No 14364, Tuesday 24 Dec 2024, Dr. X

Solution to 8D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Plug of TV set remained loose (13) ADVERTISEMENT*

8   Surprises mother, finally cuts long hair (5) ROCKS {m...eR}{lOCKS}

9 & 2D Seem promising but ultimately disappoint with tale for detective novel (7,2,7) FLATTER TO DECEIVE {TALE+FOR+DETECTIVE}*

11 Raw food consumed in a puerile manner (10) CHILDISHLY {CHIL{DISH}LY}

12 Lounge in flames! Save boy (4) LAZE bLAZE

14 Act foolishly, repent getting drunk at premiere (7) PRETEND {REPENT*}{Dr..k}

16 Sore about husband cuddling secretary, start to take brave course of action (7) WARPATH {RAW<=}{H} over {PA}{Take}

17 Musical instrument over keel-shaped structure (7) OCARINA {O}{CARINA}

19 Party hosted by gal on fancy boat (7) GONDOLA {DO} in {GAL+ON}*

21 Parched? Relief to drink water finally (4) ARID {A{w..eR}ID}

22 Fearless guards taunt criminals at centre to engage in a decisive gunfight (5,2,3) SHOOT IT OUT {STOUT} over {HOOT{c..mIn..s}

25 Enthralled by demure American on trip (9) ENAMOURED {DEMURE+A+ON}*

26 Stopped in English retro joint to have a little drink (5) ENDED {E}{DE{Dr..k}N<=}

27 What welder might do to arouse sudden anger (4,6,3) MAKE SPARKS FLY [DD]

DOWN

2   See 9 Across

3   A seedy sot's going berserk around island - be careful! (4,4,2) EASY DOES IT {A+SEEDY+SOT}* over {I}

4   Revolting drunkard tackling couple of fine upper-class people (5) TOFFS {SOT<=} over {FF}

5   Join forces with heroin-smuggling rascal (9) SCALLYWAG {SC{ALLY}{W}AG}

6   Fantasy of steamy threesome (4) MYTH [T]

7   Northern rogue in a rave, delivering ultimately pure ecstasy (7) NIRVANA {N}{IN+A+RAVe}*

8   Match  price to secure revolutionary diamonds for top collector (11) R?C?P?O?A?E ()

10 Generous doctor! He operated without remuneration finally (4-7) OPEN-HEARTED {HE OPERATED}* over {r...oN}

13 Popularity of new dinner sets (10) TRENDINESS*

15 The rat scurried into apartment over unsafe structure (9) DEATHTRAP {THE+RAT}* in {PAD<=}

18 Folk tale character acting upset about protecting immature girl (3,4) ALI BABA {A}{LI{BABe}A<=} 

20 Egg-shaped cavity in gemstone, not soft (7) OVOIDAL {Op{VOID}AL}

23 Renovate retreats surrounding lake, becoming more decrepit (5) OLDER {RED{L}O<=}

24 Wish hot guy removes top (4) HOPE {H}{rOPE}

Reference List

Long = L, Boy = B, Husband = H, Over = O, Party = DO, American = A, English = E, Island = I, Fine = F, Northern = N, Acting = A, Soft = P, Lake = L, Hot = H

No 14363, Monday 23 Dec 2024, Afterdark

Solution to 6D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Gathering at moonlit garage to party (13) AGGLOMERATION* 

