Satyen Nabar's Sun Spl analysed

Monday, 31 December 2018

No 12511, Monday 31 Dec 2018, xChequer


Some unknown words made xChequer even more devious today. 

ACROSS
7   Badge of honour worn by student scoring twelve points (6) EMBLEM {E{MB{L}E}M} EM/Twelve points? See comments
8   Learnt about bony projection (6) ANTLER*
10 Combat op planned in training centre (4,4) BOOT CAMP*
11 Stand up to work, then sit (6) OPPOSE {OP}{POSE}
12 A complete report on women getting nauseous (5) AWFUL {A}{W}{FUL}(~full)
14 Controlled dog without love showing hostility (7) RANCOUR {RAN}{C{O}UR}
15 Wash face briefly, soften and mix lather (7,8) MEXICAN STANDOFF {FACe+SOFTEN+AND+MIX) Wash?
18 Beastly smell, a public gathering (7) INHUMAN {IN{HUM}{A}N}
19 Downright delicate (5) SHEER [DD]
20 Notice about record came in handy (6) HELPED {HE{LP}ED}
21 Pips from fruit, essentially seed, got after pulping (5,3) EDGES OUT {frUit+SEED+GOT}*
23 Dense one vacuously entertaining old man with question (6) OPAQUE {O}{PA}{QUE} (Addendum - {On{PA}{QU}E} - See comments)
24 Fortune for husband with condition (6) WEALTH (-h+w)WEALTH

DOWN
1   Roll or repeat waffle? (8) PERORATE*
2   Following heart-to-heart, still in touch (4) ABUT {heArt}{BUT}
3   Withdrawal from grounds to follow on (6) RECALL {RE}{CALL} Call/Grounds? See comments
4   Without a passion to pursue, home very much a problem in retirement (8) INSOMNIA {IN}{SO}{MaNIA}
5   Ladle food, pressure-cooked in applesauce (10) FLAPDOODLE {LADLE+FOOD+P}*
6   Rubber cover as ergonomic grip (6) ERASER [T]
9   Performing tenor being one great person, a diva (5,6) OPERA SINGER {GREA(-t+1)1+PERSON}*
13 Set fire to place filling fuel in the course of journey (6,4) FLIGHT PLAN {F{LIGHT}{PL}AN}
16 American suspicion giving way to rage, showing evil spirit (8) A?M?D?U? (Addendum - ASMODEUS {A}{S{MODE}US} - See comments)
17 Out of reach at first usually means uncommunicative (8) FAROUCHE {OF+REACH+Us...y}*
18 Refrigerator that's used to store cold punch (6) ICEBOX {I{C}E}{BOX}
19 Team reportedly expressed disappointment (6) SIGHED (~side)
22 Look after son getting old without company (4) SOLO {S}{O}{LO}

GRID

24 comments:

  1. 16d suspicion: SUS brit informal. Way:MODE A S(MODE)Us

    ReplyDelete
  2. 7AC My take is EM[BL]EM
    where EM=A unit of measurement equal to 12 points and BL=student [bachelor of law]

    ReplyDelete
  3. 15AC I feel the def is LATHER [a state of agitation] which could mean stalemate/deadlock?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wash: to cause to move in circles, repeatedly.

      Delete
    2. So 'wash' is the anind and lather a 'not so satisfactory' def.?

      Delete
  4. 7A E{MB(L)E}M

    Honour= MBE
    worn by= container
    Student= L
    Scoring= insertion (as in cutting)
    Em= 12 points

    ReplyDelete
  5. 3DN Ground=Call
    As per Chambers thesaurus, CALL has the following synonyms:
    demand, market, need, requirement, occasion, cause, excuse, justification, reason, grounds, right, run

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. +1 call:demand/need/reason:grounds as per https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/call

      Delete
  6. 23a I took (vacuosly one OE) O(PA QU)E

    ReplyDelete
  7. 15A Wash (US inf) = outcome or situation in which there is no appreciable gain or loss.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Col.'s byline says it all!
    12A- Is just 'nauseous' the def.? I took it that getting was needed to get W in.
    'full report' is again a tricky usage to get 'ful'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ON is the indicator to show ful comes after W, I think

      Delete
  9. Col.
    For 18A I went to the link of Free dic. given by you, but could not find any ref. to 'hum'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Go right to the bottom of the page. You will find it there

      Delete
  10. Couldn't agree more with col's byline. As tough as it can get. Couldn't get inhuman, asmodeus, farouche. A lot to ponder as the year closes.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you Col. I think I found a synonym.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Replies
    1. +1 and a very prosperous and fulfilling one.

      Delete
  13. Happy New Year to ye- all. May God bless with a peaceful & useful year ahead and beyond.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Opened the New Year with a clean slate. Thanks Doc. Enjoyed the long phrases, as always. Happy New 2019 to you and the family. God bless.

    ReplyDelete

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