Solution to 18D 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
10 Kills abilities of employees? (8) SKILLSET {KILLS}* [RA]
11 Memorised books on Shakespearean character (6) LEARNT {LEAR}{NT}
12 Injected botox, say to cover one having feet down (8) PLUMIPED {PLUM{1}PED}
13 American retracts final word without single condition (6) ANEMIA {A}{A{1}MEN<=}
14 Top post initially grabbed by evil person (7) SPINNER {S{Post}INNER}
17 He doesn’t believe a bank job consumes time (7) ATHEIST {A}{T}{HEIST}
22 Check others in front of shower (8) RESTRAIN {REST}{RAIN}
25 Jumped and spilt the beans without press reports initially (6) SPRANG {S{Press}{Re...s}ANG}
26 Fast track income from marijuana according to Spooner (8) SPEEDWAY (~weeds pay to speed way)
27 Frequently recalled diet that could be cultivated (8) EDUCATED {DiEt+ThAt+CoUlD+bE}<=
28 Deal with fishing gear (6) TACKLE [DD]
DOWN
1 Friendly gesture of pals (8) BACKSLAP {PALS}<=
2 Small cracks around circle in obstacle race (6) SLALOM {SLAL{O}M*}
3 Exhausts America with drugs and drink (4,2) USES UP {US}{E}{SUP}
4 Keeping scout busy on vacation day (7) CUSTODY {SCOUT*}{DaY}
5 Holy man wielding Indian sword is sturdy (8) STALWART {S{TALWAR}T}
6 Tongue has same sensation inside (8) ASSAMESE [T]
7 Henry drills to fix unit in plant (6) MEHNDI {ME{H}ND}{1}
18 Fit sailor touching 50 occupying rooms (8) S?I?A?L? (Addendum - SUITABLE {SUIT{AB}{L}E} - See comments)
19 Spider crawling on engineer’s chair (7) PRESIDE {SPIDER*}{E}
21 Walked unsteadily leaving top English bar (6) IMPEDE {lIMPED}{E}
23 This elegant actor and author writes plays — creates “Oliver Twist” (6) SVELTE {SVELTE+ACTOR+I+WRITES = CREATES+OLIVER+TWIST} [CA]
24 Friend’s uncle regularly supplies contract (6) REDUCE {fRiEnDs+UnClE}
Reference List
Boy = B, Europe = E, Books = NT(New Testament), American = A, Time = T, Drugs = E, Holy Man = ST, Indian sword = TALWAR, Henry = H, Sailor = AB, 50 = L, Engineer = E, English = E
18 D solved
ReplyDeleteLet others try
16d doesn't the Musk need an indication not to loose the head (melon-m!)and still be Elon?
ReplyDelete7d I thght, mehndi is the art and ritual. And Henna is the plant.
Musk Melon vs Elon Musk ?!
DeleteI had put int his in my MBA group when Elon lost the 200B club.
DeleteMusk looses Money and became a billionaire.
Agree about 7d - In hindsight I think plant design would have been fairer.
DeleteOn 16D, it is Elon Musk not Musk Melon, as pointed out correctly by KRM.
When ref to person I always saw Musk, perhaps/may be.
DeleteThere is always that indication.
You are right. But I had a problem with the spelling too and I had to correct myself.
ReplyDeleteLiked this clue in another crossie
ReplyDeleteCrazy artists make medium-hot curry (6)
MADRAS? Mad + ras
DeleteReminded me of "What Chennai was called by crazy artists (6)" in https://thehinducrosswordcorner.blogspot.com/2020/12/no-13117-saturday-12-dec-2020-hypatia.html
DeleteI see a lot of Indianisms in the clues and solution words- Mehndi,Talwar, Assamese,Tablas
ReplyDeleteYes, I try to include atleast a few - something I learnt from the great Gridman.
Delete18d.. SUITABLE.. SUIT(AB)(L)E..SUITE is room. L is 50. AB..is sailor
ReplyDeleteMeaning FIT
Suite is a set of rooms
DeleteRooms in the clue is fine.
Delete18D SUITABLE = Fit
ReplyDeletesailor=AB, touching, 50=L, occupying(in), rooms=SUITE ; SUIT(AB)(L)E
Well solved.
DeleteGood solve KRM.
ReplyDeleteCorrection in yesterday's CW done in IA version has been mentioned in the print edition also. Of course confirmed by Hypatia in the blog.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI liked the surfaces of a number of clues. However, I have a quibble about 26A. Marijuana is WEED, not weeds. And income is PAY. There is no S in the clue to allow for SPEEDWAY. Something referring to SPAY would've worked better. Thank you, Hypatia, for an enjoyable puzzle.
ReplyDeleteRead as a phrase
DeleteIncome from money = weed's pay.
Income from Marijuana
DeleteThanks for your feedback Amrita. It was intended as Spoonerism of Weed's pay, as correctly parsed by Sree Sree above.
DeleteOh I see. Thanks for explaining.
DeleteNice grid. Easier than yday. Plumiped is a new word for me. Googled.
ReplyDeleteMy fav - RESTRAIN, ATHEIST, SUITABLE.
Thanx Hypatia
Thanks for your feednack Gowri. Glad you enjoyed it.
Delete