Monday 20 May 2024

No 14179, Monday 20 May 2024, Pixie Dust

Solution to 12A 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   Say, green pass belonging to us (6) COLOUR {COL}{OUR}
5   Mark ate bananas, swallowing last bit of apple in pan (3,5) TEA MAKER {MARK+ATE}* over {a..lE}
9   Custom officer sent maid out (8) TIDESMAN* Should be 'Customs officer'
10 Say, Don Quixote lost diamonds in drilling tool (6) REAMER dREAMER
11 Unprofessional agency manager annoyingly tactless, ended up raking issues slandering HR leaders (10) AMATEURISH Acrostic
12 Egad! Twenty prime positions for exit (4) G?T? (Addendum - GATE {eGAd+TwEnty} - See comments)
13 Revulsion is stated in a funny manner (8) DISTASTE*
16 Mathew, "Is dominance camouflaging sapience?" (6) WISDOM [T]
17 Preservation of 'High Citadel' (6) UPKEEP {UP}{KEEP}
19 Influenced a cute date to go berserk after ditching European (8) ACTUATED {A+CUTE+DATe}*
21 Some delicate matter turned up referring to itself? (4) META [T<=]
22 Cunning tweets rise, running wild (10) STREETWISE*
25 The Curies' found it right before good man quit arena (6) RADIUM {R}{stADIUM}
26 Show of hands or change of hands in assembly? (8) ELECTION E(-r+l)LECTION
27 Non-vegetarian food picked up with rum, gin and dessert essentially in convocations (8) MEETINGS {(~meat)MEET}{GIN*}{desSert}
28 What a hit indeed featuring island made famous by R.L. Stevenson (6) TAHITI [T]

DOWN
2   A powerful drug obliterating pain, in use maybe from the beginning (5) OPIUM Acrostic
3   Frank's buried in poverty (5) OVERT [T]
4   Sour words on the street? (7) RUMOURS {SOUR}* [RA]
5   Steel in building can be drawn out (7) TENSILE*
6   Telecast performance of pilots? (3,4) AIR SHOW {AIR}{SHOW} (Correction [DD] - See comments)
7   Distressed angel overwhelmed by continent's inability to feel pain (9) ANALGESIA {A{ANGEL*}SIA}
8   Pick up right song for conductor (9) ELECTRODE {ELECT}{R}{ODE} Pick up or just Pick?
14 Damn! Rascal nearly created mayhem (9) IMPRECATE {IMP}{CREATEd*}
15 Terrible threat is hovering over chief psychiatrist and mind doctor (9) THERAPIST {THREAT+IS}* over {Ps...t}
18 According to the Reverend, almost all criticise the Man of Letters! (7) POSTMAN (~most pan to postman)
19 By the sound of it, not having anyone to leave your belongings to is stifling (7) AIRLESS (~heirless)
20 Model bets about stealing extremely handsome Turner's number! (3,4) THE BEST {T}{BETS*} over {Ha...mE}
23 Say, Hermione Granger's humour - cold and hard-hitting at first (5) WITCH {WIT}{C}{Ha...g}
24 Strong beer (5) STOUT [DD}

Reference List
Pass = COL, Diamonds = D, European = E, Right = R, Good man = SAINT = ST, Hands = R,L, Model = T, Cold = C

Sunday 19 May 2024

Special, Sunday 19 May 2024, Pulsar

Welcome to our new setter Pulsar. Bouquets and brickbats welcome.

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 3307, Sunday 19 May 2024

ACROSS
1   Becomes too much for captain after wicket in cricketing stints (10) OVERWHELMS {HELM}<=>{W} in {OVERS}
6   Kindly reject bitterly cold Frenchman (4) WARM {RAW<=}{M}
9   Mild and soft cheese a Roman partakes of no end, primarily? (10) MASCARPONE Acrostic Semi&lit
10 Kiss with audacity (4) NECK [DD]
11 Sweet-chasers consumed snacks (6,6) CHEESE STRAWS*
15 Overhits, lacking at first – after training, does well (7) THRIVES oVERHITS*
16 Worked out the bill, perhaps made sense (5,2) ADDED UP [DD]
17 Impudence: slip audibly giving you mouth (3-4) LIP-SYNC {LIP}{(~sink)SYNC}
19 Everyman is going to ... is going to ... show spite (3,4) ILL WILL {I'LL}{WILL}
20 Notice – noticed – small tools (8,4) CIRCULAR SAWS {CIRCULAR}{SAW}{S}
23 Escape, knocking back lager (4) SLIP<=
24 A little bit alarmingly disturbed (10) MARGINALLY*
25 Money needed when haircut's hard (4) DOSH {DO'S}{H}
26 The Britons gathered: Ruby, Beryl and 10 more (10) BIRTHSTONE*

