Monday 26 February 2024

No 14107, Monday 26 Feb 2024, Avtaar

Solution to 12D 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   Private, through road across Monaco's outskirts (6) INMOST {IN}{ST} over {Mo..cO}
4   Most helpless bees left struggling (8) FEEBLEST*
9   One running errands in US auto company hired by bank (3-3) LEG-MAN {LE{GM}AN}
10 Move by doctor to increase recall (6,2) DREDGE UP {EDGE}<=>{DR and {UP}
11 Scrap gold transported on empty hearse is put on a pedestal (4-10) HERO-WORSHIPPED {ROW}{OR}{SHIPPED}<=>{He..sE}
13 Attributes shown by expert training Republican on alliances (10) PROPERTIES {PRO}{PE}{R}{TIES}
14 Island's backing international test venue (4) BALI {I}{LAB}<=
16 Catch the butt of friendly ape (4) COPY {COP}{f...lY}
18 Free charitable activity's starting off outside President's hometown (10) BIRTHPLACE {CHaRITABLE}* over {P}
21 Driver software? (9,5) AUTOMATIC PILOT [CD]
23 Native's present in bar ahead of time (8) INHERENT {IN{HERE}N}{T }
24 Avtaar is invited by nurse for drill in dentistry (6) REAMER {REA{ME}R}
25 Settle software assurance process before portals of every department get installed (8) SITUATED {SIT}{UAT}{Ev..y}{De...t}
26 Tag carrying details embedded in hybrid car digitally (2,4) ID CARD [T]

DOWN
1   Having nothing to do, I start to doodle on walls of lobby (4) IDLY {I}{Do...e}{LobbY}
2   Electric generator's silver mesh secured by tip of metal ring (7) MAGNETO {AG}{NET} in {Me..l}{O}
3   Saw Europe's nervous after US dropped naval strength (3,5) SEA POWER {SAW+EuROPEs}*
5   Brexit supporter set occupier on fire (11) EUROSCEPTIC*
6   Criminal wished to entertain cop (6) BADDIE {BAD{DI}E}
7   Anecdotes from retired legislator about ending in trouble near US city (7) EXEMPLA {EX}{t...lE}{MP}{LA}
8   Following report's closure, doctor saves copy on, say, Amazon's unlimited file storage (4,5) TAPE DRIVE {r...eT}{APE}{DR}{rIVEr}
12 Revealed steps to obtain first and surpass others (11) O?T?I?T?N?E (Addendum - OUTDISTANCE {OUT}{D{1ST}ANCE} - See comments)
13 Pig-like animals - species mostly moving around peaks of Chile, Argentina and south end of Ecuador (9) PECCARIES {SPECIEs}* over {Chile}{Ar...e}{e...oR}
15 Broken lock? (5,3) SPLIT END [CD]
17 Bar's taken up most recent random criticism (7) POTSHOT {STOP<=}{HOT}
19 Condition affecting sense of smell wreaked havoc in Samoa (7) ANOSMIA*
20 Small bird crossing river in European city (6) SMYRNA {S}{MY{R}NA}
22 Cross-bar is pressed down (4) TROD {T}{ROD}

Reference List
Road = ST, Training = PE, Republican = R, President = P, Time = T, Cop = DI, River = R

22 comments:

  1. No comments till now ? Hope it is not too difficult !

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is a little difficult but not too much. Needed Col.'s assistance for a few.
    To be expected from Avataar.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 20d shouldnt we go by current geography?

    Smyrna is in Turkey?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good point. Izmir which is modern Smyrna is in Asia

      Delete
  4. 24a whats dentistry doing?
    A reamer is a drill anywhere!
    "In"- dentistry Extra confusing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Reamer "a spiral-bladed drill for enlarging root canals" BRB

      Delete
    2. Agree. Wife is a dentist. So have learnes to use it too!
      But I am saying: reamer is a drill in general usage not only in dentistry.

      Delete
    3. +1. Reamer is very common in any drilling. No need for dentistry there.

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

    ReplyDelete
  6. 8D 'unlimited' is part of wordplay, not definition as the colour coding shows.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 12D OUT (revealed) IST (first) in DANCE(steps)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You guys are so good. I should use my novice card.

      Delete
    2. It should actually be OUTD(IST)ANCE
      Steps (Dance) to obtain ist

      Delete
    3. @B N Acharya annotation is simple and perfect, imho.

      Delete
  8. Outdistance (surpass others) def

    ReplyDelete
  9. A tad difficult but finished.
    My fav -
    OUTDISTANCE, TAPE DRIVE, HERO WORSHIPPED.
    Thanx Avtaar!

    ReplyDelete

deepakgita@gmail.com