Tough workout today.
ACROSS
6 In theory, it could be to avoid the sarcasm (5) IRONY {IN+theORY}*
7 Mike's taken off the shoe, takes only a moment (8) OCCASION {mOCCASI{O}N}
10 Payment overstated — the stock gains weight here (7)F?E?L?T (Addendum - FEEDLOT {FEE}{TOLD<=})
11 Add spirit to a pigment (7) TEMPERA {TEMPER}{A}
12 Russian’s short gambit accepted — nothing much (7) MOLOTOV {M{O}{LOT}OVe}
13 It’s offensive to restrain the ju ju man (7) WARLOCK {WAR}{LOCK}
14 Accompanying picture on the way back (11) WITHDRAWING {WITH}{DRAWING}
19 Well, agree Scot essentially was a painter (2,5) EL GRECO {wELl}{aGREe}{sCOt}
21 Swimmer close to finish, miscalculating (7) HERRING {f...sH}{ERRING}
23 Spell able to make you fall (7) CANTRIP {CAN}{TRIP}
25 Come back over and over I-beam (7) RIPOSTE {R{I}{POST}E}
26 A strange flower indeed (4,4) ARUM LILY {A}{RUM}{LILY} &lit
27 Agents called Herb (5) SPIES (~spice)
DOWN
1 Spooner’s fish finger salad (8) COLESLAW (~ sole claw)
2 I said block the opening (6) EYELET {EYE}{LET}
3 Maybe evident in low capital (10) MONTEVIDEO {MO{EVIDENT*}O}
4 Tie not a Glaswegian (4) SCOTaSCOT
5 Give up fine state, briefly (6) FOREGO {F}{OREGOn}
6 It’s fashionable and loud, girl gains notoriety (6) INFAMY {IN}{F}{AMY}
8 Amateurish move by the warrior (7) SAMURAI AMAteURISh*
9 Procedure to keep check, both sides are crazy (5) WACKY {WA{ChecK}Y}
13 Stand and watch with alertness (7,3) WEATHER EYE {WEATHER}{EYE}
15 It’s believed they consume raw material (7) THEOREM {THE{ORE}M}
16 Gets help, it's disputed (8) GAINSAID {GAINS}{AID}
17 Wood and sand, essentially they're different (5) BEECH BE(-a+e)ECH
18 Man eater therefore will climb on board (6) OGRESS {ERGO<=}{SS}
20 Spy exposed, go after those at the top (6) GENTRY {aGENt}{TRY}
22 Father among others gets food (6) REPAST {RE{PA}ST}
24 Ache for French bread (4) PAIN [DD]
Reference List
Mike = M, Only = O, Over = RE, Low = MOO, Fine = F
6 In theory, it could be to avoid the sarcasm (5) IRONY {IN+
7 Mike's taken off the shoe, takes only a moment (8) OCCASION {
10 Payment overstated — the stock gains weight here (7)
11 Add spirit to a pigment (7) TEMPERA {TEMPER}{A}
12 Russian’s short gambit accepted — nothing much (7) MOLOTOV {M{O}{LOT}OV
13 It’s offensive to restrain the ju ju man (7) WARLOCK {WAR}{LOCK}
14 Accompanying picture on the way back (11) WITHDRAWING {WITH}{DRAWING}
19 Well, agree Scot essentially was a painter (2,5) EL GRECO {
21 Swimmer close to finish, miscalculating (7) HERRING {
23 Spell able to make you fall (7) CANTRIP {CAN}{TRIP}
25 Come back over and over I-beam (7) RIPOSTE {R{I}{POST}E}
26 A strange flower indeed (4,4) ARUM LILY {A}{RUM}{LILY} &lit
DOWN
1 Spooner’s fish finger salad (8) COLESLAW (~ sole claw)
2 I said block the opening (6) EYELET {EYE}{LET}
3 Maybe evident in low capital (10) MONTEVIDEO {MO{EVIDENT*}O}
4 Tie not a Glaswegian (4) SCOT
5 Give up fine state, briefly (6) FOREGO {F}{OREGO
6 It’s fashionable and loud, girl gains notoriety (6) INFAMY {IN}{F}{AMY}
8 Amateurish move by the warrior (7) SAMURAI AMA
9 Procedure to keep check, both sides are crazy (5) WACKY {WA{C
13 Stand and watch with alertness (7,3) WEATHER EYE {WEATHER}{EYE}
15 It’s believed they consume raw material (7) THEOREM {THE{ORE}M}
16 Gets help, it's disputed (8) GAINSAID {GAINS}{AID}
17 Wood and sand, essentially they're different (5) BEECH BE(-a+e)ECH
20 Spy exposed, go after those at the top (6) GENTRY {
22 Father among others gets food (6) REPAST {RE{PA}ST}
24 Ache for French bread (4) PAIN [DD]
Reference List
Mike = M, Only = O, Over = RE, Low = MOO, Fine = F
The Museum of Spanish Art in MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay has a priceless work of EL GRECO, the only one done by him with TEMPERA on a BEECH wood frame. It is called La Flor (The Flower) and it depicts an ARUM LILY. The IRONY of the work is the loneliness of the flower, that OCCASIONs a melancholic mood in the viewer, despite its vibrant colours. It had been brought by one of the Spanish GENTRY, who had come to South America to make a fortune by raising cattle on the plentiful FEEDLOTs on the banks Rio Negro. Before WITHDRAWING to a retired life back in Spain, he had donated this painting to the museum. It cannot be GAINSAID that the museum has taken adequate security measures to keep a WEATHER EYE on its precious possession ever since a native WARLOCK predicted that the painting would be stolen. A WACKY comment was made in the media "El Greco el Robado" (robado = stolen). The curator came up with the RIPOSTE "El Greco, la seguro" (seguro = safe). Nevertheless a duo of art thieves managed to steal the painting in broad daylight. One of them set off a fire by throwing a MOLOTOV cocktail at the door of the museum. That was a red HERRING to distract the guards. They had to cut the electricity because of the fire and this disabled the alarms. In the melee, it was easy for his partner to pick the lock using a universal lockpick through the EYELET of the protective casing. The curator had to contend with the PAIN of the INFAMY, having to eat his own words instead of his usual REPAST of COLE SLAW.
