ACROSS
1 Girl's service return — it's not easy to get on top of it (5-8)
11 Alliance cut short — atomic bombs make it self-evident (9) AXIOMATIC
12 Complain about complaint (9) BELLYACHE [DD]
13 Make a hole through material (5) DRILL [DD]
14 Avoid dip in wading pool — it could be self-defeating (3,4) OWN GOAL {WA
16 Saw finally three animals (7) EPIGRAM {
18 Identification grants entry, he goes west (4,3) NAME TAG {NAM}{E TAG}<=
20 It prevents loosening of hair on head (7) LOCKNUT {LOCK}{NUT}
22 Tailless ram on the hill (5) BUTTE BUTTE
24 Lignites for making mutton chops, say (9) SIDEBURNS
26 Scandal breaks up, private banks create a scene (9) LANDSCAPE {SCANDAL}*{P
27 Brace Mark? (5) TWAIN [DD]
28 A big mistake for vehicles to carry small outdated arms (13) BLUNDERBUSSES {BLUNDER}{BU{S}SES}
DOWN
2 Character used pen to describe grain storage (7) EPSILON {PEN}* around {SILO}
3 Girl in a big city will attack animal (5-4) NANNY-GOAT
4 Most of the country once used this money (5) FRANC FRANC
5 Sid will create a scene (5,4) RAISE HELL (~sid<=)
6 Odd hour, foolish to get up — it's hot (5) HUMID {H
7 New attire makes one better dressed (7) NATTIER {N}{ATTIRE}*
8 Rentable wombs — surrogate services issue? (3,6,4) SAM BROWNE BELT*
15 Make laws with support and seal it off (9) LEGISLATE {LEG}{SEAL+IT}*
17 Develops slowly in country set up (9) INCUBATES {IN}{CUBA}{TES<=}
19 Limited format in a larger context of morning service (7) MATINAL [T]
21 “Kind of warrantee, we reject”, you say (7) NARRATE
23 City in Europe makes sensational claims (5) ESSEN [T]
25 The nerd departs with a small book (5) DWEEB {D}{WEE}{B}
GRID
1a penny farthing
ReplyDelete(PENNY) (FAR<=)(THING)
DeleteWhere does the THING come from?
DeleteIT: thing.
DeleteThanks Raghu
Delete11a AXIs OMATIC
ReplyDelete11 Alliance cut short — atomic bombs make it self-evident (9) AXIOMATIC {AXe}{ATOMIC}* What's the role of 'Alliance' ?
ReplyDelete(AXI[-s])(OMATIC*)
11A Alliance could be AXIS during World War II
ReplyDelete24a: I think we have to look at 'Lignites' as 'L ignites' (by a separation), when L (left) gives us 'side' and 'ignites' gives 'burns'.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I got the answer but,couldn't figure it out.
Delete24d L = SIDE; ignites = BURNS
ReplyDeleteI was belted by Sam Browne for sometime until google gave soothing feeling.
ReplyDeleteFor 9d I had
ReplyDelete9 Getting used to a capital overseas — that said, siting is difficult (13)
Getting used to=Defn
A=A
Capital=Lima
Over=C/C indicator
Seas that is said =CC
Siting = Fodder
Is difficult= Anag Ind
Nice one Ramesh. I only got the 'Sting is difficult'. Wsa able to fill the rest with the help of crossings.
DeletePenny farthing, Sideburns, Locknut- ingenious but difficult to get. Enjoyable.
ReplyDelete1A- I too put it as forehand but found it difficult to get the first part.
Tough one compared to yesterday's
ReplyDeleteGirl in a big city will attack animal (5-4) NANNY-GOAT {NAN}{NY}-{GO}{AT}
I had it as N(ANN)Y GO AT
Avoid dip in wading pool — it could be self-defeating (3,4) OWN GOAL {WAdiNG+pOOL}*
It could be on double duty?
Limited format in a larger context of morning service (7) MATINAL [T]
Position of Telescopic indicator is correct?
Also thought 5D has another level of indirection
another beauty from Arden
ReplyDeleteFound it tough going all the way...put automatic in 11A & missed out on 5D..also coconut instead of Locknut for 19A...Penny farthing was nice but had to google Sam Browne Belt...got sideburns & parsed it correctly..lovely use of ellipse..Butte reappeared in the space of a week...
ReplyDeleteGreat cluing..tough but instructive..
Read elision in place of ellipse
DeleteDefeated by Arden totally today :) Missed out on Sam Browne belt - since i had Butte wrong. Very difficult today ... had to use loads of help.. loved locknut as clue. Phew... now need sustenance :)
ReplyDelete+1 for COD.
ReplyDeleteTough one but could complete it today as well. Had trouble parsing PENNY FARTHING and SIDEBURNS. Overall a nice puzzle. Thank you, Arden. :)
ReplyDelete1A : Girl's service return — it's not easy to get on top of it (5-8) SENNA FOREHAND ?{S'ENNA<=} {FOREHAND} (Addendum - PENNY FARTHING {PENNY} {FAR<=}{THING} - See comments)
ReplyDeleteWas wondering how FAR<== is 'service return'...then realized it was R.A.F.(Royal Air Force) returning!
Initially I too was led to think of Steffi Graf's service return!
...and later took Google chacha's help to get Penny Farthing!
Delete...and a couple more!
ReplyDeleteHow come MB can miss RAF?! We civilians can.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteMB is a commoner, no royal.
DeleteSome days I feel more like coming to THCC than going to 'Chacha' as MB calls him afectionately. Informative & interesting too.
ReplyDelete