Wednesday 23 December 2015

No 11582, Wednesday 23 Dec 2015, Lightning


Crisp definitions from Lightning

ACROSS
1   Clear-cut argument against councillor settled evenly (8) CONCRETE {CON}{CR}{sEtTlEd}
5   Grand conclusion in North America breaking record (6) FINALE {FI{NA}LE}
9   Democrat nearly has to change course in period of recession (8) DOWNTURN {D}{OWNs}{TURN}
10 Heist to steal royal necklace, say (6) STRING {R} in {STING}
12 Suggest slim plywood walls (5) IMPLY [T]
13 PM in pursuit of nuclear option, overrules national leaders (9) AFTERNOON {AFTER}{Nu...r}{Op...n}{Ov...s}{Na...l}
14 Earth for one, is special at present (6) SPHERE {SP}{HERE}
16 Get ready before cut back (7) PREPARE {PRE}{PARE}
19 Decline a prize (7) ATROPHY {A}{TROPHY}
21 Untidy mat has caused respiratory illness (6) ASTHMA*
23 Type of document describing account (9) CHARACTER {CHARTER} around {AC}
25 Sip some tea with speed after commencement (5) TASTE {Tea}{hASTE}
26 Line from thesis about resistance (6) TROPIC {T{R}OPIC}
27 Conclude international gold is poor in quality (8) INFERIOR {INFER}{I}{OR}
28 Head of company to present unfinished energy providing beverage (6) COFFEE {Co...y}{OFFEr}{E}
29 Very few edges of Gillespie go through fielding position after first spell (8) SMIDGEON {S}{Gi..pE} in {MID-ON} after {Spell}

DOWN
1   Dishonourable man to stop living with assistant (6) CADDIE {CAD}{DIE}
2   Four points by essay on The Guardian, perhaps (9) NEWSPAPER {N}{E}{W}{S}{PAPER}
3   Rogue disheartened by attempt to prosecute again (5) RETRY {RoguE}{TRY}
4   Carter raced to protect open area (7) TERRACE [T]
6   Recent tip criminal cut off (9) INTERCEPT*
7   A male police officer and old friend (5) AMIGO {A}{M}{IG}{O}
8   Design locomotive with electric rotor to begin with (8) ENGINEER {ENGINE}{El...c}{Ro..r}
11 Block second spinner (4) STOP {S}{TOP}
15 Smoke hemp with a magnitude of stress (9) EMPHASIZE {HEMP*}{A}{SIZE}
17 Member cities arranged truce (9) ARMISTICE {ARM}{CITIES*}
18 Rushed back to bed with one essentially effective painkiller (8) NARCOTIC }NAR<=}{COT}{1}{effeCtive}
20 Still one mythical creature (4) YETI {YET}{1}
21 Mark following a close friend to NASA? (7) ACRONYM {A}{CRONY}{M}
22 Cell essentially lacking subatomic particle (6) NEURON NEUtRON
24 A person without intelligence is rejected, becomes reserved (5) ALOOF {A}{LOOF<=}
25 About to split small step (5) TREAD {RE} in {TAD}

16 comments:

  1. Simple and elegant. Missed out on 27Ac & 22Dn... nonetheless enjoyable solve. My COD 13AC AFTERNOON.

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  2. Second Col's by-line..very crisp surfaces..a few clues were outstanding..My COD 13 A..Devious definition & absolutely superb surface

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    Replies
    1. The clue restorked memories of Jason Gillespie running in to bowl & his uncanny resemblance to Jesus Christ

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    2. In 13Ac "PM" rang a bell...thought of NAMO as it appeared in some of the clues recently!

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    3. Indeed that was the intention of the setter..the surface leads you to NaMo

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  3. Very clear cut indeed - no doubts about parsing.. everything fell into place. Enjoyed some nice charades - Afternoon, acronym, emphasize, narcotic was funny ... reminded me of one of my fav shows - BBT, with a science theme - Nasa, sub atomic particles, string (theory), sphere, atrophy, asthma (Leo has it), engineer, coffee, character, even amigo.. the whole universe indeed... well struck Lightning :)

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  4. Today's paper landed in a puddle of rain water and I gave up trying to dry it out. So no crossword, only cross words.

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    Replies
    1. Very nice play on words...being a pro u should be setting crosswords?

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  5. Shades of Chennai rain in Vizag? I was reminded that, like me, you prefer doing it on paper.What a miss!

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  6. Though I did the Ce in the PM, afternoon for 13A never crossed my mind. False capitalisation justified since it is at the start. Coffee 'taste'd nice. I was beaten by Gillespie running through 'mid on' to bowl his yorker. Had neuron, but could not parse it. Extremely enjoyable solving. Thank you Lightning.

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  7. Enjoyed the samosas with LIGHTNING speed. Thank you Lightning. Because of the power failure, could log in now only.

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  8. Didn't enjoy today's as much as yesterday's crossword. Felt a little bland with my coffee. 13 A is well-crafted though.

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  9. Have a doubt. Can we clue engineer with engine as one of the components?

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  10. Some very good clues. Still feel we should come up with new wordplay options for yeti and atrophy

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  11. Very nice set of clues - thank you Lightning! Enjoyed solving the crossword.
    One question - shouldn't 21D include a "say" or "perhaps" since it is a definition by example?

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