Lots of holes left today
Across
7 Pathetic after a point when nothing's left (6) ABJECT {A}{8 Framed like one wasted, least developed in outline? (8) SKELETAL {L
9 Open and close with this act before soldiers call for one's head (8) DOORKNOB {DO}{OR}{~NOB}
10 Take in, say playfully (6) INGEST {~IN JEST}
11 Somewhat high society finally on lists (5) TIPSY {TIPS}{
12 Page to contact advocate (6) PREACH {P}{REACH}
14 Use camp, fake a tag and vote (4,9,2) TAKE ADVANTAGE OF {FAKE A TAG AND VOTE}*
17 Indian withdrawing a spearhead, spouse in retreat (6)
18 Very uncommon true love of art (5) VERTU {V}{TRUE}*
22 Shrewd move using leg drop (6) GAMBIT {GAM}{BIT} See comments
23 Storyline primarily or a cine setting (8) SCENARIO {S
24 Senior experiencing heart seizure in Metro — get pacemaker? (8) CELERITY C{EL
25 Born dead, not normal to expire, witnesses called for (6) NEEDED
Down
1 Salt, oil, damn bad for stomach (9) ABDOMINAL {AB}{OIL DAMN}*2 Gems in rings worn by king (6) PEARLS {PEA{R}LS}
3 Hum and tango, escorted by founder (5) STINK {S{T}INK}
4 Snatch second to third place at sports — note, it's uncertain (8) HESITANT {HEIST}with S in 3rd place + N in AT
5 Superiority that Paramount in Humphrey Bogart films exhibited — a well-defended position (8) HEDGEHOG {H{EDGE}{H
6 Pinhead in length of rope (5) LASSO {L}{ASS}{O} See comments
8 Negotiate, buy, tie both ends off, sear skin, stuff hot dog (8,5) SIBERIAN HUSKY {BUY+
13 False arch very often noticed (9) CONTRIVED {VR+NOTICED}*
15 Stop pressurizing peer to be dignified (8) ENNOBLED {EN{NOBLE}D} See comments
16 Match over, victory through technicality (8) DOVETAIL {D{O}{V}ETAIL} See comments
19 Uplifting story, journalist is happy (6) ELATED {ELAT<=}{ED}
20 Chip, with temperature brought down, succeeding (5)
21 Inherently normal time eye blinks per minute (5) TEENY {T}{EE{N}Y*}
15D EN(NOBLE)D
ReplyDelete6 Pinhead in length of rope (5) L ASS O(f)
ReplyDelete17 Indian withdrawing a spearhead, spouse in retreat (6) {{NAV}{A}<-}{HO<-}
ReplyDeleteOT: Other half - spouse
other half = OH.. is this done before??
Delete17 Indian withdrawing a spearhead, spouse in retreat (6) APACHE?
ReplyDeleteCould be NAVAHO
spearhead = van<
yet to anno for AHO
16 Match over, victory through technicality (8) DOVETAIL
ReplyDeleteOVER VICTORY = O V
TECHNICALITY = DETAIL
Good going KKR
Delete22A - GAMBIT ?
ReplyDeleteGAM = LEG
DeleteDROP = BIT
24A Senior experiencing heart seizure in Metro — get pacemaker? (8)C{EL(-d)ER}ITY
ReplyDelete20 Chip, with temperature brought down, succeeding (5) AFTER? LATER?
ReplyDeleteREAL< T = TEMPERATURE
Seems to be an error here as TALER is a chip
Delete20 Chip, with temperature brought down, succeeding (5) AFTER? chip=WAFER ... W(ith) + AF(-t)ER
DeleteBut the def here is succeeding
DeleteSorry Bhavan, my message at 9.14 was in response to Deepak.
DeleteYour anno is right
21 Inherently normal time eye blinks per minute (5) TEENY
ReplyDeleteN(ormal)T(ime) EYE*
Delete{T}{EE{N}Y*}
Delete16A - D(OV)ETAIL
ReplyDelete25 Born dead, not normal to expire, witnesses called for (6) NEEDED {NEE}{D}{ED}?
ReplyDelete{NEE}{D}{E(-n)D}
Pongappaa, naan attaththukku varalai...
ReplyDelete...naan kuda!
DeleteAattam only for the top 5. For the rest- aattam- shaking.
Delete...like a 6.8 Richter scale earthquake!
DeleteThanks KKR, Sandhya, Col. & Bhavan
ReplyDelete23 Storyline primarily or a cine setting (8) SCENARIO {Stor..e}{OR A CINE}* &lit
ReplyDeleteWhat is anind here pl if 'setting' is taken as definition? Is 'setting' to be taken as anind too?
You are right sir. Setting is the def and on double duty as anind.
