Friday, 6 April 2018

No 12284, Friday 06 Apr 2018, Dr. X


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. 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.

Please note a change. Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers till 1 PM thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Between 1 PM and 4 PM more answers may be posted in case any are remaining to be answered.

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   Swinging duly, I veer to knock out middle stump? (8) DELIVERY {DuLY+I+VEER}* &lit
5   Sends unsolicited emails featuring a bit of scam by jerks (6) SPASMS {SPA{Scam}MS}
10 Story’s terribly violent! Avoid it (5) NOVEL ViOLENt*
11 Minor issues about embracing 21 Dn. in front of everyone (5-4) SMALL TIME {M}{ALL} in {EMITS<=}
12 Scotsman who doesn’t get high? (9) LOWLANDER [CD]
13 One that’s raising dough; so far collected a dollar (5) YEAST {YE{A}{S}T}
14 Extremely canny, possesses a large amount of cunning (6) CRAFTY {Cann{RAFT}Y}
15 Scrap in bar! Essentially needs this guy? (7) BOUNCER {Ba{OUNCE}R} &lit
18 Hurried back to cut under pressure! Lost wicket finally to catch (7) ENSNARE {tENS{RAN<=}E}
20 Ignore fool entering pub, disheartened and unknown (4,2) PASS BY {Pu{ASS}B}{Y}
22 Plot to take off disregarding loan (5) TRACT subTRACT
24 Group engaged in popping Viagra to eliminate ultimately embarrassing ailment (9) VARICELLA {CELL} in {VIAgRA}*
25 Temporarily having fight in flat (9) BORROWING {BOR{ROW}ING}
26 Strangely sedate! Not a spirited horse (5) STEED SEDaTE*
27 Quits alcohol essentially! Takes a bit of strength however (4,2) EVEN SO {EVEN}{alcOhol} over {St...h}
28 Intense depression basically, despite appearances (4,4) DEEP DOWN {DEEP} {DOWN}

DOWN
1   Hang damn crook (6) DANGLE {D}{ANGLE}
2   Energetic people — Getting in touch with them could be hair-raising? (4,5) LIVE WIRES [DD]
3   Indecent figures in mathematics? (6,9) VULGAR FRACTIONS [CD]
4   Steady run-making? It was once usual in test matches (4,3) REST DAY {STEADY+R}*
6   You must make a better effort to provide superior protection to members? (4,4,5,2) PULL YOUR SOCKS UP [C&DD]
7   Story about one antelope (5) SAIGA {SA{1}GA}
Mongolia Saiga tatarica.jpg

8   What astronomers do after receiving a blow to the head? (3,5) SEE STARS [DD]
9   Unknown barge around European city (6) ZAGREB {Z}{BARGE}*
16 Spanish gentleman's diabolical role at the bottom of secret plot (9) CABALLERO {CABAL}{ROLE}*
17 Make reservation at restaurant? Can be achieved (8) GETTABLE {GET}{TABLE}
19 Abandoning college, novices composed ends of ballades (6) ENVOIS NOVIcES*
20 Craft of religious rascal (7) PIROGUE {PI}{ROGUE}

Pirogues Madagascar.jpg

By Bernard Gagnon - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
21 Lacking husband, I had men in a tizzy? (6) MAIDEN {I+hAD+MEN}* &lit
23 Accepted detailed eco-friendly accord (5) AGREE {A}{GREEn}

GRID

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99 comments:

  1. Srinidhi6 April 2018 at 07:12

    1 Across: Swinging duly, I veer to knock out middle stump? (8)
    Delivery.
    Anagram(Swinging) of Duly I veer delete(knock out) U(middle stUmp)
    The whole clue reads as the definition.
    21 Down: Lacking husband, I had men in a tizzy? (6)
    Maiden. Another "I" clue and another & Lit
    Anagram(in a tizzy) of "I had men" delete H (Lacking Husband)
    2 Down: Energetic people — Getting in touch with them could be hair-raising? (4,5)
    Live Wires Double definition with the second one puny and cryptic.
    Loved this one. Chuckle!
    8 Down: What astronomers do after receiving a blow to the head? (3,5)
    See Stars.
    Another DD with the second one puny & cryptic too.
    More chuckles!
    17 Down: Make reservation at restaurant? Can be achieved (8)
    Gettable which can be achieved and if you make reservation at a restaurant you would Get Table

