Solution to 11A 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 Cream is a baker's need, we hear (6) FLOWER (~flour)
4 Chapter out of Africa's wild expedition (6) SAFARI AFRIcAS*
8 Taxes: they actually regulate imports from foreign soil, for starters (7) TARIFFS Acrostic
9 Body builder banned from all contests? (7) STEROID [CD]
11 Worst place underground is mentioned in the Bible perhaps (10) ?E?T?E?L?R ()
12 Cheese is arranged on the counter (4) EDAM<=
13 Upon reflection, will US omit invading city in Iraq? (5) MOSUL [T<=]
14 That's enough of kinky photos on sex (2,4,2) OH STOP IT {PHOTOS}*{IT}
20 Mount Washington's captivating! (4) SHIN [HIPS]
21 How to make the man say "We are the champions"? (4,6) ROCK ANTHEM {THE+MAN}* [RA]
23 Study 'Introduction to Therapeutics' first, to become a doctor (7) DENTIST {DEN}{Th...s}{1ST}
24 Let go and hire again (7) RELEASE RE-LEASE
25 Singular case, partly reviewed, is of lower back (6) SACRAL [T<=]
26 Fancy saree with a little red slip remover (6) ERASER {SAREE}*{Red}
DOWN
1 Case of butter placed in empty fridge (5) FRAME {Fri{RAM}dgE}
2 Without hesitation, runs to snort a bit of illicit drugs (7) OPIATES OPerATES over {Il...t}
3 Reduces cost for American permits (9) ENFEEBLES EN(+fee-a)FEEBLES
5 Shift is a key at the far ends of the typewriter (5) ALTER {ALT}{thE}{t...eR}
6 Ogre ate bananas? Okay! (5,2) AGREE TO*
7 Man-made reservation has no lake (9) IMITATION lIMITATION
10 A weapon having little benefit? (9) ALLOWANCE {A}{L{LOW}ANCE}
13 According to Spooner, to lock the dining room would be perfect (9) MATCHLESS (~latch mess to matchless)
15 Cry with hatred, as emotions initially go haywire (4,1,4) SHED A TEAR {HATRED+AS+Em...s}*
17 Tight necktie almost chokes one on the move (7) KINETIC {NECKTIe}* over {1}
19 Pops down after scoring ecstasy (7) FATHERS FeATHERS
21 Some fear a stalker...a dreaded one (5) RASTA [T]
Reference List
Chapter = C, Sex = IT, Hesitation = ER, American = A, Lake = L, Ecstasy = E
5d alt is short form of alter-nate. Same root as alter. And shift has both as synonyms!
ReplyDeleteAlt as key is very commonly used. No abbreviation here.
ReplyDeleteGreat CW Gridzilla. Thank you for a good start for the week.
ReplyDelete19D- Pops down i my COD.
Thanks
Delete11a BESTSELLER = Bible, perhaps
ReplyDeleteBEST (~worst), SELLER(~cellar=place underground), mentioned= homo indicator for both
Worst = best! (As per dictionary, to win a victory over, as in a battle of competition). The same dictionary says worst ( is not equal to) best.
DeleteThey say, English is a funny language 😀
Sathia
Thanks
DeleteI think this 'Best' is as in Bested him ( to mean beat him)
DeleteSathia, A= B but not B=A !!!!!!
Best and worst homophones?
ReplyDeleteOnly seller is homophone. Wordtis not homophone of Best. It is like as mentioned by me earlier.
DeleteSathia
Intersting clue 11A,
ReplyDeleteBest isn't a contronym. There are some words that have two opposite meanings. This feature is not at all unique to English.
Best has an informal,.slang usage where it is used ironically to just mean the opposite...worst!
Ex: Mean(it has meanings like poor or low. It also mean excellent or outstanding.