DOWN
1   Cockneys live in these units? (4) OHMS (~ `omes)
2   Oriental net assets regularly disappearing (4) EAST {nEt+AsSeTs}
3   I beg your pardon!? 'Down with the solver', etc? (4,4,3) WHAT HAVE YOU {WHAT}{HAVE}{YOU}
4   Swift in air (7) EXPRESS [DD]
5   Some acclaim and elation for country's first democratic leader (7) MANDELA [T]
7   Booze, a kiss and music in retreat in old city (10) ALEXANDRIA {ALE}{X}{AND}{AIR<=}
8   Cleans up: as does autumnal gardener? (5,1,4) MAKES A PILE [DD]
12 A little drunk makes suggestive gesture, being game (11) TIDDLYWINKS {TIDDLY}{WINKS}
13 Like, stressed (10) ITALICISED [Defiintion by example]
14 Qualities of estates? (10) PROPERTIES [DD]
18 Bread in such a pâtisserie (7) CHAPATI [T]
19 Visible wisdom (2,5) IN SIGHT {INSIGHT}
21 And, finally, Vienna roll comes round (4) ALSO {v...nA}{rolL}{c..eS}{O}
22 Tiny shred of memory: morsel, did you say? (4) BYTE (~bite)

Reference List
Wicket = W, Frenchman = M, Small = S, Hard = H, Kiss = X

Saturday 18 May 2024

No 14178, Saturday 18 May 2024, Vidwan

ACROSS
8   Durga fidgeted with a divine vehicle (6) GARUDA {DURGA}*{A}
9   You'll meet kindred regularly for Christmas (8) YULETIDE {YoUlL+mEeT+kInDrEd
10 Stick used by someone with a handicap? Of course! (4,4) GOLF CLUB [CD]
11 One from Warsaw or Japan, say (6) POLISH [DD]
12 Instrument - playing, lovin' it endlessly! (6) VIOLIN {LOVIN+It}*
13 Excels in non-clandestine operations (8) OVERTOPS {OVERT}{OPS}
14 Filthy male in distressed surrounding (7) SMEARED {S{M}EARED}
16 Rebel princess' honour? Yes! (7) DISOBEY {DIS}{OBE}{Y}
20 Active at a bull's early stage of embryo (8) BLASTULA*
23 Quietly come to lecture (6) PREACH {P}{REACH}
25 Season's special band! (6) SPRING {SP}{RING}
26 Hot atmosphere diminishes main source of income for barbers (8) HAIRCUTS {H}{AIR}{CUTS}
27 How an archer submits? (4,4) BOWS DOWN [C&DD]
28 Son going into 'lazy' position (6) INSERT {IN{S}ERT}

DOWN
1   Works in so calm style with brevity of speech (8) LACONISM*
2   Idiot changed sides for a large bag (6) DUFFEL DUFFE(-r+l)L
3   Standard kind of clean language (8) PARLANCE {PAR}{CLEAN*}
4   Do we bore you at start? You may raise this for disapproval! (7) EYEBROW {WE+BORE+You}*
5   Slip away, asleep, drunk! (6) ELAPSE*
6   Street toilet somehow improves women's stature (8) STILETTO {ST}{TOILET*}
7   A darling daughter stumps, occasionally makes sense! (4,2) ADDS UP {A}{D}{D}{StUmPs}
15 As basic as erroneously missing a Cartesian coordinate of a point (8) ABSCISSA {AS+BASIC+aS}*
17 I am power - legitimate and absolute! (8) IMPLICIT {I'M}{P}{LICIT}
18 Create ET perhaps and rest (2,6) ET CETERA*
19 Half of Manhattan, regularly turns to organised search for fugitives (7) MANHUNT {MANHattan}{tUrNs+To} Not half!
21 Mostly Apple redesigning confines to a computing device (6) LAPTOP {APPLe}* over {TO}
22 Motivate headless doctor in operating room (4,2) URGE ON sURGEON 
24 Free poor substitute (6) EXCUSE [DD]

Reference List
Male = M, Princess = DI, Honour = OBE, Yes = Y, Quietly = P, Special =SP, Hot = H, Son = S, Sides = R,L, Standard = PAR, Street = ST, Darling = D, Daughter = D, Power = P

Friday 17 May 2024

No 14177, Friday 17 May 2024, Vidwan

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.

