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 response. Here is the regular blog
ACROSS
1 I think of limos endlessly (2,2,7) IN MY OPINION {lIMOs}
9 About to cry, eyes oddly becoming small (6) PEEWEE {WEEP<=}{EyEs}
10 Ingenues flying blind (8) UNSEEING*
11 Retiring, turning to do this to a bulb (5) TIMID {DIM}{IT}<=
12 Grows old facing extremes of pennilessness (7) EXPANDS {EX}{P AND S}(Pe....eS)
13 Highlight of contest, boxing belt (5,3) BRING OUT {B{RING}OUT}
15 Key file in an encryption system (6) ESCROW {ESC}{ROW}
16 Autobahn flow stopped by congestion's beginning to get hopeless (6) ABJECT {AB}{JE{Co...n}T}
18 Old-fashioned steps taken struggling with test (3,5) THE TWIST*
20 Dethrone leader going off AWOL (3,4) NOT HEREdETHRONE*
21 Girl mostly nothing short of a looker (5) GAZER {GAl}{ZERo}
22 Find a voucher to obtain speaker (4,4) COME UPON {CO{ME}UPON}
23 Flying start nullified in propelling boat (6) OARINGsOARING
24 Primarily those hiding inner flash perhaps (7,4) LANTERN FISH {Th..e+INNER+FLASH}* &lit
DOWN
2 Novel's a lot detailed for reporter (7) NEWSMAN {NEW'S}{MANy}
3 Produce from yard area beginning to wane (5) YIELD {Y}{fIELD}
4 Pastor disrespectful, not wise (7) PRUDENT {P}{RUDE}{NT}Anno for NT not clear See comments
5 Knows peace so to speak is a bridge (9) NOSEPIECE (~knows peace)
6 Officer commanding each navy in charge around sea (7) OCEANIC {OC}{EA}{N}{IC}
7 Hard on the brain, so complicated (5,8) HEATH ROBINSON* &lit
8 Won cash, does it bring tips out for cheap (2,1,10) ON A SHOESTRING {wON+cASH+dOES+iT+bRING}
14 Battlefront he's potentially circled quickly (2,3,4) ON THE SPOT [T]
17 Meme essentially breaking more limits (7) EXTREMA {EXTR{mEMe}A}
18 Tennis shot clipping net where not hard (7) TWEENER {NET+WhERE}*
19 Pupils taking in one head of zen masters (7) WIZARDS {W{1}{Zen}ARDS}
21 Be fired and leave (2,3) GO OFF [DD]
GRID
ACROSS
1 I think of limos endlessly (2,2,7) IN MY OPINION {
9 About to cry, eyes oddly becoming small (6) PEEWEE {WEEP<=}{E
10 Ingenues flying blind (8) UNSEEING*
11 Retiring, turning to do this to a bulb (5) TIMID {DIM}{IT}<=
12 Grows old facing extremes of pennilessness (7) EXPANDS {EX}{P AND S}(P
13 Highlight of contest, boxing belt (5,3) BRING OUT {B{RING}OUT}
15 Key file in an encryption system (6) ESCROW {ESC}{ROW}
16 Autobahn flow stopped by congestion's beginning to get hopeless (6) ABJECT {AB}{JE{C
18 Old-fashioned steps taken struggling with test (3,5) THE TWIST*
20 Dethrone leader going off AWOL (3,4) NOT HERE
21 Girl mostly nothing short of a looker (5) GAZER {GA
22 Find a voucher to obtain speaker (4,4) COME UPON {CO{ME}UPON}
23 Flying start nullified in propelling boat (6) OARING
24 Primarily those hiding inner flash perhaps (7,4) LANTERN FISH {T
Public Domain, Link
DOWN
2 Novel's a lot detailed for reporter (7) NEWSMAN {NEW'S}{MAN
3 Produce from yard area beginning to wane (5) YIELD {Y}{
4 Pastor disrespectful, not wise (7) PRUDENT {P}{RUDE}{NT}
5 Knows peace so to speak is a bridge (9) NOSEPIECE (~knows peace)
6 Officer commanding each navy in charge around sea (7) OCEANIC {OC}{EA}{N}{IC}
7 Hard on the brain, so complicated (5,8) HEATH ROBINSON* &lit
By W. Heath Robinson - Project Gutenberg ebook of NY Times Current history, Vol 1 Issue 6, Public Domain, Link
8 Won cash, does it bring tips out for cheap (2,1,10) ON A SHOESTRING {
14 Battlefront he's potentially circled quickly (2,3,4) ON THE SPOT [T]
17 Meme essentially breaking more limits (7) EXTREMA {EXTR{
18 Tennis shot clipping net where not hard (7) TWEENER {NET+W
19 Pupils taking in one head of zen masters (7) WIZARDS {W{1}{Z
21 Be fired and leave (2,3) GO OFF [DD]
BHARGAV'S TALE
Will Railway Ribaldry by HEATH ROBINSON be reviewed in a newspaper these days? No way!
The NEWSMAN of today is never PRUDENT and can make mountain of a mole hill.
