Friday 17 November 2023

No 14022, Friday 17 Nov 2023, Afterdark

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS ON FRIDAYS ONLY
All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS
1   Reactionary replaced leader with predecessor at centre (6) MARROW (-n+m)MARROW
4   Manasa harangues hiding in a desert (6) SAHARA [T]
9   American journalist is exploited (4) USED {US}{ED}
10 First male worker in ecstasy at firm (10) ADAMANTINE {ADAM}{ANT}{IN}{E}
11 Fabric from California, one at top in Chennai and Ohio (6) CALICO {CAL}{1}{Ch...i}{Ohio}
12 Obsession to somehow feed after one before nine to gain energy (4,4) IDEE FIXE {FEED}<=>{1} and {IX}{E}
13 A dish with pickle taken by a Telugu superstar reportedly (9) JAMBALAYA {JAM}{(~balayya)BALAYA}
15 Digital money at London area's leftover (1-4) E-CASH {EC}{ASH}
16 Draw out with lure when leader is absent (5) EDUCE sEDUCE
18 Fish procured through EMI at El Salvador consulates (9) EMBASSIES {EM{BASS}I}{ES}
22 Murderer controls an animal and a bird with tail clipped in boat that he steers (8) COXSWAIN {C{OX}{SWAn}IN} What's the role of 'in boat'?
23 Spots in the centre to drink (6) TIPPLE sTIPPLEs
25 Is our MO primarily vegetarian? No, cooks and eats everything (10) OMNIVOROUS {IS+OUR+MO+Ve...n+NO}*
26 In the middle of a mess in Dehradun picking leaders (4) AMID Acrostic
27 Setter's new canopy (6) TESTER* New meaning learnt today
28 When second half has substance, it leads to extra performance (6) ENCORE {whEN}{CORE}

DOWN
1   Cosmetic scam devised by odd characters abroad (7) MASCARA {SCAM*}{AbRoAd}
2   Mid-air man jumped off, broke some bones (5) RADII {mIDAIR}*
3   Managed love on rebound, jolly at the core amidst series of successes (2,1,4) ON A ROLL {RAN}{O}<={jOLLy}
5   Startled that Azerbaijan journalist kidnapped mom (6) AMAZED {A{MA}Z}{ED}
6   Camera feature is gold, cost us out of hand touring France (9) AUTOFOCUS {AU}{COST+Us} over {F} 'O' from?
7   Joins princess to have wild sex (7) ANNEXES {ANNE}{SEX*}
8   Actor Ron is almost more manly after exercising (7,6) MARILYN MONROE {RON+Is+MORE+MANLY}*
14 Seconds to master, invent tennis strokes (9) BACKSPINS {BACK{SPIN}S}
17 Habitually abused person at work by cruel matron when not working (7) DOORMAT {DO}{MATROn}* Working should be ON and not just N
19 Craftsman is biased? Positive? No (7) ARTISAN  pARTISAN
20 Uprising general's counterpart is slippery (3-4) EEL-LIKE {LEE<=}{LIKE}
21 Flatter Indian actor in audition (6) CAJOLE (~kajol)
24 I got into sleep upset having old instrument (5) PIANO {NA{i}P<=}{O}

Reference List
Journalist = ED, Ecstasy = E, Energy = E, Man = M, France = F, Positive = P, Old = O


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77 comments:

  1. Gowri17 November 2023 at 08:29

    VLADIMIRS WEEKLY ADVENTURE..
    It was almost a week since Vladimir met Anna. The GODS couldn't save his TEETHING romance. All he had left was her LIPSTICK mark on his collar.

    Just as he was chewing with the IDEA of EXEATING or even
    ABDICATING his role at the erstwhile KGB, he received a special DELIVERY.

    He was required to take the FERRY to the port and then the first flight to ABIDJAN, early next morning. There he had to work with the ITALIANS to trace the LARCENIST who had stolen the jewels from the Museum at Rome. It was SUGGESTED that he assume the identity of an ETHNIC VILLAGER.

