Friday 30 November 2018

No 12485, Friday 30 Nov 2018, xChequer


RULES FOR POSTING ON FRIDAY ONLY
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The regular blog will replace the clues at 2 PM.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS
7   Those having policies perhaps not wanting society to get desensitized (6) INURED INsURED
8   Long recital wasted on some (6) LITANY {LIT}{ANY}
10 Cold dosh and no debt primarily with supply? (4,4) CASH DOWN {C+DOSH+ANd+W}* &lit
11 Try queen's auditor (6) HEARER {HEAR}{ER}
12 Improper to sleep in it (5) INAPT {I{NAP}T}
14 A lead in rubber with rule of 11 in slam (7) ARRAIGN {A}{Ru...r}{RAIGN}(~rein)
15 The definition one's left — unlikely on vacation, while working! (2,3,4,2,4)  IN THE LINE OF DUTY {THE+{DEFINITION(-i+L)}+Un...lY}*  &lit
18 About to throw up? Consume small lumps of chewed food (7) BOLUSES {LOB<=}{USE}{S}
19 Ganja's local hash from Zaire (5) AZERI*
20 Roman characters used with Latin everyday (6) NORMAL {ROMAN*}{L}
21 Illustrates with old pens (8) EXPOUNDS {EX}{POUNDS}
23 Class is taught to integrate further (6) ASSIST [T]
24 Irregularly judge cloistered nuns in order, not given due credit (6) UNSUNG {jUdGe} over {NUNS}*

DOWN
1   Bloating no end with one lousy drink (8) LIBATION {BLOATINg+1}*
2   Plenty to raise a stink about bores (4) MUCH {H{C}UM<=}
3   Sharp reply on wrongful action (6) RETORT {RE}{TORT}
4   Leading actor's time constrained following success till date (8) HITHERTO {HIT}{HER{T}O}
5   Jack's do without adult nonsense (10) TARADIDDLE {TAR}{A}{DIDDLE}
6   Wife's very silly name for monster in arms (6) WYVERN {W}{VERY*}{N}
9   Free of blemishhasn't got ruined in a way (11) UNTARNISHED {HASNT+RUINED}* As per the clue it should be anagram of RUINED in HASN'T?
13 Aspect of displayed colours while mourning? (2,4-4) AT HALF-MAST [CD]
16 Heel reduced limp (8) LISTLESS {LIST}{LESS}
17 This time could be lucky time for senior living (5,3) THIRD AGE {THIRD} {AGE}
18 Shoe tore after bachelor passed up repair (6) BROGAN {B}{R{GO<=}AN}
19 Young swans like to come above some trees (6) ASPENS {AS}{PENS}
22 Ox extinct from planet? Couple of animals left (4) URUS {URanUS}

GRID

Thursday 29 November 2018

No 12484, Thursday 29 Nov 2018, xChequer


ACROSS
7   Little by little oxygen forced inside chest (6) LOWBOY {LOW}{B{O}Y}
8   Exclusive rights to custom location for grave (6) SOLEMN {SOLE}{c...oM}{l...oN}
10 Abrupt in parts when coming to the end (8) CURTAINS {CURT}{A{IN}S}
11 More elegant for a uniform fix (6) NEUTER NE(-a+u)UTER
12 Paper trial (5) ESSAY [DD]
14 Playboy founder releasing new films, sex turning more substantial (7) HEFTIER {HEFn{IT<=}ER}
15 Police caught crook leaving small stunt for challenging affair (5,3,2,5) TOUGH NUT TO CRACK  {CAUGHT+CROOK+sTUNT}*  Police is anagram indicator?
18 Domestic national well out of borders, remains at large here (7) CHARNEL {CHAR}{N}{wELl}
19 Might and right surrounding ordinary civic official (5) MAYOR {MAY}{O}{R}
20 Informed about pair liberated from jail (6) SPRUNG {S{PR}UNG}
21 Dandy on the whole? That's right (4,4) ALLS WELL {ALL}{SWELL}
23 Small setback in position play (6) LEEWAY {L{WEE<=}AY}
24 Account of soldier in retreat, heart-rending (6) REPORT TROoPER<=

DOWN
1   Intimate lines in a mixed duet on love (6,2) ALLUDE TO {LL} in {A+DUET}*{O}
2   Pulls up a bookworm (4) SWOT <=
3   Day providing modest gains for index (6) CODIFY {CO{D}{IF}Y}
4   Seesaw for a daughter, not unusual (2,3,3) TO AND FRO {FOR+A+D+NOT}*
5   Oddly cruel play beginning to irritate fans (10) PECULIARLY {CRUEL+PLAY+I}*
6   Draw needing boundary, no aspiration to try (6) ENDEAR {END}{hEAR}
9   Criminal rich at least savvy? (2,4,5) IS THAT CLEAR*
13 Giant wheels bound to go round with special endorsements (10) SIGNATURES {S{GIANT*}URE}{S}
16 Established norm again discounted by one in mass, one in a billion (8) NANOGRAM {NORM+AGAiN}*
17 Allowed in entertainment performance but essentially barred in bands (8) CIRCLETS {CIRCu{LET}S}
18 A dock raised under copper furnace (6) CUPOLA {CU}{A+LOP<=}
19 Must calm partners (6) MILDEW {MILD}{EW}
22 Court finally approved deal for one (4) WOOD {WOO}{a...eD}