10 Petty office obtains circular over whatsapp (9) BOATSWAIN {OBTAINS}* over {WA}

11 Construction material makes setter smile (1-4) I-BEAM {I}{BEAM}

12 Like state's inspection (5) ASSAY {AS}{SAY}

13 Monk's mule flogged to procure fruit (9) MUSKMELON 

14 Woman beats 4 radicals at start (6) SHIVER {SH{IV}E}{Ra...s}

16 Lawyer is on stand (4) DAIS {DA}{IS}

19 Storage for oils damaged (4) SILO*

20 Great I have been awake in leave (off ) (4,2) GIVE UP {G}{I'VE}{UP}

25 British title given by old army or new establishment (4,5) LORD MAYOR*

26 Cognizant present in Warsaw area? (5) AWARE [T]

27 Good landlord, provided spirit (5) GHOST {G}{HOST}

28 Follow and arrest choker, say (3,6) DOG COLLAR {DOG}{COLLAR}

29 Criminal worried about cocaine reaching country by connection, say (13) CONCATENATION {CON}{C}{ATE}{NATION}

DOWN

2   Argue with son and relatives to get leather (8) GOATSKIN {GO AT}{S}{KIN}

3   Officer touring America with youth leader is powerful (5) LUSTY {L{US}T}{Yo..h}

4   Oppressive atmosphere in Mumbai Indians, as top management picks one (6) MIASMA {MI}{AS}{Ma...t}{A}

5   Trip outside home, guards on vacation get a closer view from here (8) RINGSIDE {R{IN}{Gu..dS}IDE}

6   Council in ancient Rome at 7, takes rum, regular starlit party (9) T?I?M?I?I (Addendum - TRIUMVIRI {VII+RUM+sTaRlIt}* - See comments)

7   Lover lying, concealing to an excessive degree (6) OVERLY [T]

8   Vessels, tubs damaged outside Officer's Academy (1-5) U-BOATS {UB{O}{A}TS}

9   Change the last word, last word (5) AMEND {AMEN}{worD}

15 Strange! In Theni GMAT, I conducted ended partially (9) ENIGMATIC [T]

17 Toyed with pic photoshopping? Correct (8) COPYEDIT*

18 Crooked legislator expels lieutenant from the harem (8) SERAGLIO lEGISLAtOR*

21 Author's best, ultimate lines of verse (6) POETRY {POE}{TRY} (Correction - {POE}{besT}{RY} - See comments)

22 Join the greatest, gain good name (5) ALIGN {ALI}{G}{N}

23 Stream famous music director's second song, by end of day only (6) ARROYO {ARR}{sOng}{daY}{O}

24 New bag or new shoe? (6) BROGAN {BAG+OR}*{N}

26 Criminal often smuggles overhead (5) ALOFT 

Reference List

Lawyer = DA, Great = G, Good = G, Cocaine = C, Son = S, Officer = LT(Lieutenant), Home = OIN, Officer = O, Academy = A, The greatest = ALI, , Lines = RY, Name = N, Only = O, New = N

