Solution to 6D 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
8 Curious solver’s scratching head for hint (6) RUMOUR {RUM}{yOUR}
9 Old ladies having time fighting for remote (8) ISOLATED {O+LADIES+T}*
10 Owned a nice building inside Spanish estate (8) HACIENDA {H{A+NICE}*AD}
11 Free former parliamentarian near Thailand, touring East (6) EXEMPT {EX}{MP}{T} over {E}
12 File on excessive spending (4,4) HIGH LIFE {FILE}* [RA]
13 Area with rice basically fit to be productive (6) ARABLE {A}{Rice}{ABLE}
14 Trim hair that Socrates had finally (7) HEMLOCK {HEM}{LOCK}
20 Abandoned search for hunter, say (6) CHASER*
22 Unsure Mr. Brown embraced by model (8) HESITANT {HE}{SI{TAN}T}
25 Peacemaker’s push to remove from power (6) UNPLUG {UN}{PLUG}
26 Dodge exceptionally mean girl (8) MALINGER*
27 Fandango’s same routine features fine material (8) GOSSAMER [T]
28 Reserved to eat together with drink (6) SHANDY {SH{AND}Y}
DOWN
2 Sheen’s European? (6) POLISH [DD]
3 Manage to remain controlling independent country (6) BRUNEI {B{RUN}E}{I}
5 Investigation about adolescent? Quite the contrary! (8) COVERAGE {C}{OVERAGE}
6 Cut from behind taking top card (King) (8) ?A?E?A?E (Addednum - LACERATE {L{ACE}{R}ATE} - See comments)
7 Foreign exchange trader? (3,3) PEN PAL [CD]
15 Bored, lacking an agenda? (8) LISTLESS {LIST LESS}
16 As per Spooner security staff arrived on bridge, perhaps (4,4) CARD GAME (~guard came)
18 Slur essentially influential local party suppresses (8) INNUENDO {INN}{i..lUENt..l}{DO}
19 Bell on top of a mythical creature (7) CHIMERA {CHIMER}{A}
21 Hail large cab (6) HANSOM (~handsome)
24 Can husband start travelling without a helmet? (3,3) TIN HAT {TIN}{H}{A}{Tr...g}
Reference List
Old = O, Time = T, Thailand = T, East = E, Area = A, Peacemaker = UN, Independent = I, About = C, King = R, Party = DO, Husband = H
6D- cut meaning lacerate; behind - late, top card - ace, King - r; la(ace)(r)te
ReplyDeleteL(ACE R)ATE - To be precise. Well solved.
Delete24d The surface reading of the last clue 24d is excellent. So evocative!
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I. as one of those husbands, imagined myself walking with the helmet of one of my sons when they weren't using their two-wheelers. I laughed out aloud and my wife asked. 'what's it?' She thinks I have too much of merriment.
Thanks CV Sir. Glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteThank God, we have only masks to wear and no helmets to walk around!
ReplyDeleteI could not do 21d- Nansom- but even after looking at the blog i took some time to connect large & handsome- until I thought about a handsome profit. Good homophone clue.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paddy. I normally don't do too many Homophone clues (other than Spoonerisms) - so happy to know you liked that.
DeleteEnjoyable puzzle! Hemlock, Listless and Tinhat were my favourites. Thank you, Hypatia.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vasanth. I liked the imagery in Hemlock and Tin hat. Glad you liked those too.
DeleteThank u Hypatia for a great CW. I also could not connect handsome with large & hence couldnt parse.
ReplyDeleteI found 2d, 4d & 24d to be real fun clues.
Thanks for the feedback Gowri. Nice to know that you enjoyed them. Some of these were picked as favorites by solvers in other social media as well. Was wondering why there were very few comments in the blog today. Maybe everyone was busy this morning watching the match?
Delete