Wednesday, 1 August 2018

No 12384, Wednesday 01 Aug 2018, Dr. X,


ACROSS
1   Dismiss after issue with quick-tempered person (8) SPITFIRE {SPIT}{FIRE}
5   Get abortion done! No alternative (6) OBTAIN ABorTION*
10 Passage in Shanghai's legislature (5) AISLE [T]
11 Treat a miss tackling illness of lead poisoning (9) SATURNISM {TURN} in {A+MISS}* Turn/Illness? See comments
12 Representing tailor’s art largely! (9) SARTORIAL {TAILORS+ARt}* &lit
13 Where actor might be making first appearance (5) ONSET {ON}{SET}
14 Mean administrator expels worker (6) INTEND INTENDant
15 Coat a little dirty, taken to the cleaners (7) FLEECED {FLEECE}{Di..y}
18 One seen at bar with bum drinking essentially cheap rum cocktail (4,3) BEER MUG {BE{chEap}{RUM*}G}
20 Safe to propose after a little canoodling (6) COFFER {Ca...g}{OFFER}
22 From start to finish, fast cosmetic operations (5) TUCKS (-s)TUCK(+s)S
24 Effect of firecracker on an important person (1,3,5) A BIG NOISE [DD]
25 Agreeing to exercise in future (9) COMPLYING {COM{PLY}ING}
26 Get rid of Republican breaking peace (5) ERASE {E{R}ASE}
27 Resect without hesitation in operation (6) EXCISE EXCerISE
28 Easiest working outside India, in my opinion (2,1,3,2) AS I SEE IT {EASIEST}* over {I}

DOWN
1   Sporadic fights reported (6) SPARSE (~spars)
2   Fancy new car in use! Must get this? (9) INSURANCE {N+CAR+IN+USE}* Semi&lit
3   What bodybuilder might do to threaten with a show of power (4,4,7) FLEX ONES MUSCLES [C&DD]
4   Retract thick covering over computer key (7) RESCIND {R{ESC}IND}
6   Suffer unpleasant consequences of gripping match for long? (4,4,7) BURN ONES FINGERS [C&DD]
7   Corrosive chemicals damaged a disc (5) ACIDS*
8   Worm crossing over oriental carpet (8) NEMATODE {N{E}{MAT}ODE}
9   Sculpture of last King of Norway (2,4) ST OLAF*
16 Put stone inside to make rattle (9) CREPITATE {CRE{PIT}ATE}
17 Catch old boy with cocaine in flat (8) OBSTACLE {OB}{STA{C}LE}
19 Cheesy crust in trap ensnares rodent (6) GRATIN {G{RAT}IN}
20 Creeps caught with ecstasy held in cells (7) CRINGES {C}{RING{E}S}
21 Desolate umpire involved in gamble (6) BEREFT {BE{REF}T}
23 Ludicrous economic collapses! One’s sadly fired (5) COMIC eConOMIC*

GRID
Bhargav's Tailpiece

The bouncer and the dancer - Part 96

So there was no need for Clement to FLEX HIS MUSCLES.

SPITFIRE Kayal, without making A BIG NOISE, COMPLYING to the wishes of Gombu dramatically brought  the end of Sunder Smith.

And then residents continued to be FLEECED by Clement who filled his COFFERS as usual. And the enticing SARTORIAL removals continued.

AS IT IS Clement had to approach the local office to OBTAIN his renewed licences.  He INTENDED to overcome the usual way when told that they have been RESCINDED.

But he had to BURN HIS FINGERS as the new officer was as slippery as OLAF the Snowman!!

But Clement was not BEREFT of hope.

What happened next?

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36 comments:

  1. sree_sree1 August 2018 at 08:44

    11a turn:dizzy, mentally unbalanced

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Satyen Nabar1 August 2018 at 08:49

      Hi! Turn (noun) refers to a fit of illness or emotion, esp an emotional shock, jar or feeling of faintness (BRB)

      Chambers Dictionary (online)

      Turn --
      6 gave her quite a turn- illness, nervousness, faintness, shock, fright, scare

      Delete
  2. sree_sree1 August 2018 at 08:50

    DrX, recommended after being xchequered.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kolluru Koteswara Rao1 August 2018 at 12:11

    CGB Sir, Mitsubishi?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Esha_iitm1 August 2018 at 12:44

    14, 15 across- intend/intendant, fleece/fleeced - arent they too close to the root words?
    9 down - is sculpture okay as anag ind?
    otherwise twas' an easy puzzle!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Satyen Nabar1 August 2018 at 13:40

      Hi! I will give the simplest answer first.

      1) Sculpture is also a verb that means to sculpt, model, shape, form, design, carve etc. So yes it is an anagram ind. (very much listed in Chambers)

      2) I confess I am always at a bit of a loose end with root issues. I haven't come across any book addressing this issue in any great depth or with any great authority. If you know of any such, I will be delighted to read up. So this is just my opinion. I am quite sure it might be at variance with other opinions. For Fleeced, as I see it... fleece has 2 meanings.. coat(noun) and cheat(verb). Fleeced as a verb only means cheated. Now if Fleece+D is clued as Cheat+d, i think that it's a root issue. If the word has a completely different meaning to wit..Coat, I don't see that as a problem. So even if it is that the verb came about from the act of shearing of the wool itself, in my book I think it is kosher. Plus, frankly, the naturalness of the surface with 'Dirty coat being taken to the cleaners' was quite irresistible for me.

