city making a collection (5) - {BAT{C}H}
21 - Poet may show anger about ending in limerick (5) - {RIL{K}E}
ACROSS
1 - Do exercises in school (5) - TRAIN [DD]
4 - Perform with copper and doctor, to a degree, in a sort of play (9) - {DO}{CU}{DR}{A}{MA}
9 - Use the least useful thing available, and fix the lot! (6,3,6) - SCRAPE THE BARREL [CD]
10 - Earliest PM (7) - PREMIER [DD]
11 - Appear in disguise close to ancient balustrade (7) - {PARAPE*}{T}
12 - Swag in sack (4) - LOOT [DD]
13/17 - Saying there's doubtful merit talking with skinhead (5,5,5,5) - GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE*
18 - Bird spotted in Leatherhead (4) - RHEA [T]
21 - Cat shown in newspaper next to pretty girl (7) - {RAG}{DOLL}
23 - Item on list, part of a shoe (9) - {HEEL}{PIECE}
24 - Person beyond saving, individual imprisoned by King George (5) - {G{ONE}R}
DOWN
1 - High flier up for trial? (4,5) - TEST PILOT [CD]
2 - Drop unresolved argument with side with a greater ego, possibly (5,2,8) - AGREE TO DISAGREE*
3 - Serviette, sort mostly used after game (6) - {NAP}{KIN
4 - Put off, in crude terms (5) - DETER [T]
5 - Inexpensive, flag of inferior quality (9) - {CHEAP}{JACK}
6 - Drawings of Mardi Gras, not right somehow (8) - DIAGRAMS
7 - Very little indeed of what returning US astronauts may expect? (1,4,2,3,5) - A DROP IN THE OCEAN [DD] Not nowadays though as they land their Shuttles like a plane.
8 - Earmark a tax to be raised (5) - {A}{LLOT<-}
14 - Note amateur runs ahead of champion in track event (5,4) - {RE}{LAY} {R}{ACE}
15 - Trivia is what one may get in the pub (5,4) - SMALL BEER [DD]
16 - Shallow type involved in leak (4-4) - {S{KIN-D}EEP}
19 - Urge small number to have good warming drink (6) - {EGG}{NO}{G}
20 - Clubs in English city making a collection (5) - {BAT{C}H}
21 - Poet may show anger about ending in limerick (5) - {RIL{K}E}
Enjoyable crossword. Had to refer to dictionaries to confirm a few meanings like docudrama and swag.
ReplyDeleteI am making no recommendation, but read:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8377914/Stephen-Fry-took-cocaine-to-enjoy-crosswords.html
Deepak, your first line says it all. Only 6 words got in first pass:
ReplyDeleteRHEA
LOOT
GONER
ALLOT
DIAGRAMS
DETER
btw, DETER also appers in TOI as 23d as Put off Ted's rise with hesitation (5)
CV : Solving a puzzle like this gives one enough kick, why resort to extra dope.
ReplyDeleteTypical Everyman. 13/17d though was very unlike Everyman with no hint of what the "Saying" is, although it was clear that it was an anagram.
ReplyDeleteHow is the looming amendment to the IT Act going to affect bloggers. Any thoughts and info on this. Maybe we should also represent to the Government
ReplyDeleteMaybe,Col.should have a rethink on anagrams-they are so well concealed here,particularly 13 & 17a.Though It was clear about "saying",I started thinking about sayings on skinheads.Real good and enjoyable exercise for the brain on a Sunday morning.
ReplyDeleteSuresh
ReplyDeleteYes, I had read about the amendment to IT Act.
No idea how it affects bloggers like us.
Any opinion appreciated.
My COD is 7D.
ReplyDeleteAnd Oh! I djd not realise that 13/17 was an anagram
Let me try and get a copy of the amendment. As far as I know it was meant to combat cyber-terrorism, but in the process some provisions appear to have affect personal liberties if newspaper reports are anything to go by
ReplyDeleteAwesome one with great satisfaction when finally cracked. Thing is, many a clue could not be solved independently, but once a couple of long ones got fixed, it became a lot easier
ReplyDeleteVery tough crossword.
ReplyDeleteUse the least useful thing available, and fix the lot! (6,3,6) - SCRAPE THE BARREL [CD]
I thought {SCRAPE} {THE} {BARREL}
fix= scrape
the=the
But how lot=barrel?
Or is this just a CD?
Hi Ajeesh
ReplyDeleteYou are right. It is a d&cd. Barrel means lot, as in a barrel of luxury etc.
Thanks Shyam.
ReplyDeleteCV/Suresh -- Here it is :
ReplyDeletehttp://kafila.org/2011/03/05/get-ready-for-indias-blogger-control-act/
Thanks Prasanna
ReplyDelete