The Sunday Crossword No 3337, Sunday 22 Dec 2024

ACROSS

1   A letter is lenient (10) PERMISSIVE {PER}{MISSIVE}

6   Biblical character in thesaurus (4) ESAU [T]

9   University department in which things may be granted? (10) ADMISSIONS [DD]

10 Atmosphere – ruination – that’s regressive (4) MOOD<=

12 Food for the young fish initially diving deep (6,6) SCHOOL DINNER {SCHOOL}{Di...g}{INNER}

15 Seizes chair’s comfortable features (not masculine) (7) ARRESTS ARmRESTS

16 I refuse to believe in a model bank robbery (7) ATHEIST {A}{T}{HEIST}

17 Blocks two-thirds of the toady protuberances (7) THWARTS {THe}{WARTS}

19 Trembling, drool about new American football star (7) RONALDO {RO{N}{A}LDO*}

20 What makes … what makes the world go round … go round? (5-7) MONEY SPINNER [CD]

23 Gripped in booby trap (4) RAPT*

24 More than one character in finest robe lampooned, being flash here (6,4) STROBE LAMP [T]

25 Complaint heard in E. London, somewhere in E. London (4) ACNE (~'ackney)

26 A monkey and 20 ponies? (5,5) GRAND TOTAL [CD] (500=20x25)

DOWN

1   Ring? Strip (you made out) (4) PEAL (~peel)

2   Where one inevitably ends up emulating the locals? (4) ROME [CD]

3   Part of religious group, saint prays for means of repelling creepy-crawlies (6,6) INSECT SPRAYS {IN}{SECT}{S}{PRAYS}

4   Some laceless items, podalically oriented – not starchy, principally? (4-3) SLIP-ONS Acrostic &lit

5   Nondescript vehicle Everyman will advocate at the outset (7) VANILLA {VAN}{I'LL}{Ad...e}

7   Nestle with William’s feathered friends (10) SPOONBILLS {SPOON}{BILLS}

8   I see below rose (10) UNDERSTOOD {UNDER}{STOOD} 

11 Like attractive accounts when entire thigh’s displayed (4-8) HIGH-INTEREST*

13 A Samaritan adrift in Atlantic ship (5,5) SANTA MARIA*

14 Alluring security measure that keeps paper in place (7,3) DRAWING PIN {DRAWING}{PIN}

18 Doorman who might give you hell? (2,5) ST PETER [CD]

19 Shabby slate (3-4) RUN-DOWN [DD]

21 Take public transport up to find shopping centre (4) MART<=

22 Gemstone? It’s love, mate (4) OPAL {O}{PAL}

Reference List

Masculine = M, Model = T, New = N, American = A, Monkey = GRAND(500 Pounds), Pony = 25 Pounds, Saint = S

No 14362, Saturday 21 Dec 2024, Afterdark

 ACROSS
1Rural teen mostly knows about software modelled on human brain (6,7) NEURAL NETWORK {RURAL TEEN KNOWs}*
10 Cop and man having a good time, spending half of it on pasta (9) SPAGHETTI {SP{A}{G}{HE}{T}{TIme}

11 Group of musicians becomes outcaste after leaving USA (5) OCTET {OuTCasTE}*
12 Rector's finger cut in the front by a point in compass (5) RHUMB {R}{tHUMB}
13 Ugly, ugly things spend a grand and get a facelift (9) UNSIGHTLY {UgLY THINGS}*
14 Canines growing with support on time, husband easing primarily (6) TEETHE {TEE}{T}{Husband}{Easing}
16 Tips from old brother on enjoying an instrument (4) OBOE {ACROSTICS}
19 Collection of spiles trimmed (4) PILE {sPILEs}
20 Tour over days gets support (6) TRIPOD {TRIP}{O}{D}
25 Drama is on cleaner's work time (4,5) SOAP OPERA {SOAP}{OP}{ERA}
26 Lad has good energy, one over par (5) BOGEY {BO{G}{E}Y}
27 A wooden peg found in window elongating (5) DOWEL {T}
28 Zero scope to get a deal at 50% off for a beverage (9) ORANGEADE {O}{RANGE}{A}{DEal}
29 Greeting gender-fluid person in the door having a hole in wrinkled minis indulging in deliberate act to attract attention (13) EXHIBITIONISM {EX{HI}{BI}IT}{ O in MINIS*}

DOWN
2 People ordered to leave cause Eve is disturbed (8) EVACUEES*
3 Treatment for addiction at bar, he is drunk (5) REHAB*
4 A powder with bright character and soluble primarily (6) LITMUS {LIT}{MU}{Soluble}
5 Ejection of lady in East India, only stopped midway (8) EMISSION {E{MISS}I}{ONly}
6 Order gown, order for sinner (9) WRONGDOER*
7 Spin at the far end? Ball landing on mid-pitch, worried (6) ROTATE {faR}{O}{piTch}{ATE}
8 Liveliness comes with sixth sense, right? (one that's internal) (6) ESPRIT {ESP}{R{I}T}
9 Orders to stop first train; stops (5) STAYS {S{Train}AYS}
15 Hot oil polio treatment by common people (3,6) HOI POLLOI {H OIL POLIO}*
17 Portuguese footballer Ron has a sausage (8) PEPERONI {PEPE}{RON}{I}

18 Notice girls having a telescope (8) SPYGLASS {SPY}{G}{LASS}
21 Opening's gone according to Spooner on couch (3,3) DAY BED {Spoonerism of BAY DEAD}
22 Departure is from an end (5) ASIDE {A}{SIDE}
23 Doctor's aware; unknown secretion (6) EARWAX {AWARE*}{X}
24 Son gets one pound, international sausage (6) SALAMI {S}{A}{LAM}{I}

26 Start to plead at home (5) BEGIN {BEG}{IN}

REFERENCE LIST

Cop=SP, Man=He, Good=G, Time=T, Rector=R, Grand=G, Husband=H, Over=O, Days=D, Work=OP, Energy=E, Zero=O, Hole=O, Character(Greek)=Mu, Lady=Miss, East=E, India=I, Ball=O, Sixth Sense=ESP, Right=RT, Girl=G and Lass, Son=S, At home=In.

No 14361, Friday 20 Dec 2024, Afterdark

 RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY 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. 

