This is easily one of the best cryptic crosswords I've solved in recent times - THC or otherwise. Easy on the eye surfaces, unambiguous cryptic readings, not a single extra letter or word in any clue - it is precisely what any solver would want and any serious setter should be aiming for. Kudos to Textrous.
ACROSS
8 Stove brewing tea to be consumed by the woman (6) HEATER (TEA* inside HER)
9 Researcher, a scoundrel, mutated mice (8) ACADEMIC (A + CAD + MICE*)
10 Game seen in vulgar dance party (8) BASEBALL (BASE + BALL)
11 Wind tears around a lake (6) SPIRAL (RIPS<= + A + L)
12 Aquatic bird, // a fleet-footed one (6) DARTER (DD)
13 Narrow street’s turning near it (8) STRAITEN (ST + NEAR IT*)
14 Labour neglected by friendly farmhand (7) PEASANT (PlEASANT)
16 Drunk cares to include teetotaller’s broadcast (7) SCATTER (CARES* outside TT)
20 Give up a net bag to be restitched with a string (8) ABNEGATE (A NET BAG* + E)
23 British athlete’s armguard (6) BRACER (B + RACER)
25 Making it easier for covering with asphalt (6) PAVING (DD)
26 Luxurious to use up one penny to captivate learner (8) SPLENDID (SPEND + 1 D outside L)
27 Fine lace tied in a knot (8) DELICATE (LACE TIED)*
28 Stream allowed to rush at first (6) RUNLET (RUN + LET)
DOWN
1 Come between monkeys climbing up with speed (8) SEPARATE (APES<= + RATE)
2 Small woody growth at the end of dirt road (6) STREET (S + TREE + T)
3 Hearing a series’ rehearsal (5,3) TRIAL, RUN (TRIAL + RUN)
4 Weight added to stabilise gangster during explosion (7) BALLAST (AL inside BLAST)
5 King and a queen imprisoned one’s old ruler (6) KAISER (K + A ER outside I'S)
6 It’s fine, perhaps, to have man become a gender equality champion (8) FEMINIST (IT'S FINE* outside M)
7 Cooked leg is a food meant for cattle (6) SILAGE (LEG IS A)*
15 Peculiar mushrooms are raised, provided I get many (8) SPECIFIC (CEPS<= + IF + I + C)
17 Last men? (8) COBBLERS (CD)
18 Look at mark made by royal cosmetic (8) EYELINER (EYE + LINE + R)
19 I exited the gangways after engineer’s complaint (7) MEASLES (ME + AiSLES)
21 Sailor’s hat (6) BOATER (DD)
22 Fleece // one living in the neighbourhood of Pakistan (6) AFGHAN (DD)
24 Top edge falls off gaping roof (6) AWNING (yAWNING)
ACROSS
8 Stove brewing tea to be consumed by the woman (6) HEATER (TEA* inside HER)
9 Researcher, a scoundrel, mutated mice (8) ACADEMIC (A + CAD + MICE*)
10 Game seen in vulgar dance party (8) BASEBALL (BASE + BALL)
11 Wind tears around a lake (6) SPIRAL (RIPS<= + A + L)
12 Aquatic bird, // a fleet-footed one (6) DARTER (DD)
14 Labour neglected by friendly farmhand (7) PEASANT (P
16 Drunk cares to include teetotaller’s broadcast (7) SCATTER (CARES* outside TT)
20 Give up a net bag to be restitched with a string (8) ABNEGATE (A NET BAG* + E)
23 British athlete’s armguard (6) BRACER (B + RACER)
26 Luxurious to use up one penny to captivate learner (8) SPLENDID (SPEND + 1 D outside L)
27 Fine lace tied in a knot (8) DELICATE (LACE TIED)*
28 Stream allowed to rush at first (6) RUNLET (RUN + LET)
DOWN
1 Come between monkeys climbing up with speed (8) SEPARATE (APES<= + RATE)
2 Small woody growth at the end of dirt road (6) STREET (S + TREE + T)
3 Hearing a series’ rehearsal (5,3) TRIAL, RUN (TRIAL + RUN)
4 Weight added to stabilise gangster during explosion (7) BALLAST (AL inside BLAST)
5 King and a queen imprisoned one’s old ruler (6) KAISER (K + A ER outside I'S)
7 Cooked leg is a food meant for cattle (6) SILAGE (LEG IS A)*
15 Peculiar mushrooms are raised, provided I get many (8) SPECIFIC (CEPS<= + IF + I + C)
17 Last men? (8) COBBLERS (CD)
18 Look at mark made by royal cosmetic (8) EYELINER (EYE + LINE + R)
19 I exited the gangways after engineer’s complaint (7) MEASLES (ME + A
21 Sailor’s hat (6) BOATER (DD)
24 Top edge falls off gaping roof (6) AWNING (
Outstanding. +1 for the opening remarks by Bhavan.
