Tuesday 18 October 2022

No 13688, Tuesday 18 Oct 2022, Dr. X

Solution to 10D 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   Woman dumped a dude, bellowing about deceit (6-7) DOUBLE-DEALING {A+DUDE+BELLOwING}*
8  Graduate holding rose in Dutch city (5) BREDA {B{RED}A}
9   Dinner table items of ornamental fabric in fashion all round (5,4) PLACE MATS {P{LACE}MATS<=}
11 Idea behind abandoning grand enterprise (10) ASSUMPTION {ASS}{gUMPTION}
12 Powder in metal container (4) TALC [T]
14 What one training excessively for marathon might do in swamp (7) OVERRUN {OVER RUN}
16 A mysterious gap, one relating to furthest point in orbit (7) APOGEAN {A}{GAP+ONE}*
17 Meat is beginning to go bad, most ill-smelling (7) GAMIEST {MEAT+IS+Go}*
19 Extraordinary genius acquires new following (7) ENSUING {ENSUI{N}G*}
21 Bowler perhaps starting to express resentment (4) HATE {HAT}{E}
22 Troublesome purist rambling in club (10) DISRUPTIVE {D{PURIST*}IVE}
25 Confined over blunder, one fellow's scared stiff (9) TERRIFIED {T{ERR}{1}{F}IED}
26 Bit of egg in breakfast cereal for American writer (5) OATES {OAT{Egg}S}
27 Cine star in set consumes dope, showing pigheadedness (13) INTRANSIGENCE {CINE+STAR+IN}* over {GEN}

DOWN
2   Manage severe spread after onset of Omicron (7) OVERSEE {SEVERE}*<=>{O}
3   Speculate without reserve when prices are falling (4,6) BEAR MARKET {B{EARMARK}ET}
4   Reviewed video about unknown person living abroad (5) EXPAT {E{X}PAT<=}
5   Knocking back drink, start to boisterously talk for minute (9) ELABORATE {ALE<=}{Bo...y}{ORATE}
6   Recline with female? Willingly (4) LIEF {LIE}{F}
7   Star about to shoot in match between Celtics and Lakers, say (3,4) NBA GAME {N{BAG}AME}
8   How Sehwag liked to reach any three-figure milestone undoubtedly (2,1,4,4) BY A LONG SHOT [C&DD]
10 Anticipate nervously, start to slowly snog and seduce (6-5) S?C?N?-G?E?S (Addendum - SECOND-GUESS {Sl...y+SNOG+SEDUCE}* - See comments) 
13 Extraordinary opus has solitary musical instrument (10) SOUSAPHONE {OPUS+HAS}*{ONE}
15 Maniac involved in riot for food (9) NUTRITION {NUT}{IN+RIOT}*
18 Endlessly developing city in Venezuela (7) MATURIN MATURINg
20 Silly jerk after wedding vow embraces bride heartily (7) IDIOTIC {TIC}<=>{I DO} over {brIde}
23 Bones of detective found in bar - criminal finally surrendered (5) RADII {RA{DI}Il}
24 Raised moulding around English coffin stand (4) BIER {BI{E}R<=}

Reference List
Woman = W, Graduate = BA, Rose RED, Grand = G, New = N, Club = DIVE, Fellow = F, Dope = GEN, Unknown = X, female = F, Detective = DI(Detective Inspector), Moulding = RIB, English = E

15 comments:

  1. 10D: Anticipate = SECOND GUESS. S from start to "slowly" and anagram (nervously) of "snog" and "seduce"

    ReplyDelete
  2. +1. I got it but could not parse.
    A very well written clue. Confusingly clear!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. paddy sir......well confused. but hard to crack. Dr X always giving too challenging puzzles. getting relax at the end of the day.

      Delete
  3. If we read it as-
    "Anticipate start to slowly nervously snog and seduce"
    it becomes easier and less confusing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nervously is anagrind for the whole clue, I am second guessing ;)

      So the anagram fodder is (S + Snog + Seduce).

      Written any other way will not maintain the smooth surface.

      Delete
  4. While the current trend shows past leaders reaching their APOGEAN state, the likes of me were TERRIFIED by the fifth. It was DISRUPTIVE, had to SECOND GUESS a lot and use some good ASSUMPTIONs. But do HATE myself for the IDIOTIC mistakes in rounds 1&2. Must be careful in the ENSUING rounds. Solve, take a break refresh (apply TALC or have some NUTRITION whatever) and then carefully OVERSEE before submission. Must think of some ELABORATE scheme (other than DOUBLE DEALING) to quickly crack clues like SOUSAPHONE, BIER.

    At present feel like an investor in the wrong end of a BEAR MARKET. Any remote chance of finishing with a decent rank seems possible only BY A LONG SHOT to OVERRUN those above. Else will be out of this NBA GAME. Maybe read authors like OATES and build vocabulary on words like LIEF by next year.

    Great to see EXPATS from as far MATURIN to BREDA participate and shine. Long live the IXL and the excellent setters / organizers and let its reach and RADII extend.



    ReplyDelete
  5. Yet another superb grid from Dr X. Enjoyed solving the crisp and elegant clues.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 10d - (SECOND GUESS)*
    S-slowly to start ; anag of (s(-lowly)+snog + seduce)*
    Thank you Dr X. I got an opportunity to solve today's grid.

    ReplyDelete

deepakgita@gmail.com