    After a late lunch of PITA and PROTEIN shake, Vladimir went for an AMBLE along the Main square. Eventhough the fall colours were everywhere, he felt it was a SERE landscape.

    Then he NOTICED her. With a SNAKE leather cape and matching boots, she looked the ULTIMATE EXISTING beauty in this UNIVERSE.

    His legs felt IMMOVABLE, as though CARVED of stone. Flapping at the INSECT, that hovered near his face, he quickly trailed after her and entered the bar. There she was, with a glass of SLOE GIN. Just as he reached her, the band struck a loud note and the HABANERA started.

    Grabbing her by the waist, he led her to the dance floor. She was laughing and her lips touched his collar. Once again.

    What happened next ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. C.G. BHARGAV17 November 2023 at 09:36

      The next song was Lipstick on your Collar Connie Francis !!
      https://youtu.be/YMlALAaEwfA?si=aXpGYcM-dF64X-bF

      Delete
    2. Padmanabhan17 November 2023 at 09:58

      Wow!!

      Delete
    3. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 15:01

      👌

      Delete
  2. Radhamani17 November 2023 at 09:00

    2a desert =Sahara.
    Telescopic
    ManaSA HARAngues.

    9a. Exploited=used.
    American =us
    Journalist=ed
    Us+ed=used

    11a
    Fabric=Calico
    California=cal
    One=I
    top in Chennai and Ohio=c,o
    Csl+I+co=calico

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rajan17 November 2023 at 09:52

    Sahara is 4A, not 2A

    ReplyDelete
  4. krishna17 November 2023 at 10:24

    25A omnivorous - eats everything

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 10:34

      How do we get omnivorous?

      Delete
    2. Padmanabhan17 November 2023 at 11:24

      Krishna, you are repeatedly just giving the solution without wordplay. It is likely to be deleted.

      Delete
    3. krishna17 November 2023 at 11:29

      Dear Padmanabhan - I actually do not know how to express here. I have always been solving crossword puzzles with the English knowledge I have gained from the last 45 years through extensive reading hence, please excuse me in not providing Wordplay.

      Delete
    4. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 11:41

      With experience, the answer sometimes becomes obvious. But the annotation is important for the clue to make sense.

      Delete
    5. Sathia17 November 2023 at 12:15

      I understand Krishna. Before joining the blog I was also solving TH cross word but this blog help you to solve technically correct way which is explaining the annotation on how you arrived the solution. Initially it may be tough, because many veterans and expert of the blog use bracket, plus, minus and < and > along with * Even today I am not that versatile in that and hence developed my own way of giving the solution with proper annotation. You can refer my solution given for 3D. Pl. start attempting to get annotation which will automatically lead to solution.
      Sathia

      Delete
    6. Deepak Gopinath17 November 2023 at 13:12

      Krishna please look at the annotation given in the blog daily and learn. In future I will delte in case you do not provide annotation

      Delete
  5. D N M Rao17 November 2023 at 11:00

    12Ac IDEE FIXE – {1}{FEED<=}{IX}{E}

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jacob Brahmakulam17 November 2023 at 11:00

    24d PIANO; musical instrument; I in NAP<= O

    ReplyDelete
  7. AJ17 November 2023 at 11:00

    1d MASCARA: cosmetic
    MASC ( scam *: devised) ARA (odd characters in abroad)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Remy17 November 2023 at 11:02

    21 dn flatter-cajole-kajol -indian actor

    ReplyDelete
  9. Suresh M S17 November 2023 at 11:04

    10A ADAMANTINE = firm { first male,ADAM + worker ANT +in IN + E, ecstasy}

    ReplyDelete
  10. H Ramachandran17 November 2023 at 11:04

    1a MARROW = At centre (of bones)
    Reactionary= Narrow, leader "N" replaced with predecessor "M"

    ReplyDelete
  11. DrBhanuMurthy17 November 2023 at 11:06

    10,a
    First man....Adam
    Worker....ant
    In...in
    Ectasty....e
    Firm...adamantine

    ReplyDelete
  12. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 11:07

    10A First male (Adam) worker(ANT) IN ecstasy(E)
    firm(defn) - ADAMANTINE

    ReplyDelete
  13. Rajan17 November 2023 at 11:07


    22A. OX (animal) + SW (swan without the end) inside CAIN (biblical murderer) = C(OX)(SW)AIN = one who steers a boat

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sujatha17 November 2023 at 19:02

      SWAN without the end would be SWA, as per deletion indicator. But, we have to remove two letters here - A and N.

