No 14369, Monday 30 Dec 2024, Hypatia

By Prasanna

By Gowri

Solution to 1D 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

7   Probe worker posing as influencer (5,6)  POWER BROKER*

8   Beauty spot basically in skin, perhaps acne (3) SPA Acrostic

10 Took advantages of cues read periodically (4) USED {cUeS+rEaD}

11 GATE, NEET or IIT-JEE’s portions (5) TORII [T] 

12 Circulating attaché’s proposal (4) IDEA (-a)IDE(+a)A

13 Tiny part appeared ordinary (5) CAMEO {CAME}{O} 

15 Spooner’s chief gardener’s a valuable employee (9) RAINMAKER (~main raker to rainmaker) 

16 Small crew controls royal jet (6) STREAM {S}{T{R}EAM}

18 Santa's reindeer pranced freely dropping presents at entrance (6) DANCER pRANCED*

21 Dead jail bird tipped to smuggle drugs at first (9) CONCLUDED {CON}{CLU{Dr..s}ED} 

23 Oddly selected UK guards in new year (5) UGADI {Uk+GuArDs+In}

25 Prejudice in British civil service (4) BIAS {B}{IAS}

26 Jerk tackles work subject (5) TOPIC {T{OP}IC}

27 Colony resident hosting posh relative (4) AUNT {A{U}NT}

28 Embarrassed in fling (3) SHY [DD]

29 Stymie attack behind Putin (3,2,3,3) NIP IN THE BUD*

DOWN

1   Fixed fan during study time (8) ?O?S?A?T (Addendum - CONSTANT {CON}{STAN}{T} - See comments)

2   Initially found enemies using daggers in rivalry (4) FEUD Acrostic

3   Sailor had to sink (5) ABATE {AB}{ATE}

4   Diary of sweetheart, a student smoking pot (7) JOURNAL {JO}{URN}{A}{L}

5   Gave up degree for writing as planned (8) DESIGNED (-r+d)DESIGNED

6   Non-commercial tool covering that woman's domain (6) SPHERE {SPad{HER}E}

9   Encounter a problem against husband at work (3,1,4) HIT A SNAG {AGAINST+H}*

14 Training in duty overcoming hesitation (8) EXERCISE {EX{ER}CISE}

17 Sex change at the onset of spring makes one peak (8) MOUNTAIN (-f+m)MOUNTAIN

19 Player Liren entertained by joke about finishing (6,2) ENDING UP {E}{N{DING}UP<=}

20 Paradise lost without a hope? Just the opposite! (7) DESPAIR PARaDISE*

22 State Modi's happy to govern (6) ODISHA [T]

24 Critical crop planted in area regularly (5) ACUTE {Ar{CUT}Ea}

27 Cross monkey climbing above top (4) APEX {X}<=>{APE}

Reference List

Ordinary = O, Small = S. Royal = R, British = B, Posh = U, Time = T, Sailor = AB, Sweetheart = JO, Studdent = L, Degree = D, Writing = R, Commercial = AD, Husband = H, Player = E

