Solution to 14A 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 Only watercolours? Somewhat unattractive (2,3,8) NO OIL PAINTING {NO OIL}{PAINTING}
8 Characters in Mensa, extraordinary (5) NAMES*
9 Dreamed about female, most outstanding, having a round visage (4-5) MOON-FACED {MOON{F}{ACe}ED}
11 Dope in Manali, primarily purest, going wild in do (4,6) PASS MUSTER {P{ASS}{Ma...i}USTER}
12 Stuff revealed by mistress to wife (4) STOW [T]
14 Settling with modern woman leaving cheat (7) N?S?I?G (Addendum - NESTING {NEw}{STING} - See comments)
16 Choose again to rock on ecstasy and cocaine at bar (7) REELECT {REEL}{E}{C}{T}
17 Spiral shaped clip almost cuts patch up (7) HELICAL {HE{CLIp<=}AL}
19 Small jazz band touring most ancient city in Asia (7) COLOMBO {C{OLd}OMBO}
21 Swelling behind head of pancreas (4) BUMP {BUM}{Pa...s}
22 Unusually erotic ads about condoms finally banned (10) OSTRACISED {EROTICS+ADS}* over {c...mS}
25 Reckless criminal and rogue start to shoot (9) DANGEROUS {AND+ROGUE}*{Sh..t}
26 Pleasurable to cuddle sweetheart finally over mattress (5) FUTON {FU{s...rT}{O}N}
27 Blunder by sleepy pro sadly in perilous course (8,5) SLIPPERY SLOPE {SLIP}{SLEEPY+PRO}*
DOWN
2 Diffusion of fluid consequently rises with flowerless plant retaining iodine (7) OSMOSIS {SO<=}{MOS{I}S}
3 They keep staying awake in casinos, desperate to win money (10) INSOMNIACS {IN+CASINOS}* over {M}
4 Interrogates politician overwhelmed by knocking back drink (5) PUMPS {PU{MP}S<=}
5 Erotic maiden is artfully showing type of exercise (9) ISOMETRIC {EROTIC+M+IS}*
6 High-protein food in diet of ultramarathoners (4) TOFU [T]
7 Chick extremely enthralled by bag that is a fashion accessory (7) NECKTIE {NE{ChicK}T}{IE}
8 Stop husband starting to undress in bed, high after consuming beer (3,2,3,3) NIP IN THE BUD {H+Un...s+IN+BED}* over {PINT}
10 Overwhelmed by drink, model at bar seeks joint (11) DOWNTRODDEN {DOWN}{T}{ROD}{DEN}
13 Careless dope climbed and fell, cut badly (10) NEGLECTFUL {GEN<=}{FELL+CUT}*
15 Completely stumped, lost tackling calculus (4,5) GALL STONE {G{ALL}{ST}ONE}
18 All shocked about flimsy mini, barely perceptible (7) LIMINAL {L{MINI*}AL}
20 Blunder by young lady to kiss back (7) MISSTEP {MISS}{PET<=}
23 Discoloured gutter outside small yard (5) RUSTY {RU{S}T}{Y}
24 King left for dead in castle, mysterious (4) DEEP (-k+D}DEEP
Reference List
Female = F, Wife = W, Woman = W, Ecstasy = E, Cocaine = C, Bar = T, Over = O, Money = M, Drink = SUP, Maiden = M, Husband = H, Model = T, Dope = GEN, Stumped = ST, Kiss = PET, Small = S, Yard = Y, King = K, Dead = D
Surprising. No comments till now!
ReplyDelete14A Very good cryptic formulation
ReplyDelete14 A answer known but anno is tricky
ReplyDelete14A Settling with modern woman leaving cheat = NESTING
ReplyDeleteModern = NEW, Modern without woman = (NEW - W) = NE
Cheat = STING
Settling = NE + STING = NESTING
One per week!
DeleteNice solve. A gentle reminder though!
DeleteSure Sir!
DeleteWell done 👏
ReplyDeleteGood solve- 2 days in a row!
ReplyDeleteNo comments?- Australian open tennis to blame (for me)
ReplyDelete1a is there a trick that is better elaborated for novices!
ReplyDeleteAs per anno it's not plain CD!
Looked up Col.'s link?
DeleteI too did not know the phrase,but the link explained it to me!
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteNot about def. About charade.
DeleteI am at Yercaud. Will be here till 21st
ReplyDeleteHave a pleasant stay. Nice quiet place.
ReplyDeleteHave a pleasant stay @ Yercaud. Nice weather.
DeleteDoc.X.....14a Excellent one. also, NAMES, ISOMETRIC, OSTRACISED. have a nice day
ReplyDeleteDoc - Lovely grid. Proud of myself for solving it fully. Thanx.
ReplyDelete