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| Artwork by Prasanna |
Solution to 16D 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.
One of my favourite songs by Santana
ACROSS
9 In our easy bandying, my companions and I relax (2,3,4) AS YOU WERE {OUR+EASY}* over {WE}
10 Jet's tail section occupied by losers, primarily (5) BLACK {B{Lo...s}ACK}
11 Shower soap hit the roof! (7) BARRAGE {BAR}{RAGE}
12 Growth is no lie, according to the Reverend (7) TOENAIL (~no tale to toenail)
13 Apply oil to clean electronic components (5) ANELE [T]
14 Submerge clergyman, pulling right back, maximally splashing water (9) DRIPPIEST {D(+r)RIP P(-r)IEST}
16 Impetuously doing in knight for rook in hunger for praise (8,7) STANDING OVATION {DOING*} in {STA(-r+n)NVATION}
19 After recession, "alternatively" managed section getting smaller (9) NARROWING {OR}{RAN}<=>{WING}
22 Lady, back off right away, am engaged (5) WOMAN {NOW<=} over {AM}
24 Some consider us newlyweds revolting, guaranteed! (7) ENSURED [T<=]
26 Vow broken by one jerk being stupid (7) IDOITIC {I D{1}O}{TIC}
27 Cigarette's rejected after conclusion of pangram — setter missing a trick, maybe (5) MAGIC {CIG<=}<={p...aM}{A} What's the role of 'setter'? (Addendum {CIGArettes<=} after {p...aM} - See comments)
28 Ate bananas at this place in West Germany and suffered (9) WEATHERED {ATE*}{HERE} in {W}{D}
DOWN
1 Essayist starts to draft apology letter (6) LAMBDA {LAMB}{Dr..t}{Ap...y}
2 Taking regular notes as you preview DNA results in medicinal study (8) AYURVEDA {As+YoU+pReViEw+DnA}
3 Arrest flamboyant poet and nut (3,2,3,2) PUT AN END TO*
4 Story of changing gender, switching sides (6) LEGEND GENDE(-r+l)L*
5 One flies free of charge in Gussie's pet Nevada city, reportedly (8) NEUTRINO {(~newt)NEUT}{ (~reno)RINO}
6 Strong beer sustains Belgium (4) ABLE {A{B}LE}
7 After dropping ill, hesitate getting leave (6) VACATE VACillATE
8 Frame sleek shot with a clipped feel (8) SKELETON {SLEEK*}{TONe}
15 Coward, perhaps exceptionally wary during predicament (10) PLAYWRIGHT {PL{WARY*}IGHT}
16 Assume crumpled clothes mark a star's issues? (8) S?N?E?M? (Addendum - SUNBEAMS {SU{NB}EAMS*} - See comments)
18 In creative rut — am mighty upset, like a child (8) IMMATURE [T<=]
20 Commit another crime, pocketing a grand, or quit? (6) RESIGN {RE}{SI{G}N}
21 On-screen controls on sailor's instrument (6) GUITAR {GUI}{TAR}
25 Dress toplessly and swing (4) ROCK fROCK
Reference List
Right = R, Knight = N, Rook = R, West = W, Germany = D, Belgium = B, Grand = G, New = N, Poles = N,S
27a cigar - r. Missing:m
ReplyDeleteNot quite (hadn't realized "after conclusion" can suggest R!). There's a more literal annotation.
DeleteWill wait a bit, hopefully someone will spot the anno soon. Hint: the "a" is a part of the def ("a trick, perhaps").
DeleteCigarettes<= -setter
DeleteYes! (CIGARETTES <<) after M -setter
DeleteThat's a good one.
ReplyDeleteGussalufz always engaging. What a start for the day! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Delete28a) West Germany = WD?
ReplyDeleteWest is W, Germany is D (separately).
DeleteChambers online:
D: abbreviation 1 especially US Democrat. 2 IVR: Deutschland (German), Germany. 3 cards diamonds. 4 physics electric displacement. See also 3-D (at three).
Sweet Potassium and iodine double sulphate (4)
ReplyDeleteFound elsewhere
DeleteOsculateš
DeleteKiss
Delete16 Assume crumpled clothes mark a star's issues? (8) {SU{NB}EAMS*}
ReplyDeleteMark = NB: nota bene - Latin phrase used to indicate that special attention should be paid to something (Freedict)
ReplyDeleteThe markings used to draw readers' attention in medieval manuscripts are (also) called nota bene marks.
