ACROSS
7 Applied mathematicians sacrifice a Scot to get data (10) STATISTICS STATISTIC
9 It might be upped to increase the stakes (4) ANTE [DD]
10 Bag flipped by quarrel over the Kansas fuel-making factory (8) GASWORKS {GAS<=}{WOR<=}{KS}
11 Long address concealed by the split, anyway (6) LITANY [T]
12 Variety of grass (5) RANGE [DD]
13 Prejudiced Bob discarded reacting bicarbonates (9) SECTARIAN
14 Doctor and the bridge partners love playing what might make Indian farmers happy (7) MONSOON {MO}{NS}{O}{ON}
17 Male journalist replacing the first-class trophies (7) EDWARDS (-a+ed)EDWARDS
20 Melting of the iodine vat is an abnormality (9) DEVIATION*
22 Extremely cold bridge player at the wrong place in coast (5) GELID G(+e)ELID(-e)
25 Lithium found in steep rock turned over for an aromatic bulb (6) GARLIC {GAR{LI}C<=}
26 Sweet things to look at? (3,5) EYE CANDY &lit
27 Reportedly cut the lawn for practice (4) MODE (~ mowed)
28 Failure to appear with a cargo of metal results in self-denial (10) ABSTINENCE {ABS{TIN}ENCE}
DOWN
1 Some teenagers run away to accompany leaders to the classes (6) STRATA Acrostic
2 Seize letters from Anu, surprisingly (5) USURP [T]
3 Deadlines altered without notice to get a source of oil (7) LINSEED DEadLINES*
4 Irregular diastole is atypical (8) ISOLATED*
5 Woman's garment with the horse trainer's equipment (6) HALTER [DD]
6 Tolerate Arabic on the democratic flag (8) STANDARD {STAND}{AR}{D}
8 Fuel for the municipalities flanking Georgia (4,3) TOWN GAS {TOWN {GA}S}
15 Cook, poor, collects darnel sent up by the wheeler dealer (8) OPERATOR {OP{ERAT<=}OR*}
16 Lens maker changes topic before Diana edges away (8) OPTICIAN {TOPIC*}{
18 Fair to exchange ring for article in surplus (7) AVERAGE (-o+a)OVERAGE
19 Heroism interpreted such that one wants more (7) MOREISH*
21 Alternatively, the islands around Holland can get attached to the European Union (2,4) IN LIEU {I}{N L}{I}{EU}
23 Charge to write to the auditor (6) INDICT (~ indite)
24 Mail found by lifting hourglass (5) REMIT <=
GRID
Another excellent puzzle by this setter. My search for the modern Sankalak has now come to an end The clues gave immense pleasure to solve!
ReplyDeleteIt is good you share my sentiments Rathna
Deletetheme is evident - some nice clues - liked Mode and Moreish was new to me :) Indict and indite was nice too - so also Linseed,, enjoyed Gelid. But I must say a few clues rather unimaginative and seem over - contrived; just to arrive at theme - Statisticians cut down to statistics .. uhmm .. awards becoming edwards - with def as male :( again overage become average - is overage right for surplus? 1d - Strata..wish were more elegant - students running away to classes seems strange for students no? :)
ReplyDeleteTo pick a nit 19d has a major part of the answer in the clue itself (more). Otherwise an enjoyable puzzle
ReplyDeleteThe other day CV was talking of this issue though in that case it was in different clues, here the repetition is in the same clue which I feel should be avoided
DeleteMust be an oversight. Any repetition of a three- or more letter string in a CLUE and the SOLUTION is always frowned upon by solvers.
DeleteThe other day I was talking of repetition of a letter string in more than one grid entry in a single puzzle - not repetition in clue/solution.
The latter instance too may be avoided but it is not something to be frowned upon. In fact, a planned thematic may consciously repeat a letter string such as triple letters (e.g., SSS) or MODI as Gridman did once.
When one says the puzzle is bad, one is expected to give reason. When one says puzzle is good, no reason is expected This mentality is why we don't grow . Other setters must take cue from Neyathra
ReplyDeleteOff Topic:
ReplyDeleteIf a clue has an abbreviation and we delete another abbr. from this abbrv. is it acceptable?
Say if it has TAR for sailor, and thankless/ without thanks, can we delete TA from TAR?
Offhand, I don't see any problem. But if you could give the sample clue I - or someone else - might be able to give an opinion.
DeleteCooking up a clue:
DeleteSailor volunteers out with specialist to pay lease.
TAR -TA R ENT -RENT
DeleteDoesn't make much sense but it should do say whether the question I've asked is understood.
DeleteSince it is a 4 letter word & you have given the topic of discussion, it looks easy :) If it is a 8/9 letter word will it be possible to solve ?
DeleteLV, I was asking deleting an abbrv from another is acceptable.
DeleteAssuming the enu is 4 and the answer is RENT, the anno is remove TA from TAR and add ENT to get RENT.
DeleteI don't see any prob. Would love to hear what others,including Sankalakans and Neyarthaians, think.
BTW, ENT is generally 'medical department', rarely specialist or doctor in most UK crosswords. Rufusians may concure.
In the particular case the enu is 7 and the abbreviations involved are 2 and 1 letters. That is 2 minus 1. This might not help in arriving at any conclusion
DeleteBut TAR is not a abvn
DeleteRaghu I understood your question :) My doubt is that will it not be difficult to guess that abbreviations are used.Then you have to delete one abbr. from another to get the answer.
DeleteTar for sailor
DeleteThat's a synonym and not abvn
DeleteOK. Suppose it is?
DeleteIt would be weird. If you can think of an example, maybe. For instance, if you wanted to remove RE from REP, it would sound convoluted, I think. But, as CV said if you frame such a clue then............
DeleteI assure you it will not be convoluted. Surface would be smooth as silk like in the old Thai Airways ad.;)
DeleteI had put in garter in stead of halter for 5D. Wrong?
ReplyDeleteI mean which one is more suitable for the other part of the clue, namely,trainer's equipment?
ReplyDeleteIt is horse trainer's equipment so GARTER will not fit the bill
DeleteLoved this second offering from Neyartha..a far easier offerings this run...was not sure about range..mode & moreish...yes did find more in moreish as part of clue a bit jarring...
ReplyDeleteI was able to spot Statistics, Range, Standard, Deviation, Mode, Average & Strata as part of the theme. Any more?
ReplyDeleteOPERATOR, perhaps
DeletePut OVERAGE in lieu of AVERAGE and lost EDWARDS.
ReplyDeleteDitto here!
ReplyDeleteWasn't sure. So entered only Verage and waited for the crossings
ReplyDeleteSo the clue can be said to be correct bothways?
ReplyDeleteOn a closer reading of the clue I would say Average is more like it. But there is room for doubt. I do not apply my mind so much when solving and let the crossings do the job.
DeleteThanks Suresh!
ReplyDeleteWhen I say a puzzle is bad no one agrees. When I say a puzzle is good no one agrees.
ReplyDeleteYou are all holding a personal dislike against me. This attitude must change Yoou must speak from your heart
ReplyDelete