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

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

ACROSS
7   Black chimers playing "Sully" (8) BESMIRCH {B}{CHIMERS}*
9   Love's victim, a high flyer (6) OSPREY {O'S}{PREY}
10 John King's face (4) LOOK {LOO}{K}
11 Kill by a nail in the bust (10) ANNIHILATE*
12 In betweena day in haze (6) AMIDST {A}{MI{D}ST}
14 It prevents balls leaving playing area and supports head (8) BACKSTOP {BACKS}{TOP}
15 Reportedly handling a girl and failing badly! (13) MISMANAGEMENT (~miss management)
17 Hit and run is messy (8) SLAPDASH {SLAP}{DASH}
19 Measure of 10 + 10 in Egypt (6) EXTENT {E{X}{TEN}T}
21 Rambling's not niceHer rambling! (10) INCOHERENT*
22 One consumed by the base emotion (4) HATE {H{A}TE*}
23 X-Men ultimately is sport (6) TENNIS {TEN}{meN}{IS}
24 A soft hit on tennis ball, plummets close! (4,4) DROP SHOT {DROPS}{HOT}

DOWN
1   Mends former criminal (6) REFORMPOS error?
2   A lama's not new to state of frenzy (4) AMOK {A}{MOnK}
3   A mere cat, struggling for meal (5,3) CREAM TEA*
4   Try most luxuriant architectural style (6) GOTHIC {GO}{THICk}
5   Pearly love and light fragrance (10) OPALESCENT {O}{PALE}{SCENT}
6   Vegetable from black treeToo exotic! (8) BEETROOT {B}{TREE+TOO}*
8   Likely to fail soonthey grab a hand desperately (4,2,1,6) HANG BY A THREAD*
13 Let down, Princess is finally at a quiet place (10) DISAPPOINT {DI}{iS}{A}{P}{POINT}
15 Truant, male American writer's no saint! (8) MALINGER {M}{sALINGER}
16 Elite conorganised periodically for voting public? (8) ELECTION*
18 Dislike state direction (6) AVERSE {AVER}{SE}
20 Turns into working idea (6) NOTION {INTO}*{ON}
22 Silence at odd hours and short hours (4) HUSH {HoUrS}{H}

Reference List
Black = B, King = K, Day = D, New = N, Princess = DI, Quiet = P, Saint = S, Hours = H

Thursday 16 May 2024

No 14176, Thursday 16 May 2024, Crescent

Solution to 12A 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
 Old chaps come again to some empty resort (8) RECOURSE {REC{O}UR}{SomE}
9   Man facing a fellow in direct confrontation (4-2) HEAD-ON {HE}{A}{DON}
10 A cover, like over fruit (6) SAPOTA {A}{TOP}{AS}<=
11 Monk Penang discharged as fake in Malaysian villages (8) KAMPONGS {MONK+Pe..nG+AS}*
12 Contact lines for every minister (8) ?R?A?H?R ()Addendum - PREACHER {P{REACH}ER} - See comments)
14 Selection of exotic liqueurs for exclusive group (6) CLIQUE [T]
15 Police vault contains case of narcotics and drugs taken during seizures (15) ANTICONVULSANTS {VAULT+CONTAINS+Na...cS}*
18 Stop moving decorative wall panel in delivery (6) FREEZE (~frieze)
20 Mowing is extremely critical having made a change to yard (8) SCYTHING SC(-a+y)YTHING
22 A new leg, map out strategy (4,4) GAME PLAN {A+N+LEG+MAP}*
24 Boldly face animal edging back to rear (6) BREAST {B{reaR}EAST}
25 Liberal habits America leads in without exception (6) ALWAYS {L}{WAYS}<=>{A}
26 Cobblers earlier spreading rounded piece of leather over foot (8) FOLDEROL  {OLDER}{O}{Le...r}<=>{F}