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

ACROSS

8 Tom first goes to say, Puducherry to get a strong cord (6) CATGUT {CAT}{Goes}{UT}

9 Obsessed with one idea of building a new rocket (3-5) ONE TRACK {A N ROCKET}*

10 Torture comes from hostile guards; to be sacked and swap positions of two characters (8) AGGRIEVE {AGGR{+I-e}{+E}SS{-i}VE}

11 British prime minister almost is at war (6) BATTLE {B}{ATTLEe}

12 Intoxicated son's stress leads to depression primarily (6) STONED {S}{TONE}{Dep.....ion}

13 Prayer at entry, close to the gate is made up (8) ENTREATY {AT ENTRY {gatE}*

15 Tramp in cocktail parties (7) TRAIPSE*

17 Unfortunate one, learner at University of California, knowingly shallow (7) UNLUCKY {UN}{L}{UC}{KnowinglY}

20 Democratic artist over time gets brown sugar (8) DEMERARA {DEM}{RA} over {ERA}

22 Pups identified to have an advantageous aspect (6) UPSIDE {T}

23 Loved a party with radical journo (6) ADORED {A}{DO}{R}{ED}

25 Timidity of firm lad on the fringes? Get a measure (4,4) COLD FEET {CO}{LaD}{FEET}

26 Two pubs having a competition primarily, wild (8) BARBARIC {BAR}{BAR}{I}{Comp.....ion}

27 Person behind stumps is vital, according to report (6) KEEPER {KEE{~KEY}{PER}}

DOWN

1 Child changes cap for amusement (8) LAUGHTER {-d+L AUGHTER}

2 Mostly violent behaviour with a Sikh leader at England and advance (10) AGGRANDISE {AGGRo}{AND}{I}{Sikh}{E}

3 Guard's a railway official, new joined on first of December (6) ATTEND {A}{TTE}{N}{Dec.....ber}

4 Protected company, so almost sued for 50% cut (7) COVERED {CO}{VERy}{suED}

5 Prohibited part of speech shown at 0.10 (8) VERBOTEN {VERB}{O}{TEN}

6 Tailless beast is very dry (4) BRUT {BRUTe}

7 After removing ticks ultimately, treated coolest cat, say (6) OCELOT {COOLEsT}*

14 I reuse film innovatively to make a surface-active agent (10) EMULSIFIER*

16 Normal //flag (8) STANDARD {DD}

18 King's force gets starter-less free food (8) KEDGEREE {K}{EDGE}{fREE}

19 Wireless out of control, bird is on a conical pile in field (7) HAYCOCK {HAYwire}{COCK}

21 Make lovable climax with attention (6) ENDEAR {END}{EAR}

22 1 + 51 + 1000, egghead is distinct (6) ALIKE {A}{LI}{K}{Egg}

24 Polish last variety of mineral stone (4) RUBY {RUB}{varietY}

REFERENCE LIST

New=N, Guards=SS, British=B, Son=S, One=UN,I,A, Learner=L, University of California=UC, Democratic=Dem, Radical=R, Firm=CO, A=I, England=E, Railway offical=TTE.

No 14360, Thursday 19 Dec 2024, Crescent

Solution to 6D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8 Bravely endure hearing charges from behind bar (4,2) BEAR UP {EAR in PUB<} Thanks to Prasad for the Anno.