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 07:17

      Perfect Srinidhi! Like father, like daughter😀

      Delete
    2. C.G. BHARGAV6 April 2018 at 08:12

      +1

      Delete
    3. Padmanabhan6 April 2018 at 08:33

      +1 :-)

      Delete
    4. Raghunath6 April 2018 at 08:53

      Very good!

      Delete
    5. Mukundala Balasubramanyam6 April 2018 at 14:07

      Excellent!

      Delete
    6. Srinidhi6 April 2018 at 18:42

      Thank you all. This is really encouraging.
      I get about 15-20 minutes for crosswords in the morning. I solve about 6-8 clues. I write the annos in an exercise book. In the evenings if I get time I read this blog.
      Summer Vacations for class XIIth begin on 29th April. Hope to devote more time then. Perhaps complete one unfinished crossword, do more puzzles.

      Delete
  2. Jayalakshmi arumugam6 April 2018 at 08:04

    10 ac NOVEL violent _ it
    26 ac STEED anagram of sedate without a
    1 dn DANGLE Damn+angle (crook)
    4dn REST DAY steady+Run
    13ac YEAST a s (dollar) in yet(so far)
    13ac YEAST

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Raghunath6 April 2018 at 08:56

      A doubt Doc about d = Damn?

      Delete
    2. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 09:03

      Yes Damn= D is listed in Chambers Crossword Dictionary Raghu. Am trying to check out the context.

      Delete
    3. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 09:33

      Apart from Chambers Crossword Dictionary, it is listed on several websites for abbreviations. I think it was used primarily to avoid using a swear word :) D! cant think of anything else!

      Delete
    4. Raghunath6 April 2018 at 09:35

      Ok. Never encountered it earlier.

      Delete
    5. sree_sree6 April 2018 at 09:43

      the D-WORD in US Vulgar is F-WORD.

      Delete
    6. raju umamaheswar6 April 2018 at 12:37

      Alternative expletive?

      Delete
    7. sree_sree6 April 2018 at 12:55

      yes sir.

      Delete
    8. Vasant6 April 2018 at 21:24

      Expletives in comics would be represented by stars, daggers etc😀😀

      Delete
  3. Balaji6 April 2018 at 08:08

    5A. SPASMS. sends unsolicited emails - spams,bit of scam -s
    12A. LOWLANDER. Scotsman - highlander, doesn't get high-low.
    26A. STEED. sedate -a *
    4D. REST DAY. STEADY Run*
    6D. PULL YOUR SOCKS UP. DD

    ReplyDelete
  4. Poornima6 April 2018 at 08:42

    18 a-ENSNARE= Catch
    Nar= ran(hurried) back
    In TENSE- T(end of wicket)
    25 a- BORROWING= temporarily having
    ROW= fight inside BORING= flat

    ReplyDelete
  5. KARTHIK6 April 2018 at 08:43

    19D) {NOVI(-C)ES}* = ENVOIS
    24A) {VIA(-G)AR(CELL)A*} = VARICELLA
    16D) {(CABAL)(ROLE)*} = CABALLERO
    20A) P(ASS)(-U)B(Y) = PASSBY
    21D) {I(-H)ADMEN}* = MAIDEN

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KARTHIK6 April 2018 at 08:57

      Since 21D was already given
      15A) B(-A)(OUNCE)R = BOUNCER; scrap = ounce

      Delete
    2. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 09:10

      And semi-&lit. Whole clue leads to answer.