He can bring THE TWIST in anything and everything. The reporters, they are ON THE SPOT for even the most insignificant event. Their budget is huge and never ON A SHOESTRING.
Why don't they BRING OUT facts which are useful and informative?
Because they will have to YIELD to their bosses.
You want to give your honest opinion?
"NOT HERE" !!!
GRID
Physics Test today but couldn't resist to solve a couple.
ReplyDelete1 across: I think of limos endlessly (2,2,7)
limos endlessly is imo which is in my opinion
loved this clue endlessly!
5 down Knows peace so to speak is a bridge (9)
nosepiece sounds like knows peace
8 down Won cash, does it bring tips out for cheap (2,1,10)
remove the first letters of (w)on (c)ash (d)oes (i)t (b)ring to get
on a shoe string
All the best for your test Srinidhi
DeleteThanks Sir. Actually it is final exams.
DeleteBest Wishes for cracking your Physics exam. If solving the above clues is any indication, Physics exam is already well done.
DeleteAll the very best Srinidhi!
DeleteThanks very much Padmanabhan Sir and Bhargav Sir. The exam went off very well.
DeleteDid the few clues in the morning and read the blog for the rest. I loved this puzzle very much.
Solved all but 22a, 24a, 7d & 18d.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting puzzle today.
A few more
ReplyDelete17 down Meme essentially breaking more limits (7)
meme essentially is em
inside (breaking) Extra(more) giving extrema (limits)
24 across Primarily those hiding inner flash perhaps (7,4)
Primarily those is t inside (hiding) anagram of (perhaps) inner flash giving
lantern fish
24 across the whole clue read gives the definition and all the words are part of wp giving us an & Lit clue(?)
DeleteYes it is an &lit
Delete9ac PEEWEE Weep(cry)+ee((EyE)
ReplyDelete10acUNSEEING (ingenues)
13ac bring out ring in bout
20ac not here (D) ethrone
21ac gazer. Ga(girl)+zer(o)
23ac oaring (s)oring
3dn yield y(ard)+ (f) ield
4dn prudent p(astor)+rude+nt(not)
6dn oceanic oc+ea(each)+n(navy)+ic
14dn on the spot (T)
19dn wizards iz in wards
21dn go out (dd)
Jayalakshmi your anno for 21A and 19D needs a re-look. Your answer for 21D is not correct
DeleteCol.,
Deleteanno of 19D seems to be right, except i & z is not explained.
Paddy, yes that's what I meant
Delete21a GA [GAL minus L i.e. almost girl] nothing short ZER [ZERO short of O] gives GAZER
Delete11A turning Dim It to get TIMID = retiring.
ReplyDelete15a ESCROW
ReplyDeleteAnno please
Delete7D H from Hard and anagram of on the brain so = HEATH ROBINSON meaning complicated.
ReplyDelete18a THE TWIST [with test]*
ReplyDelete16A AB (Autobahn)+JE(C)T =hopeless
ReplyDelete3d YIELD [DD]
ReplyDeletepls see the anno above.
DeleteGot it. Thanks
Delete18 A the twist.. an with test
ReplyDelete19D pupils= WARDS take in I(one) and Z(head of Zen)= WIZARDS(masters)
ReplyDelete6D oceanic O C EA N I C
ReplyDelete21 D go off
ReplyDeleteTwo first time commenters today Srinivas Gopal and Poornima. Welcome.
ReplyDeleteThank you. A beginner at 56. Never late, I guess.
DeleteNever never late. I began much later!
Delete18D) where not hard = were; {(net)(were)}* = TWEENER;
ReplyDeleteTweener is a tennis shot played between the legs
12A EXPANDS- EX(0ld) extremes of pe----ss P AND S -GROWS
ReplyDelete2D) Novel's = NEWS ; detailed = many ; a lot detailed = man;
ReplyDeleteNEWSMAN = reporter
6D oceanic O C EA N I C
ReplyDelete22A COME UPON ME (speaker) in COUPON (voucher)
ReplyDelete12A EXPANDS- EX(0ld) extremes of pe----ss P AND S -GROWS
ReplyDeleteWell Solved!
DeleteThank you
Delete23A has been missed right.. (s)oaring
ReplyDelete23A has been missed right.. (s)oaring
ReplyDelete14D : on the spot
ReplyDeleteAnno please.
Delete13A: Bring out - Highlight - of contest(Bout), boxing belt(Ring) - B(Ring) Out
ReplyDelete4a: {P}astor disrespectful(rude), not(t?) wise (Prudent)
ReplyDelete8 DN: On a Shoestring (W)on(c)ash(d)oes(i)t(b)ring
ReplyDeleteWhat a name!😀😀😀
Delete+1
DeleteThree more first timers: girijbsn, js and ms
ReplyDeleteThey are becoming more active than veterans!
Delete'Time'ly editorial with a good sense of humour in ET today-
ReplyDeletehttps://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TheEconomicTimes/#
15A, How will the clue be if written as "Grows old AND facing extremes of pennilessness" providing for AND?
ReplyDeleteThat will become {EX}{AND}{PS}
Delete9a: peewee: - weep<=(cry) + e.e.
