HAPPY PONGAL
ACROSS
9 Girl child placed first, gets cup (7) CHALICE {CH}{ALICE}
10 Strange bloke — is a character (7) OBELISK*
11 Make merry, include one in the list (7) ROISTER {RO{1}STER}
12 Snafu affected all pubs (5-2) BALLS-UP*
13 City's refusal to allow girl to enter show (9) BANGALORE {BA{N{GAL}O}RE}
15 Girl is in heaven, time for one to follow (5) HOURI {HOUR}{1}
16 Spirit of power — completely detailed hand book (7) PHANTOM {P}{HAN
19 Removing your heart pain (7) OUSTING {
20 Penguin leaves home, becomes free (5) UNPEG PENGU
21 Cooked with onions only, as in the final mix (9) LYONNAISE {ONLY+AS+IN+
25 Slated to stand scrutiny (7) BERATED {BE}{RATED}
26 Endowing could be late (7) OVERDUE {OVER}{DUE}
28 Objections to enter — Jesus! These Italians! (7) GENOESE {GE{NOES}E}
29 Warne gets wickets, England follow on — brave people (7) SHAWNEE {SHA{W}NE}{E}
DOWN
1 Sign to stop accounts withdrawal (6) SCARAB {BAR}{ACS}<=
2 Country at ten — breaking news (6) NATION {N}{AT}{10}{N}
3 Clue for success without name (4) HINT {HI{N}T}
4 Crazy to work under the dam (6) WEIRDO {WEIR}{DO}
5 Hat is grey half way down (8) SOMBRERO {SOMBRE}{RO
6 Carefully picked parts of Spain (4-6) WELL-CHOSEN
7 Long for our independent state (8) MISSOURI {MISS}{OUR}{I}
8 Not doing exercise (8) SKIPPING [DD]
14 Voice will reach the girl, in full... (10) ALTOGETHER {ALTO}{GET}{HER}
16 ...true, still it's a plant (8) PLUMBAGO {PLUMB}{AGO}
17 A contract to procure shredded paper is evident (8) APPARENT {A}{NT} over {PAPER}*
18 Doctors deal with AIMS to treat these (8) MALADIES {DEAL+AIMS}* Semi&lit
22 Musician sure turns boisterous (6) OBOIST BOIST
23 Immoral to exclude the church — it's an order (6) INDENT INDE
24 Watch over block ring (6) EYELET {EYE}{LET}
27 Style is inherent in Telangana (4) ELAN [T]
GRID
Holiday special at 7 AM tomorrow will be the 13x13 CW used at the IXL-18 finals
ReplyDeleteHappy Pongal!
ReplyDeleteCarefully picked parts of Spain (4-6) WELL-CHOSEN
ReplyDeleteParts of Spain = SPA and IN
SPA = Well, IN = chosen (i.e. elected)
WELL-CHOSEN = Carefully picked
Liked this clue a lot, also OUSTING, BERATED and OVERDUE. Thanks Arden
Great cracking Ramki!
Delete+1
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DeleteWould a modified version also work?
ReplyDeleteA contract to procure shredded is evident (8)
A {PPA} RENT
PPA Power purchase Agreement
Rent-> shredded
��
What is 'shredded' which is to be procured?
DeletePPA for contract? Seems impossible to perceive.
DeleteHappy Pongal !
ReplyDeleteArden - 12A - the answer is vulgar British slang. Should it be used in our crosswords?
ReplyDeleteRita mam neither the Chambers nor online dictionaries threw up the phrase as vulgar. Should it be used?
DeleteIf it hurts anyone's sensibility, no. But a setter is forced to write in some phrase or word due to crossing compulsion.
I thought this was neither vulgar nor demeaning.
Could you please explain 17ac - what is the clue for dropping last letters of . Hand + tome ?
ReplyDeleteDetailed(remove the tail or last letter) indicates that
DeleteThanx.🙂
Delete16d - the only word I didn't get. How do I get ago from still ?
ReplyDeleteStill meaning previously or in the past
DeleteThx
Delete24d- how do you get let from block ?
ReplyDeletePlease explain. Thx
See the link provided in the blog. In fact Col has given many links today! For links The word is underlined
DeleteThx. I didn't know abt the links till today. Now understood. 🙂
DeleteMs.Rita Mathur: I never realized that the word in question would hurt the sensibilities of the solvers. There are certain words which I use in everyday life, especially in some exasperating circumstances without thinking about their meaning. I consider the word in question to be one of those. However, to use them in a published work in a national daily may not be kosher and I accept that. Nor would I hide behind the excuse that such words do crop in some of the leading UK dailies. I offer my sincere apologies for the oversight.
ReplyDeleteI understand totally. And apology accepted wholeheartedly. It didn't offend me in any way, but I did wonder about it. Yes such expressions have become a part of daily conversation and writing!
DeleteHow is contract NT ? (17d)
ReplyDeleteNT stands for No Trump in the card game Bridge
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