Stumped by 27A
ACROSS
1 Mantra Umang employs to hide pain (6) TRAUMA [T]
4 Feel sorry for royal bird (6) REGRET {R}{EGRET}
10 A steed that clears oxers and fillers (4,6) SHOW JUMPER [CD]
11 Everyone returns to chase ape gorging food (6) PAELLA {APE*}{LLA<=} Gorging as AInd?
12 Hostile car heading back to U.S. state carrying Iodine (8) INIMICAL {INIM<=}{I}{CAL}
13 Bomb thrown into battle in Illinois (9) CHAMPAIGN {C{H}AMPAIGN}
15 Probabilities that coin tosses will result in this (4) ODDS [CD]
16 Briefly see writer grunt (4) OINK {lO}{INK}
17 What’s found at the end of a letter, naturally! (9) SINCERELY [DD]
21 Half the job is to register a singer (8) VOCALIST {VOCAtion}{LIST}
22 Extract student away from central movement (6) NECTAR CENTRAl*
24 Officer in charge of top-class goods (10) SUPERCARGO {SUPER}{CARGO}
25 Stir and cook taking the lid off (4) ROIL bROIL
27 Connecting half the network team (6) FIXING ? (Addendum - WIRING - {Wi-fi}{RING} - See comments)
DOWN
1 Way how model tap can be redesigned (7) TOWPATH {HOW+T+TAP}*
2 Withdraw article on ulna fractures after removing the ending (5) ANNUL {AN}{ULNa*}
3 Playing maracas can enhance one’s beauty (7) MASCARA*
5 Order opposing players to unite (6) ENJOIN {E}{N}{JOIN}
6 Left over portion that is yet to come (9) REMAINDER [E]
7 Soundly pull back seat cover (7) TOECAPS (~tow){TOE}{CAPS} Seat and Caps? Cover or Covers?
8 Cut ripe strawberry fields, maybe? (6,7) MOVING PICTURE [CD] ? (Addendum - {CUT+RIPE}* - See comments)
14 Cannibals and carnivores don’t eat without a bit of nutmeg (3-6) MAN-EATERS {Meat{A}{N}-EATERS}
18 Songs advertised by dynamic ANZ on investments (7) CANZONI [T]
19 Properly aligned at the top (7) LEADING*
20 Revolve around the French, killing army leader (6) CIRCLE {CIRCa}{LE}
23 Dog to police mythological bird that’s rising (5) CORGI {COR}{GI}<= Police or Policeman?
27 Connecting half the network team (6) {WI(-fi){RING}?
ReplyDeleteWow! The lady with all the answers down to the last detail!
Delete+1
Delete+ 2 - A genius!
Delete+6 !
DeleteIt's high time Sandy started setting crosswords. I have a ready moniker for her 'Eveninger' (Sandhya means evening as everyone knows).
DeleteI know crosswords are solved in the mornings. But they can be set at sunset...;-)
Actually, Sandhya means confluence of two time periods. It originates from the word Sandhi which is used in Sanskrit grammar to describe joining of sounds. Hence, it can be used both for dawn and twilight, though many use it only for the latter
DeleteThanks for that useful input, Kishore.
DeleteBut she can set the crosswords at Godhuli Lagnam...
That can be discussed till the cows get home, but what about abhi-gin?
DeleteThat would call for a tirthayatra...
DeleteJust unction will not suffice, I require a stoupful
DeleteOff-topic but no so off-topic:
ReplyDeleteTH Business LIne has today - in its Sat mag section - introduced the Sunday NYT crossword.
The cell numbers in the grid are hardly visible, the cells themselves not quite comfortable for filling in.
Most newspapers carry a crossword for the sake of it, without the editor/designer really putting their mind to it and without gauging reader interest.
I know that there is some space available in the layout box today (which has been filled with some lines and text) but I don't think that space is enough for a solved grid so I wonder what theya re going to do next week.
I know that Col. Deepak himself used to solve US synonymic puzzles, but I wonder what following in general these puzzles have in India.
This is a group of confirmed addicts of the crossword, but how many of us would solve the Sunday NYT, considering it is 21x21, thematic with heavy American references.
Will be grateful for any considered response.
If it is similar to what comes in the TOI on weekdays (syndicated from LA Times) I would not like to do it unless I have nothing else to do
DeleteOnce on the drive to Niagara, I attempted it for want of anything else to do. I swore ...
Delete... to keep away from it in future.
