Solution to 14A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 Walk outside the French castle (6) PALACE {PA{LA}CE}
4 About security devices - they could have alarms (6) CLOCKS {C}{LOCKS}
8 Aunt just cut call in the middle - that's strange (7) UNUSUAL {aUNt}{jUSt}{cUt}{cALl} 'That's' is superfluous
9 Fuel nearly explodes in service stations (7) GARAGES {GAs}{RAGES}
11 Students of "Holy Cross Bangalore" basically adapted right away (10) SCHOOLBOYS {HOLY+CrOSS+B}* One 'O' less in the fodder
12 Fine couple, husband doing duty for wife (4) THIN T(+h-w)HIN
13 Snails may be seen regularly lying around in hollow (5) BASIN {sNaIlS+mAy+Be}<=
14 Compulsory stop checking for police vans essentially (8) E?F?R?E?
16 Most delighted with taste of puff pastry filling. Hats off! (8) HAPPIEST {Puff}{PIE} in {HATS}*
18 Checks rules for auditor (5) REINS (~reigns)
20 Receives good education through school primarily (4) GETS Acrostic
21 Data? It's repeatedly cast out (10) STATISTICS {ITS+ITS+CAST}* Letter Bank Fodder should be together See comments
23 Typical Donald nonsense basically rejected by Greenland angrily (7) GENERAL {GREENLAnd}*
24 Right, Arsenal perhaps missing good athletes (7) RUNNERS {R}{gUNNERS}
25 Extremely silly to stop practice (6) SYSTEM {SillY}{STEM}
26 Youngsters eventually enjoy retro bars (6) LEVERS {y...rS}{REVEL}<=
DOWN
1 Captain missing at ground causing alarm (5) PANIC CaPtAIN*
2 Reportedly reduces exercises (7) LESSONS (~lessens)
3 Tax restructuring restricts sellers essentially (9) CHALLENGE {CHA{seLLErs}NGE}
5 Esophageal reflux regularly increases (5) LEAPS {eSoPhAgEaL}<=
6 American actress and singer has got talent, right? (7) CHARTER {CH{ART}ER}
7 Remarkable types of rodents climbing up inside small cages (9) SPECIMENS {S}{P{MICE<=}ENS}
10 Aspiring model wearing red A-line top (9) POTENTIAL {T} in {A+LINE+TOP}*
13 Couple rents jewellery (9) BRACELETS {BRACE}{LETS}
15 Equipment's defective? If unused from the beginning - return (9) FURNITURE {IF+Un...d+RETURN}*
17 Signs of protests erupting, rejecting leader of Teheran (7) POSTERS PROtESTS*
19 Great batting future perhaps (7) INTENSE {IN}{TENSE}
21 Start with 1 Down? (5) SCARE [DD]
22 Maybe King and Queen scared about losing empire finally (5) CARDS SCAReD*
Reference List
The in French = LA, About = C, Right = R, Husband = H, Wife = W, Right = R, Good = G, Small = S, Model = T, Batting = IN
16a typo.
ReplyDelete21a not a letter bank.
(It's+it's+cast)*
11a of/o o'clock
DeleteNot necessarily like o'clock.
DeleteBasically may extend to 'of' as well- at least, that is what the setter might have intended.
"It's" repeatedly- goid observation!!
Very good clue as well
Yes, had considered OF = O'
DeleteEnjoyable Crossant!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteLiked the Royal couple in cards- 22D
ReplyDelete10D-red is the anagrind ?
ReplyDeleteYes, Red is the anagram indicator
Delete10D potential
ReplyDeleteModel (t), A- line top>potenial+t
Red ( may indicate anagrind)
Aspiring (def)
This is already explained in the main post. Why are you repeating it?
Delete14A, Enforced ( stop=end, police vans =force), end+force
ReplyDeleteChecking , essentially ( clue) compulsoy (def)
Incorrect annotation
Delete14A:enforced=compulsory
ReplyDeletestop(end) checking=containment ind.
(for) poli(ce)vans essentially
{en(for)(ce)d}
Looks fine. But I have a doubt about the clue-
DeleteUsually for 'essentially' we pick the middle letter/s of a word. But is it okay to pick middle of 2 words- PoliCE vans, in this case?
Yes. I too have come across this for the first time, taking essentially between two words. But, that seems to be the only possible solution.
DeleteI even tried force fir police, but I could nit explain van
ReplyDelete