Solution to 27A 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 Brand of fancy car beside a shed (8) DESCRIBE {CaR+BESIDE}*
5 Dried grape from Sahara is insipid (6) RAISIN [T]
10 Humiliates young socialite and fool consuming ecstasy (7) DEBASES {DEB}{AS{E}S}
14 Garish escort animatedly describing rise from poverty to wealth (4-2-6) RAGS-TO-RICHES*
18 Friend captivates model right away with performance in flat (6-2-4) MATTER-OF-FACT {MA{T}TE}{R}{OFF}{ACT}
21 Hollow vessel filled with new kind of tobacco (9) CAVENDISH {CAVE}{N}{DISH}
23 Put up tribute after losing president (5) RAISE pRAISE
24 A revolutionary plan to tackle boy's recurrent loss of smell (7) ANOSMIA {A}{AIM<=} over {SON<=}
25 Not one nor the other is inert compound containing helium (7) NEITHER {NEIT{HE}R*}
26 Pour out a little fluid in garbage right away (6) EFFUSE {rEF{Fl..d}USE}
27 Fly airplane close to ground in extremely hush-hush operation across border (5-3) ?E?G?-H?P (Addendum - HEDGE-HOP {Hus{EDGE}husH}{OP} - See comments)
DOWN
3 Awfully cute star inviting India's captain to live in the country (9) RUSTICATE {CUTE+STAR}* over {In..a}
4 Vacation spent in doing work? Sadly, my old husband is a leader in L&T (7,7) BUSMANS HOLIDAY {MY+O+HUSBAND+IS+A+L&t}*
6 Needle in feeding trough cutting maiden (5) ANGER mANGER
9 What gully fielder is waiting for, just in case (2,3,3,6) ON THE OFF CHANCE [C&DD]
15 Suffering at home, healing after taking a little rest (9) INCURRING {IN}{CUR{Rest}ING}
16 Medicate a model wanting drug primarily to become very thin (8) EMACIATE {MEdICATE+A}*
19 English tenor enthralled by remarkably high octave (6) EIGHTH {E}{IGH{T}H*}
20 Act without restraint in border to crush alien resistance (3,3) LET RIP {L{ET}{R}IP}
22 Star in retreat pressing doctor for drugs (5) NUMBS {NU{MB}S<=}
Reference List
Ecstasy = E, European = E, Institute = I, Model = T, Right = R, New = N, President = P, Small = S, British = B, Old = O, Maiden = M, English = E, Tenor = T, Alien = ET, Resistance = R
24a an (os) mia<=
ReplyDeleteBoy is son no. So a nos <= mia <= - I thought.
DeleteRusticate per dictionary is a dated expression. I went on a WGC on rusticate is to expel, banish etc-)
ReplyDeleteDated means out of style or old fashioned. It does not mean out of use!
ReplyDeleteDoc. is off to a brisk start.
ReplyDeleteEarly start too....!
Delete11A- Doc.gave us a good opportunity to get misled (and I was for a while!) by placing European (E) right next to country!
ReplyDeleteLoved the gully fielder- in the off chance. Good description.
ReplyDeleteToday's beautiful clue is 25 Across with answer "Neither". My instant liking.🌹🌹🌹
ReplyDeleteInert compound containing
Deleteinert gas!
Thank you Doc.X ....for the clue 11A..........I am here
ReplyDelete27a - {H{EDGE}-H}{OP}
ReplyDeleteDef. - Fly very close to the ground
Extremely hush-hush - HH
close to ground - EDGE
operation - OP
27Ac HEDGE-HOP - {H(-u...s){EDGE}H}OP}
ReplyDelete27A:hedgehop=fly airplane close to
ReplyDeleteground-extremrly hush-hush(h,h),
operation(op),border(edge)-
(h)(edge)(h)(op).
27a HEDGEHOP = Fly airplane close to ground
ReplyDeleteHH = Extremely HushhusH
EDGE = Border
OP = Operation
Across = Contain Ind
H+EDGE+H+OP
This must be a record! 4 correct answers at the same time!
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteJust curious. All entered at the same time or is there a way (like Col. does) to enter earlier and set up time to publish at 1 pm?
Delete+2
Deleteall pressed the buttons in a seconds diff.....but the far distance reached first......
@ paddy sir.... set up is not possible as the post received from outside India due to time difference. In this case all posted at same time with a diff. of seconds
Delete7D:Came across 'Scrunchy' in a Korean
ReplyDeleteweb series 'Start up' recently and
checked the dictionary as the word was new to me too at that time!!
As always a great puzzle from Doc!
ReplyDeleteMy fav - DESCRIBE, NEITHER, OFF THE CHANCE, EIGHTH.
Thanx!