Thursday 26 August 2021

No 13336, Thursday 26 Aug 2021, Karaoke

Solution to 17A 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   Doctor Dolittle trimming edges of durable fabric (6) TILLOT dOLITTLe* Tillot is a bag and not a fabric?
5   Spooner’s group ridicules Lucifer’s case (8) MATCHBOX (~batch mocks)
9   Persistent objections about physicist (8) STUBBORN {BUTS<=}{BORN}
10 Plastic surgeons go off with caretakers (6) NURSES SURgEoNS*
11 Elusive smart soldier hides in exotic blanket after killing knight (10) INTANGIBLE {IN} aith {GI} in {BLANkET}*
12 Crazy setters leave Greenlanders (4) NUTS iNUiTS
13 Lay to rest — take top off in time (5) INTER wINTER
14 Capture trophy in opening Olympic competitions at Italy finally (6) OCCUPY {Ol...c}{Co...s}{CUP}{i..lY}
17 Perhaps the sycophant’s catch phrase (6) ?E?S?R (Addendum - YESSIR [CD] - See comments)
19 Bank staff may not give you this on brief strike (5) TOKEN [C&DD]
22 Scrap left by associate in dispute — false cases dismissed (4) IOTA AssOcIaTe*
24 Universal Studios initially leaves on special expedition to make humorous story (5,5) COMIC STRIP {COsMIC}{S}{TRIP}
25 Nut heard to conceal bad breath (6) CACHOU (~cashew) Definition seems incomplete
26 Battalions at sea liquidated Taleban extremists on vessel (8) SAILBOAT BAtTALIOnS*
27 Deal with volunteers about extraterrestrial feud (8) VENDETTA {VEND}{TA} over {ET}
28 They are fictional from the records revealed by soldiers (6) APEMEN {tAPEs}{MEN}

DOWN
2   Look after fashionable design (6) INTEND {TEND}<=>{IN}
3   Occasionally “laid bare” sign at quiet places (9) LIBRARIES {LaId+BaRe}{ARIES}
4   It is believed husband is in testing time (7) THOUGHT {T{H}OUGH}{T}
5   Fare for the consumption of hotel guests at small court (7) MINIBAR {MINI}{BAR}
6   Say cheese cycling fruit (7) TANGELO (t)TANGELO(-t)
7   Leading actress reportedly shot one bird (5) HERON (~ heroin)
8   Commands public works (8) OVERTOPS {OVERT}{OPS}
15 He is experienced to go after rooks and thieves primarily (9) CONSTABLE {ABLE}<=>{CONS}{Th...s} Semi&lit
16 Nomad moved around shelter for drink (8) LEMONADE {LE{NOMAD*}E} 'around' or 'in' shelter?
18 What a winning contestant in poll does not like to narrate? (7) RECOUNT [DD]
19 Problematic asthma, a big fuss in India! (7) TAMASHA*
20 Spirit from borders of Kampuchea carried by neighbour (7) KACHINA {Ka...eA}{CHINA}
21 Five-dollar bill on drink brings the end (6) FINALE {FIN}{ALE}
23 Insect anticipated problem first and camouflaged (5) APHID {An...d}{Pr...m}{HID}

Reference List
Knight = K, Special = S, Volunteers = TA, Husband = H, Time = T, Five-dollar bill = FIN 


26 comments:

  1. 17A. Yessir.. The typical jee huzoor

    ReplyDelete
  2. Replies
    1. Yes Vasant, leading actress=heroine ~ heroin[-i]

      Delete
    2. Isn't that what I have shown Vasant?

      Delete
    3. Col, probably the deletion of "i" is not visible.

      Delete
    4. Looking closely, now I can see the slash across I.

      Delete
  3. Frustratingly challenging. I could do only nine clues...slow learner, thou ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Appreciate your attempt Gemini garu.
      Your continuous efforts will get you to reach the top. Best of luck.

      Delete
  4. 1AC TILLOT [also tillet]
    A coarse linen fabric formerly used for linings, wrapping up textile fabrics, and making awnings.
    This is as per Oxford Dictionary.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Surprisingly, both are not there in Chambers

      Delete
  5. 21 D. That fin is a five dollar bill is a new word to me. Thanks for introducing me to that. I got the answer but trying in vain to force fit an anno...🙂

    ReplyDelete
  6. 25 ACROSS I agree Col. It could have been written differently

    ReplyDelete
  7. 16DOWN:
    It should be IN, 'around' was wrongly used.
    Didn't realise the folly, despite repeated checkings. Apologies.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you Mr. Koteswara Rao for an interesting and tricky grid. Somehow managed to solve just 9 among the Across and just 7 in the Down clues before accessing this blogsite to ascertain the answers.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Excellent grid by Mr KKR. Intangible,Finale, Lemonade. Finally Thanks for the Minibar. we will consider as e-treat. Esp.12A...was too challenging one. Due to oversight I forgotten to read it as setters. Instead I considered setter. so removal of second I. setter played well.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Tough. I got all except TILLOT & APEMEN - but could not parse FINALE, COMIC STRIP, TANGELO.
    Favs - RECOUNT, CONSTABLE, LEMONADE.
    Nice cluing. Thanx.

    ReplyDelete

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