Across
1 Dancing a lot on gin in carnival, feeling very happy(8,2,3) FLOATING ON AIR {F{A+LOT+ON+GIN*}AIR}8 Besieged by doubt, rushed back to lay down weapons(5) UNARM {U{RAN<=}M}
9 Animal channel — learn about beasts primarily(5,4) SLOTH BEAR {SLOT}{ H{B
11 Rogue ensnaring women by fraud virtually in chat(4,3,3) CHEW THE FAT {CHE{W}{THEF
12 Finish off smack and cocaine cartel(4) BLOC {BLO
14 Crazy about fantastic game! Maradona finally escapes, kicks ball through opponent’s legs(7) NUTMEGS {NUT{G
16 Criticise training to crack a code(7) DECRYPT {DECRY}{PT}
17 Mate in Australia consuming large iced drink(7) COBBLER {COBB{L}ER}
19 Bringing back container to evaluate chemical compound(7) NITRATE {TIN<=}{RATE}
21 Work load for new president(4) OPUS {O(-n+P)US}
22 Surprising variation in wildly erotic show(10) SWITCHEROO {EROTIC+SHOW*}
25 Sandwich in bar menu is fantastic(9) SUBMARINE {BAR+MENU+IS*}
26 Skilled cyclist pedalling backwards enthrals(5) ADEPT (T<=)
27 Approach chaps entering tents slyly for liaisons(13) ENTANGLEMENTS {TENTS*} around {ANGLE}{MEN}
Down
2 Poorest ale served at retreat(7) LEANEST {ALE*}{NEST}3 Glove concealed by deadly criminal undeniably(10) ADMITTEDLY {DEADLY*} around {MITT}
4 Delivery by Aussie swings, dismissing Pujara at last(5) ISSUE {
5 Couple of criminals stealing article talk incessantly(2,2,3,2) GO ON AND ON {GOON}{DON} around {AN}
6 City in Japan, a harbour(4) NAHA (T) &lit
7 Lazily drinking ale perhaps in a perfect world(7) IDEALLY {ID{ALE*}LY}
8 Knocked out in middle of round with bad concussion(11) UNCONSCIOUS {
10 What tidal wave might do // to disturb a stable situation?(4,3,4) ROCK THE BOAT (DD)
13 It’s sticky in patches strangely around child’s bed(6,4) SCOTCH TAPE [PATCHES*{ around {COT}
15 Revolting bias in band is spreading(9) SPRAWLING {S{WARP<=}LING|
18 Gift hamper contained no cold drink(7) BOURBON {BO{
20 Most cheerful in excellent vacation around island(7) AIRIEST {AI}{R{I}EST}
23 Alien about to abduct girl at that place(5) THERE {ET<=} around {HER}
24 Talk about a beach in Goa(4) BAGA {GAB<=}{A}
Reference List
Doubt=Um, Women=W, Cocaine=C, Training=PT, Large=L, New=N, President=P
Article=An, Cold=C, Excellent=AI, Island=I, Alien=ET, Girl=Her
Article=An, Cold=C, Excellent=AI, Island=I, Alien=ET, Girl=Her
Colour/Font Scheme
Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word, Reference list word, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Opposite indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous
Nice clues. Took some time from 50% to about 90% completion.
ReplyDeleteIn is part of definition in 7D
Thanks Ajeesh. Yes you are right about 7D. What happened to the final 10% 😀
DeleteBlog to the rescue!
DeleteWhat a delight for a Saturday morning. An enjoyable ( success after hard work) CW by Doc. and an elaborate blogging by Sunnet (!)- what happened to his Pangrams?
ReplyDeleteThanks Paddy 🙏
DeleteMaNY aHA! Moments. Thank you Doc.
ReplyDeleteI was floored by nutmegs- never heard of it though I followed Maradona's football (including the hand of God!)
Delightful puzzle as always, Dr. At a first glance over my morning coffee, found it tough and put it aside. But a second attempt was surprisingly fruitful and the answers came in steadily. I had chiller for iced drink and hence couldn’t get bourbon. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr Prasad 🙏
DeleteEnjoyed the solutions!
ReplyDelete13a) why child's bed? Wouldn't just bed work there?
ReplyDelete13d*
DeleteYes,I thought so too. Was trying to fit in crib etc.Misleading.
DeleteHi, there is nothing misleading about it!
DeleteChambers Dictionary - Cot = a small bed, esp one with high sides for a young child.
While just 'bed' will work, 'child's bed' is specific and correct as well.
We are used to getting cot/bed in CW's interchangeably that this was something new. Anyway Chambers has the last word.
DeleteNot misleading. Cot has a direct definition as a Child's bed
ReplyDeleteThat's correct Sritri 👍
DeleteA tipsy crossie with delicious drinks on offer! Thanks Doc for the toast
ReplyDeleteCheers KKR 🍺
DeleteDoc.has always a few drinks around amidst husbands & wives!
Delete+1 :-)
DeleteI wonder which husband goes with which wife at the end of that party!!! ha ha
DeleteRealised that ‘gift hamper’ is an oxymoron.
ReplyDeleteYes,that's a good one!
Delete17a - Australia mate -- cobber. after having / consuming 'L' the word becomes cobbler. which becomes a shoe maker / (Tall sweetened iced drink of wine or liquor with fruit) the def. is ice drink ???
ReplyDelete" Mix of any spirit, sugar, crushed ice and fruit,
Deletethe cobbler takes its name from the “cobbles” of ice over which it was traditionally built,
The sherry-based version, quite possibly the first shaken drink, is most famously singled out in Charles Dickens’s The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, in which the main character reacts to his first cobbler—and its straw: “Martin took the glass with an astonished look; applied his lips to the reed; and cast up his eyes once in ecstasy. He paused no more until the goblet was drained to the last drop.”
"
Thanks Sree_sree. well defined. Have a nice week end
DeleteGood one Prasad. Thank you.
DeleteI enjoyed solving Dr X puzzles today. esp. 1a and 4D.....but a bit confusing in 17a. we often the word cobbler used for shoe maker. but the other meaning of r ice-drink. I have a bit doubt. Thanks doc. for the challenging puzzles. at least 6 puzzles solved. will complete by 2 PM.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr Rao 🙏
DeleteDr.X on a drinking spree for a change today! Did not know about Cobbler & Nutmegs. Thoroughly enjoyed solving. Today's cluing a notch higher and the bar being set, looking forward to the next ones in the series. Thanks Dr.X
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr Prasad 😀
DeleteNice one Doc. I thought cobbler was only a dessert and resisted it till "Google cobbler drink" came to the rescue :-).
ReplyDeleteCheers to that Maya!🥃😀
ReplyDeleteGood to know most could be solved Mr Sathiya👍
ReplyDelete