GRID

Wednesday 28 November 2018

No 12483, Wednesday 28 Nov 2018, Vulcan


ACROSS
1   Temper tantrums one displayed in matches (11) TOURNAMENTS*
8   Dispose of mobile phone, say (4) SELL (~cell)
9   Single shoe, one without the second in store (5-5) STAND-ALONE {S{sTore}ANDAL}{ONE}
10 It's wound in gold, by the way (6) OBITER {O{BITE}R}
11 Stopped to embrace in bed (7) BLOCKED {B{LOCK}ED}
13 To be always within a certain limit? At no time (9) NEVERMORE N{EVER}MORE Anno pending
15 Rowdy perhaps would demand this (5) DOWRY* Semi&lit
16 Group having tea at home (5) CHAIN {CHA}{IN} 'Secure' yesterday is 'Group' today!!
18 Fungus that's rare maybe (9) EARTHSTAR*
22 Politician appearing in real time broadcast (7) TRUMPET {TRU{MP}E}{T}
23 Mistakes uncommon, rare with army (6) ERRATA {RARE}*{TA}
26 This drug, Ecstasy, starting to react, must hurt badly (5,5) TRUTH SERUM {E+React+MUST+HURT}*
27 Composition of top users (4) OPUS [T]
28 Took advantage of a disciple, tantric leader a phoney (11) CAPITALISED {A+DISCIPLE+Ta...c+A}*

DOWN
1   Rock artist's outro in high voice (7) TREMBLE [DD?]
2   Section kept/left dark (5) UNLIT {UN{L}IT}
3   No way this drink is a remedy (7) NOSTRUM {NO}{ST}{RUM}
4   Hostile, say (4) MEAN [DD]
5   Head led out after salute (6) NODDLE {NOD}{LED*}
6   Indecent American, a social misfit basically (9) SALACIOUS {A+SOCIAL}*{US}
7   Engage target listener (6) ENDEAR {END}{EAR}
12 Indian rebel leader held during protest (5) GROAN {G{Re..l}OAN}
14 Mysterious one with magnetic waves (9) ENIGMATIC {1+MAGNETIC}*
17 Capital of Hungary, a fine city (6) HARARE {Hu...y}{A}{RARE}
19 Either Malibu is somewhat hot or warm (7) THERMAL [T]
20 A perfect time to enter and surprise (7) ASTOUND {A}{S{T}OUND}
21 Raises after one takes 6 games! (4,2) SETS UP [DD]
24 Heritage roads announced (5) ROOTS (~routes)
25 Daring rituals that display courage (4) GRIT [T]

GRID

Tuesday 27 November 2018

No 12482, Tuesday 27 Nov 2018, Anon


ACROSS
1   Fight, cautiously at first, with headless marsupial (6) COMBAT {Ca...y}{wOMBAT}
4   Sign up for core agency with form (6) ENLIST {agENcy}{LIST}
9   Essential oil erases trace of lint from church (4) ATAR AlTAR I thought it was ATTAR?
10 Notice of official’s run (10) ADMINISTER {AD}{MINISTER}
11 Mexico’s national flower for Wooster’s aunt (6) DAHLIA [DD]
12 Most untidy doctor sees diet (8) SEEDIEST*
13 Rebel met apsara with artificial sweetener (9) ASPARTAME*
15 Endlessly regretting system’s initial damages (5) RUINS {RUINg}{Sy...m}
16 Stableboy goes first, returns from heath (5) GROOM {Goes}{MOOR<=}
18 Duped by game of journalist (9) SNOOKERED {SNOOKER}{ED}
22 On duty, apes, tipsy, did not go to bed (6,2) STAYED UP*
23 Certificate to indicate alien (6) TICKET {TICK}{ET}
25 Oddly, Im muscular in effigy (10) SIMULACRUM*
26 Snakes pass all over the place (4) ASPS*
27 Regularly warn those people of song (6) ANTHEM {wArN}{THEM}
28 Pineapple fruits without origin (6) ANANAS bANANAS

DOWN
1   Hack girl with weapon (7) CUTLASS {CUT}{LASS}
2   Remove initial stain from bit of mushroom (5) MOREL MORsEL
3   First man, insect stubborn (7) ADAMANT {ADAM}{ANT}
5   Behead tenants violently at French city (6) NANTES tENANTS*
6   Set up conservatory (9) INSTITUTE [DD]
7   The primary cause of betrayal (7) TREASON {The}{REASON}
8   Cook makes menu part of funfair (9,4) AMUSEMENT PARK*
14 Newspaper columnist, young, at an organisation (5,4) AGONY AUNT*
17 Wine head sommelier wrapped in tissue layer (7) RETSINA {RET{So...r}INA}
19 Footstool for Turk (7) OTTOMAN [DD]
20 Dismisses former eccentric temps (7) EXEMPTS {EX}{TEMPS}*
21 Envisage single male finally in engagement (6) IDEATE {1}{D{malE}ATE}
24 Secure tea at home (5) CHAIN {CHA}{IN}

