Solution to 17D 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 Strong fellow chasing don has ordered — 'don't interfere!' (5,3) HANDS OFF {F}{F}<=>{DON+HAS}*
5 Criminal about to abduct royal princess of Scandinavia (6) NORDIC {CON<} over {R}DI}
10 Steward spilling one drink (5) WATER WAiTER
11 Original caper to steal posh article (9) AUTHENTIC {A{U}{THE}NTIC}
12 Hates one silly jerk lacking belief in God (9) ATHEISTIC {HATES+1}*{TIC}
13 Invader killing a horseman (5) RIDER RaIDER
14 Sees the Reverend holding Old Testament book (6) ESTHER [T]
15 Knocking back peg, enthralled by dope, turning mellow (7) SWEETEN {TEE<=} in {NEWS<=}
18 Husband leaves compère entertained by ready repartee (7) RIPOSTE {RIP{hOST}E}
20 Totter and stumble, losing head after whiskey (6) WOBBLE {hOBBLE}<=>{W}
22 Remote retreat in American city (5) FARGO {FAR}{GO}
24 One providing illumination in large building hosting party (9) GIRANDOLE {IN+LARGE}* over {DO}
26 Obtain dictionary featuring group of languages (5) INDIC [T]
27 Performing under pressure, finally prevail (6) ENDURE {UNDER*}{p...rE}
28 Explain tricks accurately (8) CONSTRUE {CONS}{TRUE}
DOWN
1 Appeal by bowler taking wicket in Australia (6) HOWZAT [GK] (Addendum - {H{O{W}Z}AT} - See comments)
2 Gains by cracking open-and-shut case to begin with (7,2) NOTCHES UP {OPEN+SHUT+Case}*
3 Honest person observes revolting deceit concealed by siren (8,7) STRAIGHT SHOOTER {S{ART<=}IGHTS}{HOOTER}
4 Become chubbier after gaining pounds (7) FLATTER {F{L}ATTER}
6 Brain-dead men, most losing money playing slot machines (3-5,7) ONE-ARMED BANDITS {BRAIN+DEAD+MEN+mOST}*
8 Nice core exercises in guide (8) CICERONE*
9 Surgeons discontented about procedure for piles (6) STACKS {Su...nS} over {TACK}
16 Alert old leader of Russia making unreasonable demand (4,5) TALL ORDER {ALERT+OLD+Ru...a}*
17 Fragments of a floe split into cubes (5,3) ?R?F? I?E (Addendum - DRIFT ICE {D{RIFT}ICE} - See comments))
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21 Lament about losing a trial, revolutionary's free (6) RESCUE {R{CaSE<=}UE}
23 Swift in sack after taking a little pill (5) RAPID {RA{Pill}ID}
Reference List
Strong = F, Fellow = F, Royal = R, Princess = DI, Posh = U, Peg = TEE, Husband = H, Whiskey = W, Party = DO, Ecstasy = E, University = U, Wicket = W, Australia = OZ, Pounds = L, Money = M, Girl = G
1d bowler:hat H(o(w) z) at
ReplyDeleteI also did same
Delete17D RIFT (Split) into DICE (Cubes) - DRIFT ICE
ReplyDeleteTypos in 24a and 19d
ReplyDeleteTypically Doc.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed 3 & 6 D.
Liked the crossword a lot, but I felt 21D (where you have to find a synonym, delete a letter and then reverse it) was a bit unfair.
ReplyDeleteHi Mr Biswas. I think you are confusing it with an indirect anagram (where trial synonym has to be anagrammed after deletion of letter, yes that would be unfair). What exactly is 'unfair' about deleting a letter from a synonym and reversing it?
Delete3 operation on a single bit of fodder, does look more than necessary! Technically correct but looks too much effort.
DeleteI thought the clue was fair.
DeleteHi Prasad. What's your point? Do you mean to imply that reversal with deletion should not exist in clues because 'it looks too much effort'? Every reversal with deletion clue (by itself or in combination) will have these operations and they are both valid and fair.
DeleteThey are perfectly Valid. I wouldn't get into fair/unfair. That said I don't see anything that i can classify as unfair.
DeleteBut why take that tideous route without a reason? (Sometimes building a great surface might require that route. Or competitions may demand that).