9 Cinerama reels from the U.S. (8) AMERICAN*

10 Good to randomly use voir dire (8) GRIEVOUS {G}{USE VOIR}*

11 Senator drinking rum gets soaked (6) SODDEN {S{ODD}EN}

12 Sac in body pouched in infancy, stomach? (4) CYST {T}

13 New-found energy or //back to gas? (6,4) SECOND WIND {D& CD}

14 About to install a bar in tent by the beach (6) CABANA {C{A}{BAN}A}

16 Large number from district switching sides (6) LEGION {+L-r}{EGION}

19 Obey cops to withdraw from complicated situation (10) COMPLEXITY {COMPL{EXIT}Y}

21 Deviant king departing in jet (4) INKY {kINKY}

23 Reportedly extra power and position in activity on the side (6) BYPLAY {BY{~BYE}}{P}{LAY}

24 Gondola's front scratched from punting on river meandering (8) RAMBLING {gAMBLING}<=>{R}

26 Sad tale does upset (8) DESOLATE*

27 Watch //the heart (6) TICKER {DD}

DOWN

1 Stake in front of a fish shop (6) BETRAY {BET}{RAY}

2 Each behind counter essentially filling welcome drink (5,3) GREEN TEA {couNter inside GREET}<=>{EA}

3 Capable of //plotting (2,2) UP TO {DD}

4 Managed to fire rifle (7) RANSACK {RAN}{SACK}

5 Friendly bears one's perhaps writing about in one's book (10) PERSONALLY{ONES+R}* in PALLY

6 Bend over wide opening (6) ?I?D?W {WIND}{O}{W} See Comments

7 Strange action involving money Earl inherited (4,4) CAME INTO {ACTION M E}*

13 Chicken's cry as acted out (7-3) SCAREDY CAT*

15 Shocking crime, heartless to slay attendants (8) ACOLYTES {CrimE TO SLAY}* Thanks to Prasad and Colonel for the Anno.

17 Government shut up after clear impasse (8) GRIDLOCK {G} {LOCK}<=>{RID}

18 Draw clear avoiding a wild hawk (7) TIERCEL {TIE}{CLEaR}*

20 Wan look from men under pressure inhibiting everybody (6) PALLOR {P}{ALL}{OR}

22 German children //showing greater understanding (6) KINDER {DD}

25 Mighty man crowds lifted, a legend (4) MYTH {T<}

REFERENCE LIST

Good=G, Senator=Sen, About=CA/C, Sides=L(eft); R(ight), King=K, Power=P, River=R, Each=Ea, Money=M, Earl=E, Government=G, Pressure=P, Man=GI 

 

No 14359, Wednesday 18 Dec 2024, Vidwan

 Solution to 21D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8 Player plays or talks! (6) PARLEY*

9 Partly reject or object (3) USE {refUSE}

10 Honour in Thailand (4) HAIL {T}

11 Wicked, bad criminal entertains one, and then ... one gets sucked into local fights! (10) DIABOLICAL {I in BAD*}{I in LOCAL*}

12 A great deal of reflection, one goes back to wise men! (4) MAGI {{i}MAG{e}{+I}

13 Talk about working with female sailor (6) CONFAB {C}{ON}{F}{AB}

16 State cleaning out northern mutiny (8) UPRISING {UP}{RInSING}

17 Not in favour of cereal, in an unnatural way (7,3,5) AGAINST THE GRAIN {AGAINST}{THE GRAIN}

20 Soldier who specialises in operations, and naked party! (8) COMMANDO {COMMA}{aNd}{DO}

23 Lead work in prison cell (6) PEWTER {PE{W}TER}

24 Small twist! Romeo's killed! Shock! (4) STUN {S}{TUrN}

25 Publication about city on border of the woods (10) TIMBERLINE {TIM{BERLIN}E}

28 When one gets cold? (4) ONCE {ON{C}E} Semi &Lit

29 Part of neighbourhood owned by all of us (3) OUR {T}

30 Small pressure leading to fall and injury (6) SPRAIN {S}{P}{RAIN}

DOWN

1 Detain a Zionist hiding a fascist (4) NAZI {T}

2 Fat and loud leaders of local autonomous boards (4) FLAB {F}{Local}{Au.....us}{Boards}

3 Not having a say at all! Back to most hectic course! (8) SYLLABUS {SaY}{ALL<}{BUSy}

4 What is seen after 4, for instance? (11,4) PUNCTUATION MARK {After 4 you can see comma}

5 Advance payment to clerk without limits (6) FEELER {FEE}{cLERk}

6 Signals with gang's instrument of torture (10) THUMBSCREW {THUMBS}{CREW}

7 Fall back on liquor and Hinglish, say (6) PIDGIN {DIP<}{GIN}

14 Expression of surprise for slightest of weight! (3) OMG {O}{MG} {Zero Milligram}

15 Just men did dash behind false attitude (4-6) FAIR-MINDED {MEN DID}*<=>{F AIR}

18 Allies press onwards, holding drink! (8) ESPRESSO {T} Nicely hidden!

19 Irritation, rage, annoyance basically (3) IRE Acrostics gone wrong?

21 Around a billion spent on endless binge trip (6) O?T?N? {abOUT}{bINGe} See comments

22 Idea of midday snacking, bits of tawa idlis! (6) NOTION { {Tawa}{Idlis} in NOON}

26 Bird found in peninsular Korea! (4) LARK {T}

27 Secure languid fellow lacking speed! (4) NAIL {sNAIL}

REFERENCE LIST

One=I, Working=On, Female=F, Sailor=AB, State=UP, Northern=N, Small=S, Pressure=P, Loud=F.