Special, Sunday 29 Dec 2024, IXL-2024 Onstage Final 1, Avtaar

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 3338, Sunday 29 Dec 2024

ACROSS

1   Take two buses back – one interminable, that’s about right – to outskirts (6) SUBURB {BUS<=}{B{R}Us<=}

4   Envisages crumbly pie crust (8) PICTURES*

9   Object: Everyman has salad (6) ENDIVE {END}{I'VE}

10 Emphasizes anxieties (8) STRESSES [DD]

12 Uncooperative? Quite the opposite! (8) CONTRARY [DD] Mary, Mary quite contrary...

13 Seaman perhaps on leave, a rest (6) GOALIE {GO}{A}{LIE}  

15 Heartless hello – daggers brandished – daggers drawn (11) LOGGERHEADS {HElLO+DAGGERS}*

18 Misbehaviour characteristic of the 2000s, you say? (11) NAUGHTINESS (~noughtiness)

21 A professor is Greek, that’s lovely (6) ADONIS {A}{DON}{IS}

22 Poirot’s one that’s been had, by Jupiter (8) HERCULES {HERCULE'S}

24 Posh comedian? I won’t react (5,3) NOBLE GAS {NOBLE}{GAS}

25 Act as inspiration for puzzle (6) BEMUSE {BE}{MUSE}

26 Perpetual child’s play (5,3) PETER PAN [DD]

27 Please raise one’s Stein in toasting, primarily! (6) PROSIT Acrostic &lit

DOWN

1   Banksy’s materials: stone – and pencils? Not principally (8) STENCILS {ST}{pENCILS} 

2   Bit of hubbub – a din – a geezer offering banter (8) BADINAGE [T]

3   Take apart so as to understand Lenurb? (7-8) REVERSE-ENGINEER [CD]

5   Greek character included in audiotape (4) IOTA [T]

6   It’s safe to chase articles needing rewriting (3,5,2,5) THE COAST IS CLEAR*

7   Whispering sound Bertrand heard (6) RUSTLE (~russel)

8   Framed élite soldiers? That man had (6) SASHED {SAS}{HE'D}

11 Classical musician reworked her opus (7) ORPHEUS*

14 Not unknown for Hazel to follow hiphop artist (7) RAPHAEL {HAzEL}<=>{RAP}

16 You can’t buy those who’ve betrayed their principles (4-4) SELL-OUTS [DD]

17 In resort, easiest to be bored by island (in my opinion) (2,1,3,2) AS I SEE IT {EASIEST}* over {I}

19 Tom likes this brief sleep, a becoming one (6) CATNIP {CATN(-a+1)IP} 

20 The solver: hazard, certainly (3,3) YOU BET {YOU}{BET}

23 Priest raised sick in France? Ace (4) LAMA {MAL<=}{A}

Reference List

Right = R, Stone = ST, Unknown = Z, Island = I, Sick in France = MAL, Ace = A

No 13964, Thursday 07 Sep 2023, Incognito

Solution to 22D 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

7   Warning second in command and soldiers (4) OMEN {cOm...d}{MEN}

8   Dug up electrical appliance not having safety wire (9) UNEARTHED [DD]

10 Questioning monarch behind a school (6) ASKING {KING}<=>{A}{S}

11 & 12 Medals for girl in trouble? (6,2,8) DAMSEL IN DISTRESS {MEDALS}* [RA]

12 See 11

14 No item transported is not delayed (2,4) ON TIME*

16 Worry Saigon may be destroyed by end of barrage (7) AGONISE {SAIGON*}{b...gE}

18 Well off engineer late? Why? (7) WEALTHY*

21 Prepared chop suey without using egg at first in movie (6) PSYCHO {CHOP+SueY}*

23 Shed old university coat finally in front of hospital next to river (8) OUTHOUSE {O}{U}{coaT}{H}{OUSE}

25 Harvests crops due to be cut (8) PRODUCES*

27 South African student loves new watering hole in the West (6) SALOON {SA}{L}{OO}{N}

29 Copper made from pecan oil around beginning of May (9) POLICEMAN {PECAN+OIL}* over {May}

30 Million in India animatedly talk shop non-stop (4) LAKH {tALK+sHop}* Just 1 or 10?

DOWN

1   Great! Croon about ground food... (8) SMASHING {S{MASH}ING}

2   Against animals not treated immediately, for starters (4) ANTI Acrostic

3   Psychoanalyst is near the French forest (6) JUNGLE {JUNG}{LE}

4   God's eye moved for survey of earth (7) GEODESY*

5   Wild promise around end of December to get spring flower (8) PRIMROSE {P{d...eR}IMROSE*}

6   That lady has love for footwear (4) SHOE {SH{O}E}

9   Belief in god residing in Erode is magical (5) DEISM [T]

13 A hundred and ninety nine pick me up (5) TONIC {TON}{IC}

15 Communications company found in hotel compound (5) TELCO [T]

17 Water control device containing 50% copper compound kept in store (8) STOPCOCK {STO{COPper}*CK}

19 Possesses some hosiery items and cushions (8) HASSOCKS {HAS}{SOCKS}

20 C'mon! Use mixture and eat (7) CONSUME*

22 First rapper's band (5) S?R?P ()

24 Sit back taking a new European drink (6) TISANE {SIT<=}{A}{N}{E}

26 Herb's daughter in law learnt in the beginning (4) DILL {DIL}{Le...t}

28 Little Yankee's flower (4) LILY{LIL}{Y}

Reference List

School = S, Old = O, University = U, Hospital = H, Student = L, New = N, The in French = LE, Hundred = TON, Ninety nine = IC, New = N, European = E, Yankee = Y

