Saturday, 28 December 2019

No 12818, Saturday 28 Dec 2019, Bruno


ACROSS
5   Corrupt — owning houses at residential part of city (6) UPTOWN (T)
7   Tries to join in the middle of unrestrained leaderless practice (8) REHEARSE {fRE{HEARS}E}
9   Complete stop by noted criminal (3-2-3) END-TO-END {END}{NOTED*}
10 Mistakes made by God starting to take long time to cover (6) ERRATA {ER{RA}{Take}A}
11 When Jesus returned from undersea stay, mysteriously (6,6) EASTER SUNDAY {UNDERSEA+STAY*}
13 California politician on American grounds (6) CAMPUS {CA}{MP}{US}
15 Trouble as Academy’s place in draw is taken by University (6) RUFFLE {R(-a+U)FFLE}
18 Home on Big-Sur’s outskirts owned by crook — Queen’s agent (6,6) HONEST BROKER {HO{NEST}{Big-suR}OK}{ER}
21 Wrong to get behind net & counter in this game? (6) TENNIS {SIN}{NET}<=
22 Sick man with enteric disease starts to be awkward (3-5) ILL-TIMED {ILL}{TIM}{Enteric}{Disease}
23 Same problem seen in misshapen part of house (8) BASEMENT {B{SAME*}ENT}
24 Draft from flowing inlets (6) ENLIST {INLETS*}

DOWN
1   Tread of pedestrian was loud, household animals also rose up (8) FOOTSTEP {F}{PETS+TOO<=}
2   Get close to listener please... (6) ENDEAR {END}{EAR}
3   Device with silver-tip’s hot, gets more glowing (8) SHREDDER {Silver}{H}{REDDER}
4   Quite nonchalantly, setter slipped out to chase female (6) FAIRLY {F}{AIRiLY}
6   Police cruiser with air conditioner’s normal to be seen around (5,3) PANDA CAR {P{AND}{AC}AR}
7   Spoke of Darius’ organisation (6) RADIUS {DARIUS*}
8   Loud landmark spot (4) SITE {~SIGHT}
12 Unaware what I would do with a 5x5 grid? (8) CLUELESS {CLUE}{LESS}
14 Minarets in Islamabad rising around — leaning to the left (8) SINISTER (T<=)
16 Store displaying many a set of crafts (8) FLOTILLA {F{LOT}ILL}{A}
17 This is worn? Right! (1-5) T-SHIRT {THIS*}{RT} &lit
18 Long and hot cargo vessel with prow missing (6) HANKER {H}{tANKER}
19 Job of Gates perhaps, encourage technology leaders? (6) BILLET {BILL}{Encourages}{Technology}
20 An immature version // of North Indian boy? (4) BETA (DD)

Reference List
God=Ra, California=CA, Politician=MP, American=US, Academy=A, University=U, Queen=ER
Loud=F, Hot=H, Setter=I, Female=F, Right=Rt

Colour/Font Scheme

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


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35 comments:

  1. RKE28 December 2019 at 08:37

    Thanks Sunnet. Though I missed REHEARSE, SHREDDER & FLOTILLA, it was an engaging crossword. Good clueing by Bruno

    ReplyDelete
  2. sree_sree28 December 2019 at 08:43

    21a role of behind? extra!

    ReplyDelete
  3. sree_sree28 December 2019 at 08:45

    12d DD? D&CD rather, imu.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RameshJ28 December 2019 at 08:49

      For it to be a CD the second part should lead to a single word (enu =8).

      Delete
    2. sree_sree28 December 2019 at 08:56

      there is no word play for clue and less!

      Delete
    3. Ramki Krishnan28 December 2019 at 08:59

      Unaware = CLUELESS (def)
      In a 5x5 grid, I would CLUE LESS
      IMHO It's a DD

      Delete
    4. RameshJ28 December 2019 at 10:05

      It is a DD/CD if both the enu are 8. First part has enu of 8, Second part has enu of 4,4. So this should be treated as a charade rather than DD/CD

      Delete
    5. sree_sree28 December 2019 at 10:14

      Then it will have a root issue? Doesn't it? Though it's written as 8, the pronunciation/break up of word is clue-less.