No 14358, Tuesday 17 Dec 2024, Vidwan

 Solution to 13A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM

ACROSS

6 Jack, we ridicule via devious intervention by courts! (8,6) JUDICIAL REVIEW {J WE RIDICULE VIA}*

9 Aluminium sheet? That is church wall decoration! (10) ALTARPIECE {AL}{TARP}{IE}{CE}

10 Cold or morbid aliveness basically (4) COMA Acrostics & Lit

11 Master of line and length, Old Rook, bowled at the last (8) LANDLORD {L}{AND}{L}{O}{R}{bowleD}

13 Sluggish to run? Fall back! (6) T?R?I? TORPID {TO}{R}{DIP<} See comments

14 Fall for hard substance, pass with support and ultimately advance to a specialised school (8,7) TRAINING COLLEGE {T(-h+RAIN)ING}{COL}{LEG}{advancE}

16 Piece of equipment, smuggled one out of America (6) CAMERA {AMERiCA}*

17 A form of hostility (8) AVERSION {A}{VERSION}

19 Remove tips of metals and other things (2,2) ET AL {mETALs}

20 Buries next to English art gallery on highway (10) INTERSTATE {INTERS}{TATE}

22 A micro-designer working for a criminal enterprise (9,5) ORGANISED CRIME*

DOWN

1 Fusion, say, sounds like fresh, distinct, revolutionary creation! (7,8) NUCLEAR REACTION {NU {~ NEW}{CLEAR}{CREATION*}

2 One zone in constituency for master (6) WIZARD {W{I}{Z}ARD}

3 Wild plum is boring for auditors (4) SLOE {~SLOW}

4 Disease involves psyche occasionally! That is natural! (8) VISCERAL {pSyChE in VIRAL}

5 Bikini women dethroned king, removing some cut rocks (8,7) SWIMMING COSTUME {S{+W-k}IMMING}{SOME CUT}*

7 I am in favour of passport, one not fake or concoction (13) IMPROVISATION {I'M}{PRO}{VISA}{I NOT}*

8 Was part of campaign to needle coterie? Possibly! (13) ELECTIONEERED*

12 Party till midnight! Mother's philosophy! (5) DOGMA {DO}{niGht}{MA}

15 Good lie about what lies behind parliamentary principles (8) IDEOLOGY {GOOD LIE}*{pa...arY}

18 Stitch using thread basically and closing wound partly (6) SUTURE {Stitch}{Using}{Thread}{injURE} & LIT

21 Sound of disapproval about a job (4) TASK {T{A}SK}

REFERENCE LIST

Jack=J, Aluminium=Al, That is=ie, Church=CE, Line, Length=L, Old=O, Rook=R, Hard=H, One=i, Zone=Z, Women=W, King=K.

No 14357, Monday 16 Dec 2024, KrisKross

 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.

