Friday 28 February 2020

No 12870, Friday 28 Feb 2020, Skulldugger

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS ON FRIDAYS ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only

The regular blog will replace the clues at 4 PM.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

 ACROSS
1   Legal officer taken in by woman’s loss (6) DAMAGE {DAM{AG}E}
4   Get used to Bill’s hanging around flat (6) ADAPTS {AD{APT}S}
9   Foxtrot on the heels of this resounding tone (4) ECHO [DD]
10 Fail to pull out useful scrabble tile (4,1,5) DRAW A BLANK {DRAW}{A BLANK}
11 Jack’s doctor is inattentive (6) ABSENT {ABS}{ENT}
12 Warship incapable of being penetrated by cold rain at sea (8) IRONCLAD*
13 Speak contemptuously of domesticated lamb mixing with wild sheep (9) BLASPHEME {LAMB+SHEEP}*
15 Nice pals in Guam island (4) AMIS [T]
16 Cutback for presses! (4) PINS<=
17 Thespian essentially concerned with maturity as a function of intelligence (9) ESPIONAGE {thESPIan}{ON}{AGE}
21 Posh officer groomed by hairstylist (8) COIFFEUR {U+OFFICER}*
22 Moderator’s university supplanted by European conglomerate (6) EMPIRE (-u+e)EMPIRE
24 Waffle design hero developed framed by artist (10) LOGORRHOEA  LOGORRHOEA {LOGO}{R{HERO*}A}
25 Colt for a stick-up (4) ARAB {A}{BAR<=}
26 Go steady so far (2,4) TO DATE {TO}{DATE}
27 Secretary position temporarily free (6) PAROLE {PA}{ROLE}

DOWN
1   Unit of volume! (7) DECIBEL [E]
2   Low, extremely secretive creature (5) MOOSE {MOO}{Se...vE}
3   Maker removed roof off cage to halve expenses (2,5) GO DUTCH {GOD}{hUTCH}
5   Monster to persist (6) DRAGON {DRAG ON}
6   Law enforcers, professional killers pursuing American politician (9) POLICEMEN {ICEMEN}<=>{POL}
7   Footwear made of wood and string originally (7) SANDALS {SANDAL}St...g}
8   Rico hugs momma, tripping on hallucinogen (5,8) MAGIC MUSHROOM*
14 Fig adorns sculpture with poise (9) SANGFROID*
16 Religious leader dispersed troops around Vatican city (7) PROVOST {PRO{V}OST*}
18 Picked up flour arrangement in a bake off! (7) IKEBANA* (Flour arrangement ~ flower arrangement)
19 Hamburger with cheese ultimately appropriate (7) GERMANE {GERMAN}{c...sE}
20 Hunt animal(6) FERRET [DD]
23 Optimal info regularly typed out with keyboard (5) PIANO {oPtImAl+iNfO}

Reference List
Bills = ADS, Jack = AB, Posh = U, University = U, European = E, Artist = RA, Low = MOO, Vatican = V


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107 comments:

  1. AJ28 February 2020 at 07:07

    8dn
    MAGIC MUSHROOM: hallucinogen
    Combine anagram of ' Rico hugs momma'

    ReplyDelete
  2. AJ28 February 2020 at 07:09

    12ac
    IRONCLAD: warship
    Combined anagram of 'cold rain'

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dr Hareendranath28 February 2020 at 07:32

    8d Rico hugs mommy sang sang of manic mushroom=hallucinogen

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dr Hareendranath28 February 2020 at 07:33

    Momma

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dr Hareendranath28 February 2020 at 07:35

    23d piano
    Regularly,optimal=pia+
    Regularly,=no

    ReplyDelete
  6. D N M Rao28 February 2020 at 07:41

    1Dn DECIBEL -. (DD)
    4Ac ADAPTS - {AD}{APTS}
    14Dn SANGFROID*
    5Dn DRAGON -(DD)
    11Ac ABSENT {ABS}{ENT}

    ReplyDelete
  7. AJ28 February 2020 at 07:49

    1ac
    DAMAGE: loss
    Woman: DAME
    Legal officer: AG (attorney general)
    AG taken in byDAME

    ReplyDelete
  8. AJ28 February 2020 at 07:59

    13ac
    BLASPHEME: speak contemptuously
    Combined anagram of 'lamb sheep'

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dr Hareendranath28 February 2020 at 08:00

    15a nice pals =amis
    GuAMISland

    ReplyDelete
  10. AJ28 February 2020 at 08:05

    3dn
    GO DUTCH: idiom meaning 'each will pay his own expenses' : when there are just two he expenses will be halved
    Maker: God
    Cage: hutch: roof removed: utch