ReplyDeleteThe story like an english novel by foreign author. Arden's puzzle makes more impact today's Tale piece. Well written Doc. have a good day.
Delete🙏🙏🙏
DeleteSorry, i was late by a few minutes. Thanks to Arden for a tough mental workout, an adequate substitute for the walk in the park, that we miss now because of coronavirus
ReplyDeleteI take a walk inside our compound- Arden did not give me much time today. Typical Arden- yesterday was a one off.
ReplyDeleteI have a doubt about 15D- 'TheY consume- Theory is logical. But it does not go with the crossing-Arum lily. How can they become hem?
ReplyDeleteTypo- How can They become Them?
DeleteThat you can get this many words in time (forget the few minutes) to make up a story is great. Thank you on behalf of El Greco. He was the first one in for me today.
ReplyDeleteI gave up half way through- decided to check in the blog than googling around.
It is "them" who consume the "ore" and not "they". That gives "theorem" and not "theory". The definition "it is believed" leads one to think of "theory" first. Both have a common root. A theorem remains only a theory untill a proof is worked out Q.E.D
ReplyDeleteThank you Dr. Understood still not quite convinced.
Deleteultimate explanation RKE..between theorem and theory concept. RKE pl. correct me if I am wrong....I conclude your statement as '' if I used a theorem in a theory I need to provide a proof in such a way my statement will be considered'
DeleteTrue
DeleteToday Arden sacked the word 'the' in 2 times. do not know the enigma behind that. might be the puzzle needs the deletion....by the by 10a....could not get the clue either way. nice gird as overall.
ReplyDelete10A is a lift-and-separate clue. Split the word 'overstated' to get over stated. Stated = told. Over = upwards of. So told when reversed becomes dlot. Fee+dlot..Feedlot.
Deletewell explained Mb. ofcourse, too much round about leads to give up. the other side its a tricky clue. much involves in substitution and anagrams..... over all I enjoyed it.
DeleteVery tough, Arden Sir!
ReplyDeleteGave up solving 17DN
RKE Sir, your talepiece is superb.
Delete🙏🙏🙏
DeleteA toughie! Struggled to get Warlock, Beech, Arumlily, Theorem, Riposte. Used Aids to get Feedlot and Weather Eye.
ReplyDeleteArden was unhelpful today! Tough going.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful piece by Dr. RKE. Read so much like a true story
ReplyDelete🙏🙏☹️
DeleteWhen veterans say it is tough, it should be insurmountable for likes of me. Yet, I got half a dozen without much effort and a few more with help. That's all, then I forewent.
ReplyDeleteIt was smooth going for me today. Didn't get 9D and 17D, but the rest flowed. Nice, terse clues helped. Thank you, Arden.
ReplyDeleteArden at his very BEST! Loved the cluing for Irony, Occasino,HerringInfamy,Gentry,Samurai,Wacky and Ogress. A few new words for me - Weather-Eye,Warlock,Feedlot. The bar has been raised ever so HIGH!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't get through to this blog until now 1945hours . I tried through all outlets like Yahoo, google chrome internet etc. Hence this late posting.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed Arden's grid immensely.
Due to forced internment, enjoyed completing the Times Jumbo sent by Vasant and in Acrosslite mode by Mbgaru and his son. Thanks a lot to them.
Such clean and uncluttered clues! Amazing!
I recommend doing cryptic puzzles to all those rubbing their hands in vain .They are such good diversions and stress busters. One will never regret over this hobby, which is no longer a pastime but an excellent way to keep ones mind engrossed in these stressful days. May our tribe increase! God bless all the compilers.
If today's puzzle was tough, today's Times was Super tough. It took me 20 minutes to put my first one and more than 90 minutes to complete with one clue unsolved.
ReplyDelete