No 13963, Wednesday 06 Sep 2023, Incognito

Rangoli by Gowri

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 30A 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   Female spreads oil to make pastry dough (4) FILO {F}{OIL*}

9   Wandering, came across Catholic and Islamic holy c ity (5) MECCA {ME{C}CA*}

10 Flower carried back in Antonov aircraft (4) AVON [T]

11 Legendary lady from small European sea and America (6) MEDUSA {MED}{USA}

12 Speed up putting tepid mixture in river (8) EXPEDITE {EX{TEPID*}E}

13 Aid car damaged in precipitation loaded with hydrogen ions (4,4) ACID RAIN {AID+CAR}*{IN}

15 Sailor on street in another country (6) ABROAD {AB}{ROAD}

17 Increase soldiers after August and commencement of tension (7) AUGMENT {MEN}<=>{AUG} and {Te...n}

19 Minor actress shakes rattles (7) STARLET*

22 Dead bodies resulting from fight on board ship (6) STIFFS {S{TIFF}S}

24 Start IIT eat-in cooking (8) INITIATE*

26 Sorry, coir tent is dismantled (8) CONTRITE*

28 Note: Departed and cleaned up (6) TIDIED {TI}{DIED}

30 Secret agent's pier (4) ?O?E (Addendum - MOLE [DD] - See comments)

31 Shoot young descendant of influential family (5) SCION [DD]

32 Order followed by Yankee? Follow order! (4) OBEY {OBE}{Y}

DOWN

1   Quarry owned by me (4) MINE [DD]

2   Mound cur destroyed displays abrasive mineral (8) CORUNDUM*

3   Badly limp around an American animal (6) IMPALA {IMP{A}L*}{A}

4   Hides displays (7) SCREENS [DD]

5   Facility producing LNG, perhaps, can make gals pant (3,5) GAS PLANT*

6   Large snake? It may help you reach higher places! (6) LADDER {L}{ADDER}

7   Sprinter's putting egg into bacon, lettuce and tomato initially (4) BOLT {Ba..n}{O}{Le...e}{To...o}

14 What the amorous lawyer did at his workplace? (5) COURT [C&DD]

16 Spy one decent guy (5) AGENT {A}{GENT}

18 Badly designed tin seats are most unpleasant (8) NASTIEST*

20 Smallest unit of precipitation, perhaps, managed to cover one doctor having small operation (8) RAINDROP {RA{1}N}{DR}{OP}

21 Left European peninsular area for country in Africa (7) LIBERIA {L}{IBERIA}

23 Pop has stout with that lady (6) FATHER {FAT}{HER}

25 Where the camper gets desire? (6) INTENT {IN TENT} [C&DD]

27 Boy wearing spectacles has European musical instrument (4) OBOE {O{B}O}{E}

29 Sees from end of bridge? Correct! (4) EYES {b...gE}{YES}

Reference List

Female = F, Catholic = C, Sailor = AB, Ship = SS, Note = TI, Yankee = Y, American = A, Large = L, Left = L, Boy = B

No 13962, Tuesday 05 Sep 2023, Arden

Solution to 24D 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   Give up - finally congress sneaks in to rule (6) RESIGN {RE{c...sS}IGN}