      Delete
    6. Sowmya28 December 2019 at 12:03

      I think the categorization could be 1. DD - if both definitions used are dictionary definitions. 2. D/CD - if one of the definitions is obtained by the solver reading the same phrase or words differently - with a cryptic / punny element to it 3. Charade - if there is a separate word play by the setter breaking down the words and clueing the components.

      Delete
    7. Chaturvasi28 December 2019 at 12:03

      For a charade two or more components must be added, Here, the second part fetches CLUE LESS from our head. The first part is def. SO I still think it is not a charade. Nor is it a DD as I said erroneously. Defies a typing. D(not DD) and CD, maybe...

      Delete
    8. Satyen Nabar28 December 2019 at 12:16

      The root issue virus seems to be spreading! Prasad, kindly don't join the 'root cabal' who visualise roots everywhere. Anyway.

      To me, it seems a matter of semantics how to classify clues that result from playing around with the English language. One might classify it as DD with Wordplay/Charade with wordplay/ D&CD/DD. Whatever they are classified as, they are nice and I think solvers enjoy cracking the Wordplay involved, often bringing a smile. And that is the whole intention of a cryptic clue, is it not? (Root Cabal may kindly ignore such type of clues, perhaps concentrate on branches or some other parts of the tree instead :) )

      Ramesh, I had a discussion with Sowmya regarding this. In a clue set by me recently to wit 'Throwaway line' (Joke's that's expressed casually - not what a fisherman might do?) 1st half is the straight defn and the 2nd half breaks up the phrase as 5,4,4 (throw away line) for the solution. I am not aware that there is any rule that states the CD component must still remain 9,4. And not break up as 4,4 similar to Clueless becoming Clue less. There are many such examples.

      As I said, perhaps a matter of semantics then how it is classified. But I would go with D&CD. Since one part of the clue makes one think a little differently to reach the solution.

      Delete
    9. Vasant28 December 2019 at 12:22

      Root cabal:-)

      Delete
    10. Chaturvasi28 December 2019 at 12:22

      I was to write that the difference in word division CLUELESS (8) and CLUE LESS (4,4) is immaterial.

      Delete
    11. Chaturvasi28 December 2019 at 12:26

      I don't worry about the so-called root issue. After all, you've to dig deep to see the roots. Why doesn't one see the branches, twigs, leaves all forming the crown? Trust I have not committed any blasphemy.

      Delete
    12. Vasant28 December 2019 at 12:29

      The setter has cleverly made use of the spacing. I would classify it as DD.

      Delete
    13. Deepak Gopinath28 December 2019 at 13:16

      Would the solution still be same for the second half if the setter had said a 21 x 21 Grid? I suppose it would be better if clued as 'Unaware what I would do with a blank 5x5 grid?'

      Delete
    14. Satyen Nabar28 December 2019 at 13:22

      Cannot take credit for 'Root Cabal'. I heard the term from the one and only Bhala (xChequer)! It is certainly appropriate :)

      Delete
    15. Satyen Nabar28 December 2019 at 13:41

      Discussed this with Bhala. He feels this is a straight D&CD but that the 5x5 is misleading and instead of I, it should be setter to remove ambiguity.