I have recently received a Christmas special from The Globe. The same will be attempted for one sole reason: When the sweet young lady (an 80 year old, who suo-moto sourced it for me from her daughter in Canada) who gave it to me asks me whether I tried it, I can reply to her without lying that I did.
DeleteThe correct name of the paper is The Globe and Mail. 21 Dec 2012 issue. 69x69. Across 1-283, Down 1-249. Counting corners, probably around 300 odd clues. It is stated that it has several ref.s to 1913, to mark the centenary.
DeleteKishore
ReplyDeleteRe the hand in the cartoon.
Seems it has six digits.
We'll get some delayed responses from Kishore as he's off for some routine medical tests
DeleteThe additional digit could be for a better grip on the situation...
Delete...aap ka raay theek lagtha hai :)
DeleteJust back after first visit to Ms.Dracula. Have to replenish her stocks after a while.
DeleteRichard seems to have rationalised the digital revolution. But seriously, I drew only 4 fingers on this side, but forgot to erase the curve of the index finger before drawing the broom. Added with the pixellation at the intersection of broomsticks, it does look like a supernumerary finger.
An odd thing about today's toon. Up to now, I have mostly illustrated the answer. Today, I illustrated the clue. Or rather, the cartoon was inspired by the wording of the clue. I solved the crossie in Transylvania
Delete7 Soundly pull back seat cover (7) TOECAPS (~tow){TOE}{CAPS}
ReplyDeleteTOW is to pull, not pull back but pull behind. Source for CAPS is also not clear.
Anno may be:
Soundly pull ~tow TO
back seat SPACE<= ECAPS (a seat or place as in a train or aircraft is called space)
Defn: cover {TO}{ECAPS<=}
Shinde's 'yeda (mad) mukhya mantri' comment has become 'veda ...' in some papers!
ReplyDeleteQuite the reverse. VeDa is the correct word.
DeleteBut it was hilarious when a representative of the ruling party asked an opposition party member who quoted it in a TV debate to apologise, little realising that his own HM was being quoted.
DeleteYEDA - Hindi/Indian slang for insane, mad, retarded etc. This is predominantly used in Mumbai and people from most other states are oblivious to its meaning.
DeleteYeda is part of Mumbaiya. It is the nickname for a Dawood Ibrahim aide (Yakub Yeda), and the title of a 2013 Marathi thriller starring Ashutosh Rana (directed by Kishor Belekar).
India Today has also quoted it correctly as Yeda.
Shinde's use of the word has vaulted it to the national lexicon similar to 'Nikamma' (how Sitaram Kesri referred to Prime Minister Deve Gowda), and 'Lakhoba' (a traitor) as Bal Thackeray dubbed Chhagan Bhujbal, not to mention 'Chirkut' of Amar Singh.
http://www.khandbahale.com/englishmarathi-q-mad.htm
DeleteI can confidently say it is veDa since my Mumbai aunt frequently uses it to describe me
I request any Manoos to clarify ...
DeleteYes, Maharashtrians do use VEDA but this has been plagiarized into YEDA by the underworld or the slang-gang. A Tulu speaking friend of mine used this imprecation frequently. This is a typical Bombay expression. I personally don't like this because in Bombay this is used preceded by thitcha-------- an outburst of frustration and contempt. I'm glad that I don't have to hear this any more. Not used generally in decent company but by those who are in politics and D-company !
DeleteSo the correct quote would depend upon whether he was speaking Marathi or Underworldese. I sincerely hope our HM was speaking Marathi and not the other lingo
DeleteMy remarks are self-explanatory. Those who mouth such bilge can only belong to the nether and subterranean areas of the society, where toadies dwell. !!
DeleteI first came across paella in this:
ReplyDeletehttp://ibnlive.in.com/news/book-excerpt-delirious-delhi-by-dave-prager/217114-40-102.html
Today's crossie reminded me of several books. In addition to above:
DeleteSupercargo - The Count of Monte Cristo
Towpath - Three men in a Boat (not to forget the Dog)
Corgi, of course, published a large number of books.
Delete14d reminded of Jim Corbett and Kenneth Anderson books.
Delete13 Bomb thrown into battle in Illinois (9) CHAMPAIGN {C{H}AMPAIGN}
ReplyDeleteReminded me of Lake Champlain, in Vermont, which is reputed to have a Nessie like creature.
Not easy today, with some obscure words.
ReplyDelete6 A was exactly, what the setter defined.
26 More filthy end of korsi is cleaned with this (6) DUSTER DUSTiER. Isn't this an an&lit?
I meant 16 d.
