Solution to 25A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.
ACROSS
1 What gentleman getting ready to attend formal event might do to woo? (5,4,4) PRESS ONES SUIT [DD]
8 English novelist’s editor backed rival (5) DEFOE {ED<=}{FOE}
9 Parasites in record dispute about manuscript (9) TAPEWORMS {TAPE}{ROW<=}{MS}
11 Game one can barely play? (5,5) STRIP POKER [CD]
12 Consuming ecstasy, drink and dance (4) LEAP {L{E}AP}
14 Difficult time — extremely upset (7) TESTING {TimE}{STING}
16 One rogue tailing girl leaving early (7) INITIAL {1}{TAILINg}*
17 Highly important to survive setback! Stop wasting time (7) EPOCHAL {COPE<=}{HALt}
19 Gripe about bumpkin’s short hairstyle (7) MOHICAN {MO{HICk}AN}
22 Frantically takes husband to ER for serious medical problem (10) HEATSTROKE {TAKES+H+TO+ER}*
25 Most immature, lacking in concern about outcome (9) T?N?E?E?T (Addendum - TENDEREST {inT{END}RESET} - See comments)
26 Disregarding tense occasions in matches (5) EVENS EVENtS
27 Denial by criminal caught breaking rule (13) CONTRADICTION {CON}{TRADI{C}TION}
DOWN
2 Changes document in brief recess (7) REFORMS {RE{FORM}St}
3 What a drunkard might do to get an affectionate goodnight message? (5,5) SLEEP TIGHT [DD]
4 Surpass in standout goalkeeping (5) OUTGO [T]
5 Substitute is excited, on edge in volatile semi (9) EUPHEMISM {E{UP}{HEM}ISM*}
6 Darned surprising news (4) SEWN*
7 Former British PM ignores leading diplomat, one from a Middle Eastern country (7) ISRAELI dISRAELI
8 Knockout model and husband tried swinging! Spread gossip (4,3,4) DISH THE DIRT {DISH}{T}{H}{TRIED*}
10 Drinks after consuming pot? They’ll topple (11) SUPPLANTERS {SUP}{PLANTERS} (Correction - {SUP{PLANTER}S} - See comments)
13 The tigers wandered across eastern border of Bandhavgarh’s main road (4,6) HIGH STREET {THE+TIGERS}* over {b...rH}
15 Time of peak achievement earlier, embodied by a green revolution (6,3) GOLDEN ERA {OLD} in {A+GREEN}*
18 Old wife avoids dispute over property in American city (7) ORLANDO {O}{R{LAND}Ow}
20 Almost caught cuddling miss with love (5,2) CLOSE TO {C{LOSE}T}{0}
23 Express disapproval about first track, one to be performed by whole orchestra (5) TUTTI {TUT}{Tr..k}{1}
24 Throb with passion for hot bachelor (4) BEAT (-h+b)BEAT
Reference List
Manuscripts = MS, Ecstasy = E, Girl = G, Time = T, Husband = H, Tense = T, Caught = C, Model = T, Old = O, Wife = W, Caught = CT, Hot = H, Bachelor = B
8d {SUP{PLANTER}S} ?
ReplyDeleteThat is correct Jacob👍
Deletesorry.it was 10D
ReplyDelete'Pot' makes one think of something else- not Doc's fault though!
ReplyDelete1A- I was toying with dress in stead of press. Good one. All long ones enjoyable as usual.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete25 ac TENDEREST...END is outcome
ReplyDeleteInterest lacking in..the rest
T(END)EREST
Typo. Interest lacking in is TEREST
ReplyDeleteCan we have your name please
DeleteDr. Paul...used to be Ortho Paul. Somehow it has disappeared. Will sign in as ortho Paul again.
DeleteOh,no.Dr X again.And it is hard on my nut.
ReplyDeleteDoes the 'nut' have a name?
Delete27A TENDEREST= most immature
ReplyDeleteConcern=INTEREST Lacking IN
TEREST
about END=outcome
T(END)EREST
17 ac, 22ac and 5 dn- far fetched.No wonder it is the spin doctor again.
ReplyDeleteIn future I will delete such posts where names are not mentioned
DeleteToday's puzzle was too difficult for ne
ReplyDeleteDeciphering two words to mean another word in the clue is fairly difficult, particularly if the words deciphered are of not common usage. Dr X is really an expert in the process.
ReplyDeleteGowri If you are here today, pl note I have explained a clue for you in yesterday's post.
