ACROSS
1 Community: closer to locality? (6) COLONY {COLON}{l...tY}
4 Impress Middle East coming back to bully (6) EMBOSS {ME<=}{BOSS}
9 Literally impacts, say pronunciation, for starters (4) LISP Acrostic &lit
10 Top honcho, perhaps in Romanian capital with foreign emigrants (10) RINGMASTER {Ro..n}{EMIGRANTS}*
11 Heard snoring in valley's entrance (6) DAZZLE {DA{ZZ}LE}
12 Air trap (8) CARRIAGE [DD]
13 Scan triggered by unkempt boy right next to security area (6,3) SENTRY BOX {Scan}{BOY+R+NEXT}*
15 Chain gang (4) BAND [DD]
16 Overturn garden cart (4) DRAY<=
17 Sceptically approach source of Yiddish texts of doubtful origin (9) APOCRYPHA {APPROACH+Yi...h}*
21 50% of fish swimming regularly in ferny green area of Europe (8) SCHENGEN {SCHool}{fErNy}{GrEeN}
22 Dismiss nuns eating sandwiches (6) UNSEAT [T]
24 Stick around, keen to have Indian diet, say (10) PARLIAMENT {RAP<=}{L{I}AMENT}
25 Run away in order to marry host (4) ARMY MArRY*
26 Scarlet, strangely recalled bloody affair (6) MURDER {RED}{RUM}<=
27 Old president sounds like an honest guy (6) TRUMAN (~true man)
DOWN
1 Current trend is to pick up language in church (7) CLIMATE {C{TAMIL<=}E}
2 Capital plaza was attacked (2,3) LA PAZ*
3 Very little people sleep here? (7) NURSERY [CD]
5 Recall military on each side protects revolutionary country (6) MEMORY {Mi...rY} over {ROME<=} I suppose it's ancient Rome
6 Realistically, can its body wraps boost up firmness? (9) OBSTINACY [T<=]
7 Moved over snow and was put down (7) SLEDGED [DD]
8 Funny pun on academic who's alone (13) UNACCOMPANIED*
14 Perhaps she trips Rabbi who's introduced to cashier? (9) TRAVELLER {T{RAV}ELLER}
16 Lecture on decimal conversion (7) DECLAIM*
18 Crowd-up when sculpture broke (7) CLUSTER SCuLpTURE* [CA]
19 Captain took crew, initially eager on board (7) HEADMAN {H{Ea..r}AD}{MAN}
20 Dad's relative from North, had a grand to start with (6) AGNATE {A}{G}{N}{ATE}
23 Paddled around river in flood (5) SWARM {SWA{R}M}
GRID
1 Community: closer to locality? (6) COLONY {COLON}{
4 Impress Middle East coming back to bully (6) EMBOSS {ME<=}{BOSS}
9 Literally impacts, say pronunciation, for starters (4) LISP Acrostic &lit
10 Top honcho, perhaps in Romanian capital with foreign emigrants (10) RINGMASTER {R
11 Heard snoring in valley's entrance (6) DAZZLE {DA{ZZ}LE}
12 Air trap (8) CARRIAGE [DD]
13 Scan triggered by unkempt boy right next to security area (6,3) SENTRY BOX {S
15 Chain gang (4) BAND [DD]
16 Overturn garden cart (4) DRAY<=
17 Sceptically approach source of Yiddish texts of doubtful origin (9) APOCRYPHA {APPROACH+Y
21 50% of fish swimming regularly in ferny green area of Europe (8) SCHENGEN {SCH
22 Dismiss nuns eating sandwiches (6) UNSEAT [T]
24 Stick around, keen to have Indian diet, say (10) PARLIAMENT {RAP<=}{L{I}AMENT}
25 Run away in order to marry host (4) ARMY MA
26 Scarlet, strangely recalled bloody affair (6) MURDER {RED}{RUM}<=
27 Old president sounds like an honest guy (6) TRUMAN (~true man)
DOWN
1 Current trend is to pick up language in church (7) CLIMATE {C{TAMIL<=}E}
2 Capital plaza was attacked (2,3) LA PAZ*
3 Very little people sleep here? (7) NURSERY [CD]
5 Recall military on each side protects revolutionary country (6) MEMORY {M
6 Realistically, can its body wraps boost up firmness? (9) OBSTINACY [T<=]
7 Moved over snow and was put down (7) SLEDGED [DD]
8 Funny pun on academic who's alone (13) UNACCOMPANIED*
14 Perhaps she trips Rabbi who's introduced to cashier? (9) TRAVELLER {T{RAV}ELLER}
16 Lecture on decimal conversion (7) DECLAIM*
18 Crowd-up when sculpture broke (7) CLUSTER SC
19 Captain took crew, initially eager on board (7) HEADMAN {H{E
20 Dad's relative from North, had a grand to start with (6) AGNATE {A}{G}{N}{ATE}
23 Paddled around river in flood (5) SWARM {SWA{R}M}
GRID
Tougher than yesterday?