GRID

Monday 26 November 2018

No 12481, Monday 26 Nov 2018, Lightning


ACROSS
8    Illusion somehow makes don faithfully represent society (5,3,7) SMOKE AND MIRRORS {MAKES+DON}* {MIRROR}{S}
9    To influence retiring salesman, used a trick (8) PERSUADE {REP<=}{USED+A}*
10 Held back battered, neglected male for one (6) GENDER [T<=]
11 Contracts demand rings because security’s foremost (9) DECREASES {DECRE{AS}E}{Se...y}
12 Child caught in Mumbai suburb (5) SCION {S{C}ION}
15 Makeshift spinner penetrating batsman’s core space (7) STOPGAP {batSman}{TOP}{GAP}
17 German managed a district attorney in this province (7) GRANADA {G}{RAN}{A}{DA}
19 Southern trading place is expensive (5) SMART {S}{MART}
20 It could flutter by after morphing (9) BUTTERFLY* &lit
23 Excellent and right introductory book (6) PRIMER {PRIME}{R}
25 Temporary worker (not new) at established concern (8) INTEREST {INTERn}{EST}
26 Brew drink today, charm everyone (3,4,3,5) TOM DICK AND HARRY*

DOWN
1    A parliamentarian before becoming a physicist (6) AMPERE {A}{MP}{ERE}
2    Engineer scraps key recipe for tall building (10) SKYSCRAPER {SCRAPS+KEY}*{R}
3    A gent nearly sped after animal on sailboat (9) CATAMARAN {CAT}{A}{MAn}{RAN}
4    Conformed with total around this place (7) ADHERED {AD{HERE}D}
5    Keen and desperate to catch last song (5) DIRGE {DIR{sonG}E}
6    One fled to this country (4) IRAN {1}{RAN}
7    Complimentary supply of sponge (8) FREELOAD {FREE}{LOAD}
13 Rejecting popular opinion, ran car into building (10) CONTRARIAN*
14 Feeling thankful that class admitted bird first up (9) GRATITUDE {GRA{TIT}{Up}DE}
16 Medical officer interrupted to mostly fret about the next day (8) TOMORROW {TO}{MO}{WORRy<=}
18 Surprisingly claims university of Chicago for one (7) MUSICAL {CLAIMS}*{U}
21 Saint trapped by temptation of splendour and glory (6) LUSTRE {LU{ST}RE}
22 Bishop with people’s support (5) BRACE {B}{RACE}
24 Fashion design left out (4) MODE MODEl

GRID

Sunday 25 November 2018

The Sunday Crossword No 3023, Sunday 25 Nov 2018


ACROSS
1   Old man without hesitation seizing power, extremely revolutionary in a way (8) FOOTPATH {F{TOO<=}{P}ATHer}
5   Stop talking about large cougar being around (4,2) CLAM UP {C}{L}{PUMA<=}
9   Intermittently popular, proper French novelist gets going (2,4,3,6) IN FITS AND STARTS {IN}{FIT}{SAND}{STARTS}
11 Ace breaking record for circuit (3) LAP {L{A}P}
12 Insider felt prepared to be most sociable (11) FRIENDLIEST*
13 Face villain with no right to make conversation (8) DIALOGUE {DIAL}{rOGUE}
14 In dystopia nothing's soft (5) PIANO [T]
17 Easy match (5) LIGHT [DD]
19 Dock in area of land next to reserve (8) SUBTRACT {SUB}{TRACT}
22 Dinosaur hoax, not last, best in ages (11) TRICERATOPS {TRICk}{ERA{TOP}S}
24 Diamonds seen in circlet, regularly spaced (3) ICE cIrClEt
25 Gift having adverse consequences once policies had changed (8,7) POISONED CHALICE*
26 Problem with French name, turning page (6) SUMMON {SUM}{NOM<=}
27 Posted cutting when editor agreed (8) ASSENTED {SENT} in {AS}{ED}

DOWN
1   Flutter about feeling pretty (6) FAIRLY {F{AIR}LY}
2   Bad time of year for litter (9) OFFSPRING {OFF}{SPRING}
3   Sad soul, so lost, with hollow uncertainty ahead (7) PITIFUL  {PIT}{IF}{soUL}
4   Aim to protect delta and develop industrial area (7,6)  TRADING ESTATE {TRA{D}IN}{GESTATE}
6   Revealed skill finally on northward ski run, keeping in line (3,4) LET SLIP {s..lL}{PI{L}STE<=}
7   Good in lake and pool (5) MERGE {MER{G}E}
8   Is work lifted and shifted into place? (8) POSITION {IS}{OP}<={INTO*}
10 Study part of speech with vicious scorn about love for American football team (6,7) DENVER BRONCOS {DEN}{VERB}{RONC{O}S*}
15 Keeper of records in vault, one with endless view (9) ARCHIVIST {ARCH}{1}{VISTa}
16 Mammal, a tailless sort – positive about that? (8) PLATYPUS {PL{A}{TYPe}US}
18 Doctor in new role after time identifying quivering effect (7)  TREMOLO {T}{RE{MO}LO*}
20 Lean period present again in dramatic form (7) RESTAGE {REST}{AGE}
21 Part of journey with purpose in story (6) LEGEND {LEG}{END}
23 One not clear about old expression (5) IDIOM {1}{DI{O}M}