    ReplyDelete
  11. Remy28 February 2020 at 08:13

    16 d provost-Anag of troops-pro(v)ost.-religious leader.
    9 a echo-resounding tone.Military code E-echo.Followed by Foxtrot.
    21 a coiffeur-Hairstylist.anag of officer,u-posh.coiffe(u)r.
    13 a Blaspheme-speak contemptuously-anag of lambsheep.
    16 a pins>snip.snip-cutback.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dr Hareendranath28 February 2020 at 08:14

    16d religious leader=provost
    Troops around(V)atican

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dr Hareendranath28 February 2020 at 08:20

    18d flour arrangement=Ikabane
    Anag=in a bake

    ReplyDelete
  14. Prasanna Rao28 February 2020 at 08:24

    12ac....iron+cold = IRONCLAD [CA]
    8D.....Rico+hugs+ momma*= magicmushroom
    9a.....resounding tone .....ECHO [E]
    1AC....LEGAL OFFICER = AG ; WOMAN=DAME = DAM{AG}E

    ReplyDelete
  15. Remy28 February 2020 at 08:30

    compensating for 13 a.
    20 d Ferret-hunt. animal.DD.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Chaturvasi28 February 2020 at 08:50

    18 Picked up flour arrangement in a bake off! (7)
    The above is a clue from THC today. The puzzle is by Shkulldugger.
    A solver in community solving at THCC of the Colonel today gently pointed out that it must be 'flower'.
    Actually the setter expects you to get flower from flour "picked up".
    Now what do you think?
    Is this extra work involved in figuring out what the def is really needed?
    I am raising the question in FB:1ACross as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sree_sree28 February 2020 at 08:58

      But not the first time its being used.

      Delete
    2. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 09:02

      Yes,but not for the def.,I think. That is the point CV is trying to make. Homophones are common (here the indicator 'picked up' itself is a little uncommon) but I don't remember it being used to get the definition.

      Delete
    3. sree_sree28 February 2020 at 09:05

      I remember having one in def. Addendum based on my comment.will search and post if possible.

      Delete
    4. sree_sree28 February 2020 at 09:11

      Meanwhile
      10 Unconventional bunch of cheques for the auditor? (9)
      The Sunday Crossword No 3079, Sunday 22 Dec 2019

      Delete
    5. AJ28 February 2020 at 09:25

      My comment was not on the puzzle. I had already solved it taking ' picked up as clue. The comment was on the solution of Dr. Hareendrnath at 8.20 in which the word flower was not brought to the fore.

      Delete
    6. AJ28 February 2020 at 09:35

      Please see my reply below at 9.25. It was a comment on the solution, not on the puzzle

      Delete
    7. raju umamaheswar28 February 2020 at 19:20

      CV. I fully agree with you
      FLOUR & FLOWER may be phonetically ok. It is too far fetched to link IKEBANA ,but there should be an indicator for this. The setter cannot be presumptuous. There is a tendency amongst some setters nowadays to take liberties. The clue must baffle . Decoys and red herrings are ok.
      The Hindu publishes without any editorial vet of the grammar and wordplay and syntax of the clue formation.

      Delete
    8. Satyen Nabar28 February 2020 at 22:23

      Unacceptable.

      Delete
    9. Satyen Nabar28 February 2020 at 22:28

      Sometimes I wonder what the setter imagines this type of clueing will appear to solver. I imagine it seems highly intellectual to setter. Well, it is certainly not. Bad clue with an average surface. Sorry. Just my opinion.

      Delete
  17. John George28 February 2020 at 08:57

    19D Hamburger GERMAN chees ultimately E GERMANE appropriate

    ReplyDelete
  18. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 09:05

    Liked the use of volume for audio volume. Took a while to get it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Prasanna Rao28 February 2020 at 09:49

      for 1d...unit of volume I thought it could be density.....but the clue for audio i could not see in the puzzle. so, I left it....after seeing your comment , I realized that we used pronounce this word often while hearing radio......very tricky puzzle...i missed it....Thanks paddy....