ReplyDeleteChecked up. Thank u.
DeleteDr.X has raised the bar again. Took a long time to decipher some of the clues. Real X-ercise for brains such as mine. Thank you for keeping me active.
ReplyDeleteTo Unknown at 1244
ReplyDeleteThe clues that you mention above are all difficult.
They are not far fetched at all.
They follow the rules of the game and perfectly. They unerringly lead to the answers and our own blogger has got them in time and written the blog giving the annos.
Call them difficult, I agree.
Say they are beyond you, Perhaps.
But don't say they are far-fetched. Don't say they are written by what you term a spin doctor. I am not able to make out whether you use it admiringly or otherwise.
In any case it is not courteous to give opinions anonymously. If you write under Unknown. add your name real or pseudonymous at the end as the blog owner repeatedly requests.
Col: A policy decision is needed. Any message that has no handle to it should be deleted. You have been patient and courteous but many ignore even your specific requests to such nameless people to own up.
I agree. Shall post an advisory tommorow onwards for a week.
DeleteAll the clues make sense in retrospect but when one is unable to sufficiently crack many of them after a while one just gets deterred and abandons all hope.....Dont know even if i had extra time whether it would help spending on Dr X 's cerebral challenges......I would personally prefer a moderately difficult puzzle that would keep me tantalisingly hooked.......or at least the hindu should shuffle the puzzle rather than have the same setters puzzles for days in a row as that would be a break from the same style ...but that's my individual opinion.
ReplyDeleteVery entertaining puzzle today, and as to be expected from Satyen who we all know is one of the best setters. Quite understand the frustration some may experience not being able to fully crack the puzzle. I do recall my early days when I'd barely get 4 or 5 and would sit with the solution later and reverse engineer to figure out the mechanics. Blogs like this are a boon now. The learning process and gradually being able to tackle tougher challenges thereby are the rewards of doing crosswords. I really wouldn't like to see the standard being lowered, and there's no reason why THC should not be on par with any broadsheet anywhere. The point about running the same setter's puzzles in a row is valid and I think has been made earlier too, but that's really the publication's decision and/or convenience
ReplyDelete+1 Sir
Delete+1. Couldn't have put it better myself
Delete+2
DeleteMr Gemini, you appear to be genuinely interested in solving clues. From what I glean from your comments here over past month, you seem to be a rank novice. Just as everyone was once, including myself. This blog has seen many experts comment and solve over the years and I can assure you none of them became experts overnight. Especially as regards cryptic clues, there is a long learning curve. If you really want to become an expert, you need to put in the hard work.
ReplyDeleteOne can only become truly good at anything by raising one's own standard, never by lowering the standard of the task that is set or by crying for it to be lowered.
This blog is a goldmine of information, innumerable past Cwds of varied difficulty with expert comments and analyses. Go through them in detail as we all have done. Buy Chambers Dictionary. Increase your vocabulary. Read other blogs on cryptic clues. Col Sir has provided the links.
There are setters who set simple crosswords in TH. Solve all their past Cwds to get a strong foundation to understand how clues work before moving on to tougher Cwds. No one can get PhD when they are still in KG. You have to move up, step by step, diligently. I assure you once you have mastered the art, the fruits are sweet. But you need to do the grind, otherwise grapes will always be sour...
A very good interesting discussion. The central point remains that we need to work hard and try to improve at earlier stages and enjoy the fruits later. There is no other easy way out. Most of us have gone through the grind and thank the blog for all the help and clarifications.
ReplyDeleteNot the first time
Delete. Not the last time!!!
Just as there is incognito there is Dr.x - level a to z of setters & level a to z of solvers. If u feel this is too difficult - there r others who may find incognito too easy. Its a range. As explained by doc above- solve the easy ones, learn to parse & understand the difficult ones. I was an absolute novice a year back. Today i got all but 2 words thanx to the blog. So keep at it. Before u know it - you will be solving it.
ReplyDeleteFrom an absolute novice 1 year back... it is dramatic progress. Kudos!
ReplyDeleteAm pained to read somewhat critical comments on one of the best setters in the hindu...yes it's a difficult task to complete dr X grid. But whatever you do gives you a special aha moment. Personally have learnt a lot from his and other setters grids. And of course this blog is a dynamic encyclopedia. Let the good work continue and critics look at the big picture - grids emulate life easy times, tough times, challenging times.
ReplyDelete