Friday 5 January 2018

No 12207, Friday 05 Jan 2018, xChequer


Today being Friday only the blank clues will be posted. All those who are silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. There is no limit on how many answers you want to give. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake someone will correct it with the right annotation.

 The regular blog will replace the clues at 4 PM after which anyone is free to comment. 

Thanks everyone for the great response. Here is the regular blog 

ACROSS
7   Worry in areas discharging a poisonous gas (6) ARSINE {IN+AREaS}*
8   Snake coiling on end to squeeze somebody (3,5) PIT VIPER  Anno pending
9   Small bond in exchange for weed (8) WEAKLING (~wee cling)
10 Good to reduce glare (6) GLOWER {G}{LOWER}
11 Receive without respecting salute (5) GREET {G{RE}ET}
12 Free chat rooms restored at link (6) ATTACH {AT<=} in {CHAT}*
14 Increase speed, journey to base in two seconds, revealing vehicle's racing lines (2-6,7) GO-FASTER STRIPES {GO FASTER} {S}{TRIP}{E}{S}
17 Unexpected twist in 'thriller'? (6) KICKER [DD]
18 Board strategy to get king (5) PLANK {PLAN}{K}
22 Perverse determination to screen restricted entertainment (6) WILFUL {WIL{FUn}L}
23 Relaxed on grass, rolling lawn half-mown (8) INFORMAL {IN FORM}{LAwn}*
24 Right, leaves radical upset (8) REVERSAL {R}{LEAVES+R}* Upset on double duty?
25 Shares the concept of natural justice (6) EQUITY [DD]

DOWN
1   Note Nero fiddled in the midst of Rome on fire, and lobby for non-performers? (5,4) GREEN ROOM {G} and {NERO}* in {ROME}*
2   Reaper's singular problem, power disconnected (6) SICKLE {S}{pICKLE}
3   Nostalgic tone of detective, prisoner to the drink (5) SEPIA {SE{PI}A}
4   Still without partner, an elevating state in retrospect (8) STAGNANT {STAG}{AN<=}{TN<=}
5   Irk shop abroad, one making Russian pastries (8) PIROSHKI {IRK+SHOP}*{1}
6   Act to keep wicket covered with moisture (5) DEWED {DE{W}ED}
8   Reflecting hot model, in earlier age topless, posing, but not in centre spread? (4,5,4) PAGE THREE GIRL {H}{T}<= in {EARLIER+aGE+PosinG}* &lit
13 Pay nineteen pounds that's withdrawn for minor (5,4) PENNY ANTE {PAT+NiNETeEN}*
15 Enquire about a ray, and rule governing focal length (3,5) ASK AFTER {A}{SKA{F}TE}{R}
16 Insensitive having fancy castle in Telangana (8) TACTLESS {T{CASTLE*}S}
19 Spur rally upwards, bears possibly switch (6) LARRUP [T<=]
20 Checks out millions invested for small change (5) DIMES {DI{M}ES}
21 Wasted folios in reference material (5) OFFED {O{FF}ED}

GRID

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88 comments:

  1. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 07:43

    18A PLANK {PLAN}{K}
    25A EQUITY (DD)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Balaji5 January 2018 at 07:45

    7A ARSINE. poisonous gas. {sarin}{e}
    1D GREEN ROOM. lobby for non-performers. {G} nero rome. Anagram
    5D PIROSHKI. pastries. irk shop {i} anagram
    16D TACTLESS. insensitive. castle {t}{s}anagram

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deepak Gopinath5 January 2018 at 07:49

      Balaji,
      Your answers are correct but the annotations for 7A, 1D and 16D have not been correctly indicated

      Delete
    2. Balaji5 January 2018 at 08:06

      7A ARSINE. in areAs. dropping A.

      Delete
    3. Rakesh5 January 2018 at 08:17

      16D Telangana two letter code is TS (for example, vehicle registration numbers). So (castle+TS)* = TACTLESS

      Delete
    4. Deepak Gopinath5 January 2018 at 08:18

      It is Anagram of CASTLE in TS {T{CASTLE*}S}

      Delete
    5. Balaji5 January 2018 at 08:26

      19D Spur rally upwards, bears possibly switch. LARRUP. switch-whip. <=T.

      Delete
  3. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 08:15

    14A GO-FASTER STRIPES increase speed{go faster) journey = trip (logarithm) base =e in 2 seconds ss

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 08:26

    22A WILLFUL perverse, FU (restricted fun ) in WILL (determination)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 08:26

    22A WILFUL

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 08:49

    12A ATTACH link=attach free(anagram) of CHAT AT restored (reversed or contained?) Not sure of the parsing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col_Gopinath5 January 2018 at 08:56

      Rooms is indicator for containment so it is AT reversed in anagram of CHAT

      Delete
    2. sree_sree5 January 2018 at 09:01

      Rooms:hosts
      Restored : renovated/reconstructed
      So (chat*) atch hosts TA.