DeleteI was completely deflated by today's puzzle :(
ReplyDeleteA good anti-dote for inflated egos?
DeleteMe, a small fry, with an ego ? No way ! :)
Delete8D is RA
ReplyDeleteU r r
DeleteYes, it is. Could be annotated/ solved if we'd heard of the movie.
DeleteWhat does RA stand for please ? Ajeesh @ 10:37
DeleteA re-look into the clue and Suchi's 'crossword unclued' helped me get RA = Reverse Anagrind !
DeleteWith due respects to ASPARTAME and his rights to fry the Bheja of solvers, this crossie cannot be treated as-part-o'my fare on a Saturday morning.
ReplyDeleteCV can comment on- Cannibals and carnivores don’t eat without a bit of nutmeg (3-6) - is it 'kosher' to use the word EAT when it appears in the answer? I deferred my punching the answer thinking that that it is not !
The EAT that appears in the clue is to be deleted. The eat that appears in the clue is in the remaining part of MEATEATERS/Carnivores
DeleteOn the NY and LA type of crosswords, I agree with CV, Kishore and Col. I consider them not up to par with our creative cryptic crossies which are so full of intrigue and interesting words and expressions. I look at these with disdain , but I do the Sunday Express supplement and the Deccan Chronicle prize crossie on Sundays aas they are a tad better. I have the largest LA crossword of this type lying folded up in its box.
ReplyDeleteRIP?
DeleteI think DG has what is touted to be the world's largest cwd
DeleteIt's the same as what Raju has
DeleteThat's right ! I had shown it to him when he visited me. I have another one which is cryptic , obtained in the early 70s , whose publishers in the UK seem to have folded up ! I tried for some more or at least a duplicate afresh.but to no avail.
Delete26 More filthy end of korsi is cleaned with this (6) DUSTER DUSTiER. Isn't this an an&lit?
ReplyDelete"with this" doesn't play a role in the wordplay. So it's &lit. Could be taken as a semi-&lit, but not a crisp one at that I'd have to say.
DeleteA broom cannot sweep unless directed by the hand, but it sweeps only where the hand makes it to
ReplyDeleteCryptic :)
DeleteOff-track:
ReplyDeleteThe third ODI between India and NZ has ended in a tie. What a fightback! What a match! Kudos to Sir Jadeja!
But it's a shame that Jadeja didn't walk after hitting the ball. It was a clear edge, which I'm gonna go ahead and presume that he was aware of. That one instant kind of takes the credibility out of his efforts and the final result overall.
DeleteGreat finish!
ReplyDeleteVJ,
ReplyDeleteThroughout the history of the game you can count on yr fingers the no. of batsman who've walked. There's probably only Dhoni who walks
That's no excuse IMO. Professional sportsmen or otherwise, personal integrity and sportmanship cannot be compromised. As I see it, there are many players who do walk. And India's stance on DRS is absolutely ridiculous. There's no reasonable argument against the system.
DeleteWhy BCCI, our players too are equally to be blamed for opposing DRS ! They want 100% accuracy in the system !! Even 99.99% accuracy is not acceptable to them !!!
DeleteNot many making any excuses for Jadeja. That's how the game is played. I don't think many players walk, and the ones who did are retired. (Jaywardene of SL walks, I think). Agree with you on DRS.
ReplyDeleteSorry Col, for using this blog on matters other than crosswords.
As a total newbie in doing crosswords, I learn a few new things everyday. For example, yesterday was Dik-dik, today was Korsi - just to name a few. And, when I see this blog up with all the clues solved by 8.30 AM, I am just amazed. How do you guys know all this? Are you all quizzing wizards too? On a bad day, I manage to unravel about 7-10 clues. Others, 18-20 and on 1 occasion, I did them all. I have to admit, I didn't intuitively get the answers. A lot of referencing with the online dictionaries, crossword clue help and google baba gets me there. I struggle with the longer anagrams too at times. What did crossword solvers do in the days of no internet? I bow down to them and you all.
ReplyDeleteSujatha,
DeleteNo one starts off as an expert, everyone starts off from where you are at the moment. In the days of no internet it was Encyclopaedias and Thesauri which helped which obviously meant that it would take longer to solve the CW. The setter also would take longer to set a CW as he would have to pore over reference books to search for obscure words if he/she wanted to use them, unless they had come across the word earlier.
By the way 'Korsi' was new to me as well, though it means a table it looks very much like 'Kursi' meaning chair in hindi.