It's just one of those days today when my brain is totally refusing to function as a result there are plenty of blanks to fill in. Please fill in one solution per commenter.
ACROSS
1 American beauty’s partner (6) MISSUS {MISS US}
4 Spooner clears the account of old king and settles down (5,3) (Addendum - STAYS PUT (~ pays tut) - See comments)
9 Brit left slyly, taking Yankee’s top hat (6) TRILBY {BRIT+L}*{Ya...e}
10 Members’ stands? (8) SUPPORTS [DD] (Addendum - ARMRESTS &lit [CD] - See comments)
11 Free tea, every now and then, with bus ticket — to outdo all others? (4,3,7) (Addendum -TAKE THE BISCUIT {TEA+wItH+BUS+TICKET}* - See comments)
13 Articles about logo designed by Indian minister (10) THEOLOGIAN {THE}{LOGO*}{I}{AN}
14 Unofficial control, say (4) KERB (~curb)
16 Preacher Avtaar’s holding a mass (4) IMAM {I{M}AM}
18 Escapes using steps behind an endless chasm (10) AVOIDANCES {DANCES}<=>{A}{VOId}
21 Design network with intricate gauge that computers use to communicate with each other (6,8) OBJECT LANGUAGE {OBJECT}{LAN}{GAUGE*}
24 Lout attracted to VIP’s consort (6) HOBNOB {HOB}{NOB}
25 Decline visit by daughter (2,2,4) GO TO SEED {GO TO SEE}{D}
26 Member of old Jewish fraternity — she's frequently seen going out (6) (Addendum ESSENE {ShE+SEEN}* - See comments)
DOWN
1 Administer contest on the radio (4) METE (~meet)
2 Greasy stuff in herb is fodder for livestock (7) SOILAGE {S{OIL}AGE}
3 Really short bum established agency (8) UMBRELLA {REALLy+BUM}*
5 Picked up headgear supplies for drilling (11) (Addendum - TEREBRATION {BERET<=}{RATION} - See comments)
6 Moving around estuary’s wide outer circle is most easily handled (6) (Addendum - YAREST ESTuARY - See comments)
7 Field scientist shifted base to southern tip (7) (Addendum - PASTURE PAST(-e)UR(+e)E - See comments)
8 Bath covered with balls and glass cylinders (4,5) TEST TUBES {TEST{TUB}ES}
12 Shocking love tag (4-7) HIGH-VOLTAGE {LOVE+TAG}* [RA]
13 Washer holds up dog for trimming (9) TAILORING {O RING}<=>{TAIL}
15 Cool fellow — a bloated bachelor — gets ditched (8) (Addendum - FABULOUS {F}{A}{BULbOUS} - See comments)
17 Rider volunteers to leave military administrator outside entrance to courtyard (7) ADJUNCT {ADJUtaNT} over {Co...d}
19 Thinking about spiced congee? (7) COGENCE {C}{CONGEE*}
20 Unevenly vesiculated ugly audio-visual devices (6) (Addendum - LCD TVS {VeSiCuLaTeD}* - See comments)
22 The old sailor is first to pay the penalty (4) (Addendum - ABYE {YE}<=>{AB} - See comments)
Reference List
Left = L, Indian = I, Mass = M, Daughter = D, Base = E, Fellow = F, Bachelor = B, Volunteers = TA, About = C, The old = YE, Sailor = AB
Only one solution per commenter
ReplyDeleteBrain non-functional today, as such in a Crabby mood, hence the deletions in frustration !!!!
Delete4 across: Stays put...
Delete11A TAKE THE BISCUIT {TEA (-w)I(-t)H BUS TICKET}*
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteSorry,Just followed Sree sree.
ReplyDeletePrasad and Remy please enter one each from your earlier solutions which I have since deleted as there were more than one
ReplyDelete5 dn Terebration.Beret<ration.
ReplyDeleteGood solve
Delete26A ESSENE; ShEs around SEEN*
ReplyDelete10A- Armrests
ReplyDeleteI am not able to classify- E or CD?
Crossing letter -first R- goes with the solution of 5D (Terebration) but not with Col.'s solution as supports.
Supports was wrong. Armrests is an &lit in my view
DeleteIt is actually a CD.
DeleteOkay
DeleteARMSRESTS was intended as a CD.
DeleteMany brains (including mine) not functioning or Avatar on a different plane today?
ReplyDeleteIA version is not up!!
DeleteOnline subscription version hasn't put this up
Delete7D PASTURE was one of the answers entered by Sree-sree. I deleted his answers as he had entered more than on. So taking this one as his submission.
ReplyDeleteThanks col. I have a regular duty of dropping wife at office by 9 these days. So saw your post just now.
Delete6A YAREST (most easily handled) (estuary - u)*
ReplyDeleteCan you kindly explain why u is to be deleted. Couldnt get it.
DeleteI am not alone and am in a great company
ReplyDeleteSolutions awaited from commenters, though I have the answers now
ReplyDelete4A, 15D, 20D and 22D
20d is ENU Ok?