DOWN
1   Remedy concerning couple (6) REPAIR {RE}{PAIR}
2   High temperature apart, toxic atop volcano (8) COTOPAXI {tOXIC+ATOP}*
3   Explosion covering another, see crackers go (7,4,4) BREATHE ONES LAST {BLAST} over {ANOTHER+SEE}*
4   Jolt for dolt (4) JERK [DD]
5   As I say, my small choices lead to big bucks (8,7)  CHEMICAL SYMBOLS {MY+SMALL+CHOICES+Big}*
6   Spiritual enlightenment I register with sun rising (6) SATORI {I}{ROTA}{S}<=
7   Special gift to satisfy past wish (4,4) LONG SUIT {SUIT}<=>{LONG}
13 With son in tow, cycling across ranges (5) ROVES {S}<=>{(+r)ROVE(-r)}
16 Pick of Nizam's flanks to join forces for the most part (8) NORMALLY {(nizam)N OR M}{ALLY}
17 The least modelled jocks (8) ATHLETES*
19 Always embodying Juliet, a bird (6) EVEJAR {EVE{J}{A}R}
21 Wise old man in fine story (6) NESTOR [T]
23 Inferior nut twisted with force (4) NAFF {FAN<=}{F}

Reference List
Old = O, Fellow = DON, Yard = Y, New = N, Liberal = L, America = A, Foot = F, Concerning = RE, Temperature = T, Sun = S, Son = S, Juliet = J, Force = F

Wednesday 15 May 2024

No 14175, Wednesday 15 May 2024, KrisKross

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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS
1   I started off behind everyone else (8) TARDIEST*
5   You leave Russian mountain range, carrying protective equipment to descend (6) RAPPEL {uRA{PPE}L}
9   Bigheads say that ultimately, it's so easy (8) EGOTISTS {EG}{thaT+ITS+SO}*
10 Rising river - propel boat in confusion (6) UPROAR {UP}{R}{OAR}
12 Doubt, and considerable unfaithfulness, primarily breaking friendship (9) AMBIGUITY {AM{BIG}{Un...s}ITY}
13 Dictator's love for radical (5) AMINO {AMIN}{O}
14 Bite from repulsive insect (4) TANG<=
16 Brief interval to consume wine that's more delicious (7) TASTIER {T{ASTI}ERm}
19 & 21A Where one may see mountaineers past their prime? (4,3,4) OVER THE HILL [DD]
21 See 19A
24 Church official's tree (5) ELDER [DD]
25 Ignorant one would drink, then swim to ship (2,3,4) IN THE DARK {I{THEN*}D}{ARK}
27 Hand bag is found in glen (6) VALISE {VAL{IS}E}
28 Loom with yarn, mostly spinning net (8) THREATEN {THREAd}{NET*}
29 Careless KrisKross is about to wear topless outfit (6) REMISS {dRE{I'M<=}SS}
30 Run inside to get magazines (8) EDITIONS*

DOWN
1   Agent going through beat for drill (6) TREPAN {T{REP}AN}
2   Character from Crete with money, say, to get diamonds (6) RHOMBI {RHO}{M}{(~buy)BI}
3   Picnic in ground filled with frost (5) ICING [T]
4   Disappearing stage (7) SETTING [DD]
6   Survey: "Shock over reduced salary increase" (9) APPRAISAL {APP{RAISe}AL}
7   Abundant crop if plain evenly cultivated (8) PROLIFIC {CROP+IF+pLaIn}*
8   Frisky Labrador left in ship (8) LARBOARD*
11 Growth of juicy strawberries (4) CYST [T]
15 Star signs novel "Tears" with kiss (9) ASTERISKS {TEARS+KISS}*
17 Second space vehicle to orbit Earth also (8) MOREOVER {MO}{R{E}OVER}
18 Best to keep goal fluid - essentially, it could swing either way (8) PENDULUM {P{END}{flUid}LUM}
20 Exhale a little bit after cycling (4) EMIT (+e)EMIT(-e)
21 Ram suffered, missing Sita... finally united (7) H?T?H?D (Addendum - HITCHED {HIT}{aCHED} - See comments)
22 South American leader is shy, heroic at heart (6) CASTRO {CAST}{heROic} Central America or Latin America would more precise
23 Basically, sportsmen keep undermining nature, killing sea mammals (6) SKUNKS Acrostic 
26 Standing up before court (5) ERECT {ERE}{CT}

Reference List
Protective equipment = PPE, River = R, Money = M, Second = MO, Earth = E, Before = ERE, Court = CT