      3) Never quite come across a discussion on root issues in Deletion Clues. Intendant= administrator and intend as mean, to me seem quite different. Again as I said, I am sure my opinion might be different from others.

      Thanks for solving the puzzle.

      Delete
    2. Esha_iitm1 August 2018 at 14:43

      I do not know of books but shuchi who is an authority in these areas says: "Crafting a smooth surface exacts less imagination from the setter when the wordplay echoes the definition." and in another place - "Clues with etymology crossover tend to have good surface stories by virtue of the crossover."
      In case u havent read - http://www.crosswordunclued.com/2016/04/definition-wordplay-etymology-crossover.html

      Dont see why root issues are not on for deletion clues. Same rule should apply as far as i see it..

      Delete
    3. Satyen Nabar1 August 2018 at 16:06

      Thanks for the link. Read it in detail. Finally it is a discussion which ends with 'Is it fine or flawed?' Followed by several diverse opinions on the topic. You can consider what I have posted above as my opinion on this topic.

      In the comments that follow if you see... For the "retable" clue, table clued as verb (propose) rather than noun (furniture) is stronger. Same the case with fleece clued as noun, and not verb.




      Delete
    4. Satyen Nabar1 August 2018 at 16:28

      As for root issues in the deletion clues, you speak of some similar 'rule' that should apply. However, I don't quite see any such 'rule' anywhere in the first place. It is only a matter of opinion and yes I do respect your point of view. But don't agree with it.

      Delete
    5. sree_sree1 August 2018 at 17:17

      14: no problem. 15: the way d is clued.
      i take clue as " a piece of evidence that leads one toward the solution of a problem ". so it need not give me an exact answer but i should (as any native speaker or competent foreigner would) be able to get the answer. would i get intend from intendant if left there, probably not (if i am not arguing from hind sight). col and some others might get it. but they would be competent natives of this world, not foreigners. but from fleece to fleeced, probably yes. is it because of same root word,dont know. but i would have liked "d" as indicator of tense rather than separate fodder. As to the argument, it seems to arise from American standard whereas brit doesnt seem to have that. "Let in or let on (5)" seems perfectly acceptable to brit. i believe my english is brit.

      Delete
    6. Vasant1 August 2018 at 18:13

      I didnt see any root ossues with both the clues of fleeced and intend..the root issue irks when in such clues as spaceman where the charade components are clied as space+man. Here in both the clues there is no such problem. Fleece as coat is quite different from fleece as con as explained by Dr. Intendant without ant doesnt have any question of root issue whatever.

      Delete
    7. Chaturvasi1 August 2018 at 18:43

      I agree with Vasanth's views.

      Delete
  5. Chaturvasi1 August 2018 at 15:24

    As far as DDs are concerned, the two definitions for a word must be under word 1 and word 2 in dictionaries. Two meanings under word 1 or word 2 cannot be used. I am putting it simplistically. Problem child (5) is OK as the two meanings are distinct and will be as two entries in a dict, issue 1 issue 2
    As for the roots issue, I have publicly said in FB that I really don't quite understand it.
    The books on crosswords that I have in my library - incl. one or two very rare books (which means very early, pioneering books) don't mention it.
    I even asked a friend on FB to point out any clue from my published work which according to him has what he calls root problem. I will look into it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Satyen Nabar1 August 2018 at 16:41

      Unquestionably where DD's are concerned, that is quite clear CV Sir. I wonder what other cruciverbalists feel about this 'roots issue' problem.

      Delete
  6. Ramki Krishnan1 August 2018 at 19:17

    Enjoyed the grid Doc! SARTORIAL, INSURANCE and BEER MUG were favourites :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ramki Krishnan1 August 2018 at 19:17

    Happy birthday to Srivathsan (Spinner) today!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Padmanabhan1 August 2018 at 19:28

    Wish you a very Happy Birthday & Many Happy returns of the Day,Srivathsan.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Padmanabhan1 August 2018 at 19:29

    Thank you Doc. for an enjoyable CW- As I see it!

    ReplyDelete
  10. ranger1 August 2018 at 19:32

    The only 'Root's issue' bothering me now is Joe Root digging in at 52 n.o. Hope our bowlers get him fast.
    As for the other 'roots issue' I fully concur with CV's views

    ReplyDelete
  11. Padmanabhan1 August 2018 at 19:50

    I agree with Ranger on Joe Root. Watching him play and hoping he will commit a mistake like others- Aren't we missing an additional Spinner?

    ReplyDelete
  12. ranger1 August 2018 at 20:05

    Enjoyed solving the crossie Doctor Satyen, very nice

    ReplyDelete
  13. Vasant1 August 2018 at 21:05

    Many Happy Returns Of The Day,Srivathsan.

    ReplyDelete
  14. raju umamaheswar2 August 2018 at 04:00

    Many happy snruter of the day, Srivatsan . May God bless you with a long, healthy and peaceful life !

    I arrived in New Haven this afternoon at 2 PM local time and hence hope you don't mind this belated wish. Feeling terribly woozy in the head and eyes are gritty, Ears still resonate with the hum of the jet's unrelenting noise for 13 long hours , not to speak of the long wait in Bombay, and Delhi airports followed by a two and half hours drive from Kennedy airport in New York, which seems to be like any another Indian airport what with so many Indians still swarming, despite all the hullabaloo of resentment to Indian immigrants. I'll be camping here for the next six months. Have brpught along a lot of crosswords to be solved, hopefully
    Nice & educative debate on the root issue . An excellent crossie, Dr.Nabar. CREPITATE created a rattle in the PIT of my stomach

    ReplyDelete

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