      Delete
  14. B N Acharya17 November 2023 at 11:08

    13A JAMBALAYA-A DISH (DEF). JAM (pickle) BALAYA (Balayya-Balakrishna-Telugu superstar reportedly)

    ReplyDelete
  15. C.G. BHARGAV17 November 2023 at 11:08

    21 down CAJOLE (~KAJOL)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gemini17 November 2023 at 11:09

    2D. Radii= Bones
    Mid-air- m( man jumps off)= idair
    Broke is anagrind = radii

    ReplyDelete
  17. Rajashri17 November 2023 at 11:10

    EDUCE: draw out
    Lure: seduce - e: leader is absent

    ReplyDelete
  18. N Sridhar17 November 2023 at 11:10

    13A- jambalaya- a dish; jam(balaya~balayya)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Rajashri17 November 2023 at 11:11

    Sorry: seduce-s: leader is absent

    ReplyDelete
  20. N Sridhar17 November 2023 at 11:11

    Thoroughly enjoyed this!

    ReplyDelete
  21. C.G. BHARGAV17 November 2023 at 11:13

    15 across E-CASH
    London area = EC
    Leftover= ash

    ReplyDelete
  22. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 11:17

    Replacement for 10A
    19D Craftsman(defn) - ARTISAN
    is biased? - PARTISAN
    Positive? No - delete P

    ReplyDelete
  23. Gowri17 November 2023 at 11:51

    2d- RADII*
    Def. - bones
    mid-air: minus M
    From Prasanna!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sathia17 November 2023 at 12:08

    3D: series of success= on a roll
    Love is o
    Managed on bound is nar(ran)
    Jolly at the core is oll
    Hence, o+nar+oll
    Sathia


    ReplyDelete
  25. Usha Rammohan17 November 2023 at 12:22

    28 a wh(en ) second half is en. Substance is core. Extra performance is encore

    ReplyDelete
  26. Usha Rammohan17 November 2023 at 12:24

    17 d work is ' do' matron not working is matro. Habitually abused person is doormat

    ReplyDelete
  27. B N Acharya17 November 2023 at 12:34

    How is matron not working matro? Working is ON I think. Matron minus on will be matr. Another O has to be accounted for.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 12:40

      Work is DO. But 'when not working' as deletion for N
      is where I am having a problem.

      Delete
    2. Sathia17 November 2023 at 13:37

      I think @ushamohan is right.
      Cruel anagind of matron and (not working) is deletion of n.
      At work is do
      Habitually abused person is doormat
      (Do+ormat)
      Sathia

      Delete
    3. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 14:02

      Still not convinced about the deletion of N coming from 'when not working'

      Delete
  28. Usha Rammohan17 November 2023 at 12:37

    In matron (n)ot working

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Padmanabhan17 November 2023 at 16:31

      Matron- N.
      N from Not.
      Working us anagram indicator

      Delete
  29. RR17 November 2023 at 13:08

    20d, slippery = eel like
    Uprising General = Lee < = EEL
    Counterpart = LIKE

    ReplyDelete
  30. Usha Rammohan17 November 2023 at 13:15

    27 a anagram of setter is tester. Tester is canopy of a four poster bef

    ReplyDelete
  31. Usha Rammohan17 November 2023 at 13:15

    Pl read as bed

    ReplyDelete
  32. Usha Rammohan17 November 2023 at 13:18

    14d seconds to master is back and to invent is to spin.backspins is tennis strokes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 13:24

      Aha.. I was not able to get the anno properly. Let me just restate your solution.
      Seconds - BACKS
      to master(containment indicator)
      invent - SPIN
      BACK(SPIN)S

      Delete
  33. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 13:19

    Ac 23, 26
    Dn 5,6,7,8,14 yet to be answered.
    Questions remain about 25A & 17D

    ReplyDelete
  34. Mukundala Balasubramanyam17 November 2023 at 13:45

    5dn : AMAZED (A(MA)Z)(ED)
    Azerbaijan country code : AZ
    Kidnapped (containment ind) mom : MA
    Journalist: ED
    Defn : Startled

    ReplyDelete
  35. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 14:14

    I request permission to take one more because I have a question about the clue.

