Solution to 22D 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 More or less, donations contain nothing significant at the end (6) ALMOST {ALM{0}S}{s...nT}
4 Strong person pens new chapter for supporter (8) HENCHMAN {HE{N}{CH}MAN}
9 Blue-collar workers wear this when working with money in Central Manhattan (3,3) TIN HAT {TIN}{manHATtan}
12 Disruption of energy when core company staff rejected to break away (5,3) POWER CUT {manPOWER}{CUT} (Addendum - {comPany}{O{CREW<=}UT} - See comments)
15 What a dare-devil may do? Sport and set off? (4,4,4) PLAY WITH FIRE {PLAY}{WITH}{FIRE}
18 Defeat seems inevitable in war when Bastille prison finally got demolished (6,6) LOSING BATTLE {BASTILLE+p...oN+GOT}*
23 It records ill-formed mirage (6) IMAGER*
24 They are fired on ISS in great distance (8) MISSILES {M{ISS}ILES}
26 Sweet mother managed to catch fly (8) MARZIPAN {MA}{R{ZIP}AN}
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DOWN
1 The Bishop of Rome in opposition to one canonically chosen almost appointed strangely (8) ANTIPOPE APPOINTEd*
2 How odd to stop washerwomen dancing in pants? (8) MENSWEAR {WAShERwoMEN}*
3 Bird fights? (7) SPARROW {SPAR}{ROW}
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6 Appropriate question during recess, not right? (7) CONQUER {COrN{QU}ER}
7 I hear setter’s drink is strong (6) MIGHTY (~ my tea)
8 Essence in another tea urn (6) NATURE*
11 Place restrictions on blind person at last leaving for lake (7) CURTAIL CURTAI(-n+l)L
14 Don’t use public utilities? Abstaining from solving this puzzle (3-4) OFF-GRID {OFF}{GRID}
16 Loyalist always taking 50% in the beginning (8) STALWART {ST{ALWays}ART}
17 It goes into jewelry segment having primarily overseas spread (8) GEMSTONE {SEGMENT+Ov...s}*
19 Former ace in dead heat hugs madam (3-4) ONE-TIME {ONE}{TI{M}E}
20 Lighten ship in gold and silver as well as Euros (7) ASSUAGE {A{SS}U}{AG}{E}
21 Liquidator to strike near isle (3,3) HIT MAN {HIT}{MAN}
22 Shop rush? Take side road during peak hours (3,3) ?A? R?N (Addendum - RAT RUN {RAT}{RUN} - See comments)
25 Woman with a rod of authority (4) WAND {W}{AND}
Reference List
New = N, Chapter = CH, Money = TIN, Fly = ZIP, Old man = PA, Play = DO, Poles = N,S, Right = R, Lake = L, Madam = M, Ship = SS, Euro = E, Woman = W
11a P O(werc≤=)ut
ReplyDeletePls read 12a
DeleteI think 13A has something missing. Shouldn't the clue read:
ReplyDeleteBus terminus- No, a strong South wind (6).
the "-" gives the minus sign.
The clue would have worked without No. (Read as bus, ter minus buster) or with DNA terminology ter.
DeleteYes, Vasant. Thanks for pointing out. My original clue was:
DeleteBus terminus? No - A strong South wind (6)
Without '-", it looks like an incorrect open-ended telescopic clue.
DeleteMaybe by elision rule “Buster minus’ can split as “Bus term in us”. Then in can be telscopic indicator sir?
DeleteSparrow was very good. Gridman used to say (when he saw a sparrow on his window) that they are on the decline in the city for lack of suitable nesting spaces.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteIt was really shocking to observe a few years back the total absence of sparrows in my place. Only recently, I am seeing them.
One of the reasons to the declining sparrows is the Telecom towers and the radiations they emit.
DeleteInterestingly at my place during 1st lockdown (March-May 2020) sparrows returned in good number. But surprisingly ( rather not) they disappeared soon after.
DeleteMr. Koteswar Rao,
ReplyDeleteInstantly, I presumed 9-A to be BOW TIE and the relevant 2-D and 3-D that I solved correctly, ultimately indicated my faux pas. Of course, I raked up my brain to get it right.