      Unaware what setter should do with a smaller crossword grid (8)

      Delete
  4. Ramki Krishnan28 December 2019 at 08:56

    Smooth grid - thank you Bruno. T-SHIRT was my COD. Missed HANKER (put HUNGER though I could not anno it :))

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sowmya28 December 2019 at 09:58

    Nice smooth grid Bruno. 2D and 7D were favorites. 20d made me chuckle

    ReplyDelete
  6. Shrikanth28 December 2019 at 10:13

    Nice grid Bruno. Very enjoyable

    ReplyDelete
  7. Avtaar28 December 2019 at 11:15

    Nice grid Bruno. Missed 18A (part) and 18D .
    8D, I think wordplay leads to SIGHT and not SITE .
    21A would have been a neat semi&lit with go bear instead of behind

    ReplyDelete
  8. Amita Baviskar28 December 2019 at 12:02

    Nice, clear clues. Got all except 4D. Especially Thank liked 16D FLOTILLA. you, Bruno.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Chaturvasi28 December 2019 at 12:19

    Re 20d I have written similar clues. I might even say I probably introduced this sort of Indian element in THC. Now, I think we can use only Hindi terms and not those from Tamil and other regional languages. The reason is Hindi is more widespread than others and though an educated Tamilian may not speak Hindi they will be aware of terms from our Government's use of Hindi for its schemes. Yet I am worried. Would Stalin start a stir that THC setters are not using the Dravidian language and that they are pro-BJP in propagating Hindi.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasant28 December 2019 at 12:25

      The clue couldn't have been written without the Hindi reference.. We might find references to Kerala, T. N., U. P. etc.. Does Stalin or any of his party members read TH leave alone attempt THC? :-)

      Delete
    2. Unknown28 December 2019 at 22:38

      I always like a little silliness sparingly used CV sir... This clue could be considered in that category. An earlie clue: Indian gent's odd plan (6)

      Delete
  10. Shrikanth28 December 2019 at 12:21

    Forget Stalin. I will start one :) You know my stance on this subject :D

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sowmya28 December 2019 at 14:33

    I am all for it. If Spanish, French, Italian and German are all par for the course, why can’t we invite Bengali, Tamil, Telugu or Malayalam terms too. Solvers may need Aunt Google or Siri to tell them what “Siri” in tamil means in a clue - LOL, but then why not?

    ReplyDelete
  12. raju umamaheswar28 December 2019 at 15:30

    CLUE LESS. This is a classic but simple example of a cute cryptic clue. I enjoyed finding the answer the moment I read the clue. While I respect the grammar and syntax to be followed by a setter, I agree with Dr. Nabar
    That splitting a hair with a sledgehammer is in vain because the setter had used his ingenuity in forming the clue. Was it interesting ? Yes. Was it punny ? Yes. Was it logical ? Yes. Then why go chasing the tail whether it is a dc, CD, charade etc? The clue was unique and no one was left clueless solving it. That should put paid to any further analysis. Let's not turn solving into a fine art. Enjoy and be done with it. Thank you Bruno. We both, you as a setter a d I as a solver were on the same wavelength. Fine tuning comes later.

    The parsing and annotations are all part of finding a tuning fork.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Prasanna Rao28 December 2019 at 15:43

    Glad to see the Bruno's impact. I impressed on 13A....where Bruno brought, the California MP on American ground. perceiving as an international puzzle.....over all it was a nice grid.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Shyam28 December 2019 at 15:47

    Vasant, Here us a clue for you " Comes in as an insect (6).
    Solution: VAs(come in, in Tamil is 'va'and so the the plural in Tinglish would be VAs) a d insect is ANT.
    So VAsANT.
    That should keep Stalin happy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vasant28 December 2019 at 17:06

      Thanks Shyam for a fresh perspective of cluing me than the trite anagram of Savant:-)
      For Sowmya's word Siri
      Laugh in Trichy at mobile helper (4)

      Delete
    2. Prasanna Rao28 December 2019 at 18:01

      Vasanth, gr8 to see the Personalized puzzle made by Shyam. . finally a Tiny politics entered in THC.....have a nice week end

      Delete
    3. Vasant28 December 2019 at 21:28

      Shyam quid pro quo:
      Has my goat been got by Scintillator (5)

      Delete
  15. Unknown28 December 2019 at 21:13

    This is Balaji(Bruno). Thank you all for the kind comments... Enjoyed the hair-splitting over DD :-). I would classify it as a punnynDD. Happy new year all...

    ReplyDelete

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