      Delete
    3. KARTHIK6 April 2018 at 09:20

      24A) extra "a" has crept in; read as
      {VIA(-G)R(CELL)A*}

      Delete
    4. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 09:23

      Yes and very well solved Karthikeyan!

      Delete
    5. raju umamaheswar6 April 2018 at 12:44

      Varicella - aka chicken pox-- a nasty summer affliction that puts one in spots ! I had it years ago and it kept me down home-bound for one month !

      Typical of the DOC X to use the medical term for this virus .

      ENVOIS - CGB should know !

      Delete
    6. Vasant6 April 2018 at 21:23

      Satyen Nabar@9:23:+1..KPS is a seasoned solver it seems

      Delete
  6. Poornima6 April 2018 at 08:47

    3 d- VULGAR=Indecent FRACTIONS= Figures
    In Mathematics

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasant6 April 2018 at 08:51

      I think it is a CD.

      Delete
    2. Poornima6 April 2018 at 08:56

      What does CD mean?

      Delete
    3. Vasant6 April 2018 at 08:59

      Cryptic Definition. The whole clie reads as a definition; no wordplay is involved

      Delete
    4. Vasant6 April 2018 at 08:59

      Typo clue

      Delete
    5. Deepak Gopinath6 April 2018 at 09:01

      See the list under 'Annotations' on the Left Hand Side of this page

      Delete
    6. Poornima6 April 2018 at 09:03

      Thanks.

      Delete
    7. sree_sree6 April 2018 at 10:16

      vasant ji, but the word play does lead to answer in this case. doesnt it become semi&

      Delete
    8. Vasant6 April 2018 at 11:40

      Not really. If we read the whole clue there is only cryptic element involved "indecent"

      Delete
    9. Vasant6 April 2018 at 11:58

      Or Indecent figures in mathematics cryptically defines Vulgar Fractions

      Delete
  7. Poornima6 April 2018 at 08:52

    14 a- CRAFTY= Cunning
    RAFT= heaps inside CY= ends of Canny

    ReplyDelete
  8. Raghunath6 April 2018 at 08:54

    Thanks Doc for a few words of my favourite game. Nice one

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 09:06

      My favourite game too! Thanks Raghu :)

      Delete
    2. Raghunath6 April 2018 at 09:34

      More specifically test cricket

      Delete
    3. Padmanabhan6 April 2018 at 09:36

      Favourite for almost all of us.
      Surprised at remembering the 'Rest day'!! Looks like ancient times.
      Thanks Doc. for an enjoyable CW with quite a few chuckles- Stars on the heads of astronomers,to name one.

      Delete
    4. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 09:42

      Oh yes Raghu, Cricket is Test Cricket of course. The real deal! No shorter form of the game can ever match up to the delights of the 5-day game, with or without Rest Day! .
      Thanks Paddy :)

      Delete
    5. Vasant6 April 2018 at 12:04

      +1 for all the comments here. I remember following test cricket on radio..remember hearing the commentary of the'79 test between Ind & Eng at Ovals & Gavaskar's magnificient 221..from that time to now when you get almost all matches across the globe live it continues to fascinate(like the last test between NZ & Eng..what a thrilling contest!)

      Delete
  9. Poornima6 April 2018 at 08:56

    7 d- SAIGA= A type of antelope
    SAGA= story around I= one

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sarto Miranda6 April 2018 at 08:56

    14a CRAFTY C{RAFT}Y = cunning. Raft = large amount in C..Y (i.e. extremely cunning)
    28a DEEP DOWN = inner feeling despite appearances also intense depression (DD)
    7d SAIGA = Asian antelope; SAGA (story) about I(one)
    9d ZAGREB = Capital City of Croatia Z (unknown) + BARGE*
    20d PIROGUE = canoe in Central America (craft) PI = pious (religious) ROGUE (rascal)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 09:05

      28A Intense= Deep, Depression= Down
      Def: Basically, despite appearances

      Delete
  11. Jayalakshmi arumugam6 April 2018 at 09:32

    23dn AGREE A (ccepted)gree(n)
    Eco-firiendly de tailed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. vdsprasad49@gmail.com6 April 2018 at 11:35

      I found this clue would work well even without 'eco-friendly'!