DeleteThanks, KKR :)
Delete13d False arch very often noticed (9) CONTRIVED {VR+NOTICED}*
ReplyDeleteIs arch Anag Indicator?
Yes, 'arch' meaning 'clever' which is often used as an anag ind.
DeleteAattaththilae illai, paatam kondaatam idhilae irukeenga pola.
Thank you Sir. Yes Sir
ReplyDeleteBoy was Xchequer out for blood today :) managed all after a long struggle (though now i look at it most seem obvious hee hee) - except was undecided btw wafer vs later.. and put it down as later..since i thought succeeded has to be def .. else do not see what is the role of the word - if w af (-t)er then Temp brought down would be T is somewhere down the order - not deleted. Isnt it? Some easy ones took me time coz i misread the surface :) but this xword was a class apart :) more difficult than the Guardian prize today.. Xchequer !!!
ReplyDeletePerhaps Xchequer's interpretation for "T brought down" could be the 4th one from the list shown below?...a copy post from Free Dic?
Delete"bring down"
1. To cause to fall or collapse: a shot that brought down a bird; a demolition crew that brought down a building.
2. To force to the ground, as by tackling.
3. To cause to lose power or leave office: The scandal brought down the prime minister.
4. To kill.
5. To disappoint or dispirit: The cancellation of the ballgame brought us down.
Typo : Pl read it as 'a copy paste from Free Dic'
DeleteToughie. Missed out on WAFER
ReplyDeleteI was feeling a bit blessed all these days until xChequer punctured my self confidence. No thanks to him
ReplyDeleteI am not an ace solver like chaturvasi, srividya, mukundala et AL but I feel many of the clues are far too contrived. I do not mean to hurt anyone.
Hic! Me an ace solver?!
DeleteDefeated by exchequer today..morning 1 hour yielded a mere 4..lunch time further 8 & later in the afternoon rest except wafer..navaho..dovetail..
ReplyDeleteCan admire the cluing after reading the blog....must have been hard work for the setter too
Extremely tough but satisfying solve. Missed 3.
ReplyDeleteSince we've come to expect very high quality cluing from Xchequer, and not having clearly understood the setter's intention in some clues, I have a few queries:
8A Is framed an anind? Or developed? Or both (LKE* in LEAST*)? Can't see how that parses properly.
17A: OH for spouse ok?
24A: celerity = pacemaker?
25A: [Not X to Y] same as [no X in Y]? And [wordplay] witnesses [definition]?
15D: Using noble as a wordplay component for ennobled?
20D: [X brought down Y] for [X removed from Y]?
21D: Purpose of "per"?
Mohsin, it's good to see you here, and hope to see you more often. Thanks for the comment and you've phrased it ever so sweetly. Shall attempt to clarify:
Delete8A Is framed an anind? Or developed? Or both (LKE* in LEAST*)? Can't see how that parses properly
The correct anno for this would be (LEAST)* outside (LiKE)* leading to an overtly defined &lit
17A: OH for spouse ok?
It's there in Oxford, so I would expect it's OK and good enough for me. Refere
https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/oh?q=OH
24A: celerity = pacemaker?
Cryptic definition, hence the question mark
25A: [Not X to Y] same as [no X in Y]? And [wordplay] witnesses [definition]?
'to' is not a connector, it is part of 'Y'. expire = 'to end'. 'witnesses' as a connector with meaning such as 'shows', 'evidences'
15D: Using noble as a wordplay component for ennobled?
A valid point you raise, but personally I have no issue with treating one part of a word in it's original meaning, as long as you are not just splitting the word into all its original components and putting it back again as the definition. I use it, occasionally and sparingly. Consider a clue from a recent Guardian puzzle: Make hale (4), and you could hardly say this is a cardinal sin
20D: [X brought down Y] for [X removed from Y]?
Thought this had been clarified in some earlier comment. Synonyms would be 'toppled' 'ousted' 'deposed' etc
21D: Purpose of "per"?
Connector, same as 'as per' translates as 'according to'
Do let me know if they work for you
Thanks for the reply.
Delete8A: Ah, thought it might be an &lit attempt. The def is a bit stretched, I feel.
24A: But isn't celerity just 'pace'? Would it not be akin to defining, say, hunger as desire-maker?
25A, 20D: My issue was with the construct of [Not X Y]/ [X removed Y]. I believe you intend the "not X" bit as an adjective for Y. I'm hard pressed to find elegant examples where that would work.
15D: I personally disagree. And I don't see the parallel b/w this clue and the HEAL anagram. More like cluing JAILOR as (can) + (army men)
21D: I can just about see it working the other way around (def as per wordplay). In this form (wordplay as per def), it seems iffy.