Solution to 5D 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 Will perhaps be an obvious clue? (1,4,8) A DEAD GIVEAWAY [DD]
8 Military police conducting operation at western border of Uri finish the job (3,2) MOP UP {M{OP}{Uri}P}
9 Slim one dancing in gathering is most ethereal (9) FLIMSIEST {F{SLIM+1}*EST}
11 Discontinue drinking alcohol following beastly viral disease (5,5) SWINE FEVER {S{WINE}{F}EVER}
12 Search for groom (4) COMB [DD]
14 Never agitated after drinking popular soothing tonic (7) NERVINE {NERV{IN}E*}
16 I’ve throbbed in desire to consummate (7) ACHIEVE {AC{IVE*}HE}
17 Fashion tips penned by woman for trendy urbanite (7) HIPSTER {H{TIPS*}ER}
19 Damsel is so mesmerising, essentially graceful (7) LISSOME [T]
21 Nothing to chatter about? Good (4) OKAY {O}{YAK<=}
22 Silly crone halts a lively dance (10) CHARLESTON*
27 One spilling everything, downright loud amongst heavy drinkers (13) BUTTERFINGERS {B{UTTER}{F}INGERS}
DOWN
2 Crazier to plunge over jetty (7) DIPPIER {DIP}{PIER}
3 Like programme on network about spies (10) APPRECIATE {APP}{RE{CIA}TE}
4 Indiscretion in retro joint by fellow on ecstasy (5) GAFFE {FAG<=}{F}{E}
5 Messaging system flaw keeps old man upset (9) V?I?E?A?L (Addendum VOICEMAIL - {V{O}ICE}{M}{AIL} - See comments))
6 Outbreak surges, engulfing Chinese city (4) AKSU [T]
7 Excellent spirit that can remove nail polish (7) ACETONE {ACE}{TONE}
8 One who dislikes people misusing smartphone devices essentially (11) MISANTHROPE {SMARTPHONE+devIces}*
10 Boards divided by net in artful game (5,6) TABLE TENNIS {TABLE{NET+IN}*S} Semi&lit
13 Humiliating by delivering a form of punishment to curb rashness (10) CHASTENING {Ca{HASTE}NING}
15 Rather excited about fiction that’s more sensual (9) EARTHLIER {EARTH{LIE}R*}
18 UPA perhaps without former stability (7) PLATEAU {P{LATE}AU*}
20 Open-air full moon party in tour rocks (7) OUTDOOR {O}{UT{DO}OR*}
23 Saint in Kashmiri shikara (5) RISHI [T]
24 Hit wicket in Test (4) SWAT {S{W}AT}
Reference List
Operation = OP, Following = F, Loud = F, Fellow = F, Old = O, Man = M, Ecstasy = E, Party = DO, Wicket = W
5 d. VOICEMAIL = Messaging system.
ReplyDeleteFlaw = VICE; Oldman = OM; Upset=AIL;
vOiceMAIL
Recheck. Annotation?
DeleteGood solve and fast at it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Doc.for a bright start to the voting day (for us here at Chennai)
ReplyDeleteLiked many clues- voicemail,actone,butterfingers,table tennis to mention a few.
Thanks Paddy! Nice to find out what you especially liked π
DeleteHa! I forgot to mention the hit wicket!
ReplyDeleteIMO 1Ac is an elegant clue
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr Rao π
DeleteVery enjoyable puzzle. Loved A dead giveaway, Butterfingers, Table tennis and Swat among the clues.
ReplyDeleteThanks Vasant! Good to know what you enjoyed the most :)
Delete24-D Hit wicket in Test. I solved it as GATE (the entrance exams) by presuming and assuming 'wicket' (a wicketgate) as the key. And in the process just could not think flattered while attempting 27A though I was sure it is BUTTERFINGER, an oft-used term by cricket correspondents.
ReplyDeleteThis reminded me of England's Test cricketer Rev. David Shepherd who was famous for dropping catches and thus there was this joke about him that parents avoided their baby being baptised by him lest, he drops the infant!!!
All said and done, enjoyed solving this edition of Crossword though I had to skip three clues like 1A, 25A, 6D, 13D, 15D and as already mentioned 27A.
.
Thanks Mr Panje! Good to know the details indeed. π
DeleteThanks to Dr.X for today's challenging puzzle. I got 50%. I solved as Voice Call. let me try next attempt. considered old man as "o".
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome Mr Rao π
DeleteLiked all the long ones & Swat :) Lovely grid Doc !
ReplyDeleteThanks for swatting away the clues LV π
Deleteπ€£π€£
DeleteDr X has taken cryptic cluing to a higher echelon. Challenging and enjoyable at the same time.
ReplyDeletewell said.
DeleteThank you Mr Prasad! You words are music to my ears π
DeleteBeautiful grid. Thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you, Doc. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome MB. Glad you enjoyed it π
DeleteVery enjoyable puzzle even though I missed Voicemail and Aksu. Loved A dead giveaway like everyone else. Thanks !!!
ReplyDeleteVery nice to receive your feedback Maya. It helps to know what you enjoyed and which ones caused a problem π
DeleteThank u doc. With some difficulty i got all finally.
ReplyDeleteLoved 1ac, 9ac, 27ac.
π
Great you solved all Gowri! Well done indeed.
Delete