      Delete
    2. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 12:04

      Not really Mr Prasad.
      Accepted= A (abbrev)
      Detailed= Last letter Deletion ind
      Eco-friendly= Green. Gree(-n)
      Accord= Agree.

      Delete
    3. vdsprasad49@gmail.com6 April 2018 at 12:16

      Thank you, doctor. I looked at it this way. Accepted detailed (eco-friendly) accord. Accepted = agreed. De-tailed, agree.

      Delete
    4. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 13:41

      Yes I see that. In retrospect, I could have made it less ambiguous with... 'A detailed eco-friendly accord'. Thanks for the input.

      Delete
    5. Vasant6 April 2018 at 21:19

      Perhaps but the clue as it is has a very meaningful surface story..this version is perhaps pithier

      Delete
  12. Deepak Gopinath6 April 2018 at 09:51

    Yet to be solved
    Across - 11, 22, 27

    ReplyDelete
  13. Unknown6 April 2018 at 10:05

    11a) Small time
    Emits<= around m+all

    ReplyDelete
  14. Unknown6 April 2018 at 10:06

    22a) tract
    Subtract- sub

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KARTHIK6 April 2018 at 10:23

      Dr.X
      Defn: Plot
      take off =subtract
      disregarding = deletion indicator
      how do we get loan=sub?

      Delete
    2. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 10:30

      Hi Karthikeyan Sub= Loan. Check at Oxford Dictionary.

      Sub :

      BRITISH

      an advance or loan against expected income.

      "‘I've got no money.’ ‘Want a sub?’"

      Delete
    3. sree_sree6 April 2018 at 10:34

      sub (noun, is a loan or advance given in leiu of expected salary usually paid or deducted in the next month wages). like the salary advance given to employees.

      Delete
    4. KARTHIK6 April 2018 at 10:34

      Thanks doc; it's there in Chambers as well under "sub"
      However sub is not listed in the word "loan";

      Delete
  15. Unknown6 April 2018 at 10:08

    27a) Even so
    Quits- even + o(alcohol essentially)+ s

    ReplyDelete
  16. B N Acharya6 April 2018 at 10:09

    11A SMALL TIME-( MINOR) ALL (every one) 21D-M (maiden) TIES (issues) not sure if issues can be ties

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sarto Miranda6 April 2018 at 10:16

    I thought the anno is mites* (issues; mite = small child or animal) around M (from Maiden 21d) + ALL (everyone) S{M}{ALL}TIME*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 10:18

      Hi Mike. Issues= Emits. About is Reversal ind = EMITS rev = STIME. Embracing M+ALL

      Delete
    2. sree_sree6 April 2018 at 10:21

      mite is small person not necessarily child.

      Delete
    3. Deepak Gopinath6 April 2018 at 10:57

      He has a point as MITE = any small person or animal, especially a child that is pitied

      Delete
    4. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 11:42

      Yes I agree, but then it would become an indirect anagram Sir.

      Delete
  18. sree_sree6 April 2018 at 10:18

    1a isnt I the definition

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deepak Gopinath6 April 2018 at 10:52

      How can I be the definition?

      Delete
    2. Vasant6 April 2018 at 11:23

      Prasad it is an & Lit clue: the whole clue is the defintion & all words are part of wordplay.

      Delete
  19. Padmanabhan6 April 2018 at 10:53

    Swinging must be the def.
    (duly I veer-U)*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 10:57

      It is &lit clue Paddy. Swinging is the anag ind. Whole clue leads to Delivery.

      Delete
    2. Padmanabhan6 April 2018 at 11:42

      Thank you Doc. I got it.

      Delete
    3. sree_sree6 April 2018 at 12:52

      swing delivery (noun) is only an example of delivery. least of all knocking out middle stump. swinging and knocking out are incidental to delivery. can it be used in such a way.

