Across
7. Moment when setter's left on board (6) IMPORT {I'M}{PORT}8. Predominant decision (6) RULING (DD)
10. Legend has ocean inundating most of vast island (3,5) KEY LARGO {KEY}{O} around {LARG
11. Motivating when son gets promoted for passing (6) CASUAL {CA(+S)U(-s)AL}
12. Native American disrespectfully inhabiting virgin jungle (5) INJUN (T)
14. Sight of mince pies baking (7) EYESHOT {EYES}{HOT}
15. How to name cluster that is styled 'Benelux'? (3,3,9) THE LOW COUNTRIES {HOW+TO+N+CLUSTER+IE*}
18. Basis of potential energy ejecting object at launch (7) PREMISE {PR(-o+E)MISE}
19. Military trainee acted at war (5) CADET {ACTED*}
20. Husband shaves to return in highest of spirits (6) SERAPH {{H}{PARES}}<=
21. Retire to become … (4,4) TURN INTO {TURN IN}{TO}
23. … minor player that racket sports need for programme (6) CODING {CO{DIN}G}
24. Tick climbed up and down (6) MOROSE {MO}{ROSE}
Down
1. Breathing hard without sense to swallow (4,4) LIVE WITH {LIVE}{WIT}{H}2. Gem of a friend (4) OPAL {O'}{PAL}
3. Thirsty work in practice (3,3) DRY RUN {DRY}{RUN}
4. Poor uncle working to obtain hot meal (8) LUNCHEON {UNCLE*}{ON} around H}
5. Endure short, sharp shock if storks hide bundles away (4,3,3) KISS THE ROD {STORKS+HIDE*}
6. Shocked by features in a sports car (6) AGHAST {A}{G{HAS}T}
9. Performed too frequently and deed then is ____ __ _____? (4,2,5) DONE TO DEATH {TOO+A
13. Sweetheart coming to position, ideal posing for unconventional beauty (5,5) JOLIE LAIDE {JO}{LIE} {IDEAL*} Thanks to Google
16. Say cat’s paw under control (4,4) WHIP HAND {WHIP}{HAND} Thanks Col. for the anno
17. One in ten new couples objects (8) ENTITIES {I} in {TEN*}{TIES}
18. Lace branches into cover for path? (6) PLEACH {LACE*}in {P
19. Bottle from pub reserved for the Reverend (6) CARBOY {(-b+C)AR}{(-c+B)OY}
22. Happening to take care of figure (4) ICON {I{CO}N}
Reference List
Colour/Font Scheme
Ocean=O, Son=S, Name=N, That is=I.E., Energy=E, Husband=H, Tick=Mo
Of='O, Working=On, Hot=H, Sweetheart=Jo, One=I, Care of=C/O
Of='O, Working=On, Hot=H, Sweetheart=Jo, One=I, Care of=C/O
Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous
The expected Toughie. Thanks to the blog for so many annos and XChequer for the challenge
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteRevealed 13DN
I have often wondered at many of the strange, off-beat words/phrases/expressions that form part of xC's gridfills. Take JOLIE LAIDE, for instance. I have not used it at all in any of my 1050 plus puzzles and I can't even imagine using it as I have never come across it before. Have I been leading a sequestered, cloistered life while the whole wide world lay before me?
ReplyDeleteA few days back the topic of unfamiliar English words/ phrases being used in Indian CW's came up. This is a case in point.
DeleteIt should not be a surprise. In reality, we don't even know many of the words/phrases/expressions in our own mother tongue/languages. So, why should it be a point of worry? In the instant case, this ugly[but beautiful]woman is of French origin. So, no wonder if one doesn't know it. There are several other words in the dictionaries, which the setters might themselves have not come across before setting a clue on it.
DeleteWhen the words are such rare, having anagram makes it almost impossibly to reach the answer. Heard the term very recently in the context of metoo movement, so guessed it with Jo.
DeleteInteresting reading on what that JL represents to that movement.
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/style/tmagazine/the-unfairest-of-them-all.html
Yes. When the words/ phrases are rare (esp. French etc.) wp should lead to the solution more directly.
DeletePlease note that my Comment is not in any dispproving way. I was only wondering where from does the setter get some of the quaint phrases that I see in his work.
DeleteOur comments are also not in any way meant to offend our great setters. Even a four-letter-word, if not heard before, can equally entice in the grid!
DeleteI am sorry, but to quote daddy pig, this crossword is still talking nonsense!
ReplyDeleteEven with annotations how do we derive
. Motivating when son gets promoted for passing (6) CASUAL {CA(+S)U(-s)AL}
. Basis of potential energy ejecting object at launch (7) PREMISE {PR(-o+E)MISE}
minor player that racket sports need for programme (6) CODING {CO{DIN}G}
(P.s. the setter should also know that it is a program not programme)
Tick climbed up and down (6) MOROSE {MO}{ROSE
Breathing hard without sense to swallow (4,4) LIVE WITH {LIVE}{WIT}{H}
Shocked by features in a sports car (6) AGHAST {A}{G{HAS}T}
It is ok if we can't solve it but it, seems to be stretching if the answers still make zero sense even with annotations!