DeleteSee my comment below. Some error in the print version
Delete20D LCDTVS (L C D TVs - V S C L T D* - odd letters of vesiculated)
ReplyDeleteWell done. The enumeration (6) is totally misleading
DeleteThanks Col. I am in cloud nine. Got a pat from you!
Delete+1
DeleteI had put it as (3,3) (one could argue for (1,1,1,3)) but it has come up as (6) in the paper. Sorry for the confusion
DeleteSometimes the paper, on its own, makes changes for the worse
DeleteGood solve, Ramani
DeleteWhen the good Homor nods, it is really a tough one.
ReplyDeleteTypo Homer
ReplyDelete22Ac TOSI (Acrostic) - Tax On Split Income?
ReplyDeleteThat is for 22Dn
DeleteIncorrect
DeleteWill wait till 11 AM for others to try the solutions for 4A, 15D and 22D. If nothing is in by then those who have already answered can take one each.
ReplyDelete4d: STAYS PUT
ReplyDeleteSpoonerism of PAYS TUT
Good solve 👏
DeleteSpooner of pays tut is tays put. How do u get the extra s? Kindly explain.
DeleteOr stay put. But not stays put.
DeleteSuper 👏
ReplyDeleteWelcome Sathia,
ReplyDeleteThis blog is open for anyone to join. Do try to update your profile on Blogger so that your name shows up instead of 'unknown'. Instructions on how to do it is shown in the link on top of the page.
Nobody trying 22D?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of Abel (of Cain & Abel) but the last letter is E.
DeleteCol
ReplyDeleteWhy give publicity to the TVS group?
The answer had better be LCD TVs
It is LCD TVs. (With a small S)
Delete22Dn ABYE- {AB}{YE} - Ye(the in old English) following Sailo(AB) first
ReplyDeleteAbye means to pay penalty.
+1 well done
DeleteSuper ABYE is right.
DeleteWelcome Sathia
ReplyDeleteAvtaar bowled out guys like me.Only solutions were Ignation, theologian and partly 21 ac.Have mercy on us! Thomphil
ReplyDeleteLousy puzzle. Avatar you sentr into a bout of low spirits.
ReplyDelete☹️
DeleteDon't lose heart Thomphil and Rao. Keep at it and follow the blog and solutions. before you know you will start cracking them. Believe me, I was like you not very long ago.
ReplyDeleteWell said. I do admit couple of words were rare - one of which was with enumeration of 4 with 2 crossings. If there is any unfair wordplay, do give me feedback at ss.avtaar@gmail.com
DeleteTerrific challenge! Could get to solve the puzzle now. Couldn't get Ignatian, Essene, adjunct and LCDTVS.Enjoyed the workout. Thanks Avtaar.
ReplyDeleteThanks a ton, Vasant for solving and the feedback. Feedback has been either it is very good tough. Need to use this effectively
DeleteFinally done , but didnt get LCD TVs :) Started late .
ReplyDeleteThanks for trying Lakshmi 🙏. Trust all well
DeleteYes SSv ☺
DeleteBrilliant puzzle.. a tough workout for the brain.. brain found wanting.. I blame myself for all the misses except for LCD TVs for which I blame the paper.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sriku 🙏
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAvatar has demonstrated that cluing is an art form; some may belong to 'abstract' form though.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feedback
Delete12 dn - is high supposed to be anagram indicator - like off, out etc?
ReplyDeleteYes it is .
DeleteHigh as in drunk
Delete14ac - unofficial kerb - what is the connection? Say control is curb. Kindly explain.
ReplyDeleteThis is homophone clue- Curb - kerb
DeleteUnofficial as in kerb market . Homophobe of curb
Delete24ac - what is nob? VIP? Kindly explain.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thefreedictionary.com/nob see the link :)
Delete13dn - ring is washer. How do u get O? Kindly explain.
ReplyDeleteWasher is O ring ( gasket )
Deletehttps://www.google.com/search?q=o+ring&oq=o+ring&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3j46j0i457j0l2.4957j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
DeleteAll washers are rings,but this O ring washers have a circular cross section. Read the above link. We have to learn by using wiki effectively. We did not have this facility earlier. When in doubt refer to dictionary or wiki.
Thank u. Done that.
DeleteI found the cw - very tough & could not understand several parsings even after checking the blog. Have posted lot of queries. If possible, kindly explain. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHope my explanations are clear :)
DeleteYes. Thank u very much. 2 more qs - posted in between.
DeleteIn estuary - what is the indication for removing u?
Spooner of pays tut is either tays put or stay put. How do u get the extra s?
Wide outer circle means take multiple letters on either side (all except u in the middle)
DeleteYour point on Spooner is valid. I didn't think of testing the reverse . Thanks for pointimg out
DeleteThank u so much for all your replies. Next time - i hope to fare better with ur cw. 😊
DeleteLakshmi. Thank you so much. Checked both nob & o ring. 😊
ReplyDeleteThis is Bruno.
ReplyDeleteWas a toughie Avtaar. Total brain fry. Some innovative devices, unfortunately, didnt work for me (e.g. 3D and 6D). Other clues like PASTURE were very good, just never cottoned on. Thanks anyway...