      Delete
    4. Vasant6 April 2018 at 13:21

      A swinging delivery might uproot the middle stump!For which reason three Australians recently find themselves in the midst of an imbroglio😀

      Delete
  20. Dr. Krishnamoorthy. A, Vellore6 April 2018 at 10:54

    2d: live wires(dd)
    3d: vulgar fractions - vulgar(indecent)+fractions(numbers)
    6d: pull your socks up(cd)
    17d: gettable (dd)
    20d: pirogue - pi(religious)+rogue(rascal)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deepak Gopinath6 April 2018 at 10:58

      17D is not a DD

      Delete
    2. raju umamaheswar6 April 2018 at 12:51

      I used to love solving this clue in the past as GETTATABLE = obtainable . Doc's variation is superb !

      Delete
  21. Dr. Krishnamoorthy. A, Vellore6 April 2018 at 11:03

    27a: even so: evens(quits) + o(alcOhol)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 11:10

      Hi it's EVEN+O around S.

      Quits= Even
      AlcOhol essentially= O
      Takes= Container
      A bit of Strength= S (1st letter selection ind)
      However= Even so

      Delete
  22. Dr. Krishnamoorthy. A, Vellore6 April 2018 at 11:08

    17d: get table & gettable (cd?)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Deepak Gopinath6 April 2018 at 12:10

      Make reservation at restaurant? = GET TABLE
      Can be achieved = Defintion = GETTABLE

      Delete
  23. raju umamaheswar6 April 2018 at 12:59

    A stimulating puzzle , Doc ! I relate 1 down and 2 down as DANGLED WIRES that one often sees in our cities which are left uncovered dangerously for unwitting persons to get electrocuted.

    Recently in Aanaikatti here , a stray elephant died due to this carelessness by the TNEB !
    Can they be imprisoned for killing an animal ? If Salman Khan can, why not ? Of course, he will get free by using his megabucks for killing wild endangered bucks. I loved reading all those tweets punning merrily on his conviction. Srinidhi: PUNnING is the word that you should use and not PUNING !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Satyen Nabar6 April 2018 at 13:23

      Thanks Raju! :)

      Delete
    2. Srinidhi6 April 2018 at 18:45

      Raju Sir: Actually I had used Puny. I had read somewhere or someone using this cryptically as pun-y. Of course dictionaries don't define puny as pun-y(as adjective of pun.

      Delete
  24. Padmanabhan6 April 2018 at 13:31

    80 comments(so far) on Friday! What a participation. Reserving Friday has been a revelation.

    ReplyDelete
  25. vdsprasad49@gmail.com6 April 2018 at 13:54

    25A. One of the best clues I have come across. Took a while to solve it.

    ReplyDelete
  26. C.G. BHARGAV6 April 2018 at 14:38

    While in school he was a fast bowler and almost every DELIVERY of his was a BOUNCER. He had difficulty in finding a job. EVEN SO he finally became a bouncer in a night club.
    Days PASS BY...
    A CRAFTY MAIDEN joins the club as a dancer. Many whistled notes and threw some to see if she was GETTABLE. No way.
    DEEP DOWN she was in love with the bouncer.
    Story has a nice ending.
    The bouncer and the dancer AGREE to elope on a REST DAY.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Deepak Gopinath6 April 2018 at 17:58

    Since I always forget to update the post at 4 PM I am changing the time to 1 PM for updating with the regular blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Padmanabhan6 April 2018 at 18:28

      Welcome.

      Delete
    2. Vasant6 April 2018 at 21:01

      But why update the post?Since all clues presumably would have been solved if any unsolved clue remains the regulars can solve a la Sunday puzzle
      This would give you at least one day's rest(in addition to Saturdays blogged by Ramesh)

      Delete
    3. Vasant6 April 2018 at 21:04

      Those wanting to look at the silutions can go through the comments section for solution.

      Delete

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