GRID

Saturday 24 November 2018

No 12480, Saturday 24 Nov 2018, Scintillator

Double the pleasure today 

Across

1. Bright brothers restricted by age minimum (6) GEMINI (T)
4. Leave in university continues (2,6) UP STICKS {UP}{STICKS }
9. Like slithery snakes shedding temporary skin (6) RELISH {SLItHERy*}
10. Fit to fight? Got extremely hurt and made friends (3,2,3) HIT IT OFF {FIT+TO+FIgHt*} Anno ok?
12. Plates in a meal being arranged, takes a bit long (8) LAMELLAE {A+MEAL*} around {ELL}
13. Margin of order placed for purchase (6) INDENT (DD)
15. Close relative checking out Florida, a show-off (4) AUNT {flAUNT}
16. Just became stronger and ready for action (8-2) BUTTONED-UP {BUT}{TONED UP}
19. Henry could also be shifted to a co-ed (4,6) DUAL SCHOOL {H+COULD+ALSO*}
20. Hawk ripped heartlessly (4) SPIT {SPlIT}
23. A fraud, because of whom the bell tolls? (6) RINGER (DD)
25. Part of Salt Lake City with heroin in circulation (8) CHLORINE {L+C+HEROIN*}
27. Condensed peaks near Ural Ranges (8) CAPSULAR {CAPS}{URAL*}
28. Prominent display of special Vibhuti? (6) SPLASH {SPL}{ASH}
29. Brutal Germany annexing Luxembourg to be protected (8) SALVAGED {SA{L}VAGE}{D}
30. Celebrity jumping in glee and losing face (6) LEGEND {GLEE*}{aND}

Down

1. Monkey violence mostly not present in Bengaluru? (7) GORILLA {GORe}{ILLA}
2. I am a lone male, nurturing an irrational love for music (9) MELOMANIA {I+AM+A+LONE+M*}
3. Some on the ascendancy felt sensational and snug (6) NESTLE (T<=)
5. Odd pieces of replica make one (4) PAIR {RePlIcA*}
6. Model securing victory with matching clothes (8) TWINNING {T}{WINNING}
7. Cc. to a biologist? (5) CLONE (Defn by example+CD)
8. Easy to perform better than a convertible (4,3) SOFT TOP {SOFT}{TOP}
11. Plastic cup, each with a cover (7) CAPUCHE {CUP+EACH*}
14. Decrease in size of a prize (7) ATROPHY {A}{TROPHY}
17. Identical citadel built on high parts (9) DUPLICATE {UP} in {CITADEL*}
18. It is a flowering plant, according to heads of US Landing Agency (8) ASPERULA {AS PER}{Us}{Landing}{Agency}

19. Some capital under malicious credit orders (7) DIRECTS {CREDIT*}{Some}
21. Got some cutters? (7) TEETHED (CD)
22. Link from timeless Kural (6) COUPLE {COUPLEt}
24. Neighbour and friend bridge opponents at the forefront (5) NEPAL {NE}{PAL}
26. Game over for Anand, possibly (4) MATE (CD)

Reference List

University=UP, Florida=Fl, Lake=L, City=C, Special=Spl, Germany=D, Luxembourg=L
Not present in Bangalore=Illa, Male=M, Model=T, Time=T, Bridge Opponents=NE

Colour/Font Scheme

DefinitionSolutionComponent lettersEmbedded linksTheme word Anagram IndicatorC/C indicatorReversal IndicatorHidden word IndicatorLetter Pick indicatorDeletion IndicatorHomophone IndicatorMovement IndicatorPositional IndicatorSubstitution, IndicatorLink/Connector, Extraneous

Friday 23 November 2018

No 12479, Friday 23 Nov 2018, Incognito


RULES FOR POSTING ON FRIDAY ONLY
All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or 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 in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only 

The regular blog will replace the clues at 2 PM.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS
8   Sign of boredom way back north (4) YAWN {WAY<=}{N}
9   Clever sepoy concealed some poetry (5) VERSE [T]
10 Famous composer, after loss of vegetable and some herb, got kitchen equipment (4) OVEN (beet)(h)OVEN
11 Female gangster studies, after losing sight initially, a bird (6) FALCON {F}{AL}{CONs}
12 Boffin, after leaving India, covers final part of rocket launch (5-3) BLAST-OFF {BOFFin} over {LAST}
13 Detaining, without a circular, person who is impecunious (8) INDIGENT DETaINING*
15 Madness when peacekeepers hide in web-like surroundings (6) LUNACY {L{UN}ACY}
17 Alien mixed gin after golfer's warning (7) FOREIGN {FORE}{GIN}*
19 According to judges, it was false testimony (7) PERJURY {PER}{JURY}
22 Tie Lawrence with the rope in the beginning (6) TETHER {TE}{THE}{Rope}
24 Type of movie where you are likely to observe shooting stars (4,4) WILD WEST [CD]
26 Hear egg yellow, egg, meat and a bit of albumen's packed together for Japanese city (8) YOKOHAMA (~yolk){YOK}{O}{HAM}{Al...n}
28 Group of stars happy going round Los Angeles airport (6) GALAXY {GA{LAX}Y}
30 Nothing more than a lake (4) MERE [DD]
31 Animal that may become brazen with neutering, at first (5) ZEBRA BRAZEn* [CA]
32 Vivacity of antelope (not dead) (4) ELAN ELANd