      Delete
  19. Dr. M. Murugan28 February 2020 at 09:05

    14D- SANGFROID — Anag of Figs Adorn
    21S-Coiffeur- hairstylist- Scrambled officer

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dr. M. Murugan28 February 2020 at 09:09

    26A- To Date- so far- go steady -Date

    ReplyDelete
  21. Ganesan Pancharatnam28 February 2020 at 09:13

    17 Thespian essentially concerned with maturity as a function of intelligence (9)
    Sol. Espi. Thespian essentially
    Concerned. On
    Maturity. Age
    Ans. Espionage

    ReplyDelete
  22. Brajesh28 February 2020 at 09:14

    10 a draw a blank - fail
    Pull _ draw useful scramble tile is a blank

    ReplyDelete
  23. Orthopaul28 February 2020 at 09:14

    10ac. Draw a blank. Blank is a scrabble tile...can be used as we like...means Fail

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous28 February 2020 at 09:18

    7D: SANDALS.... Sandal (wood)+S of string (originally... First letter)... Def: Footwear

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous28 February 2020 at 09:19

    15A: AMIS (Telescopic). Def:pals

    ReplyDelete
  26. Orthopaul28 February 2020 at 09:20

    10 ac. Draw a blank..to fail..blank is a scrabble tile which can be used as we like.

    26 ac. To date.. going steady means SO FAR

    ReplyDelete
  27. balaji28 February 2020 at 09:22

    17A - Espionage, Th(espi)an on maturity- age

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous28 February 2020 at 09:23

    9ac: ECHO..for E as F stands for Foxtrot immediately after E in alphabets (close on the heels of E) . These are used in Radio telephony in aviation for clarity. Def: resounding tone.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous28 February 2020 at 09:24

    11ac: ABSENT:. (abs)+ (ENT.. Doctor) Def: inattentive

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous28 February 2020 at 09:26

    Jack's: Abs

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous28 February 2020 at 09:29

    2Dn: MOOSE...(Moo means low. .. Cattle cry..low)+ extremely secretive: S and E... Creature. Canadian creature

    ReplyDelete
  32. Dr Hareendranath28 February 2020 at 09:31

    18d flour arrangement=Ikabane
    Anag=in a bake

    ReplyDelete
  33. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 09:46

    Pl. check the spelling.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 09:46

    Col. back at HQ?

    ReplyDelete
  35. sree_sree28 February 2020 at 09:47

    Yet to be
    A 22,24,25,27
    D 6,7

    ReplyDelete
  36. AJ28 February 2020 at 09:51

    KSK has solved 7dn at 9:18

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous28 February 2020 at 09:52

    7D already solved.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Karthikeya28 February 2020 at 09:56

    27a - secretary - pa, position - role. hence PAROLE

    ReplyDelete
  39. balaji28 February 2020 at 09:56

    6D Dragon, Monster to persist

    ReplyDelete
  40. balaji28 February 2020 at 09:58

    22A Empire (Um)pire U supplanted by E

    ReplyDelete
  41. P. Venkatesan28 February 2020 at 11:00

    24A: LOGORRHOEA {LOGO(=design)}{R{HERO*}A} = WAFFLE

    ReplyDelete
  42. RKE28 February 2020 at 11:11

    25A ARAB A+reversal of BAR (stick), meaning colt

    ReplyDelete
  43. RKE28 February 2020 at 11:12

    Is it all done then? Can I post my tale?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sree_sree28 February 2020 at 11:15

      The ones apparently missing in Delhi are standing here! Yet

      Delete
    2. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 12:34

      Very frequently I enjoy your cryptic cluing within the CW. I missed understanding it in the first pass until wisdom dawned on me.

      Delete
  44. sree_sree28 February 2020 at 11:16

    Last one standing 6D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sree_sree28 February 2020 at 11:18

      Though 22A and 10a need improv in anno.

      Delete
    2. AJ28 February 2020 at 11:42

      10ac
      In Scrabble a blank tile is of no value by itself, but helps in forming words as it can be used for any letter. Hence it is a useful tile.

      Delete
    3. AJ28 February 2020 at 11:45

      22a
      In umpire u is replaced by e and it becomes empire which is a federation of kingdoms and hence a conglomerate

      Delete
  45. RKE28 February 2020 at 11:16

    The online version lacked enumeration of clues and so though i recognized the anagram fodder, I could not get MAGIC MUSHROOM. Also did not "pick up" flour and flower, in spite of recognizing the anagram fodder☹️

    ReplyDelete
  46. RKE28 February 2020 at 11:17

    Waiting for someone else for 6D, which I have solved

    ReplyDelete
  47. sree_sree28 February 2020 at 11:20

    Giving in for the temptation of talepiece:

    Professional killers:ice men
    Politician (in northern America): pol
    And: policemen.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Vasant28 February 2020 at 11:21

    6d POLICEMEN POL+ICEMEN

    ReplyDelete
  49. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 11:43

    Though I got Policemen,I could not parse it. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 11:44

    22A- Umpire (moderator)-U+E=Empire

    ReplyDelete
  51. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 11:45

    10A- DD- Fail is to draw a blank/ Blank is a useful tile in Scrabble since it can be used anywhere as a joker.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 11:47

    Joining Prasad in being tempted. Now Dr.RKE is free and all of us are waiting with bated breath.