Tuesday 14 May 2024

No 14174, Tuesday 14 May 24, Lightning

Solution to 28A 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   Strange design I clear up (8) PECULIAR*
5   Created firm at home with editor (6) COINED {CO}{IN}{ED}
9   Cabinet in old pub used to separate method of payment (8) CUPBOARD {O+PUB}* in {CARD}
10 Flight delay resulting in tiredness and lethargy (6) JETLAG {JET}{LAG}
12 Deer I enthusiastically hid is frightening (5) EERIE [T]
13 Giant pins represented in pictures made with a brush (9) PAINTINGS*
14 Arm of a short man extremely chubby (6) AGENCY {A}{GENt}{Ch..bY}
16 At first keep away dissolute person flanking old entertainment singing (7) KARAOKE {Keep}{Away}{RA{O}KE}
19 Value added tax at first imposed on container in this city (7) VATICAN {VAT}{Im...d}{CAN}
21 Outdated person left aside silk thread by one lake (6) FOSSIL {FlOSS}{1}{L}
23 Cracked rig - arrest one keeping records (9) REGISTRAR*
25 Couple missing the last of South Africa's currency (5) PAISA {PAIr}{SA}
26 Free a French animal (6) UNSEAL {UN}{SEAL}
27 Farmer protecting primarily huge bird (8) PHEASANT {P{H}EASANT}
28 Money initially paid to redesign atlas, perhaps (6) E?O?Y? (Addendum - EPONYM {MONEY+Paid}* - See comments)
29 Magnificence of a thousand on French street going west (8) GRANDEUR {GRAND}{RUE<=}

DOWN
1   Select alien patrol guard (6) PICKET {PICK}{ET}
2   Firm gutted piracy - correct it will protect against plagiarism (9) COPYRIGHT {CO}{Pi..cY}{RIGHT}
3   Careless in card game, spending eagerly at first (5) LOOSE {LOO}{Sp...g}{Ea...y}
4   Decline a prize (7) ATROPHY {A}{TROPHY}
6   Flips open vases (9) OVERTURNS {OVERT}{URNS}
7   Many long to display clothing material (5) NYLON [T]
8   Complicated deed - gist was absorbed (8) DIGESTED*
11 Colour of writing liquid under page (4) PINK {INK}<=>{P}
15 It's a must as scenery needs to be transformed (9) NECESSARY*
17 Start to speak formally after consuming one alcoholic beverage (9) ORIGINATE {OR{1}{GIN}ATE}
18 Cancel 6 ball law (8) OVERRULE {OVER}{RULE}
20 Ordinary leaders of Norway often restrict markets (4) NORM Acrostic
21 Parent housing king at a greater distance (7) FARTHER {FA{R}THER}
22 Prohibit odd theory on light-hearted humour (6) BANTER {BAN}{ThEoRy}
24 Sudden blast of wind by ocean leads to enjoyment (5) GUSTO {GUST}{Oc..n}
25 Apparent suffering left inside (5) PLAIN {P{L}AIN}

Reference List
Firm = CO, at home = IN, Editor = ED, Old = O, Left = L, Lake = L, A in French = UN, Huge = H, French street = RUE, Alien = ET, Page = P, King = R

Monday 13 May 2024

No 14173, Monday 13 May 2024, Incognito

Solution to 24A 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
8   Spectacles displayed in doctor's portal (4) DOOR {D{OO}R}
9   Go and repair (5) LEAVE [DD?]
10 Put an end to breaking pots (4) STOP*
11 Eg., Tulu is transliterated into another language (6) TELUGU*
12 For example, make up company's time lost before start of competition (8) COSMETIC {CO'S}{TIME*}{Co...n}
13 Son in confusion? Take to court for inconsequential matter (3-5) NON-ISSUE {SON+IN}*{SUE}
15 Bad actor permitted to join play (6) HAMLET {HAM}{LET}
17 Falls again, rejected by god (7) NIAGARA {AGAIN<=}{RA}
19 Shorten a ship's control centre (7) ABRIDGE {A}{BRIDGE}
22 European car carried by ship for some Arabians (6) SAUDIS {S{AUDI}S}
24 A midshipman with small capacity to eat (8) A?P?T?T? (Addendum - APPETITE {A}{shiPman}{PETITE} - See comments)
26 After whiskey, chat about Director General's love for canine kept for security purposes (8) WATCHDOG {W}{CHAT*}{D{O}G}
28 Providing weapons from a Chinese dynasty after end of war (6) ARMING {A}{MING}<=>{waR}
30 Workers start to demolish and repair (4) MEND {MEN}{De...h}
31 Din from piano is excruciating (5) NOISE [T]
32 Grave boy follows Thomas (4) TOMB {B}<=>{TOM}