DOWN
1   Monk's proclamation, to some extent (4) LAMA [T]
2   At home, hack and engrave (8) INSCRIBE {IN}{SCRIBE}
3   Show interest in evidence after central characters have gone (6) EVINCE EVIdeNCE
4   Establish validity of a will by public relations officer, being acceptable testamentary evidence, at first (7) PROBATE Acrostic
5   The Jackal's targetColonel Motors (2,6) DE GAULLE [DD]
6   Not now! Return Chinese dumpling (6) WONTON {NOT}{NOW}<=
7   Bovine meat complaint (4) BEEF [DD]
14 Not a single person is numero uno, in short (2,3) NO ONE {No 1}
16 Automobiles with embedded diamonds are playthings (5) CARDS {CAR{D}S}
18 Reclusive actress went around Australia and New Zealand for getting chickpea (8) GARBANZO {GARB{A}{NZ}O}
20 Gem dealer's Hebrew measure used with hesitation (8) JEWELLER {JEW}{ELL}{ER}
21 Wholeheartedly believe in curse bYankee at first (5,2) SWEAR BY {SWEAR} {By}{Ya...e}
23 Ex-chief of FBI's Head Office? Finished! (6) HOOVER {HO}{OVER}
25 Seemingly irresolvable situation caused by putting timber on top of preserve (6) LOGJAM {LOG}{JAM}
27 Follow order by end of day (4) OBEY {OBE}{daY}
29 Rontgen radiation's cross beam (1-3) X-RAY {X}{RAY}

GRID

Thursday 22 November 2018

No 12478, Thursday 22 Nov 2018, Incognito


Who's going to win Carlsen or Caruana?

ACROSS
8   Game snow leopard prowled, sparing wandering wardens (4) POLO {snOw+LeOPard}*
9   Greek character's programme in Karnataka (5) KAPPA {K{APP}A}
10 Russian in Tel Aviv answered (4) IVAN [T]
11 Stirring, two kiss endlessly ... that's one way to get up (3,3) SKI TOW {{TWO+KISs}*
12 Ninth cog is broken — results in making marks on wood (8) NOTCHING*
13 Son captures vehicle with Royal Air Force unit (8) SQUADRON {S{QUAD}{R}ON}
15 A pal is confused about animal (6) ALPACA {A+PAL}*{CA}
17 Why late? Worried? That's rich! (7) WEALTHY*
19 Wants of French fathers (7) DESIRES {DE}{SIRES}
22 Finally dark, dark part of the day for titled man (6) KNIGHT {darK}{NIGHT}
24 Order cattle head (8) NEATNESS {NEAT}{NESS}
26 Croon about monarch and a parliamentarian trying to cut expenses (8) SKIMPING {S{K}{1}{MP}ING}
28 See! Copper has manuscript backups (6) LOCUMS {LO}{CU}{MS}
30 Against soldier at beginning of insurgency (4) ANTI {ANT}{In...y}
31 Modem merchant stores foodgrain (5) EMMER [T]
32 Sub-machine gun returned in practice areas (4) NETS <=

DOWN
1   Castle bird (4) ROOK [DD]
2   Number of people entering Foreign Office with book before autumn in the U.S. (8) FOOTFALL {FO}{OT}{FALL}
3   Lance Naik finally ends up in drain (6) SKEWER {S{naiK}EWER}
4   1 to 27-4, for example? (7) OPENING [CD]
5   Carry witch before commencement of Easter in old place (8) CARTHAGE {CART}{HAG}{Ea...r}
6   Live — I hear — and do marketing for church functionary (6) BISHOP (~be){BI}{SHOP}
7   Father, wife and last sonwhat they might do at uncle's place? (4) PAWN {PA}{W}{soN}
14 27's 29? Question English Earl first! (5) QUEEN {QU}{E}{EN}
16 Revolutionary is chased by paramilitary force? It's just a war game (5) CHESS {CHE}{SS}
18 Dedicated telephone connections arranged in hotels (8) HOTLINES*
20 Bar gets zero money? Not guilty! (8) INNOCENT {INN}{0}{CENT}
21 Badly need to cover magazine returned for final stage of competition (7) ENDGAME {END{MAG<=}E*}
23 Good scope for plan (6) GAMBIT {G}{AMBIT}
25 Everyone at old place initially exuded attraction (6) ALLURE {ALL}{UR}{Ex...d}
27 Family girl gets the Crown, perhaps (4) KING {KIN}{G}
29 Couple's friend (4) MATE [DD]

GRID

Wednesday 21 November 2018

No 12477, Wednesday 21 Nov 2018, Neyartha


ACROSS
7   People in the community enjoy silence after getting into the quarry from the east (8) TOWNSHIP {T{OWN}{SH}IP<=}
9   Threw a party after the daughter turned left to get to the student housing (6) HOSTEL HOSTE(-d+l)L
10 Money from Armenia to persuade the employment of a model by a playwright (10) DRAMATURGE {DRAM}{A}{T}{URGE}
11 Letters from Arun touching upon an archaic preposition (4) UNTO [T]
12 Revolutionary behind the shortened ending for a series (2,2) ET AL LATEr <= ?
13 Ridicules the hoarding of a fastener after carbon removal provides byproducts (4-4) SPIN-OFFS {Sc{PIN}OFFS}
16 Early adjustment to welcome a princess with ease (7) READILY {REA{DI}LY*}
18 Encourage the Irish website to invite the partners ahead of the cutback (7) INSPIRE {I{NS}{RIP<=}E}
20 Pastry with miniatures mashed up to get rid of an inert gas (8) TIRAMISU MInIATUReS*
21 Hole reported in a vegetable (4) LEEK (~leak)
23 Lock the shacks after the son reaches the entrance (4) SHUT (+s)SHUT(-s)
24 Bishop troubles dumb racer to get the inner parts of a loaf (10) BREADCRUMB {B}{DUMB+RACER}*
25 Visit a holiday destination's temporary accommodation (6) RESORT [DD]
26 Energy conversion consuming the rhenium in the vegetation (8) GREENERY {G{RE}ENERY*}