Open for anyone to solve, if not solved by 1 PM

ACROSS

1 Default career - "Green Energy" (6) RENEGE {GREEN*}{E}

4 End of hapless sailors in spacecraft (8) STARSHIP {haplesS}{TARS}{HIP}

10 Dirty cat's home filled with basically ugly whiskers (9) MOUSTACHE {CAT'S HOME* around Ugly}

11 Expand novel about capturing maiden's heart (5) WIDEN {NEW< capturing maIDen}

12 A friend initially moves ASAP possibly (7) ACRONYM {A}{CRONY}{Moves}

13 Ordinary vehicle with poor acceleration (7) VANILLA {VAN}{ILL}{A}

14 Say, perfect partners splitting the fee regularly (5) TENSE {ThE fEe around NS}

15 Part of group accepting Republican (8) FRACTION {F{R}ACTION}

18 Stall near house finally sheltering animal (8) HEDGEHOG {HEDGE}{HO}{shelterinG}

20 Most online claims rejected: "Incorrect" (3,2) NOT SO {T<}

23 Principal setter's collection of documents (7) ARCHIVE {ARCH}{I'VE}

25 Americans in civil war //are those getting pulled? (7) YANKEES {D&CD}

26 Adds digits without mistake essentially (5) TOTES {TOES around misTake}

27 King inviting head of excavators near a pit to have another look (2-7) RE-EXAMINE {RE{Excavators}X}{A}{MINE}

28 Oscar led child away, leaving cold, walled city in India (3,5) OLD DELHI {O}{LED cHILD}*

29 Customs in America taking a very long time (6) USAGES {US}{AGES}

DOWN

1 Vagrant man in tears, getting leftovers (8) REMNANTS {MAN* in RENTS} 

2 Different route connecting North and South of Rajasthan - it's free of charge (7) NEUTRON {N{ROUTE*}rajasthaN}

3 Printer to remove contents of book in comic genre (9) GUTENBERG {GUT}{ B in GENRE*}

5 Very gentle woman losing ring, made a courtroom drama (6,5,3) TWELVE ANGRY MEN {VERY GENTLE WoMAN}* I first saw the Hindi version,"Ëk Ruka Hua Faisla"

6 Horse circling white tree (5) ROWAN {RO{W}AN}

7 Spanish gentleman concealed devious goal (7) HIDALGO {HID}{GOAL*}

8 Breakfast dish with bad smell, extremely awful (6) PONGAL {PONG}{AwfuL}

9 Horrible people face home truths unhappily (4,2,3,5) SCUM OF THE EARTH*

16 Engineer says "Brief Note: no unknown, new tools" (5,4) T?N?N ?A?S TENNON SAWS {{SAyS}{NOTe}{NEW}}* See Comments

17 Lady with family members heading off for seafood (8) LOBSTERS {L}{mOBSTERS}

19 Up brewing iced tea, mostly around 10 (7) EXCITED {{X} in {ICED TEa*}

21 Spooner's conference is packed with people (7) TEEMING {Spoonerism of MEETING}

22 Hide impression? (6) TATTOO {CD}

24 Paper missing the the first edition (5) ISSUE {tISSUE} See comments

REFERENCE LIST

Energy=E, Acceleration=A, PARTNERS(in Bridge)=N(orth)and S(outh), Republican=R, House=HO, King=Rex, Oscar=O, America=US, North=N, Book=B, Ring=O, White=W, Ten=X.

Special, Sunday 15 Dec 2024, Ghaza

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword No 3336, Sunday 15 Dec 2024