4   Came in as substitute, one forgets (8) AMNESIAC*

10 Disposed metal - point taken, continue nevertheless (7,2) SOLDIER ON {SOLD}{I{E}RON}

11 Finally gets paid, perhaps that's agreeable (5) SAPID {getS}{PAID*}

12 Decentralize banks with advance pay in (7) DEPOSIT {De...lE}{POSIT}

13 A crooked line, or is it on the plane's wings? (7) AILERON {A}{LINE+OR}*

14 In breaking news "Yankee's an Idiot" (5) NINNY {N{IN}N}{Y}

15 African friend clutching a murder victim (8) MATABELE {MAT{ABEL}E}

18 Copyright, it's provided with a drink (8) APERITIF {APE}{R}{IT}{IF}

20 Dissecting both sides in small slice (5) WEDGE {WE{Di...nG}E}

23 Requiring free Oxygen? Don't shift notice board (7) AEROBIC {notICE+BOARd}* [CA]

25 Displeasure over law and the country (7) IRELAND {IRE}{L}{AND}

26 Fire burning, let it burn inside here (5) INGLE [T] Semi&lit

27 A single mistake - checking account gives you some relief (9) ANALGESIC {A+SINGLE}* in {AC}

28 Landlord's fickle mind - enters right at the back (8) HINDMOST {H{MIND*}OST}

29 Conceive inside a tenement (6) IDEATE [T]

DOWN

1   Hire outside team, he stays (8) RESIDENT {RE{SIDE}NT}

2   Hybrid plant as found in a shallow basin by the sea (7) SALTPAN*

3   Wicked are saying he never agrees (9) GAINSAYER*

5   Inform day-to-day settlement for a normal working week (6,2,6) MONDAY TO FRIDAY* 

6   Stand and hire from top to bottom (5) EASEL (-l)EASE(+l)L

7   Majestic, not a risk (7) IMPERIL IMPERIaL

8   Falling in rhythm? (6) CADENT [DD]

9   Americans hit it off with mathematicians (14) ARITHMETICIANS*

16 Out? Urge to come in with misshapen and bent supports (9) BOWLEGGED {BOWL{EGG}ED}

17 Be in charge - each process is a problem (8) HEADACHE {HEAD}{EACH*}

19 Ideal pressure on gas over the area (7) PARAGON {P}{AR{A}GON}

21 Gone before the main water body (4,3) DEAD SEA {DEAD}{SEA}

22 European shaking hands with Indian (6) DANISH {HANDS+I}*

24 May be I caught right fish (5) B?E?M ()

Reference List

Point = E, New = N, Yankee = Y, Right = R, Law = L, Pressure = P, Area = A, Indian = I

No 13441, Thursday 30 Dec 2021, Vidwan

Solution to 14A 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.

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

1   Mobile, mostly busy, creates state of uncertainity (5) LIMBO MOBILe*

4   Go around in t-shirt like a working girl (7) TROLLOP {T{ROLL}OP}

10 Alter seat plan (9) REARRANGE {REAR}{RANGE}

11 Colour adopted by far-right in general (5) TINGE [T]

12 If nothing else, her heart opens up finally (2,5) AT LEAST {hEr} in {AT LAST}

13 Each part in soap or distinctive event primarily (7) EPISODE Acrostic &lit

14 Gay groom runs away (4) ?I?K (Addendum - PINK PrINK - See comments)

15 Tense, almost sad lines ushering God’s message (8) TELEGRAM {T}{ELEGy}{RAM}

17 Returns from hustling coke bags (4,4) GOES BACK*

19 Over a time, men basically ditch (4) MOAT {O}{A}{T}<=>{M}

22 This city gal could be aboriginal (7) NAIROBI (NAIROBI+GAL=ABORIGINAL}

23 Intent of almost any Chinese leader — erode our border with minimum of strife (7) ANXIOUS {ANy}{XI}{OUr}{St...e} Definition okay?