ReplyDelete10a: unseeing - (ingenues)*
12a: expands - ex + p and s(p......s)
13a: bring out - ring in bout(contest)
15a: escrow - esc(key)row(file)
16a: abject - a(uto)b(ahn)+je(c)t(flow) - (c - head of con......)
18a: the twist - (with test)*
20a: not here - (dethrone - d)*
22a: come upon - co(me)upon
23a: oaring - (soaring - s)
24a: lantern fish - {t(hose)+inner flash}*
3d: yield - (-f+y)ield
4d: prudent - p+rude+n(o)t
5d: nosepiece - nose(~knows)+piece(~peace)
6d: oceanic - (acronym)
7d: heath robinson - {h(ard)+on the brain so}*
8d: on a shoestring - (w)on+(c)ash+(d)oes+(i)t+(b)ring - (tips off)
14d: on the spot - (T)
17d: extrema - extra(more) + .em.
18d: tweener - {net + (where-h)}*
19d: wizards - {w(i)(z)ards}
21d: go off - (dd)
9a: peewee: - weep<=(cry) + e.e.
ReplyDelete10a: unseeing - (ingenues)*
12a: expands - ex + p and s(p......s)
13a: bring out - ring in bout(contest)
15a: escrow - esc(key)row(file)
16a: abject - a(uto)b(ahn)+je(c)t(flow) - (c - head of con......)
18a: the twist - (with test)*
20a: not here - (dethrone - d)*
22a: come upon - co(me)upon
23a: oaring - (soaring - s)
24a: lantern fish - {t(hose)+inner flash}*
3d: yield - (-f+y)ield
4d: prudent - p+rude+n(o)t
5d: nosepiece - nose(~knows)+piece(~peace)
6d: oceanic - (acronym)
7d: heath robinson - {h(ard)+on the brain so}*
8d: on a shoestring - (w)on+(c)ash+(d)oes+(i)t+(b)ring - (tips off)
14d: on the spot - (T)
17d: extrema - extra(more) + .em.
18d: tweener - {net + (where-h)}*
19d: wizards - {w(i)(z)ards}
21d: go off - (dd)
3D Is {Y}{(-f)IELD}
Delete6D is not an Acronym as EA comes from each
RE. 15A How about "Grows old and good engulfed by extremes of pennilesness."
ReplyDeleteRe.15A. Sorry, I meant this:- "Grows old and engulfed by pennilessness.""
ReplyDelete15A:- Sorry again! it should be "........engulfed by extremes of pennilessness."
ReplyDelete1a: limos - endlessly
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, it must be endslessly, not endlessly.
There is no word like 'endslessly'
Deletevalid question though. endlessly is singular adverb.
Deleteendless / endlessly (both ends)
Deleteendlessly
Deleteˈɛn(d)ləsli/
adverb
adverb: endlessly
in a way that has or seems to have no end or limit.
Yes. I meant we can take it that way (cryptic license)
Delete6d: oceanic - o(ff..)+c(omm....)+ea(ch)+n(avy)+ic from in charge
ReplyDeletenot=nt as in isn't, doesn't
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed solving. Nice clues. Thank you Bhavan!
ReplyDelete23a can a single letter conceal somehing?
ReplyDeletesorry 24a
DeleteIf there is a 'letter carrying man' is the letter carrying the man or the man carrying the letter for it to make sense?
DeleteThe day is not complete without CGB's story & cartoon.
ReplyDeleteWorth the wait till 4 pm- Best of the links? Unable to choose between Federer's tweener (did not know this name though quite familiar with the shot) & Heath Robinson (new one too, for me) Thank you Col.
Tweener- must be short form of 'betweener' (shot played between one's legs)
ReplyDelete21a a=o?
ReplyDeletea is from 'Girl mostly'- ga(L)
Delete(g)-girl
Delete(zer)(-mostly zero)
consumed (short of) a
(g)(a)(zer)
The annotation in the blog is what I had intended it to be : GA(-L) + ZER(-O)
Deleteok.
Delete8D is a beautifully constructed clue.
ReplyDelete14D is a typically Buzzer T.
Col. Gopinath,
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how AND comes in without any hint in the clue. That's why I am harping on AND. Can you pl. explain?
As explained by Col.
DeleteExtremes of pennilessness = p&s = P AND S
4 Pastor disrespectful, not wise (7) PRUDENT {P}{RUDE}NT Anno for NT not clear
ReplyDeletefrom http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/NMWdZ/PpdMZ/LmPbK/NeoaZ/MhMaZ/KfjpZ/OlfTK/search
not: not adverb (with auxiliary and modal verbs often shortened to n't and joined to the verb.
P for pastor?
16 Autobahn flow stopped by congestion's beginning to get hopeless (6) ABJECT {AB}{JE{Co...n}T}
ReplyDeleteIs the 's by oversight? The sentence doesn't seem right otherwise.
I thought it wad ok having read it as congestion's beginning or in other word beginning of congestion
DeleteI read the surface inagining a comma after flow & beginning like this : Autobahn flow, stopped by congestion's beginning, to get hopeless
DeleteApologies for the typo. Read imagining
DeleteFor the surface I meant for, congestion's = congestion is
Delete