Today's grid by you was quite a tough one.
Thank you for enlightening me about MARZIPAN and GALAGO in the 26 & 27 Down slots.
_1. I was desperately trying to fit in bow tie.
DeleteThanks Sureshji
DeleteDear Mr. Padmanabhan,
DeleteI am not taking the liberty of addressing you as Paddy since I am only 75 years young.
Well, I am happy that your desperate attempts didn't end up in a nOOse that is right now hanging around my neck since the landlord is DESPERATELY trying to evacuate me by contending that he is selling the propery whereas I wish to return to my B'lore and spend the rest of my life on a rockng chair and incidentally being a single, I have no grandkids to sing them lullabies and relate stories.
Well, life's like that since freelancing assignments in the media are more in vogue and all my efforts of scribbling Middles, Second Opinion, Feature articles are similar to an angler who tosses his rod or the the net and waits for some outcome...
Yes, I have had ample of 'Capital Punishment' and at the first possible opportunity wish to pack up my belonging to hop over to B'lore.
Regards
Suresh
Sureshji Paddy for all is also 75 years young, but his enthusiasm as a commenter and participant is of s teenager..he is one of our most beloved commenters since the blog started on 4th Feb 2009.
Delete+1 Vasant.
DeleteWell done Sathia!
ReplyDeleteGood puzzle
ReplyDelete1A is my favorite
Minor nitpicking
Cryptic grammar is off in 9A and 19 D (A in B is not AB)
Redundant “on” in 24A and 11D (sorry “on” is not a valid connector between wordplay and definition)
In 11D, i thought maybe curtail's definition can understood like “place restrictions on”.
Delete19D, maybe setter sir could said near instead of in. Then no problem correcto?
This type of intelligent discussion about cryotic clues very interesting sir. pls thanks this blog long life as i really enjoy. Sorry, as my english typing canm be improved
Good point. On is part of definition in curtail clue
DeleteWelcome Rohit. Don't bother English being better etc. As long as the msg is conveyed and understood,it is fine. Most of us have learnt from the blog.
DeleteWelcome Rohit.
Delete27A- What is the indicator for dropping S. Old man s only Pa.
ReplyDeleteAbruptly = last letter deletion indicator
DeleteThanks Ajeesh for your clarification and your above points.
Delete9A looks okay to me.
ReplyDeletePaddy,
DeleteTIN in HAT does not give TINHAT
in is for picking central letters from Manhattan and with is the indicator for tin to go with hat.
ReplyDeletePaddy,
DeleteHat = Central Manhattan or Manhattan in the centre. Not “in central Manhattan”
Dear Mr. Ajeesh, not necessarily by the sound of it but certainly a tricky lead to the answer. So let us not become like those bureaucrats who go by the rule book of number of words to be in exactly in the centre... etc.
DeleteRegards
Suresh Panje
Sureshji: Ajeesh has validly pointed out a few technical flaws. This will not only help the setter but also other commenters.
Delete+1
DeleteSureshji, agreed that crossword is playing with words like in a gam. But fortunately, like in all games, there are always some rules (whether we like them or not).
Some of us might have overlooked them inadvertently and we have Ajeesh like people who are always there to help us. As Vasant said, this helps the setters and solvers too.
So, let us play the game as per rules.
You said it, all in the game!!
DeleteI get it now.
ReplyDelete@ KKR Garu. Fully challenging Grid. Except EWER,MIGHTY & 50% RAT RUN rest are filled. Expereinced with Analytical, visual and sound like......spent worthy times taken a long hours with many Aha moments.
ReplyDelete+1 for 16D and 20D.
In fact , 1D - I have annoted as Bishop - POPE ; opposite - ANTI. since there is no clue for front and back I spotted the the word almost. Absolutely relaxed by solving KKR's grid . Have a nice day.
Thanks Prasannaji
ReplyDeleteNice grid. Put WORD instead of WAND (woman with a rod of authority). Could not get MARZIPAN & RAT RUN (a new word for me).
ReplyDeleteMy fav - ALMOST, SPARROW, ASSUAGE.
Thanx.
Thanks Gowri!
Delete