Tuesday 5 January 2021

No 13137, Tuesday 05 Jan 2021, Dr. X

Solution to 1D 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   Chilly night primarily, darling cuddles to come closer (4,4) DRAW NEAR {D{RAW}{Ni..t}EAR}
5   Throw out fool scratching bottom in party (6) BANISH {BA{NIt}SH}
10 Idiot thrashed over ridiculous flaw (7) HALFWIT {H{FLAW*}IT}
11 Employee taking pen drive to save (7) HUSBAND {H{USB}AND}
12 Any point of compass is singular, describing height and breadth (5) RHUMB {R{H}UM}{B}
13 Next one is ruptured appendix (9) EXTENSION*
14 Hits with skill and talent, finally breaking teeth (5-7) CHART-TOPPERS {ART}{t...nT} in {CHOPPERS}
18 Hostile women angrily surrounding cad help things run smoothly (3,3,6) OIL THE WHEELS {HOSTILE+W}* over {HEEL}
21 Fielder’s hand crossing rope initially by mistake (5,4) FIRST SLIP {FI{Rope}ST}{SLIP}
23 Better cocaine for prince in bar (5) EXCEL EX(-p+c)CEL
24 Disgusting feeling on retirement, killing time for pension essentially (7) NOISOME EMO(-t+s)SION<=
25 Form new groups with gangster in command (7) REALIGN {RE{AL}IGN}
26 Study and crack examination without tension primarily (6) DIGEST {DIG}{tEST}
27 One avoids late night parties finally (2,6) AT LENGTH {LATE+NiGHT}*

DOWN
1   Hard men in sanctuary disarm a bull (6) D?H?R? (Addendum - DEHORN{DE{H}{OR}N} - See comments)
2   Resolute female avoiding quarrel (3-3) ALL-OUT fALLOUT
3   A woman entering bar upset old ruler of Iran in Asian city (9) NAWABSHAH {N{A}{W}AB<=}{SHAH}
4   Rogue cheats bank and escapes by the shortest route (2,3,4,5) AS THE CROW FLIES {CHEATS*}{ROW}{FLIES}
6   Popular songstress conceals fiery crime (5) ARSON [T]
7   Bride heartily made out after drinking liquor and conceived (8) IMAGINED {brIde}{MA{GIN}ED*}
8   Epicurean Mafia boss involved in robbery (8) HEDONIST {HE{DON}IST}
9   Ghost identified? Bravo! (5,3,6) THATS THE SPIRIT [DD]
15 Petty theft by revolting jerk, starting to evoke anger (9) PILFERAGE {FLIP<=}{Ev..e}{RAGE} 
16 Criminal penalised and imprisoned (8) CONFINED {CON}{FINED}
17 Philandering director avoids scandal in dalliance (8) FLIRTING {FL{dIRT}ING}
19 Stomach in general keeps hurting (6) ACHING [T]
20 Piece of cake left inside bag (6) CLINCH {C{L}INCH}
22 Runs in back street filled with rubbish (5) TROTS {T{ROT}S<=}

Reference List
Height = H, Breadth = B, Cocaine = C, Women = W, Prince = P, Time = T, Gangster = AL, Hard = H. Men = OR,  Female = F, Woman = W, Director = D, Left = L, Street = ST


27 comments:

  1. Beautiful puzzle! The husband finally makes his appearance as the answer!
    Thank you Dr.X

    ReplyDelete
  2. 7d after seems extraneous and misled me into finding a combined anagram.
    17d a doubt: flirtation,dalliance, philandering all are synonyms. Read in the past such usages could be avoided.
    Didn't know nawabshah but as usual DrX prescription was clear and crisp.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 17D Hi Prasad, what is the problem exactly? There is no 'root issue' Flirt and Fling are different words, sharing no roots. Whoever has mentioned that 'such usage is to be avoided', well I don't see the logic and respectfully disagree!

      7D anagram letters of made after taking in liquor. Pretty standard usage but sorry if it misled you.

      Delete
  3. Ortho Paul
    1d. DEHORN ..de(hor)n

    ReplyDelete
  4. Some more clarity needed for 'hor'.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Typical Dr.X puzzle,but I had a lot of X's in SW corner.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I did not know Rhumb.Thanks for the link Col.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1D DE(H)(OR)N H=HARD, OR=(OTHER RANKS)=MEN IN DEN=SANCTUARY.

    ReplyDelete
  8. An engaging crossword, most of the clues got solved easily, some of them gave a lot of work to the brain. Totally, the experience was great. My
    Favourites are, 11ac, 18ac, 1dn and 2dn. each for a different reason.
    Thank you Dr.x.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Though not enjoyed, enjoyed the solutions..great

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  10. Managed to solve just half a dozen after raking up my brain to no ends and waited till noon to realse the essence of the 'trickiest' of the tricky clues in this grid and commendable work by Dr. X....
    Since this morning, the mercury in Delhi has been reading in the range of 7-8 degrees C and I have been prompted to raise the toast in favour of Dr.X in case I feel like having a sip to overcome the chill although I have been advised to avoid the childish habit of 'bottle-feeding'...
    All said and done, cheers and once again thanks to Col. Gopinath...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tough going today for me. Husband = to economise or save, is new to me. Thanks for the show Doc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was nice meeting you, albeit briefly during IXL final in Bangalore, Mr Prasad.

      Delete
    2. Most of us would have come across 'Animal Husbandry'.

      Delete
  12. Thanx doc. I did solve 100% - but took 40 mins. Rhumb was new to me as was HUSBAND for save. (All men can have a good laugh over it).
    It is a great CW & enjoyed cracking ur clues.

    ReplyDelete

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