Answer and annotation for 16D left for a new commenter till 10 AM.
ACROSS
5 Gloom had spread outside (6) SHADOW {S{HAD}OW}
6 Thrifty Salvation Army branch, reportedly (6) SAVING {SA}{VING}(~wing)
9 Reach the top side by side after peak collapse (6) BREASTaBREAST
10 Blitzed lover ate something that is both upper and downer! (8) ELEVATOR*
11 Bear ill-will towards hearties regularly (4) HATE HeArTiEs
12 Held prisoner, Rose dies violently inside (10) CONSIDERED {CON}{DIES*}{RED}
13 Notable nature (11) PERSONALITY [DD]
18 Mutilated word wizard goofed (10) MISSPELLED [DD]
21 Raise soldiers using army regulation (4) REAR {RE}{AR}
22 A,B,C,D are some organic compounds (8) VITAMINS [Definiton by example]
23 The devil's backbone (6) SPIRIT [DD]
24 Ripped off scarf by mid-morning (6) STOLEN {STOLE}{m..N..g}
25 American activist goes after mass production (6) MAKING {M}{A}{KING}
DOWN
1 Asian apes monkeying around with Jane (8) JAPANESE*
2 Impotence striking men, while terrible, could be a form of justice (6) POETIC ImPOTenCE*
3 Worldly wife in pursuit of money (8) MATERIAL {MATE}{RIAL}
4 Criminal, online and on liners (6) PIRATE [CD]
5 Sumptuous meal animated disheartened Redcaps (6) SPREAD REDcAPS*
7 Round models for girl's skirts, topless clothes (6) GLOBES{G}LOBES Anno pending (Addendum - {GirL}{rOBES} - See comments)
8 A men's singles almost turned out to be insignificant (11) MEANINGLESS {A+MENS+SINGLEs}*
14 People following Sporty Spice, for example (8) SPECIMEN {SPICE*}{MEN}
15 Excellent, crafty artificer needing no introduction (8) TERRIFICaRTIFICER*
16 Understand exactly what is needed to get special figures (6)?I?I?S (Addendum - DIGITS {DIG}{IT}{S} - See comments)
17 Bravery of lawyer coming down on cartel (6) DARING {DA}{RING}
19 Main issue is time (6) SEASON {SEA}{SON}
20 Consternation not clear, for instance, when southerner heads north (6) DISMAY {DI(+s)M}{(-s)AY}
GRID
5 Gloom had spread outside (6) SHADOW {S{HAD}OW}
6 Thrifty Salvation Army branch, reportedly (6) SAVING {SA}{VING}(~wing)
9 Reach the top side by side after peak collapse (6) BREAST
10 Blitzed lover ate something that is both upper and downer! (8) ELEVATOR*
11 Bear ill-will towards hearties regularly (4) HATE H
12 Held prisoner, Rose dies violently inside (10) CONSIDERED {CON}{DIES*}{RED}
13 Notable nature (11) PERSONALITY [DD]
18 Mutilated word wizard goofed (10) MISSPELLED [DD]
21 Raise soldiers using army regulation (4) REAR {RE}{AR}
22 A,B,C,D are some organic compounds (8) VITAMINS [Definiton by example]
23 The devil's backbone (6) SPIRIT [DD]
24 Ripped off scarf by mid-morning (6) STOLEN {STOLE}{
25 American activist goes after mass production (6) MAKING {M}{A}{KING}
DOWN
1 Asian apes monkeying around with Jane (8) JAPANESE*
2 Impotence striking men, while terrible, could be a form of justice (6) POETIC I
3 Worldly wife in pursuit of money (8) MATERIAL {MATE}{RIAL}
4 Criminal, online and on liners (6) PIRATE [CD]
5 Sumptuous meal animated disheartened Redcaps (6) SPREAD RED
7 Round models for girl's skirts, topless clothes (6) GLOBES
8 A men's singles almost turned out to be insignificant (11) MEANINGLESS {A+MENS+SINGLE
14 People following Sporty Spice, for example (8) SPECIMEN {SPICE*}{MEN}
15 Excellent, crafty artificer needing no introduction (8) TERRIFIC
16 Understand exactly what is needed to get special figures (6)
17 Bravery of lawyer coming down on cartel (6) DARING {DA}{RING}
19 Main issue is time (6) SEASON {SEA}{SON}
20 Consternation not clear, for instance, when southerner heads north (6) DISMAY {DI(+s)M}{(-s)AY}
GRID
7d (gl)(-r)obes
ReplyDeleteThen clothes becomes redundant.
DeleteGirls : g l
DeleteSkirts:touches/edges/borders
Clothes: robes
Topless:obes
My understanding
I am with you
Delete4d could it be a DD? Online could be video/audio pirate and on ships?
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIs it supposed to be read as criminal on line/ criminal on liners (ships)?
Delete16D) Understand exactly = DIG; is needed to get I(T)S; DIGITS is the answer
ReplyDeleteNot exactly. Recheck anno pls.
DeleteWhen a sole person judges a contest, it depends on his preferences, prejudices, mood at the time, etc. When different persons decide, these play manifold. The result declared may be taken in a light, imperturbable manner. Re Raju's Comment yesterday: "Congrats to xxxxxx for topping the list and all others with a lesser grade. [OK thus far] This will help others to improve their own standards [this statement is gratuitous and I do not go with the suggestion]".
ReplyDeleteIsn't it all what it is all about? In a contest, some loses and someone else wins. In some cases, there is a best amongst the equals. I agree, the administrator of any such event is the sole arbiter and we abide by his decision. It is always better if there is a panel of at least three members. In this case, he had invited members from the blog to send in their entries and only a few responded. So he chose the best amongst the lot. Isn't it fair enough !
DeleteWhat's wrong in learning and bettering on's skill? Especially, in Cryptic crosswords, there's always some compiler out there waiting to outwit even the best solver. So the conflict and clash of opinion will have to be respected. That does'nt make any one any inferior !
A single judge bench is always likely to be accused of partiality, decisions based on the mood of the moment and a lack of some basic ground rules.
What is the plural of breast?
ReplyDeleteGlobes one might say in jest,
Considered meaningless
By many of you yes;
Terrific spirit of fun - puts it at rest.
😀😀
DeleteMatters put at rest?!
Delete16d. Digits
ReplyDeleteWhat about the annotation?
DeleteDig....
DeleteIts
16d: digits {dig}{it}{s}
ReplyDeleteUnderstand = dig
Exactly what is needed = it
Special = s
I dug all the DDs and CDs from Skulldugger ! They were excellent ! A delectable crossie that cooled my feverishness ! Thanks SKulldugger !
ReplyDeleteI found the puzzle topsy turvy in terms of difficulty level..one half was fairly easy while the second half was tough. Neverthless enjoyable.
ReplyDelete