DOWN
1   Slovenia has nothing for tennis players (4) LOVE [T]
2   Using oar can be stimulating (8) AROUSING*
3   Books containing photographs from American criminal and vagrants (6) ALBUMS {AL}{BUMS}
4   Tinder might need these to add fire to your relationships (7) MATCHES [C&DD]
5   Colonial lady's address in India obtained from card discarded by excited chambermaid when receiving first salary (8) MEMSAHIB {cHaMBErMAId+Sa...y}*
6   High respect from Spanish side, I hear (6) ESTEEM {ES}{(~team)TEEM}
7   Leave before beginning of battle with Italy and desert (4) GOBI {GO}{Ba...e}{I}
14 Pen pal leaves piano player composing for Indian language (5) ORIYA {pIAnO+plaYeR}
16 Number inscribed in weights (5) EIGHT [T]
18 Denizen's tenancy payment covers margin (8) RESIDENT {RE{SIDE}NT}
20 Inform, "It is personal" (8) INTIMATE [DD]
21 Haggle and prohibit profit (7) BARGAIN {BAR}{GAIN}
23 Decipher: Fish in a river (6) DECODE {DE{COD}E}
25 For example, Jupiter's plot to go ahead of alien (6) PLANET {PLAN}{ET}
27 American guys' prayer ending (4) AMEN {A}{MEN}
29 Desensitized part of sternum bone (4) NUMB [T]

Reference List
Whiskey = W, Boy = B, American criminal = AL(Capone), Spanish = ES, Alien = ET

Sunday 12 May 2024

Special, Sunday 12 May 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 3306, Sunday 12 May 2024


Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS
1   A serving of ice cream and a lot of champagne (6) MAGNUM [DD]
4   No longer popular, helped in the kitchen (6-2) WASHED-UP [DD]
9   Pest is banished in shade (6) NUANCE NUisANCE
10 Courses of dried fruit announced (8) CURRENTS (~currants)
11 'Exotic' millionaire Cher cherished – to some extent (9) RECHERCHE [T]
13 Warning signal, with skill, sounded (5) FLARE (~flair)
14 Yanked hair back rudely: this should stop (9,5) HYDRAULIC BRAKE*
17 'Because the greatest pleasure is wine'? Dear me! (3,7,4) FOR HEAVENS SAKE {FOR}{HEAVENS}{SAKE}
21 Some shout down to overcome ... (5) OUTDO [T]
22 ... rioting, perhaps without consideration (3,2,4) OUT OF HAND [DD]
24 Anti-royalist not about to be one serving? (8) PUBLICAN rePUBLICAN
25 Prison officer to make another sketch after reflection (6) WARDER<=
26 Everyman, wanting reverse gear, turns over fancy car (8) MERCEDES {ME}{R}{CEDES} What's the role of 'Wanting'?
27 Star pugilist's memento? (6) SHINER [DD]

DOWN
1   Hams and corn prepared for emperors (8) MONARCHS*
2   Took a quick look and bounced off (7) GLANCED [DD]
3   Only 5/7ths vague? That's relative (5) UNCLE UNCLEar
5   Extra line for one of central characters in Amélie? (5,6) ACUTE ACCENT &lit
6   Cattle in this place, crosses (9) HEREFORDS {HERE}{FORDS}
7   Study old money in European kingdom (7) DENMARK {DEN}{MARK}
8   Picture someone using Twitter? (6) POSTER [DD]
12 Work together, masking nasty smell in part of shirt that's put away (11) COLLABORATE {COLLA{BO}R}{ATE}
15 Ancient, passionately heated, romantically omnipotent deity inducing tremendous eroticism, primarily? (9) APHRODITE Acrostic &lit
16 One offering to be more gentle (8) TENDERER [DD]
18 In absence of judge, objector banged up for 31 days (7) OCTOBER OBjECTOR*
19 A boy with djinn regularly seen? (7) ALADDIN {A}{LAD}{DjInN} &lit
20 Ornamentation, ceremony and ponderous pronouncement (3-3) POM-POM {POMP}{OM}
23 Vulgar moment (5) FLASH [DD]