DOWN
1   Kangaroo? That's bogus! (5) COURT [CD]
2   Excited duck inside a container providing entertainment using multiple picture frames (8,7) ANIMATED CARTOON {ANIMATED {CART{O}ON}
3   Persecute the journalists behind the trimmed rope (7) OPPRESS {rOPe}{PRESS}
4   Bridge player making Rao go away from a protest to get a dairy product (4) GHEE GHE(+e-rao}E
5   Hero's upended pie mashed to obtain a drug ingredient (15) PSEUDOEPHEDRINE*
6   Biconvex design of a fern lot occupied by a single male (9) LENTIFORM {1} in {FERN+LOT}*{M}
8   Echo teleprompter's contents in a temporary accommodation (5) HOTEL [T]
14 Indian naxalite networks' leaders get a temporary accommodation (3) INN Acrostic
15 Ignorant society girl gets upset after the inclusion of a number to entertain the Pole (9) BENIGHTED {B{E{N}IGHT}ED<=}
17 Place in recital for a flower arrangement (3) LEI (~lay)
19 Time to call in a ride-hailing service to get to a temporary accommodation (7) AUBERGE {A{UBER}GE}
21 Get caught in temporary accommodation (5) LODGE [DD]
22 Abrasive mineral got out of Euclid's province (5) EMERY gEoMEtRY
24 Sound that's easily remembered (4) BITE [CD?]

GRID

Tuesday 20 November 2018

No 12476, Tuesday 20 Nov 2018, Buzzer


ACROSS
6   Afraid Lost Diadem's hiding a bit of You-Know-Who (8) DISMAYED {DISMA{Yo...o}ED*}
9   Tea and sympathy at first for couples (6) CHAINS {CHAI}{'N}{Sy...y}
10 Favourite local denizen of Europe (4) FINN {F}{INN}
11 Shining one going off like a signal when stopping (5,5) BRAKE LIGHT {BR{LIKE+A}*iGHT} Semi&lit
12 Word for silence that's anagram of itself! (6) STIFLE*
14 Opposed to guards trashing half of island (7) ANTIGUA {ANTI}{GUArds}
15 Being convivial, to some downright silly (2,4,5,4) ON GOOD TERMS WITH*
18 Not oddly superb in ring, one at the receiving end of stick (3,4) CUE BALL {C{sUpErB}ALL}
20 Happy and steady runs for good solver (6) JOYOUS {JO(-g+you)YOUS}
22 Fashionable diva greets with jumper in a rock concert (5-5) STAGE-DIVER*
23 Way indifference is shown by not taking sides (4) PATH aPATHy
24 Tries Ecstasy — it transports people into another world (6) HEARSE {HEARS}{E}
25 Charity club member on-air at orphanage overwhelmed on reflection (8) ROTARIAN [T<=]

DOWN
1   'Ladies only' sign? (4) OMEN {O}{MEN}
2   Foodstuff be dreary to bake (3,5) RYE BREAD*
3   Not say no to say except (6) ACCEPT (~except)
4   Speaking out in Latin, a habit that is reducing (6,4) TAKING AWAY {TAlKING}{A}{WAY}
5   As a whole caught man red-handed (2,3,3) IN THE ACT {INT{HE}ACT}
7   Stupid one. Drinking Iodine (5) IDIOT {1}{D{I}OT} . = dot
8   Mudrawave I love ritualistically covered in mask (4,1,4,4) DRAW A VEIL OVER [T]
13 Wedding helper will for e.g. cast around roses primarily (6,4) FLOWER GIRL {WILL+FOR+EG}* over {Ro..s}
16 New and cool Bond's fine points (8) NICETIES {N}{ICE}{TIES}
17 More than half coming of age (8) MAJORITY [DD]
19 Article depicted to make name for a man (6) ANDREW {AN}{DREW}
21 Fanatic, unorthodox ritual, one needing sacrifice (5) ULTRA RiTUAL*
23 A grand benefit (4) PERK {PER}{K}

