Thursday, 21 September 2023

No 13975, Thursday 21 Sep 2023, Dr. X

Solution to 11A 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS
1   Earn money quickly in mess, having cooked a fab steak (4,1,4,4) MAKE A FAST BUCK {MUCK} over {A+FAB+STEAK}*
8   Nationalist elected, not very distinguished (5) NOTED {N}{vOTED}
9   Tough sailor crushed by marvellous girl leaving (9) LABORIOUS {gL{AB}ORIOUS}
11 Losing vote finally, America's leader raged on app, spreading disinformation (10) P?O?A?A?D?  (Addendum - PROPAGANDA {Am...a+RAGeD+ON+APP}* - See comments)
12 Technique to excise large swelling on eyelid (4) STYE STYlE
14 Revolutionary fellow cracking one's complicated ciphers (2-5) NO-NAMES {NO{MAN<=}ES*}
16 Heroin and ecstasy found in party at that place (7) THEREAT {T{H}{E}REAT}
17 Praise by innkeeper wanting bar girl (7) HOSANNA {HOSt}{ANNA}
19 Engages extraordinary person to conserve institute (5,2) ROPES IN {ROPES{I}N*}
21 Partly open a container (4) AJAR {A}{JAR}
22 Where television addict might be undergoing psychoanalysis (2,3,5) ON THE COUCH [DD]
25 Transfers fool breaking rules (9) REASSIGNS {RE{ASS}IGNS}
26 Emotional captain nervously chokes (5) INNER [T]
27 Hecklers acted horribly! Prepare for action (5,3,5) CLEAR THE DECKS*

DOWN
 Amateur left unsure about principle of handling musical instrument (7) ALTHORN {A}{L}[T{Ha...g}ORN
3   'Love Me Tender' - a fantastic number, enthralled! (10) ENDEARMENT {ME+TENDER+A}* over {N}
4   Retired old fellow with back pain leaves (5) FOLIA {O}{F}<={AIL<=}
5   Journalist's beau cuddling society girl in retreat (9) SUBEDITOR {SU{DEB<=}ITOR}
6   Shed a tear finally, overwhelmed by extremes of burden (4) BARN {A}{teaR} in {Bu..eN}
7   Snort cocaine at start of rave in seedy hotel (7) CHORTLE {C}{HO{Rave}TEL*}
8   Knock back cool beer, make out over island and chill (3,2,3,3) NIP IN THE AIR {IN<=}{PINT}{HEA{I}R}
10 Very dependable person cheats on her? Shocked! (5,6) SHEET ANCHOR*
13 Several anxious to receive physical education at club (10) RESPECTIVE {RES{PE}{C}TIVE}
15 Son gets smashed, hosting wild gang wanting grand bachelor party (4,5) STAG NIGHT {S}{T{GANg}*IGHT}
18 Coastal embankment constructed awes everyone (3,4) SEA WALL {AWES}*{ALL}
20 Head of space station with family going around man-made satellite (7) SPUTNIK {Sp..e}{PUT}{KIN<=}
23 Husband gets bare, removing top in hurry (5) HASTE {H}{wASTE}
24 Chase airboats smuggling on the ocean (4) ASEA [T]

Reference List
Very = V, Sailor = AB, Girl = G, Large = L, Heroin = H, Ecstasy = E, Bar = T, Institute = I, Amateur = A, Left = L, Number = N, Old =O, Fellow = F, Society girl = DEB, Cocaine =C, Cool = IN, Beer = PINT, Island = I, Physical Education = PE, Club = C, Son = S, Grand = G, Husband = H

21 comments:

  1. 8d leaves a sense of Deja Vu. A tied final?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes - this was the tie-breaker clue in last year's IXL final.

      Delete
    2. Having watched the final on YouTube I was going to post this...three-way tie-breaker solved after a few crossings were given.

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  2. Vladimir was NOTED for the LABORIOUS attempts he made to MAKE A FAST BUCK...

    While he was seated ON THE COUCH he heard his INNER VOICE.

    "I must now CLEAR THE DECKS and not act in HASTE".

    The front door opened AJAR.

    And in stepped HOSANNA....

    What happened next?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Had to cheat on a few, had some doubts over some annos. So what. I had my Aha moments too! That's what is about doing cryptics. Thank you Doc. for a lot of cheer on a rainy morning here in Chennai.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too had my Aha moments by solving 11a. Thanks to Col.sir for spotting prefect clue . Excellent word play by Dr.X

      Delete
  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please hold your comments till the clue left for novices is solved by them, in case you are including the solution in your comment..

      Delete
    2. Sorry Col. I apologize for my oversight.

      Delete
  5. 11A PROPAGANDA - Disinformation; "raged on app" minus "e" (losing votE finally), plus A (America's leader)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good solve, but you must mention that it is an anagram and also say what is the anagram indicator in the clue.

    ReplyDelete
  7. yes. it's a good solve. Paddy's point to be considered.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dr X is a master of Sandwich / Container clues! 1a, 9a, 14a, 16a, 19a, 25a, 3d, 5d, 6d, 7d, 13d, 15d were all my aha moments.

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  9. 11A Losing vote finally(-e) , America's leader(a) raged on app, spreading(anagrind)
    disinformation - PROPAGANDNA
    anagram of 'a raged on app (-e)'

    ReplyDelete
  10. (A raged app- E)* looks easy on the eye. Let us follow the leader- Col.

    ReplyDelete
  11. 11a – PROPAGANDA
    America’s leader – A
    Lose vote finally – E
    Rag(-e)d
    On app+rag(-e)d* over ‘A’
    Def. is Disinformation = PROPAGANDA

    ReplyDelete
  12. As always - great grid with many aha moments. Didn't get FOLIA.
    Loved RESPECTIVE, SUBEDITOR, ENDEARMENT.
    Thanx Doc!

    ReplyDelete

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