Thursday 14 July 2016

No 11751, Thursday 14 Jul 2016, Afterdark


ACROSS
1   Explores benefit to hire doctor (6) PLUMBS {PLU{MB}S}
4   A countercheck on a catholic subject, perhaps (6) ARABIC {A}{RAB<=}{I}{C}
8   Plant a lemon; spend money to get more in the end (7) ANEMONE {A}{lEMON}*N{morE} L for money? Second N from?
9   Improper to have celebrations arranged after skipping trial (7) OBSCENE CElEBratiONS*
11 Father resists pain in bladder, according to report by man in the medical shop (10) PHARMACIST {P{HARM}A}{CIST}(~cyst)
12 Left abroad with boor (4) LOUT {L}{OUT}
13 Attack in nasal voice (5) SALVO [T]
14 Seize flight nearly at exit (8) ARROGATE {ARROw}{GATE}
16 Record margin over time is short-lived (8) EPHEMERA {EP}{HEM}{ERA}
18 Skin covered layer, bit of muscle and bone (5) FEMUR {F{E}{Mu...e}UR} E for layer? See comments
20 Old maid's pa's doctor (4) PRIG {P}{RIG} P for Pa? See comments
21 Somehow, sue 19 Dn. for being unprofessional... (10) AMATEURISH {SUE+MARATHI}*
23 ...decline a prize (7) ATROPHY {A}{TROPHY}
24 Sleep in small shack with vigilance (4-3) SHUT-EYE {S}{HUT}-{EYE}
25 Take umbrage at tenant losing ID (6) RESENT RESidENT
26 Compliment press release; passage's not long (6) PRAISE {PR}{AISlE}

DOWN
1   Wordplay by champion is a hit (5) PUNCH {PUN}{CH}
2   To recklessly loan rum is outside ethicality (7) UNMORAL*
3   Prohibition everywhere in city (9) BANGALORE {BAN}{GALORE}
5   Automaton's source had bug initially (5) ROBOT {RO{Bug}OT}
6   Supply of faulty lock found in container (7) BACKLOG {BA{LOCK*}G}
7   Add a bit of dal in coconut chutney; recipe by railway official (9) CONDUCTOR {CON{Dal}UCTO*}{R}
10 Has Malayali gangster retired in trouble to mountains? (9) HIMALAYAS {HAS+MalAYALI}*
13 Top actor on excellent path leading to highest rank (9) SUPERSTAR {SUPER}{ST}A{Rank} A from leading?
15 Regarding release, get used to rule governing additional legal fees (9) REFRESHER {RE}(FRESH}E{R} Anno for E pending (Addendum - {RE}{FRE{SH}E}{R} - See comments)
17 Essentially gent's unsophisticated to engage (7) ENGROSS {gENt}{GROSS}
19 Butter returned at hotel by one Punekar, perhaps (7) MARATHI {MAR<=}{AT}{H}{1}
21 White lady is hiding behind a man (5) ASHEN {A}{SHE}{N} N for MAN? See comments
22 Type of inflammation seen around lips primarily (5) STYLE {STY{Lips}E}


50 comments:

  1. Re 21 N - chess notation for knight - chess piece - chess man - man

    ReplyDelete
  2. 18 Skin covered layer, bit of muscle and bone (5) FEMUR {F{E}{Mu...e}UR} E for layer?

    E Layer/E Region: a region of the ionosphere

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandhya, thanks. My feet are laid on the ground and I am afraid I haven't gone to those spheres.

      Delete
    2. You said it.
      Or was it Laxman

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  3. 20. Old maid's pa's doctor (4) PRIG {P}{RIG} P for Pa?

    P is used for Father/Priest/Pastor, not sure if it can be used for PA

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. According to TFD: P stands for FATHER (Latin Pater)

      Delete
  4. Except for the enigmatic single letters which needed research, the clues are fine. Thanks AD

    ReplyDelete
  5. 15 Regarding release, get used to rule governing additional legal fees (9) REFRESHER {RE}(FRE{SH}E}{R}

    Release: FREE
    Used: SH(Second hand)

    ReplyDelete
  6. The answers went in quite easily..didnt think a lot for annotating 8A,18A, 21 D

    ReplyDelete
  7. KKR has managed to log in to The Hub...I am still unable to do so..
    PP mam: Please help

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasant, try to log in with facebook credentials

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    2. Did..but it says..ur id already exists..shall try using wife's id

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    3. Once you log in with FB, it again takes you to their login screen. There, you give the details and a new mail id (different from earlier one). It will say that you will get a mail from the administrator. But don't wait for that mail, it never comes. You can log in after some time. Good luck.

      Delete
    4. Finally managed to log in The Hub..Thanks KKR..Also Ramesh & MB have joined in The Hub

      Delete
  8. Lovely crossie AD. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. a doubt reg. 21D-
    In chess, piece is different from man. Man is generally a pawn and a piece is generally a power. So, it may not be quite correct to equate man to knight (N)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many dictionaries say "A chess piece, or chessman, is any of the 32 movable objects deployed on a chessboard used to play the game of chess." They don't seem to follow the distinction that you mention.

      Delete
  10. Replies
    1. What is it? I didn't get it!

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    2. The ghost theme seems to be tied to an event on July 22.

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    3. Only three clues seemingly apply. Superstar, Marathi and Conductor. Anything more?

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    4. Robot, punch and style belong to the theme

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    5. Bangalore & Himalayas as well

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    6. AD's love for movies & The Superstar brought in this thematic puzzle

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  11. Going off to attend the Bangalore round of CCCC(CBSE Cryptic Crossword Competition) - 2016 being hosted by my wifes school

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    Replies
    1. Hope it went well ..congrats

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    2. Wifes.... ?! ;-) the apostrophe apocalypse!

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    3. Isn't it better than wives'?

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    4. Yes all went off well. Thirty schools participated. National Public School won the Bangalore round, submitting an all correct answer in 20 minutes

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    5. Nice to know that Kids are into cryptic crosswords..I think this is the initiative of Cryptic Singh

      Delete
  12. Yes the theme is nice but seems only in the downs?? Or hv I missed sth? Not very happy with clues for refresher Arabic punch and prig ..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Regarding 1DN, I remember to have seen this clue in 1Across in FB. Maybe, coincidence.

      Delete
  13. No nerve-racking affair! Had an easy outing inspite of a few doubts (already raised in the blog)reg annotations. Overall an enjoyable one. Thank you, Afterdark.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ban- Galore: Shouldn't we adopt the new names, though I am totally averse to the name- changing mania which should be Banned Galore? or is it only My Sore ? no one should chide me: Chee Nai !!

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  15. AfterDark-- the master of deletions and aditions is a SuperStar Bahu bali in this !

    ReplyDelete
  16. Engrossing type of puzzle.20A failed me.In spite of a nice clue I could not crack.14A with much difficulty only I could make it. All told a good entertainer.Thanks AD.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Replies
    1. So you did not like my idea at 8:34

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    2. Suresh must be right- (morE iN) the end.

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    3. In 8a, L for money i.e. Pound. Remaining issues I am in the Dark

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  18. Photographs of CCCC-2016 Bangalore round can be seen at the following link

    https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzJJPrdybh37eTFyQlRvOW9zZms

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Col. Nice to hear and also see such a contest at school level.

      Delete
  19. The attendance in The Hub's crossword thread has put me on cloud nine! Thanks, friends! I solicit your continued favour!

    ReplyDelete

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