Reference List
About = RE, Reverse = R, Nasty smell = BO, Judge = J

Saturday 11 May 2024

No 14172, Saturday 11 May 2024, Incognito

ACROSS
8   Carry animal (4) BEAR [DD]
9   Lenin wants extraordinary game (4,6) LAWN TENNIS*
10 Porridge cooler (6) PRISON [DD]
11 Carelessly wrote: Supreme Court has intelligence agency's illuminating device (8) SCRAWLED {SC}{RAW}{LED}
12 Helped idiot first, then journalist (8) ASSISTED {ASS}{1ST}{ED}
14 List of mistakes traitor committed in long period of time (6) ERRATA {ER{RAT}A}
16 Tight fitting arms? Rejected! (4) SNUG<=
17 Legendary female's warning device (5) SIREN [DD]
18 Short army officer's ship (4) BRIG [DD]
19 Wrong stance for climbing (6) ASCENT*
21 She clued wrongly for 'timetable' (8) SCHEDULE*
23 Perhaps, blind person from Italian city (8) VENETIAN [DD]
26 Bird sitting on Chinese spanner (6) WRENCH {WREN}{CH}
27 Take more money that merited for fleece (10) OVERCHARGE [CD]
28 Thanks! Thanks again! Goodbye! (2-2) TA-TA {TA}{TA}

DOWN
1   Republican takes umbrage and submits petition (10) REPRESENTS {REP}{RESENTS}
2   Urgent! It is decreasing! (8) PRESSING [DD]
3   Scheme with alien for Earth, for example (6) PLANET {PLAN}{ET}
4   Has title to sow walking around middle of ranch (4) OWNS {OW{raNch}S*}
5   Operator consumes tail of last fish (8) STURGEON {S{lasT}URGEON}
6   After loss of temperature, mix water with a couple of poles to get solution (6) ANSWER {WAtER+NS}* 
7   Note: Church creatures (4) MICE {MI}{CE}
13 Day, for example, in Abbottabad or Islamabad (5) DORIS [T]
15 In Chennai locality, Tamil leader mentioned instead of name in three copies (10) TRIPLICATE TRIPLICA(-n+t)TE How many here know the Tamil name of Triplicane?
17 How an intoxicated person may take seat and refuse to move? (3,5) SIT TIGHT [DD]
18 Wildly stabbed around heart of model to get unrecoverable dues (3,5) BAD DEBTS {STABBED}* over {moDel}
20 Old dear builds portico (6) EXEDRA {EX}{DEAR*}
22 That lady swallowed a bird? It's a stupid mistake! (6) HOWLER {H{OWL}ER}
24 English victory is hollow... results in jealousy (4) ENVY {EN}{Vi...rY}
25 Standard type of gate fixed to rear end of tram (4) NORM {NOR}{traM}

Reference List
Supreme Court = SC, Journalist = ED, Chinese = CH, Thanks = TA, Alien = ET, Poles = N,S, Note = MI, Church = CH, Name = N, Old = EX, English = EN, Gate = NOR

Friday 10 May 2024

No 14171, Friday 10 May 2024, Incognito

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.

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

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

ACROSS
8   Largest dolphin found in WindsorCalifornia (4) ORCA [T]
9   Heather appears in esoteric art (5) ERICA [T]
10 Call for shower of pellets from the sky (4) HAIL [DD]
11 Secret agents surround king, producing pointed objects (6) SPIKES {SPI{K}ES}
12 Replied, "A new sewer is constructed next to top of drain." (8) ANSWERED {A}{N}{SEWER*}{Dr..n}
13 Restore US city tax on commencement of employment (8) RENOVATE {RENO}{VAT}{Em...t}
15 Queasy about hot model's style of performance (6) SHTICK {S{H}{T}ICK}
17 A doctor for canines, amongst other things? (7) DENTIST [C&DD]
19 Warped spaceIt is medically uncontaminated (7) ASEPTIC*
22 Rapscallion releasing father lion is rowdy (6) RASCAL RApSCALlion Error in fodder, Just P for father?
24 Knotting bootlaces having only one loop instead of two can result  in hindrance (8) OBSTACLE BOoTLACES*
26 Chap wearing scarlet and journalist taken into custody (8) REMANDED {RE{MAN}D}{ED}
28 In my case, a boy gives rise to discomfort (6) MALADY {M{A}{LAD}Y}
30 Returned 1 component (4) PART<=
31 Figurines that may be solid? (5) IDOLS*
32 Dash when changing lane (4) ELAN*