ReplyDeleteCarrying forward CV's question from yesterday:
ReplyDeleteQn: Can a DD or an MD have extraneous words - like "in the" here? I don't think so but I am ready to stand corrected.
What do solvers think?
Personally, I have no problem with 'link words' appearing between the two/multiple definitions. As is demonstrated in this puzzle through 25A and 21D
I think there are certain link words that work better than the rest - like and, with etc. Not sure if "for" is all right for the reason that both the parts of the definition have equal values when it comes to arriving at the solution. It's not like one is used for defining the other and arriving at the solution or something like that.
ReplyDeleteInteresting.
DeleteThe reason I don't have a problem with link words like 'for', 'from', 'in', 'is' etc is that you can look at either half of the DD as a specialised case of a wordplay.
That is, def1 for def2 = wordplay for def2
Somehow I don't find def1 for def2 or for that matter, def1 in def2 or def1 from def2, too convincing especially when we're looking for def3. As I see it, we don't derive def3 from any one particular part of the clue (def1 or def2). We use both the available definitions equally. So any link word that keeps it that way without any bias works great IMO.
DeleteAnyhoo, it's perhaps open to interpretation.
I agree with Bhavan. As long as these link words enhance the surface I too have no problem.
ReplyDeleteIn 25A today which would be better
Making it easier, covering with asphalt.
Making it easier for covering with asphalt.
Making it easier by covering with asphalt.
Making it easier and covering with asphalt.
Smooth puzzle with no extraneous words in all the clues, as is usually the case in Textrours's puzzles. But was misled in 10 A by the use of 'seen in'. Felt the clue could have been straighter without it.
ReplyDeleteMan it's that Spymaster again in 6D :-)
ReplyDeleteChambers, interestingly, has W as abbre. for women, but M is for male.
ReplyDeleteDid not understand 17d Last men? (8) COBBLERS (CD) can someone please explain
ReplyDeleteHi Narayana,
ReplyDeleteA last is a mechanical form that has a shape similar to that of a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes
(From Wiki)
+1 for the opening remarks as well. Really nice one today and a delight to solve.
ReplyDelete17Dn Last is a wooden block shaped like the human foot used by cobblers, on which boots and shoes are formed.
ReplyDeleteNothing different from what Ajeesh has written @ 3:17
DeleteAah yes thank you
DeleteLeaving aside well said opening remark of Bhavan, his presentation of this puzzle seems to suggest "Stick to the point : Just the CLUE+ANSWER+ANNO" Nothing less, nothing more ! Did someone say "Brevity is the soul of mind?" For a change I like this style. Any takers ?
ReplyDeleteEach one is good in his own way. Kishore would have had a quip for each clue and Col may or may not have one.
ReplyDeleteTo each his own...
ReplyDeleteRef.to Col.'s 9.11-
ReplyDeleteThat the clue as written is the best is brought out well by Col.'s 4 alternatives. Also, the road is paved before covering with asphalt. So, it is a straight statement of fact. IMO, a good clue well written.
Thank you Textrous for giving us a nice CW.
Mark me and I love all !
ReplyDeleteGood textured puzzle by Textrous ! nicely woven, well-draped and simply dressed like a woman's sari !!
ReplyDeleteOn the recent mention about the holdalls, how can we forget it bs new avatar, the burden of students & IT-whizzkids these days , the ubiquitous backpack, which is a portable hold-all-in-one, to include a laptop, water bottle and the day's lunch, besides the books and other academic paraphernalia? The holdalls of yore shrunk in fashion and became the modern backpack !!
ReplyDelete