Satyen Nabar's Sun Spl analysed

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Tuesday, 7 March 2023

No 13806, Tuesday 07 Mar 2023, Arden

Solution to 20A 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   Part of the earth then breaks into a very round shape (13) ASTHENOSPHERE {THEN} in {A}{SO}{SPHERE}
10 Trouble to hold pressure during this time of the year (5) APRIL {A{PR}IL}
11 Unclutter ground, it's hostile (9) TRUCULENT*
12 Fancy hit parade, it's no more in South Africa (9) APARTHEID*
13 Lifting article over small distance (5) THEFT {THE}{FT}
14 Some lad mad about her (7) DAMOSEL*
16 By self admission, a post reformation kind of painting (7) IMPASTO {I'M}{A+POST}*
18 Mission complete - finally Arden's caught a fish (7) EMBASSY {c...tE}{M{BASS}Y}
20 Getting angry in other words with coolies in the Orient, extremely simple! (7) E?S?E?T (Addendum - EASIEST {EAS{coolIES}T} - See comments) 
22 Soldier carrying bag of bones (5) SACRA {RA}<=>{SAC}
24 Is salt bad? Starts using daily, ends with spring fever (9) LASSITUDE {IS+SALT}*{Us..g}{Da..y}{Ends}
26 European denial wearing off (9) NORWEGIAN {NO}{WEARING}* 
27 Keen to see half put underground (5) INTER INTERested
28 Media is into disruption, supporting one Frenchman - Monet, perhaps (13) IMPRESSIONIST {PRESS}{IS+INTO}*<=>{1}{M}

DOWN
2   About stopping a virus, millions face ridicule (7) SARCASM {SAR{CA}S}{M}
3   Work is toil - has to cover bad breath (9) HALITOSIS {HA{IS+TOIL}*S}
4   Egg on salt? (5) NITRE {NIT}{RE}
5   Dependable, smart - what reporters are looking for (5,4) SOUND BITE {SOUND}{BITE}
6   Husband of father's sister is Harry (5) HAUNT {H}{AUNT}
7   Mentions about Oriental jackets (7) REEFERS {RE{E}FERS}
8   Cut down on salt, now you're talking mayonnaise! (5,8) SALAD DRESSING {SALt}{ADDRESSING} 
9   Say to father "use the latest" (5,2,3,3) STATE OF THE ART {STATE}{TO+FATHER}*
15 Commitments to produce alloys, show hidden link (9) LOYALTIES {LOYAL{TIE}S*}
17 One of the horse riders left in position, perhaps (9) POSTILION {POSTI{L}ION*}
19 Spot young animal hoisting material (7) BUCKRAM {MARK}{CUB}<=
21 Corresponds to one, at last a quest to set out (7) EQUATES {onE}{A+QUEST}*
23 Ruler in the same era (5) AMEER [T]
25 Part of Egypt is in a turmoil (5) SINAI* Semi&lit

Reference List
Very = SO, Pressure = PR, Soldier = RA(Royal Artillery), Frenchman = M, About = CA, Millions = M, On = RE,  Husband = H, Oriental = E, Left = L

at

21 comments:

  1. Padmanabhan7 March 2023 at 09:09

    Had some problem signing in. Now through.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Padmanabhan7 March 2023 at 09:39

    Thank you Col. for the nice picture of Aesthenosphere. It was totally new to me,but was able to get thanks to google and since it was an anagram.

    ReplyDelete
  3. D N M Rao7 March 2023 at 10:51

    20Ac Clue is 'cool'

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jacob Brahmakulam7 March 2023 at 10:52

    Thought 25d was a straight anagram; why semi&lit ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sree Sree7 March 2023 at 11:23

      As an extended def,, "is in a turmoil" provides additional info to def.
      The island is factually in military conflict.

      Delete
    2. Col_Gopinath7 March 2023 at 12:05

      Sinai peninsula you mean

      Delete
    3. Sree Sree7 March 2023 at 12:33

      Oops, very bad slip. It's peninsula.

      Delete
  5. N Sridhar7 March 2023 at 11:07

    20A- Easiest-extremely simple; Getting angry in other words is losing cool; Coolies -cool =ies;in orient eas(ies)t

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mukundala Balasubramanyam7 March 2023 at 11:19

      Nice solve Sridhar! 👐

      Delete
    2. Sriku7 March 2023 at 11:55

      On of those unforgettable AHA moments when this fell at the last. Great cluing. Felt on top of the world when I cracked the annotation after getting the answer. Should rank among the great clues in THC. Kudos Mr. Arden

      Delete
    3. Padmanabhan7 March 2023 at 13:13

      Good solve. I thought it was easiest and so did not bother to get the anno. Nice one indeed.

      Delete
    4. ranger7 March 2023 at 14:33

      Well solved

      Delete
  6. Padmanabhan7 March 2023 at 13:10

    Let us pride ourselves saying we have improved. I use 'We' since I am in the same boat!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Padmanabhan7 March 2023 at 13:15

    5D- Is it sound byte or sound bite? Alt. spelling?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ranger7 March 2023 at 14:30

      "Even though “sound byte” may seem reasonable, the correct spelling is “sound bite.” The term first arose within the context of U.S. media some time in the 1970s. The idea is that you take a very short clip of audio (or video) that is extracted from a larger piece, like an interview or a speech. This short snippet can be used like a summary or, in many cases, it’s used as a teaser to entice viewers and listeners to watch or listen to the entire piece". - copy pasted from Grammar 101

      Delete
    2. Sree Sree7 March 2023 at 14:32

      See the answer in no 12477

      Delete
    3. Padmanabhan7 March 2023 at 14:34

      Thank you so much Sir. Much to learn.

      Delete
  8. ranger7 March 2023 at 14:32

    Both of you're being very modest

    ReplyDelete
  9. Padmanabhan7 March 2023 at 14:38

    Yes Prasad. Had a look at 12477. Same doubt and you had clarified. I have to blame my memory or the lack of it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Padmanabhan7 March 2023 at 14:51

    Which means your standard remains the same?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gowri7 March 2023 at 23:34

    Nice cw. I think Arden is getting easier. EASIEST was my Aha moment too! Googled POSTILION.
    IMPRESSIONIST is another fav clue.
    Thanx

    ReplyDelete

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