ACROSS

1   Chubby harpist, Edenic resident – unearthly being, primarily! (6) CHERUB Acrostic &lit

5   Tiny something taken by secretary (6) MINUTE [DD]

8   Jack’s obstacle making Cedric and Les tickled in part (11) CANDLESTICK [T]

11 Everyman’s going to heads, having complaints (9) ILLNESSES {I'LL}{NESSES}

12 Express view in ode to a Christmas tree? (5) OPINE {O}{PINE}

13 Slapdash, a bit, UEFA’s only partly regular (7) HABITUE [T]

14 Leaves by swish old railway (7) CHICORY {CHIC}{O}{RY}

15 Kind of tense? Ideal (7) PERFECT [DD]

17 Twerp in middle of heath finding track (7) MONITOR {MO{NIT}OR}

20 Coat chicken? (5) LAYER [DD]

21 King, extremely stuck up, beheaded: most awkward! (9) KNOTTIEST {K}{sNOOTIEST}

22 Oath: if doing, perform honestly (2,4,5) IN GOOD FAITH*

23 For himself, the king’s – that is to say – casual apparel (6) ONESIE {ONES}{IE}

24 Cheers! Drink, then eastern casserole (6) TAGINE {TA}{GIN}{E}

DOWN

2   Fruit, N. European, for Tom Sawyer’s pal (11,4) HUCKLEBERRY FINN {HUCKLEBERRY}{FINN}

3   Ken Starr not quite liberal, extremely gross (7) RANKEST {KEN+STARr}

4   Bastille’s stormed, tougher than the rest (9) BALLSIEST*

5   Biblical lawgiver saunters with yen to depart (5) MOSES MOSEyS

6   Book with the writer supporting N. African capital – not about Kenyan city (7) NAIROBI {B}{I}<=>{N}{cAIRO}

7   Inane, thick tot – he misbehaves – grin and bear it (4,2,2,3,4) TAKE IT ON THE CHIN*

9   Drug-addled greeting heard (4) HIGH (~hi)

10 Tax riverside protection in announcement (4) LEVY (~levee)

14 Stop using smartphones, laptops etc? As if (4,3,2) COME OFF IT [CD]

15 What the crossword setter sees as exquisite, friends! (4) PALS {SLAP UP}

16 Tangled dungarees abandoned by Dutch causes vexation (7) ENRAGES duNGAREES*

18 Taking home fishing kit (7) NETTING [DD]

19 Schedule a hill to climb (4) ROTA {A}{TOR}<=

21 Merry after skipping starter: broken bread in Scandinavia (5) KRONE bROKEN*

Reference List

Old = O, Railway = RY, King = K, Cheers = TA< Eastern = E, Yen = Y, Book = B, About = C, Dutch = DU

No 14356, Saturday 14 Dec 2024, Incognito

 ACROSS
8 Brand symbol's record? Nothing! (4) LOGO {LOG}{O}
9 12 dozen? //That's very disgusting! (5) GROSS {DD}
10 Bachelor’s pain (4) ACHE {T}
11 Wrongly cared about student's crib (6) CRADLE {CARED* about L}
12 Increased depth from eastern enclosure for holding animals, indeed (8) DEEPENED {DEE{E}{PEN}ED}
13 Confuse insect going round feral rodent at first (8) BEWILDER {BE{WILD}E}{Rodent}
15 Game for vegetable and juice? (6) SQUASH {MD}
17 Pretty girls have a right to make money (7) DOLLARS {DOLL{A}{R}S}
19 It can be found online and is made up of wee bits (7) WEBSITE*
22 Push student's digging implement (6) SHOVEL {SHOVE}{L}

24 Giving answer: "Call about European layer" (8) REPLYING {R{E}{PLY}ING}
26 Husband always takes left in corridors (8) HALLWAYS {H}{AL{L}WAYS}
28 See! Wrong hate results in hate... (6) LOATHE {LO}{HATE*}
30 Only auditor's soul (4) SOLE {~SOUL}
31 Ladies get direction for levels (5) EVENS {EVE{N}S}
32 Pacific California male (4) CALM {CAL}{M}

DOWN

1 Heavenly maiden loses one unit of time (4) HOUR {HOURi}

2 Go to get overdraft with legal document... It's a value of established reputation (8) GOODWILL {GO}{OD}{WILL}

3 Concurred, it's a vice (6) AGREED {A}{GREED}

4 Does what is necessary, perhaps, to repair old engine first before commencement of restoration in ship (7) SOLDERS {S{OLD{Engine}{Re......on}S}

5 Perhaps, taxpayer gets directions with notice pinned to donkey's tail (8) ASSESSEE {ASS}<=>{E}{S}{SEE}

6 Behind entrance, lies gold and cake (6) GATEAU {GATE}{AU}

7 Long ago, you three expelled ring leader (4) THEE {THrEE}

14 Eastern chop-chop time (5) EPOCH {E}{CHOP*}

16 Devil took seat with a bridge player (5) SATAN {SAT}{A}{N}

18 Freed and let out again (8) RELEASED {RE-LEASED}

20 Uses a coy arrangement to make a condiment (3,5) SOY SAUCE*

21 Boy hurries to get implements for cleaning (7) BRUSHES {B}{RUSHES}

23 Spread salve around centre of gravity of control devices (6) VALVES {SALVE*} around {graVity}

25 North European language// used for getting good finish (6) POLISH {DD}

27 Over a plaything? (4) ATOP {A}{TOP}

29 Condition of whales' hearts? (4) HALE {T}

REFERENCE LIST

Nothing=O, Student=L, Eastern=E, Right=R, European=E, Husband=H, Left=L, Direction=N(orth), California=Cal, Male=M, One=I, Overdraft=OD, Directions=E(ast) and S(outh), Gold=Au, Bridge Player=N(orth), Boy=B.