ACROSS
1 Girl, heads army, replaces Oriental in Indian ground (6) MAIDEN MAID(-a+e)EN
4 So, Indian deity backs boats? (6) AVISOS {AVIS}{OS}<=
9 Perfume obtained from flowers with trimmed base (4) OTTO Anno pending (Addendum - bOTTOm - See comments)
10 In a lucid manner, firm man let flay regularly… (10) COHERENTLY {CO}{HE}{RENT}{fLaY}
11 …dead bodies right out of bushes (6) COPSES COrPSES
12 Denial when, for instance, trapped in country (8) NEGATION {N{EG}ATION}
13 Slur on snake, perhaps one sheltered by boy (9) ASPERSION {ASP}{ER}{S{1}ON}
15 Bare head, dance topless in wood (5) BALSA {Bare}{sALSA}
16 Composer takes note on land (5) BEACH {B{E}ACH}
18 Fallacy of cop sheltering round one initially out of the past
(9) SOPHISTRY {S{O}P}{HISToRY}
22 Mother’s banter, for starters, is copious, glorious (8) MAJESTIC {MA}{JEST}{I}{C}
23 Take for granted because bird’s back (6) ASSUME {AS}{SUME<=}
25 I’m in strange scenario of ill-tempers (10) ACRIMONIES {ACR{I'M}ONIES*}
26 Whisky without water or soda? Great! (4) NEAT [DD]
27 Regularly scan hideout for the most rational (6) SANEST {ScAn}{NEST}
28 Snake with half of insect’s feature (6) ASPECT {ASP}{insECT}
DOWN
1 Mother laughs haughtily back at nurses (6) MATRONS {MA}{TRONS<=}
2 Presses on when surrounded by taxmen (5) IRONS {IR{ON}S}
3 Pardons one for initially usurping duties (7) EXCISES EXC(-u+1)ISES
5 Amazon navigator loses tan for a change (6) VIRAGO naVIGAtOR*
6 Governors imprison heartless don back in bunkers (4,5) SAND TRAPS {SA{NoD<=} TRAPS}
8 Violently pinch to do harm to white flower (7,6) PHANTOM ORCHID*
14 Discharge previous institution by removing ancient leader
(9) EXCRETION {EX}{CREaTION}
19 Without Royal Enfield headlights, practices with coffin-carrying
vehicles (7) HEARSES reHEARSES
20 Hindu God to break wall (7) RAMPART {RAM}{PART}
21 Sharpens revolutionary features (6) STROPS <=
24 Burn one without lighter initially (5) SINGE SINGlE
9 Perfume obtained from flowers with trimmed base (4) OTTO
ReplyDelete(-b)OTTO(-m)
Thanks Sandhya,
ReplyDeleteI was misled by flowers, so 'obtained from flowers' is part of the definition
1 Mother laughs haughtily back at nurses (6) MATRONS
ReplyDeleteNitpicking with the clue: Shouldn't LAUGHS be indicative of SNORTS and not just SNORT?
Bottoms up, Sandhya!
ReplyDeleteKishore was in Mangalore for two days, going on a temple visit spree with his brother from the US - and their families. That explains the dull moments here.
We spent some time together. He said he prayed for all members of the blog.
He keeps saying about using MS-Paint for his cartoons. May have used the paint thinner too, but I did not see him growing any thinner since our last meeting. Just some fun at his expanse, er... expense.
:P
DeleteAhem, please do not be influenced by Richard's hyperbole. I am just large economy size.
DeleteLol
DeleteJust 25 per cent extra!
DeleteOT
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the cartoon in the Edit page of the paper today, This can be appreciated if one is aware of the Comments that the two made after the debacle.
I was not able to grasp immediately what it is that the partyman at the back is holding.
Another person whom I consulted could not come out with a ready answer.
My conclusion - after deeeeep thinking or introspection - was that it is the lady's handbag.
Any other suggestions?
A crown maybe?
DeleteYou mean that he has picked up the floral, leafy crown that has tumbled down and is holding it? Quite possible.
DeleteOr is it a fresh one that needs to be placed on the head at the "opportune" time?
Crown of thorns?
ReplyDelete...that has tumbled down, as CV Sir, said !
DeleteSome difficult clues today.
ReplyDeleteLike Sandhya said 1 D's anno would be with SNORTS in the answer.
7 Discolours birds lacking wings, head (7)
Should it not be 'heads'?
Enjoyed solving today's puzzle. Missed out on Across clues 9,15 and 16. Took outside help for 4 Across. My skull is muddle free today ! Thanks, KKK.
ReplyDelete6 - Down - SAND TRAPS - Is it one word or two words?
ReplyDeleteYesterday the cwd came on the last page in M'lore. Back in B'lore I saw the same position in B'lore's paper and thought they had changed the location for good. But today back on an inner page. Let us see what 11-12-13 brings us tomorrow, apart from a serially numbered date!
ReplyDelete1 Girl, heads army, replaces Oriental in Indian ground (6) MAIDEN MAID(-a+e)EN
ReplyDeleteFor this clue as per surface reading, definition is Indian ground MAIDAN and the anno is head of army replaces oriental in Girl (maiden).
I had put the answer as MAIDAN only.
Since the down clue intersection answer starts with E, I was forced to change it MAIDEN.
How did others attempt the clue before getting the intersection letter?
as per the clue a replaces e and not vice versa.
DeleteI too, first filled it as MAIDAN, later changed it to MAIDEN.
DeleteThe def can also be Girl. I however have a problem with 'heads'. This is in plural andKKK could have used 'heading'.
DeleteNice cw.Thanks to step like clues Iwas able to crack out-of-currency usages like avisos,exarchs.pardon for virago news to me.In fine encouraging& entertaining puzzle
ReplyDeleteFor once, I could only complete 75 %-- may be because I'm pre-occupied with my niece's wedding here in Bombay and doing the crossie in fits and starts and that too, on Orkut, entailing flitting eyes on the clues and the blocks. Even if I had to give 100% undivided attention, I'd have had difficulty with words like EXARCHs and AVISOS-- ne words for me -- which goes to prove the versatility of cryptic crossies. Thanks triple K ! KUDOS, KUDOS and KUDOS. THese words are the clues of my day.
ReplyDelete6D :6 Governors imprison heartless don back in bunkers (4,5) SAND TRAPS {SA{NoD<=} TRAPS<=}
ReplyDeleteIn the Anno 'reversal sign' for SATRAPS is not reqd I believe.
That's right, I've removed it now
DeleteFriend Kishore, appeared like "chaudhvin ka chand" @ 9:53 AM and then disappeared into thin air. That explains the dull moments here,
ReplyDeleteas quoted by Richard @ 8:42 AM !! :)
Correction please ! He appeared again @ 1:45 PM.
DeleteWhen I typed "how..." in the address field on my browser (instead of Hot...for Hotmail, the suggestion list dropped down to show:
ReplyDeleteHow to kiss
How to reduce your belly
How to make fried rice
My friends know that I don't enter the kitchen in my home.
They might also know that I don't have a [pot] belly
So you might deduce where I landed before finally signing into Hotmail.
:)
DeleteMoustachioed people are usually told: It tickles !
DeleteChaturvasi@08:47,
ReplyDeleteRe: the cartoon, it appears to be an old-styled fan made of peacock feathers
Excellent! That makes sense. Thanks.
DeleteThe person fanning the bosses is rather far. So I couldn't think of that!
This is a good place to get answers for queries of all kinds. Thanks, Col.