    6D Camera feature(defn) - AUTOFOCUS
    is gold(AU) ,
    cost us* out of hand(-S, a bridge player) touring(anind and cont ind) France(F)
    AU(COST US - S)* over F
    I am not able see another O.
    Correct me if I am wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  36. B N Acharya17 November 2023 at 14:34

    Does O come from out? Not sure

    ReplyDelete
  37. H Ramachandran17 November 2023 at 14:38

    By your leave one more
    8d MARILYN MONROE = Actor
    Anagram of RON, I (IS almost) MORE, MANLY
    Exercising anind

    ReplyDelete
  38. Usha Rammohan17 November 2023 at 15:01

    7d is annexes. Princess is Anne .wild sex is xes

    ReplyDelete
  39. AJ17 November 2023 at 15:54

    25a OMNIVOROUS (Krishna @ 20:24)
    (is our MO v( primarily vegetarian)no)*
    Cooks indicates anagram

    ReplyDelete
  40. AJ17 November 2023 at 15:55

    Krishna @ 10:24 not 20:24. Sorry

    ReplyDelete
  41. Sathia17 November 2023 at 15:55

    Since very few left and close to end of day, I will attempt one more.
    26A: in the middle= amid
    Picking leaders of A Mess In Dehradun
    Hence, amid
    Sathia

    ReplyDelete
  42. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 16:03

    23A is the only clue not attempted. I don't have a proper anno for this.
    6D and 17D are still unclear.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Uncertainly-yours17 November 2023 at 16:23

    23a - tipple ; in the centre of s'tipple's . Stipples = spots . Def - to drink

    ReplyDelete
  44. C.G. BHARGAV17 November 2023 at 16:46

    Vladimir danced with Anna and the crowd called for an ENCORE.
    He was ON A ROLL without realising what he had in store.

    Mary Jane after paying the DOORMAN some E-CASH had gained entry
    and was standing behind the PIANO. She was MARILYN MANROE'S look alike.
    The MASCARA made her look even more beautiful. Vladimir was AMAZED to see her AMID the crowd.
    Later he had to coax and CAJOLE her.
    Mary Jane, Meri Jaan! It was just one dance with Anna....
    What happened next?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 21:05

      MJ didn't care if Vladimir did an ENCORE. EDUCED that he was gay with an ADAMANTINE IDEE FIXE because he was ON A ROLL with Dr. ANNAmalai. She stormed out for more TIPPLE.

      Delete
  45. Padmanabhan17 November 2023 at 18:11

    13 A- I never classified Baliah a Telugu star- super or otherwise. He was very much Tamil inspite of his Telugu background

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AJ17 November 2023 at 18:19

      Balayya is Nandamuri Balakrishna, I think. Not the Tamil actor Baliah( villain).

      Delete
    2. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 18:19

      This clue refers to Nandamuri Bala Krishna(s/o NTR, another superstar of MGR vintage and former AP CM) who is fondly called Balayya.

      Delete
  46. C.G. BHARGAV17 November 2023 at 18:25

    Afterdark has authored a biography on MGR. MGR A Biography by Shrikanth Veeravalli

    ReplyDelete
  47. Gowri17 November 2023 at 18:30

    Oh wow! Didn't know that.

    ReplyDelete
  48. RR17 November 2023 at 19:28

    In 22a what happened to the murderer? I thought that Rajans blog at 1107 took 'care' of him.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 20:48

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Rao Pilla17 November 2023 at 20:49

    Would be nice to see setter's comments in general and about 22A, 6D & 17D in particular.

    ReplyDelete

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