Solution to 14A 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 Teases about including enchantress in unscrupulous sales tactic (4,3,6) BAIT AND SWITCH {BAIT{AND}S}{WITCH}
8 Toughen rebellious characters in Manchester United (5) INURE [T<=]
9 Alert umpire will check for signs of tampering here? (2,3,4) ON THE BALL [C&DD]
11 Working together, architects finally plan green city (10) SYNERGETIC {a...tS}{GREEN+CITY}*
12 Son lost tough fight (4) TIFF sTIFF
14 Alcoholic spirit banned in property? Say again (7) R?S?A?E (Addendum - RESTATE REal eSTATE - See comments)
17 Artfully resets a mosaic tile (7) TESSERA*
19 Notices defective part (7) SECTION*
21 Take ecstasy in club (4) BEAR {B{E}AR}
22 Plan to cross European city limit beyond which trees do not grow (10) TIMBERLINE {TIM{BERLIN}E}
25 Electronic expert conducting op in subtle surveillance (9) ESPIONAGE {E}{S{OP+IN}*AGE}
26 Collect a bit of Manali dope (5) AMASS {A}{Ma...i}{ASS}
27 Blunder keeping those jars on top of hard item in closet (7,6) CLOTHES HANGER {CL{THOSE*}{Hard}ANGER}
DOWN
2 Former student is depressed, missing girl in opening (7) ALUMNUS {A{gLUM}NUS}
3 Divorce lawyer perhaps — one producing a definite result at court (3-7) TIE-BREAKER {TIE BREAKER}
4 Snitch receiving last bit of info that could be breath-taking? (5) NOOSE {NO{infO}SE}
5 Prepares to capture rook, say, in carefully planned moves (3,6) SET PIECES {SET{PIECE}S}
6 Image of bride, alluring (4) IDEA [T]
7 Uproar after fellow kills president in ceremonial vehicle (7) CHARIOT {RIOT}<=>{CHAp}
8 Mysterious guy crossing channel after dreadful sin (11) INSCRUTABLE {C{RUT}ABLE}<=>{SIN}*
10 Socialists abandoned arms without hesitation (4-7) LEFT-WINGERS {LEFT}{WING{ER}S}
13 Drive new train without any doubt (3,7) FOR CERTAIN {FORCE}{TRAIN}*
15 Time boyfriend takes unfinished meth and weed out (9) ERADICATE {ERA}{D{ICe}ATE}
18 What surgeon uses in order to tackle soft lump primarily (7) SCALPEL {SCAL{P}E}{Lump}
20 Follow one colleague possessing sex appeal (7) IMITATE {1}{M{IT}ATE}
Reference List
Son = S, Ecstasy = E, Electronic = E, Girl = G, President = P, Meth = ICE, Soft = P, Sex Appeal = IT, University = U
I was wondering why there are no husbands and wives today- finally I saw them in court with their lawyers! What a tie breaker- imaginative!
ReplyDeleteDid not get the bait in 1A. Thank you Doc. for an engrossing start for the day.
Thanks Paddy. Yes, giving H and W a 'break'😀
DeleteClassy Puzzle. Favourite was Tir Breaker.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vasant.
Delete14A RESTATE = say again. { REALESTATE, property - ALE alcoholic spirit)
ReplyDeleteSuresh,
DeleteCongrats, you are hereby promoted from the Novices list to the Regular list.
Very well solved Suresh 👍
DeleteThank you, Sir
DeleteNice one . Thank you Doctor sir
ReplyDelete15D ..Why not gf?
I see 'girlfriend' is on your mind Ajeesh 😀. Any good news in the offing? 🤗
Delete😊😊
DeleteNo sir . everyone likes 3D it seems 😔
DeleteOverall, a very nice puzzle. 3d is the favourite.
ReplyDeleteThanks AJ! Good to know what you liked.
DeleteTie breaker seems to be everyone's favourite!
ReplyDelete10d
ReplyDeleteSocialists abandoned arms without hesitation. (This should have been with hesitation?)
Hi. 'Without' is an inclusion indicator because 'Without' also means 'Outside' (See dictionary, as in 'The carriage awaits without, or 'The enemy without the gates').
DeleteAs regards 'With', personally I never use 'With' as inclusion indicator, only as juxtaposition indicator.
Today's was tough for me..got 4-5
ReplyDeleteWith and without will serve equally. When it is 'with' it indicates inclusion of hesitation inside arms. When it is without, it means arms are outside hesitation, since without means 'outside' also.
ReplyDeleteWill it be Dr.X tomorrow or pot luck? In a way, expectancy factor is high- you don't know until you open the paper.
ReplyDeleteLovely puzzle :) Tie breaker hahaha :D
ReplyDeleteThanks LV 😀
DeleteHow is CHOCTAW Brave?
ReplyDeleteHi Mr Prasad,'Brave' also means a Native American warrior. (see dictionary entry for Brave) Choctaw is a member of Native American people.
DeleteOne of the meanings of brave:
Deletespecifically : an American Indian warrior
I must confess I got choctow by googling "7 letter word ending in W and starting with C" :-(. The w at the end was too tempting.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite today tie breaker is 4Dn Noose
ReplyDeleteI meant *besides* tiebreaker ...
ReplyDelete21ac - can it also be beat - take = beat. E inside bat (club)
ReplyDeleteHi Gowri. Possible I think, though it did not occur to me as an option while setting. In retrospect, could have used 'pub' instead of 'club' to eliminate any doubt. Thanks for the feedback.
Delete