GRID

Monday 19 November 2018

No 12475, Monday 19 Nov 2018, Arden


ACROSS
1   Arrange first class cricket match with friendly sides (6) CODIFY {Cl..s}{ODI}{Fr...lY}
4   Herb set off on a marathon, nothing came out of it (8) AMARANTH {A}{MARATHoN}*
10 Instrument of settlement, no one opposed (9) ACCORDION {ACCORD}{NO 1<=}
11 More to come in the next transaction (5) EXTRA [T]
12 Berry managed to stop short (7) CURRANT {CUR{RAN}T}
13 Fool's blunder, no force to attack (7) ASSAULT {ASS}{fAULT}
14 Marie replaced plant (5) RAMIE*
15 Embarrassed US central bank left in a hurry, according to Spooner (3-5) RED-FACED (-f+r)RED(-r+f)FACED
18 Supply at random to a resident in Australia (8) PLATYPUS*
20 Child separates mineral pigment (5) OCHRE {O{CH}RE}
23 Loft at the back of the boat — mostly has crayfish (7)  LOBSTER {LOB}{STERn}
25 Celebrate inclusion of one in the list (7) ROISTER {RO{1}STER}
26 Refuse to fight (5) SCRAP [DD]
27 May be lie detector missed it, gives one a shock (9) ELECTRODE {LiE+DEtECTOR}*
28 Accept enamelled metalware, with value addition (8) TOLERATE {TOLE}{RATE}
29 Entry tax accompanies bill (6)  ACCESS {AC}{CESS}

DOWN
1   It's risky taking Queen to court... (8) CHANCERY {CHANC{ER}Y}
2   ...only after a month? It's strange etiquette (7) DECORUM {DEC}{O}{RUM}
3   Business meant to develop under the sky (9) FIRMAMENT {FIRM}{MEANT}*
5   Lament for bananas (6,8) MENTAL DISORDER {LAMENT}* [RA]
6   Staggers films (5) REELS [DD]
7   Practice British English, it's part of Japanese get up (7) NETSUKE {NETS}{UK}{E}
8   Home on high ground (6) HEARTH {H}{EARTH}
9   Vision is 20/20, it's flawless (7,7) PICTURE PERFECT [CD]
16 Mostly worry about it escalating, could start becoming combative (9) AGONISTIC {AGONISe}{IT<=}{Co..d}
17 The French, in looks are unique (8) PEERLESS {PEER{LES}S}
19 May be reliable, no point being broad-minded (7) LIBERAL RELIABLe*
21 Strike a chord perhaps within, not counting wife (3,4) HIT HOME {H{wITH}OME} (Addendum - {wITH}*{HOME} - See comments)
22 Confine and forfeit court case (6) CLOSET {C{LOSE}T}
24 It comes to a point of hungry tiger eating monkey (5) TAPER {Tige{APE}R}

GRID

Sunday 18 November 2018

Special, Sunday 18 Nov 2018, Avtaar


Three answers as usual till 6 PM. (Annotations compulsory)
Please provide all your answers in one comment.


ACROSS
1   Jerry and Tom abandon old English city (6)
4   Bird stealing cousin’s jacket (8)
9   Will I not get peace? (6)
10 Sexy star is dancing thus, starting to take off  (3,5)
11 Want to distribute drink bottles for an Illegal trader ?  (5,9)
13 Their fans follow their footsteps, maybe? (3,7)
14 Part of the Bible briefly reviewed in eight sections (4)
16 This is needed for cultivating rice and wheat, essentially (4)
18 Don’t switch off iPads-observe closely  (4,4,2)
21 Moved around, scribes virtually had to make excessive adjustments (14)
23 A church is razed in Baluchistan’s unsettled capital (8)
24 Desert wind is retreating with low sun on the Eastern border (6)
25 Truck driver in New York “Cha, sir? I will be going out” (8)
26 Some shrug and accept this state (6)

DOWN
1   Mao set limits for nearly everyone (4)
2   Boat’s observation point with small room on top (7)
3   Tyrant’s gold – two carats – was broken and removed (8)
5   Introduction dropped from our paper about self-esteem (5-6)
6   It is karma, not a silly mistake (6)
7   Reportedly inexperienced, curt doctors (7)
8   Extremely slim female? I want her any which way (5-4)
12 Ridiculously simple combination of speech, data entry and navigation devices (6-5)
13 Killer’s slip is revealed in empty threat (9)
15 Annoying, hard, fish-eating idiot (8)
17 Sloth in Eritrea shreds trimmed leaves after it gets up (7)
19 Record day in South Eastern settlement (3,4)
20 Vessel’s filled with ice-cream cakes (6)
22 Humming bird from China’s borders (4)

Across Lite version can be accessed at AVTAAR 3

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword No 3022, Sunday 18 Nov 2018


ACROSS
1   Family doctor, popular person who's most important (7) KINGPIN {KIN}{GP}{IN}
5   Own son breaking model steamship (7) POSSESS {PO{S}SE}{SS}
9   Pioneer prepared to accept very soft pizza topping (9) PEPPERONI {PE{PP}ERONI*}
10 Letter for example retained by old mother (5) OMEGA {O}{M{EG}A}
11 Service, apart from last quarter, all the same (4,2) EVEN SO EVENSOng
12 Start moving occasion with procedure to establish attendance (4,4) ROLL CALL {ROLL}{CALL}
14 One demanding power in wild talk for once receiving resistance (7,5) CONTROL FREAK {R} in {TALK+FOR+ONCE}*
17 Pompous person, with material beginning to expose scandal, keeping quiet (7,5) STUFFED SHIRT {STUFF}{Ex...e}{D{SH}IRT}
20 Substandard data about terrain omitting odd features? Right (8) INFERIOR {INF{tErRaIn}O}{R}
21 Man felt free from boundaries in place of worship (6) CHAPEL {CHAP}{fELt}
23 Once more in Narnia, gather round (5) AGAIN [T<=]
24 Profanity? Wise to restrain cold anger (9) SACRILEGE {SA{C}{RILE}GE}
25 Be revolutionary in speculation, losing nothing as a result of that (7) THEREBY {THEoR{BE<=}Y}
26 Break line between west and east in struggle (7) WRESTLE {W}{REST}{L}{E}

