Thursday 21 December 2023

No 14051, Thursday 21 Dec 2023, Dr. X

Solution to 13D 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   Customers may run to pick up iPhones at launch? Just what I wanted to hear! (5,2,2,4) MUSIC TO MY EARS {CUSTOMERS+MAY}* over {Ip...e}
8   Paitent's endlessly tired, injected with bit of iron (5) STOIC {STO{Iron}Ck}
9   Advertisement, one with men showing buttocks (9) POSTERIOR {POSTER}{1}{OR}
11 Adulatory old suitor easily captures gal's heart (10) IDOLATROUS {OLD+SUITOR over {gAl}
12 Reviewed microscopic saprophytes containing spore-bearing sacs (4) ASCI [T<=]
14 Outstanding story ending in tragedy for Romeo (7) PAYABLE PA(-r+y)YABLE
16 Foolishly, crazily discarding spades (7) INANELY INsANELY
17 Various waterbirds close to lake (7) DIVERSE {DIVERS}{lakE}
19 Force out old director in firm (7) EXTRUDE {EX}{TRU{D}E}
21 Bridesmaid likes to eat south Indian food (4) IDLI [T]
22 Intimidates nervous intern, say (10) TYRANNISES
25 Removal of a cancer spreading over sides of lobe (9) CLEARANCE {A+CANCER}* over {LobE}
26 Vehicle in the middle overtaken by American chap at full speed (5) AMAIN {A}{MA{vehIcle}N}
27 Nude models getting randy, held cavorting secretly (13) UNDERHANDEDLY {NUDE}*{RANDY+HELD}*

DOWN
2   Silly fool captivated by eccentric guy's study of flying saucers (7) UFOLOGY {FOOL}* in {GUY}*
3   Where judge may hear some cases and check meanings of words? (2,8) IN CHAMBERS [DD]
4   Exercise, cut salt to become thin (5) TAPER {TA{PE}R}
5   Male building muscle in front of arm (9) MASCULINE {MUSCLE+IN+Arm}
6   Oriental retreat is paradise (4) EDEN {E}{DEN}
7   Reprint fantastic series about origin of universe (7) REISSUE {REISS{Un...e}E*}
8   Rim in new specs did lead to painful problem (7,4) SLIPPED DISC {LIP} in {SPECS+DID}*
10 When one gets wet, say, in storm inside grounds (5,6) RAINY SEASON {IN+SAY}* in {REASON}
13 System of gambling money gets girl involved in unpleasant experience (10) ?A?T?N?A?E (Addendum - MARTINGALE {MAR{TIN}{GAL}E} - See comments) 
15 Thoroughly cheery in ground after securing victory (5,4) EVERY INCH {CHEERY+IN}* over {V}
18 Serf is sick, overwhelmed by strain (7) VILLEIN {V{ILL}EIN}
20 Disentangle as clan runs wild, killing hundred (7) UNSNARL {cLAN+RUNS}*
23 Dined at home from a can containing cream essentially (3,2) ATE IN {A}{T{crEam}IN} 
24 Egg on roll needs bit of salt (4) URGE sURGE

Reference List
Men = OR, Romeo = R, Spades = S, Exercise = PE, Oriental = E, Victory = V, Hundred = C

32 comments:

  1. OR= Other Ranks. Services parlance. As against Officers.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I take it as 19 A is left open. So I hive my solution-
    Extrude= Force out
    Extru(d)e
    old= ex, Director= D
    Firm= True

    ReplyDelete
  3. Col. to excuse me ifI gave solution out if turn. Too tempting since I dealt with plastic extruder doing most of my career!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No problem, initially I had left 19A for the newbies but later changed it to 13D and forgot to provide the solution of 19A

      Delete
  4. Worlds first CW was published on 21st December 1913 in NewYork World Magazine!
    Let's celebrate our Crosswords bday today!
    πŸ’

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just checked. I am pretty sure you got it right. Here's link with the first published crossword.
      https://www.crosswordtournament.com/more/wynne.html

      Delete
    2. Rightly pointed out. It's a remeberable day for CW lovers. Have a Gr8 remeberable day. As mentioned by Col.sir, please share your CW rangoli for thoday'sevent. Let us celeberate. Thank you Col.sir, we will have e-celeberaton of International CW day.
      Special Thanks to Gowri .......

      Delete
  5. I'm not able to double check the veracity of the above. Invite comments from u all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the first crossword was published on 21 Dec 1913. That's why the first IXL Competition was held in 2013.

      Delete
    2. well. statistics col.sir......will remember 21-12 every year. the speciality is the date. day and month just opposite to each other...TWO ONE & ONE TWO

      Delete
  6. I, actually, wanted to make a CW Rangoli. But didn't want to invite ur wrath colonel!
    πŸ™‚

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had said once for a festival or one time is okay. Not for a whole month everyday!!

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

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  8. 13Dn MARTINGALE -{MAR{TIN}{GAL}E}

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TIN=Money, GAL =Girl, in MARE = Unpleasant experience, Martingale=gambling system- Definition

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    2. +1
      Could not get the annotation.

      Delete
  9. Dic.says Mare= Unpleasant experience as a slang. Should we have got an indiaction?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Some dictionaries has it as informal or obsolete. Short for nightmare.

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    2. +1. Obsolete should be avoided.

      Delete
  10. Cambridge and Oxford(learner's) dictionaries (online) say Mare=unpleasant experience-BRitIsh-informal

    ReplyDelete
  11. From elsewhere

    Opportunist, almost the last character to appear in court (8)

    ReplyDelete
  12. CHANCERY - court
    Chancer - opportunist
    Y - almost the last character.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Easy by Doc standards.
    But his usual clues r all there.
    I've a small doubt.
    Tired is stock?
    Can someone explain?

    My fav -
    IN CHAMBERS
    POSTERIOR

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stock question!
      As stoic looked like the best or only solution, I convinced myself that stock can connote tired. Like in a stock argument. Used a lot, hence tired. Maybe there's a better explanation.

      Delete
    2. Tired/worn out/stock.
      Basically implying an expression/reply/argument as ready made and available as stock (goods).

      Delete
  14. Where the Hell freezes! North by march (6)

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    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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