      Delete
  7. Dr. MJ5 January 2018 at 08:52

    10 ac GLOWER... G plus lower

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 08:53

    4D STAGNANT still = stagnant; without partner=stag; na=an elevating; nt=TN in retrospect

    ReplyDelete
  9. Unknown5 January 2018 at 08:55

    6D Dewed
    De(w)ed

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 08:56

    10A GLOWER glare {G}{LOWER}

    ReplyDelete
  11. Rakesh5 January 2018 at 08:57

    20D checks out = DIES, Millions =M; DI(M)ES

    ReplyDelete
  12. Vanchinathan5 January 2018 at 09:01

    15D ASK AFTER
    17A KICKER
    For both the words meaning part is clear the twisted part is unclear to me. :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col_Gopinath5 January 2018 at 09:12

      Where is your attemept for the annotation of ASK AFTER?

      Delete
    2. Vanchinathan5 January 2018 at 09:27

      A SKATER around F, focal length?? Unable to connect my answer to "rule", "ray" in the clue.

      Delete
    3. sree_sree5 January 2018 at 09:51

      Nearly there.

      Delete
    4. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 13:30

      A SKATE(type of ray fish) R(rule) F( focal length); governing, indicator to embed?

      Delete
    5. sree_sree5 January 2018 at 13:39

      +1. Governing:restraining/arresting

      Delete
  13. D.Chandrasekhar5 January 2018 at 09:02

    10A GLOWER : G from Good, LOWER = to reduce ,

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 09:09

    6D {DE{W}ED} with moisture

    ReplyDelete
  15. D.Chandrasekhar5 January 2018 at 09:10

    13D : PENNY ANTE , Pay nineteen - ie ( that is = that's) : anagram, ( pounds is anagram indicator )

    ReplyDelete
  16. Balaji5 January 2018 at 09:12

    19D LARRUP. sPUR RALly. switch - whip. Reverse T

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 09:14

    8A PIT VIPER; snake, not able to parse the clue

    ReplyDelete
  18. D.Chandrasekhar5 January 2018 at 09:17

    11A GREET = Salute , GET = Received, re from respect..g.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Balaji5 January 2018 at 09:20

    8D PAGE THREE GIRL. reflecting - mirror - The Daily Mirror. Pictures of models on page three. Not in centre spread -on some other page.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Unknown5 January 2018 at 09:22

    4D stagnant
    Stag + an <= + tn<=

    ReplyDelete
  21. Rakesh5 January 2018 at 09:23

    23A relaxed = INFORMAL; Grass= Inform, Half-mown LAWN = LA, rolling LA = AL

    ReplyDelete
  22. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 09:23

    11A GREET receive; salute(greeting) without respecting (-ing); not sure of anno

    ReplyDelete
  23. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 09:30

    2D SICKLE = reaper singular S Pickle problem minus p (power)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Unknown5 January 2018 at 09:31

    24 A reversal
    R + leaves* + r

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vanchinathan5 January 2018 at 09:56

      Looks right. The word UPSET in the clue was well-disguised making me think it is an indicator for anagram and I was splitting my hair what the final meaning could be.

      Delete
  25. Unknown5 January 2018 at 09:36

    20 dimes
    Di(m)es

    ReplyDelete
  26. Unknown5 January 2018 at 09:36

    Read as 20 D

    ReplyDelete
  27. Unknown5 January 2018 at 09:40

    25A equity
    Dd

    ReplyDelete
  28. Unknown5 January 2018 at 09:42

    18A Plank
    Plan + k

    ReplyDelete
  29. Unknown5 January 2018 at 09:52

    14A go faster stripes
    Go faster + s (trip e)s

    ReplyDelete
  30. Dr. MJ5 January 2018 at 09:54

    9A...WEAKLING?
    wee cling homophone?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rakesh5 January 2018 at 10:00

      Weed + cling (bond)
      E+D+C = 5+4+3=12
      A+K=1+11=12
      So "exchange" EDC with AK
      WEAKLING

      Delete
    2. Dr. MJ5 January 2018 at 10:47

      By jove

      Delete
    3. Vasant5 January 2018 at 10:52

      Thats a great equation! I parsed as Dr. Mukund had done. Would wait for confirmation.