DeleteSandhya you used to be our CCE, how come you are answering the clue left for a novice or are you taking shelter as a Non-Regular?
DeleteI was wondering if it is the same Sandhya or different?
DeletePerson,cant say but blogger ids deifferent.
DeleteThe initial P is same.
DeleteOops, Sorry Col! I totally forgot that it was for novices!
DeleteHopefully we'll connect better as setter and solver at some point, no worries! A setter's goal is to have their clues challenge, but ultimately yield (and hopefully entertain in the process).
ReplyDeleteThanks as always, to all solvers and to Col. Gopinath for the blog. The thematic elements have all been listed above. Still, here are my notes for this crossword:
ReplyDeleteNotes
This crossword celebrates the legendary musician, guitarist sans compare, Carlos Santana. His last name can be seen as a nina running down the second column. Inner Secrets is the name of a Santana album, and in the preamble it also hints that there is a theme to be found.
The following entries are connected to the theme:
10a, 27a, 22a together form BLACK MAGIC WOMAN, a famous Santana song.
4d: LEGEND.
25d: ROCK.
21d: GUITAR.
Most of my recent THC puzzles have been pangrams. The surface of 27a refers to a pangram. But, this particular puzzle, for a change, is not a pangram.
Personal notes
With ChatGPT and Bard making waves, AI is very much in the news right now. I have been likening these conversation bots to "drunk uncles"—loquacious and opinionated creatures that do not make much sense when examined rigorously. I expect they will learn to make much more sense over time, but like with any other uncle or aunt, a certain amount of wariness will always be warranted on our part.
Will these bots be able to solve crosswords? Absolutely. But I think the more interesting question is, will they be able to set crosswords? I think it will be harder for them to get there, but eventually, yes. But AI already does a great job in *assisting* a human setter (see the "Charades" and "Anagrams" tabs in my own Exet (https://exet.app) software, for example), and I think such assistive features are going to get better at a rapid pace!
Hmm, I thought I had posted my notes, but the comment seems to have disappeared. Hopefully just some transient glitch.
ReplyDeleteOK, I reposted, saw my comment appear, and then the comment disappeared again. Not sure what's going on, but not trying again. Maybe the comment is too long and the system takes it down.
DeleteCan someone kindly clarify what is the basis for or ran<=. While 'or' refers to Alternatively, how did we get ran<=?
ReplyDeleteThe query above is for 19 A.
ReplyDeleteAfter recession, "alternatively" managed section getting smaller (9)
DeleteIn the cryptic reading, the scope if the reversal indicator "After recession, ..." here is both "alternatively" (OR) and "managed" (RAN), yielding NARRO. Then, "section" is WING.
Thanks a ton for your prompt reply, sir. Understood.
DeleteSorry sir, but how does one interpret that the reversal indicator is not applicable to section.?
ReplyDeleteThere is no "formula" other than considering all possible interpretations that can be parsed. "Reversing A, B, C" can cryptically mean any of (a) ABC<<, (2) A<< + BC, (3) AB<< + C.
DeleteThanks sir for your clarification. As a novice, I still have miles to go.
ReplyDeleteBut I have become addicted to The Hindu Crossword and try not to look at the blogs until I solve as many clues as possible during the day.
This blog is very special for a novice like me. Lots to learn and understand. Thanks to the lovely setters, fellow bloggers and the founders of this blog.
That is where crossings help. Also, in this case with 'getting smaller; being the def.chances of the solution ending with 'ing' are good. You can try that first before other permutations.
DeleteYes sir, thanks.
DeleteViresh your posts had gone into Spam, I suppose very long posts go into spam
ReplyDeleteI see his post appearing twice! Both are safe.
ReplyDeleteWhat s meaning of symbol before rock? Where s symbolism glossary
ReplyDelete'f' crossed out. (Frock- F) as indicated by topless.
ReplyDeleteNice crossword. Relax - AS YOU WERE? Got it with crossing.
ReplyDeleteNARROWING, STANDING OVATION my fav
Thanx Viresh!
Thanks! The "As you were' phrase is a military drill command to relax again after an "Attention!" command. "Stand at ease" is also equivalent (not sure if the difference is purely regional).
Deletehttps://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/as-you-were
Thanx. I have seen/heard STAND AT EASE, but not the other. Should have googled..
Delete