1 Wise woman displays this in advance of chemistry? (10) PRESCIENCE {PRE}{SCIENCE}
6 Spy’s promise (4) BOND [DD]
9 Robots care about language (5-5) SERBO-CROAT*
10 Refrain from organ piece (4) STOP [DD]
15 Illicitly trade in what may protect limb (7) BOOTLEG {BOOT}{LEG}
16 Fails modern subject and blows a fuse (5,2) LOSES IT {LOSES}{IT}
17 Free lunch: main but no starters (7) UNCHAIN {lUNCH}{mAIN}
19 That man, fat, vacuous: Everyman with uncertain expression, having gained weight (7) HEFTIER {HE}{FaT}{I}{ER}
20 Lack of effort in cloakroom (11) CONVENIENCE [DD]
23 Wally rejected covering for playing area (4) TARP<=
24 Roving over dunes with Zulu? It’s a date! (10) RENDEZVOUS {OVER+DUNES+Z}*
25 Reportedly avoided where tears may be flowing (4) DUCT (~ducked)
26 Open-air locations where gunpowder may be disposed of? (3,7) TEA GARDENS [C&DD]
DOWN
1 What’s held by Royal Mail employee, in more ways than one? (4) POST [DD]
3 Run, after group of three – pray for draw (5-7) CROWD-PLEASER {R}<=>{CROWD}{PLEASE}
4 Listen to Cockneys: drink up, one’s headed for the canal (7) EARPLUG {(~'ear)EAR}{GULP<=}
5 BBC1, perhaps in gutter (7) CHANNEL [DD]
7 Looking up, eye’s taking in fine rain over island (10) OPTIMISTIC {OPTI{MIST}{I}C}
8 Droopy ties rearranged in store (10) DEPOSITORY*
11 Children unbound by rules breaking zester, faulty appliance (5,7) CHEST FREEZER {CH}{EST{FREE}ZER*}
13 Old boy doomed to circle American cape hidden by fog? (10) OBFUSCATED {OB}{F{US}{C}ATED}
14 Little money invested in two scams, one’s fleeced in certain circles thus? (10) CONCENTRIC {CON}{CENT}{tRICk}
18 Some tuna I’ve tenderised in state of ignorance (7) NAIVETE [T]
19 Spooner's cursed swine with guilty look (7) HANGDOG (~dang hog to hangdog)
21 Drill giving you headache? (4) BORE [C&DD]
22 Fantasist somewhat unchanged (2,2) AS IS [T]
Reference List
That is what Col.has indicated. R<=> means R and the rest et exchanged- back to front.
ReplyDelete'Three is a crowd' is a saying, indicating a matter is no longer secret if shared between more than 2.
Typo- read et as are.
ReplyDeleteI guess setter has intended to draw the word 'crowd' . hence, he used group of three. but, I perceive your point, instead of three setter to use the word trio....but we won't get proper word play....
ReplyDeleteI had written 19A as HEAVIER, noting the anno was off. That made a tough puzzle all the harder for me. Thanks Col. for the solutions. This one took some time.
ReplyDeleteRe: IXL Round 3. I submitted my entry at 42-43 minutes, expecting 100% accuracy assuming no typos. I had written yesterday that the round 2 puzzle felt like the work of a doctor. After a solid Sunday sweat today, I realize how mistaken I was. It was quite a tough round, the setter reminding me of an old cricket coach of mine - the late PK Dharmalingam, who would make players work hard on Sunday mornings!
ReplyDeleteI clocked a similar time. Today's was difficult!
DeleteBack from NEVERMORE, are you, MH?
Delete@Economizer Yes indeed. 😅 Back on the corporeal plane.
DeletePADDY SIR.....23a - searching for reverse indicator....TRAP <---
ReplyDeletePrasanna Sir, in 23A "rejected" should be the reversal indicator.
DeleteThank you Economizer.....too deep word play....
DeleteAlso, tarp is an abbreviation for tarpaulin.
DeleteTake "wise woman" as witch or sorceress or seeress
ReplyDeleteWoman was just a way of the setter to send solvers on a witch hunt. Any of 'woman, man, person etc.' will fit into the clue.
ReplyDeleteIt was dastardly misdirection. I don't think "witch hunt" is accurate though, as it's about persecution.
ReplyDeleteMore accurately described as a "Wild goose chase", "fool's errand" or "snipe hunt" imo