      Delete
    4. Deepak Gopinath5 January 2018 at 11:40

      Dr Mukund is right, 'in exchange' meaning 'in conversartion' being the homophone indicator

      Delete
  31. Dr. MJ5 January 2018 at 10:05

    14 A....GO FASTER STRIPES
    Increase speed ..go faster
    Journey is trip
    2 seconds is SS
    Base is E?
    S(trip e)S
    I hope

    ReplyDelete
  32. Unknown5 January 2018 at 10:10

    1D green room
    G + (nero)* in (Rome)*

    ReplyDelete
  33. Unknown5 January 2018 at 10:10

    12 D ATTACH- CHAT AT anagram

    ReplyDelete
  34. Unknown5 January 2018 at 10:14

    3D sepia
    Se(pi)a

    ReplyDelete
  35. Unknown5 January 2018 at 10:16

    17A KICKER - DD

    ReplyDelete
  36. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 10:31

    17A KICKER (DD?)
    23A INFORMAL relaxed; inform ( Grass) al ( lawn half mowed)
    8D PAGE THREE GIRL; still trying to parse the clue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 11:11

      Page three girl is hot model in earlier age topless, posing but not in the centre spread. straight GK. but why is she reflecting?

      Delete
    2. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 12:23

      is 8D the anagram of Hot T(model) (reversing-reflecting) EARLIER aGE (topless) PosinG (not in centre) spread (anagram indicator)?

      Delete
    3. sree_sree5 January 2018 at 12:32

      Hot is H. slight grammatical representation and then you are there.

      Delete
  37. Unknown5 January 2018 at 10:32

    21 D offed
    Ff(folios) in OED ( Oxford eng dictionary)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 10:35

    19D LARRUP switch; sPUR RALly

    ReplyDelete
  39. Balaji5 January 2018 at 10:37

    3D SEPIA. detective - PI. drink - SEA.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Jacob Brahmakulam5 January 2018 at 10:55

    13D PENNY ANTE minor stake; {PAY NiNeTEEN}* pounds- anagram indicator that's (ie) withdrawn (deleted)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Vasant5 January 2018 at 11:01

    Some great annos received till now!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Deepak Gopinath5 January 2018 at 11:41

    The following yet to be revealed/properly annotated

    Across 8
    Down - 8, 15

    ReplyDelete
  43. Unknown5 January 2018 at 11:49

    8A : PIT VIPER = Snake, : End = TIP Coiling (reversal of TIP= PIT ) , squeeze somebody = VIPER (wipe +r) -not very sure of the last

    ReplyDelete
  44. D.Chandrasekhar5 January 2018 at 14:20

    15D ASK AFTER : Enquire =ASK , about = RE, A, rule = FT ( rule stick of old which was a Feet -- FT )

    ReplyDelete
  45. RameshJ5 January 2018 at 16:08

    Snake coiling on end to squeeze somebody (3,5) PIT VIPER Anno pending
    coiling = Rev Ind
    On = Re
    End = Tip
    to squeeze = C/C Ind
    Some body =VIP
    ={RETIP<=} AROUND {VIP}

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kolluru Koteswara Rao5 January 2018 at 16:13

      +1

      Delete
    2. Vasant5 January 2018 at 16:23

      +2

      Delete
    3. Col_Gopinath5 January 2018 at 18:24

      If just somebody is a VIP then why call him a VIP at all!! A bit too far-fetched in my view

      Delete
    4. sree_sree5 January 2018 at 18:36

      2.
      a person of greater importance than others.

      Def of somebody from Collins dictionary. VIP is same except the reason for that treatment is given.

      Delete
  46. maradnusro5 January 2018 at 16:46

    Awfully tough. I wish xChequer could be a bit kinder to old souls like me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col_Gopinath5 January 2018 at 18:01

      You can't have all easy CWs, all types have to be there

      Delete
    2. raju umamaheswar5 January 2018 at 19:56

      Some are easy,
      some are tough

      some make you queasy,
      some get you rough .

      That's why they're cryptic
      so eclectic,that makes
      you go ecstatic
      when you complete the puzzle thats
      so schematic.

      Fret not, sweat not
      patience is the quintessence
      that will take you along
      to solve all that's a tangled knot.

      Delete
    3. Vasant5 January 2018 at 20:25

      Nice one Raju!

      Delete
    4. raju umamaheswar5 January 2018 at 21:28

      Raju says thank you.

      Delete
    5. Vasant5 January 2018 at 21:38

      Why does Raju addresses in third person?Quirk?

      Delete
    6. raju umamaheswar5 January 2018 at 22:22

      Rhyme time !

      Delete
  47. sree_sree5 January 2018 at 18:02

    24a right leaves left (radical) is reversal. My understanding.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Chaturvasi5 January 2018 at 19:30

    When you say So and So is a somebody in crosswordland, you mean he (or she for that matter) has achieved some prominence and is recognised by many people. In that sense, somebody = VIP. If one is a nobody, well, he or she is a nobody.

    ReplyDelete
  49. raju umamaheswar5 January 2018 at 20:01

    Exchequer almost got me a head chakkar !


    PIROSHKI deserves a Swarovski !!

    It'll take more of Exchequer's KICKER(s) for us to crackle his knuckle.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Padmanabhan5 January 2018 at 20:45

    Raju in a rhyming mood. Nice ones.

    ReplyDelete
  51. raju umamaheswar5 January 2018 at 21:30

    Thank you from Raju

    ReplyDelete

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