DOWN
1   Captain releasing small fish (6) KIPPER sKIPPER
2   Relative conclusions of Einstein accurate? What a relief (6) NEPHEW {e...eN}{a...tE}{PHEW}
3   Singular fraud upset arbiter in attendance for meeting with journalists (5,10) PRESS CONFERENCE {PRES{S}{CON}{REF<=}ENCE}
4   Retreat certainly not all right (4) NOOK {NO}{OK}
5   Playing solo, hippy capturing hearts with outlook (10) PHILOSOPHY {SOLO+HIPPY}* over {H}
6   Having many options impaired intensity, group of singers mostly admitted (6,3,6) SPOILT FOR CHOICE {SPOILT}{FOR{CHOIr}CE}
7   Ecstatic about electronic volume being raised (8) ELEVATED {EL{E}{V}ATED}
8   Note king in decline after start of scene in ballet (4,4) SWAN LAKE {Sc..e}{WAN{LA}{K}E}
13 Poor soul consumed by duty is working diligently (10) STUDIOUSLY {SOUL}* in {DUTY+IS}*
15 Candidate with dodgy past going round nation (8) ASPIRANT {ASP{IRAN}T*}
16 Franchise hurt, losing energy over time (8) SUFFRAGE {SUFFeR}{AGE}
18 Scoff after United lead, being optimistic (6) UPBEAT {U}{PB}{EAT}
19 Run away from church and cheat (6) FLEECE {FLEE}{CE}
22 Boat in sea initially north of Guernsey? (4) SCOW {Sea}{COW}

GRID

Saturday 17 November 2018

No 12474, Saturday 17 Nov 2018, Arden


Across

9. Still it's hard on us to break in (7) HOWEVER {H}{O{WE}VER}
10. One enters a rambling castle, stretching far (7) ELASTIC {I} in {CASTLE*}
11. Feel nervous and tense — bad ball, ends in wide (7) TWIDDLE {T}{WID{baD}{balL}E}
12. Country road ran straight (7) ANDORRA {ROAD+RAN*}
13. Nightdress is short, not to lose heart regardless (9) NEGLIGENT {NEGLIGEe}{NoT}
15. Feeling bad the verdict ignored the law (5) RUING {RUlING}
16. Language to follow incognito (7) TAGALOG {TAG ALOnG} Incognito = Without name
19. Reject — refuse to allow what listener desired (7) YEARNED {Y{EAR}NED<=}
20. Remove the French car parked outside (5) CLEAR {C{LE}AR}
21. He cares about grabbing gold, you can bet on it (9) RACEHORSE {HE+CARES*} around {OR}
25. Do chemical analysis on bird, rodent and lastly algae (7) TITRATE {TIT}{RAT}{algaE}
26. A doctor breaks fast, becomes bright (7) LAMBENT {L{A}{MB}ENT}
28. Crab apple trees lose sap become full (7) REPLETE {apPLE+TREEs*}
29. Smoke puts leading man in bed (7) CHEROOT {C{HERO}OT}

Down

1. Restriction over basic accommodation in country (6) BHUTAN {B{HUT}AN}
2. Fussing over him makes fellow run for cover (6) AWNING {fAWNING}
3. Keen to promote the lead singer (4) AVID {DIVA<=}
4. Told to free moving parts on land (6) GREECE {~GREASE}
5. Stillroom for education to be incorporated in this (8) PEDANTRY {P{ED}ANTRY} &lit
6. Run after losing more hair cover — It doesn't make sense (10) BALDERDASH {BALDER}{DASH}
7. Straightens out, but not the house (4,4) STAR SIGN {STRAIGhteNS*}
8. Extremely sadistic to be teased and beaten up (8) SCRAGGED {SadistiC}{RAGGED}
14. What's supposed to happen, and what actually happened to one in government hospitals (3-7) ILL TREATED (CD)
16. It's understood — one who retains the Ashes will be withdrawn (8) TACITURN {TACIT}{URN}
17. The Orang-utan will eat fruit found outdoors (5,3) GREAT APE {GR{EAT} APE}
18. Collected paperback, need to allow reading (8) GARNERED {RAG<=}{NE{R}ED}
22. Material about coil rewinding (6) CALICO {CA}{COIL*}
23. Drink up, it's alright for a horny brute (6) REEBOK {BEER<=}
24. Property close to home, say (6) ESTATE {homE}{STATE}
27. Come face to face with setter's picture (4) MEET {ME}{ET}


Reference List

On=Over, Us=We, One=I, Tense=T, Law=L, The French=Le, Gold=Or, Doctor=MB
Education=Ed, Reading=R, About-Ca, Setter=Me, Picture=ET

Colour/Font Scheme

DefinitionSolutionComponent lettersEmbedded linksTheme word Anagram IndicatorC/C indicatorReversal IndicatorHidden word IndicatorLetter Pick indicatorDeletion IndicatorHomophone IndicatorMovement IndicatorPositional IndicatorSubstitution, IndicatorLink/Connector, Extraneous