    ReplyDelete
  53. cdrgani2928 February 2020 at 11:55

    High standard Xword, 1D,9A,10A stand out among the many outstanding clues! Thank you, Sk......!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Amita Baviskar28 February 2020 at 12:07

    Very enjoyable puzzle today. Several excellent clues: particularly enjoyed 10A, 19D.

    Thank you, Skulldugger.

    ReplyDelete
  55. RKE28 February 2020 at 15:09

    Sorry I was operating on a brain tumor and hence the delay

    ReplyDelete
  56. RKE28 February 2020 at 15:09

    Kingsley AMIS, the PROVOST of the Brasenose college, Oxford University, was worried sick about the DAMAGE to the PIANO in the college music room, famous for its ECHOing walls. He suspected 2 ARAB men students for vandalizing the Grand as they had been ABSENT from class at the very hour of the crime. His efforts to PIN it down on them did DRAW A BLANK as they had IRONCLAD alibis. The POLICEMEN called to investigate were surprised by their SANGFROID demeanour. The students FERRETed out bills from a COIFFEUR, to prove that they were away from the college at that time. Their high DECIBEL protests notwithstanding, one policeman yanked off the shemagh on their heads, to reveal their completely bald shining pates! This gave the lie to their claim of being at a coiffeur's place. Further enquiry revealed that they were on an ESPIONAGE mission for the ISIS, set to spy on the symbols of the British EMPIRE, so as to plan a bombing mission. Even for maintaining anonymity, they did not ADAPT to British mores, wearing SANDALS to college. They had been instructed not to blow their cover and yet they had vandalized the piano because they considered the choir music played on it to BLASPHEME their God. To DATE, they have not been released on PAROLE as the case will DRAG ON for years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. raju umamaheswar28 February 2020 at 19:31

      Do you dictate this tale piece, Dr.RKE? How do you use a pigeonholing job in the midst of your tight surgery schedule ? Amazing presence of mind, I should say ! Several hats toffed !

      Delete
    2. ramesh ss28 February 2020 at 20:29

      Ian Fleming...will be proud!

      Delete
    3. D N M Rao29 February 2020 at 06:03

      Superb.

      Delete
  57. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 15:19

    Oh! A sad one today,but very likely considering today's scenario. Such a different scene of action compared o yesterday.
    A collection of these Talepieces would not only be of interest to read later,but gives a list of solution words in an easy and enjoyable way!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 15:21

    Heartening to note that someone's life has been saved while we were waiting for the tale. A satisfying profession,indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  59. AJ28 February 2020 at 15:30

    Enjoyable tale piece. Was just wondering whether we will get one or not. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  60. RKE28 February 2020 at 16:03

    The tale was ready at 8am as usual. Normally I would have mailed it to Colonel on Friday. Guess I can do that from next week. Nice to know that people are reading, commenting enjoying and awaiting the tale. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  61. Col_Gopinath28 February 2020 at 16:57

    Back Home after a great holiday with Engineering college batchmates and their wives

    ReplyDelete
  62. Shrikanth28 February 2020 at 17:46

    Is 4 Ac alright ? Tense wise. I was thinking Adapt would be Get used. For Adapts it should Gets used. Any comment

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sree_sree28 February 2020 at 18:01

      Yes. I was searching for another flat for a long time.

      Delete
    2. Ramani28 February 2020 at 18:39

      I was also thinking on the same lines

      Delete
    3. raju umamaheswar28 February 2020 at 19:27

      +1 Srikant. I too noticed this. Will never escape blue pencil had there been an editor!

      Delete
  63. sree_sree28 February 2020 at 19:09

    1d is a DD.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Vasant28 February 2020 at 21:51

    Talking about Kualalumpur where Col. just visited, three friends meet every Sunday evening in a downtown bar to discuss the week's crosswords over drinks. Two Indians and one Chinese.
    Such is the following of crosswords across the globe. Elite but exciting.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 21:54

    yes,I too feel so.

    ReplyDelete
  66. Padmanabhan28 February 2020 at 21:55

    My comment was about 1D.
    Thank you Vasant.Nice to hear.

    ReplyDelete

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