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 dulyI 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 workCC BY-SA 3.0Link
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

99 comments:

  1. 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. Perfect Srinidhi! Like father, like daughter😀

      Delete
    2. 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. 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. A doubt Doc about d = Damn?

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

      Delete
    3. 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!

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    4. Ok. Never encountered it earlier.

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

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

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

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

      Delete
    3. 24A) extra "a" has crept in; read as
      {VIA(-G)R(CELL)A*}

      Delete
    4. Yes and very well solved Karthikeyan!

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

      Delete
  6. 3 d- VULGAR=Indecent FRACTIONS= Figures
    In Mathematics

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

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

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

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

      Delete
    5. Or Indecent figures in mathematics cryptically defines Vulgar Fractions

      Delete
  7. 14 a- CRAFTY= Cunning
    RAFT= heaps inside CY= ends of Canny

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My favourite game too! Thanks Raghu :)

      Delete
    2. More specifically test cricket

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    3. 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. 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. +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. 7 d- SAIGA= A type of antelope
    SAGA= story around I= one

    ReplyDelete
  10. 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. 28A Intense= Deep, Depression= Down
      Def: Basically, despite appearances

      Delete
  11. 23dn AGREE A (ccepted)gree(n)
    Eco-firiendly de tailed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I found this clue would work well even without 'eco-friendly'!

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

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

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

      Delete
  12. Yet to be solved
    Across - 11, 22, 27

    ReplyDelete
  13. 11a) Small time
    Emits<= around m+all

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

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

      Delete
  15. 27a) Even so
    Quits- even + o(alcohol essentially)+ s

    ReplyDelete
  16. 11A SMALL TIME-( MINOR) ALL (every one) 21D-M (maiden) TIES (issues) not sure if issues can be ties

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

      Delete
    2. mite is small person not necessarily child.

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

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

      Delete
  18. Replies
    1. How can I be the definition?

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

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

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

      Delete
    2. 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
    3. A swinging delivery might uproot the middle stump!For which reason three Australians recently find themselves in the midst of an imbroglio😀

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

      Delete
  21. Replies
    1. 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. Replies
    1. Make reservation at restaurant? = GET TABLE
      Can be achieved = Defintion = GETTABLE

      Delete
  23. 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. 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. 80 comments(so far) on Friday! What a participation. Reserving Friday has been a revelation.

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

    ReplyDelete
  26. 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. 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. 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
    2. Those wanting to look at the silutions can go through the comments section for solution.

      Delete

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