DOWN
1   Catch injured rat sitting on piano (4) TRAP {RAT*}{P}
2   Juliet wrongly took cab to get military footwear (8) JACKBOOT {J}{TOOK+CAB}*
3   Spear lobbed around his heart in Iran of olden times (6) PERSIA {PERS{hIs}A*}
4   Sprats and a bit of egg cooked around 1 for nautical marauders (7) PIRATES {SPRAT+Egg}* over (1} Error in fodder
5   Boy helps musicians (8) BASSISTS {B}{ASSISTS}
6   Mad Hatter's warning (6) THREAT*
7   Perfect penalty (4) FINE [DD]
14 English-men return by middle of dafor evacuation (5) ENEMA {E}{MEN<=}{dAy}
16 Cold knoll's iciness (5) CHILL {C}{HILL}
18 Also laid out dressing that can be consumed! (5,3) SALAD OIL*
20 White teeth nobleman sinks into baked goodies (8) PEARLIES {P{EARL}IES}
21 Dominating driver wrongly hoards, after loss of bearing, old gear-wheel at first (4,3) ROAD HOG {HOARDs}*{O}{Ge...l}
23 Chinese expressions of creative imagination and graphic representations (6) CHARTS {CH}{ARTS}
25 A snack American uncle gets with dosa, after spitting out its first bit (6) SAMOSA {SAM}{dOSA}
27 Biblical character from European Union touring South America (4) ESAU {E{SA}U}
29 Watch face and ring (4) DIAL [DD]

Reference List
King = K, New = N, Hot = H, Model = T, Piano = P, Juliet = J, Boy = B, English = E, Cold = C, Bearing = S, Old = O, Chinese = CH


Thursday 9 May 2024

No 14170, Thursday 09 May 2024, Incognito

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR TODAY 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
8   What one might see on top of its twin in this clue number... Nothing! (4) ZERO (o on top of o Looks like) 8
9   Won't Goths go crazy capturing small abandoned settlements? (5,5) GHOST TOWNS {WONT+GOTHS}* over {S}
10 Abandons things that fall in fall and goes away (6) LEAVES [MD]
11 Enacts it wrongly and blinks (8) NICTATES*
12 Sirorgan is manufactured for army settlement (8) GARRISON*
14 Six footer found in mountain sector (6) INSECT [T]
16 Succeed taking energy drink (4) WINE {WIN}{E}
17 Favourite queen's saint (5) PETER {PET}{ER}
18 Spoil king's brand (4) MARK {MAR}{K}
19 Discard rivets removed from damaged convertiblecollectively (2,4) EN BLOC CONvertiBLEs
21 Most tasty pastry finally upset tummies (8) YUMMIEST {p...rY}{TUMMIES*}
23 Tagged boy hugging beautiful girl (8) LABELLED {LA{BELLE}D}
26 Run away with ale preparation that is artificial (6) UNREAL {RUN*}{ALE*}
27 Street animal playing games plans (10) STRATAGEMS {ST}{RAT}{GAMES*}
28 Wrongly pass snakes (4) ASPS*

DOWN
1   Disclosure: "Kinsman consumes half portion of veal" (10) REVELATION {RE{VEal}LATION}
2   Talk against poetry (8) CONVERSE {CON}{VERSE}
3   Exports, for example, defective sets (6) EGESTS {EG}{SETS*}
4   Juliet and Naira go around old hotel's toilet (4) JOHN {J}{O}{H}{N}
5   Crumpled sticker affixed around job centre says "More Stout!" (8) STOCKIER {ST{jOb}CKIER*}
6   In olden times, Italians building manors (6) ROMANS*
7   Joint lost? Missing from skeleton after collapse! (4) KNEE sKElEtoN*
13 A teetotaller in New York is well dressed (5) NATTY {N{A}{TT}Y}
15 Cheating gamblers, perhaps, by hiding broken shard in fishes (4-6) CARD-SHARPS {C{SHARD*}ARPS}
17 Softly, auricle is twisted! Odd! (8) PECULIAR {P}{AURICLE*}
18 Radio man may build key path (4,4) MAIN ROAD*
20 Bruce's method to get room for manoeuvre (6) LEEWAY {LEE}{WAY}
22 Some US concoction is a dessert (6) MOUSSE*
24 Pretends ancestors (not Norse) roamed around (4) ACTS AnCeSTors*
25 Colouring materials found in Irrawady estuary (4) DYES [T]

Reference List
Small = S, Energy = E, Queen = ER, King = K, Street = ST, Juliet = J, Naira = N, Old = O, Hotel = H, Teetotaller = TT, Softly = P