24 Forested land finally cleared and cultivated (5) WOOED WOOdED

25 0 under 18 for someone like Leonardo Da Vinci? (4,5) LOVE CHILD {LOVE}{CHILD}

26 They gnaw around or burrow tunnels outside (7) RODENTS {OR<=}{DEN}{Tu...lS}

27 Catches small bugs (5) SNAGS {S}{NAGS}

DOWN

2   Probably a no-good ill-looking Delhi crook (2,3,10) IN ALL LIKELIHOOD {A+ILL+LOOKINg+DELHI}* 

3   Runs into Obama house (7) BARRACK {BAR{R}ACK}

4   Youngster almost cleared out the wine and wobbled (8) TEETERED {TEEn}{ThE}{RED}

5   Survive without liver to some extent (7) OUTLIVE [T]

6   In life, anger soon corrupts logical thought process (4,2,9) LINE OF REASONING* 

7   Better looking men oddly trip out too soon (7) PRETERM {PRETtiER}{M}

8   King had one wish (5) DREAM [CD/GK]

9   One fool breaks-in, usually at the banks (5) UNITY {NIT} in {Us...lY}

16 Hill-tops outside Paris halted him (8) ACHILLES {AC{HILL}ES}

17 Upright spies bug to check good old mafia fight (4,3) GANG WAR {RAW}{NAG}<= over {G}

18 Served up one drab spread (7) BROADEN*

19 Erotic guy for Spooner’s a Mayan perhaps (7) MEXICAN (sexy man to mexi can)

20 Innocent naked deviant lying around (5) NAIVE dEVIANt<=

21 Out of the way, starts to address spectators in deadly earnest (5) ASIDE Acrostic

Reference List

Tense = T, Over = O, Time = T, Men = M, Small = S, Good = G,  Runs = R

No 13440, Wednesday 29 Dec 2021, Incognito

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.

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

8   Fabulous ship from Raibandar, Goa (4) ARGO [T]

9   Love to go round university for flower part (5) OVULE {OV{U}LE*}

10 Every Yankee is a Confederate (4) ALLY {ALL}{Y}

11 Wrongly aspire for Iran of yore (6) PERSIA*

12 Are fairs organised to get costs of tickets to travel by air? (8) AIRFARES*

13 What dubious salesmen deal in? Aloe skin preparation! (5,3) SNAKE OIL*

15 Fears doctors hiding extraordinarily advanced disease, for starters (6) DREADS {DR{Ex...y}{Ad...d}{Di...e}S}

17 Accountant with dishevelled pants gets forty winks (7) CATNAPS {CA}{PANTS*}

19 Tan sari wrapped around queen (7) TSARINA*

22 Perhaps pork’s given on hire in village (6) HAMLET {HAM}{LET}

24 Hated exam indeed (8) DETESTED {DE{TEST}ED}

26 Han hags dance before setter in Chinese city (8) SHANGHAI {HAN+HAGS}*{I}

28 Keep it under your hat... It’s headgear (6) T?U?E? (Addendum - TOUPEE [C&DD] - See comments)

30 Edible stuff that’s part of fried doughnut? (4) EDDO [T]

31 Domain’s actual aim finally (5) REALM {REAL}{aiM}

32 Brainwave I dreamt excitedly about in the beginning (4) IDEA {I}{Dr...t}{Ex...y}{Ab..t}

DOWN

1   “No charge! Release” (4) FREE [DD]

2   Abandoned for drink with woman at last (8) FORSAKEN {FOR}{SAKE}{w...aN}

3   Despot at office conceals vegetable (6) POTATO [T] 

4   Bad clue written about boy following Egyptian god can be set right (7) CURABLE {CU{RA}{B}LE*}

5   That man is followed by newly wedded women in Scottish archipelago (8) HEBRIDES {HE}{BRIDES}

6   Destruction from barrage over time (6) DAMAGE {DAM}{AGE}

7   Happiness obtained from shaking leg with some enthusiasm (4) GLEE {LEG*}{En...m}

14 Antelope initially active between New York and Los Angeles (5) NYALA {NY{Ac...e}{LA}

16 North European catches cold ball (5) DANCE {DAN{C}E}

18 Vessels for throwers? (8) PITCHERS [DD]

20 In the beginning, Russian president follows a saint and controversial monk (8) RASPUTIN {Ru...n}{A}{S}{PUTIN}

21 Endlessly hold in high regard a lord and naval officer (7) ADMIRAL {ADMIRe}{A}{L}

23 City student and Ontario crime boss (6) LONDON {L}{ON}{DON}

25 Folded Tai mat or Japanese mat? (6) TATAMI*

27 Conceal skin (4) HIDE [DD]

29 European lair in legendary garden (4) EDEN {E}{DEN}

Reference List

University = U, Yankee = Y, Boy = B, Cold = C, Saint = S, Lord = L, Student = L, European = E