ReplyDeleteHad to get quite a few annos from the blog.
1A- Colon from?
ReplyDeleteFrom":" after community
DeleteOh! I missed it. Nicely hidden in the surface.
DeleteGlad it's been raised to 2 from 1 by Hypatia.
ReplyDeleteBut we have been missing Sunnet's pangrams.
Surprise, surprise! Hypatia's unexpected second one was as enjoyable but a tad easier than the 1st one. Schengen was a new word and Parliament was the LOI.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hypatia.
Anyone looking for a theme?
ReplyDeleteGot it! Group or collection. Colony, Band, Parliament, Army, Murder(group of crows) Nursey, Cluster, Swarm.
DeleteAny more?
Collective (or group) nouns?
DeletePARLIAMENT, MURDER, SWARM, COLONY, BAND, ARMY, CLUSTER seem to fit.
DRAY also fits - group of squirrels
DeleteMEMORY - group of elephants
Delete+1
DeleteAnd a DAZZLE of zebras :)
DeleteSuper grid from Hypatia. Like yesterday, had to work on the annos for some of the clues.
Refreshing to see Indian languages and Indian holy men (instead of the usual ST) being used!
One more theme word required
DeleteSchengen also can be added, I feel. It is a visa sanctioned to tour European countries
DeleteNope
DeleteIn many crossword setters we can detect a distinctive style. If you give a regular solver a crossword puzzle without disclosing the name of the setter, he can say who.
ReplyDeleteIn today's puzzle I can say there indeed is some distinct style peculiar to the setter
But what is it?
I am afraid I can't pinpoint the things that go to add to that personal style. Or can we?
After all, each clue has a def and wordplay. Yet in the manipulation of these there is variety in which the setter brings in his or her style.
Suppose we have a single grid with same lights and ask three or four known setters to write clues. When we publish them, will you be able to detect the setter?
I may be able to identify only three or four of our current lot of 20 setters
Delete+1 to Col.
DeleteBut not always with substantial accuracy
Let me see.. Setter yes
Delete1.Gridman-Can identify
2.Arden-Not Sure
3.Neyartha-Can identify
4.Buzzer-Can identify
5.Incognito-Definitely yes!
6.Lightning-Not Sure
7.Vulcan-Not Sure
8.XC-Definitely
9.Skuldugger-Perhaps, not sure
9.Anon-Not sure
10.Dr. X - Definitely
11.Scintillator-Not Sure(he uses only one grid. So can narrow down. But if grid is different, not sure)
12.Sunnet-Only after solving. It will definitely be a themed pangram. Also he uses only one grid. Not sure if a different grid is used and it is not a themed pangram.
13.KrisKross-Not Sure
14.Hypatia,Bruno,Avtaar- Can't identify as of now.
Have I missed anyone?
DeleteI agree that a solver may not be able identify the puzzle of every THC setter when published without a byline. Yes, some setters may be easily identifiable. Like those whom you mention.
DeleteSpinner's missing!
DeleteAn obstinacy of Buffalo
ReplyDeleteThat's new to me. Thank you Col.
Delete+1.As was dazzle, memory and dray.
DeleteMemory is always connected to elephants.
DeleteSandwich is a container indicator and it is a T clue as indicated by Col.-
ReplyDeletenUNS EATing.
Dismiss is the def.
You would need a container indicator. You cannot just have the words hidden. Moreover sandwiches gives it a plausible surface.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear about your WA Group. Where are you guys located?
ReplyDeleteIf you are in Hyderabad too, I am in.
ReplyDeleteThis COLON does not give anyone colitis !
ReplyDeletePat on HePATia’s back for an AI grid. Hip hip hurray !
What is the collective term for a group of cryptic crossword addicts ? Coin a phrase ! Grave diggers ? Addle of brains ? cerebrum cerebellum blobs ?
ReplyDeleteCryptonuts?
DeleteI like to call them "1Across" :)
DeleteX'll Nest
DeleteLiked 1a.
ReplyDelete25a - the word to is extraneous
26a - think rum is adjective and not adverb?
Yes, rum is an adjective. But'strange' does not read well in surface. Needs change in surface?
ReplyDeleteStrange scarlet recalled is bloody affair? Order also is correct- Rum=< comes first before red-<
Good puzzle, Hypatia.
ReplyDeleteFun to solve :)
ReplyDeleteDidn't know there was a theme till Sowmya told me; don't think I would have got it even otherwise :P memory, obstinacy and dazzle were all new