Cheers!
Please mention what exactly is your doubt?
DeleteFor your info Program is the American spelling. In India we follow the British spellings
Boss! Any program in any computer is always program, not programme.
DeleteNothing wrong with being anglophile, especially if you are a crossword setter/solver. Just pleading for a bit more accessibility in the clue setting. I learned decry/descry from a recent puzzle. Even though I did not solve it, I don't mind getting stretched that way. There is an art in being obscure too!
DeleteI am sorry if I have been rudenor impolite but I am speaking as a beginning enthusiast. :-)
DeleteThere is nothing in the clue which refers to a computer program?
DeleteI have not understood your statement 'this crossword is still talking nonsense'. Please clarify that with reference to the clues you have listed out
Deleteminor player that racket sports need for programme (6) CODING {CO{DIN}G}
DeleteThe direct clue is programme - let's take that as given. Din comes from racket. Fair enough
. And clever when followed by sports. But what I don't get is how the C and the G can be derived from the clue.
And sorry about that daddy pig quote. I was referencing a very cute British cartoon serial that my daughter is in love with and whose attitude to the complexities of life is something we can all learn from. Cheers!
DeleteMinor player = COG
Deleteracket = DIN
sports is the containment indicator
need for programme = {CO{DIN}G} (I see your point regarding program/programme)
programme
Delete7. computing a variant spelling of program
The above is from Collins dictionary, one of three dictionaries that setters are advised to use by crossword editors of three leading UK newspapers.
Ah! Thank you! 🙏💕
DeleteAnd let me put on record I totally appreciate the enthusiasm, hard work and cleverness of the setters. It is just that sometimes I wish it was easier to appreciate their cleverness. :-)
The free dict. says Programme:variant of Program, (Computer Science):Computing, coding, writing steps of a software.
DeleteI looked up programme in the US dictionary Merriam-Webster
DeleteUnder programme
it has chiefly British spelling of PROGRAM
2. : to work out a sequence of operations to be performed by (a mechanism, such as a computer) : to provide with a program
So there!
And thank you everyone for your patience and kindness, especially Deepakji.
DeleteThis is a wonderful site that is slowly but surely revealing the secrets of one of the great mysteries of my teen age life. Long may it thrive!
Msg for Girish from xChequer pasted below
Delete"Had checked before writing the clue. British version is still programme. Can send link later, outside now, but easily verifiable online. Girish, all your queries would be answered if you consult any standard dictionary"
Sorry Girish that I couldn't respond earlier and thanks Deepak for posting the reply.
DeleteSeems there are still many clues where Girish is not clear and I wish some other blogger had clarified, I've been quite 'out of reach' today. But will do my bit now Girish, and nonsense or otherwise is then your call. Actually the annotations have already given the path to solving, and without specific questions as Deepak has mentioned, it's a bit difficult to know what exactly your doubt is, nevertheless the following may help:
1) CASUAL: Motivating is 'CAUSAL' and with son(S) promoted, it comes ahead and becomes CASUAL which is 'passing' as in a casual/passing remark
2) PREMISE: here PROMISE (potential) has O(object at launch) replaced with E (energy). The surface is also important, it conveys the function of potential energy, as in an arrow drawn just before release, so it suggests a meaningful scenario
3) CODING and MOROSE: I think this is already clarified in other comments
4) LIVE WITH: you need to be more specific with your query, I don't know what the issue is. But if it helps, breathing is LIVE(adj not verb) and sense is WIT
5)AGHAST: GT is sports car. What is your doubt?
Hope from zero sense some progress has been made
I think one can only admire the cluing. The explanations make the clues more praise worthy.
DeleteThe thing with Cryptic crosswords is to keep an open mind and if you are defeated on a day admit it's your solving prowess that is not up to the mark and not the Setter's art. The setter always tries to be fair.
I admire the simile of cats paw - whip hand. Similarly, morose tick= mo + up= rose to give down as morose requires a conjuror’s mind. Superb . I wonder how long it takes Exchequer to build a grid like this.
ReplyDeleteThose who got daunted by his name and have stayed out have lost an EX -cell-ent piece . Exchequer tickles our fancy.
.
This morose clue still makes no sense to me. Cheers!
DeleteI understood rose - up and down - morose but where in tarnation does it say no - tick. :-)
ReplyDeleteTick- momemt- mo
DeleteI have a doubt about 18A-
ReplyDeletePotential is promise. Energy replacing object indicates replacement of O with E. Then why 'at launch'?
As per Ramesh's colour coding it indicates movement- is it needed?
I haven't come across O for object. Probably "at launch" is meant to pick up initial letter of object.
DeleteThank you KKR. I get your point.
ReplyDeleteIntuition, sometimes, serves better than logic (which may follow later)
ReplyDelete