No 13434, Wednesday 22 Dec 2021, Dr. X

Solution to 15D 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   A bicycle’s rickety — strictly avoiding it (8) CELIBACY*

5   Meg’s confused about force and unit of mass (6) GRAMME {G{RAM}ME*}

10 Worker breaking 1st cervical vertebra needs surgery primarily in US city (7) ATLANTA {ATL{ANT}As}

11 Protests in articles (7) OBJECTS [DD]

12 Fascist utilising revolution to suppress African ethnic group (5) TUTSI [T<=]

13 Dash back to consume ecstasy — time to cavort endlessly in confused state (9) MAELSTROM {SL{E}AM<=}{T}{ROMp}

14 Lose interest when fool on Scotch accepts hard bet stupidly (2,3,3,4) GO OFF THE BOIL {GOOF}{F{H+BET}*OIL}

18 Father and mother dancing earnestly (4,3,5) FROM THE HEART {FATHER+MOTHER}*

21 One restraining intoxicated peeress in Rolls-Royce (9) REPRESSER {R{PEERESS*}R}

23 Opposed cut-back by a Republican (5) POLAR {LOP<=}{A}{R}

24 Rush back to watch very famous danseur (7) NUREYEV {RUN<=}{EYE}{V}

25 One seizing power in union, wicked, crushes resistance (7) USURPER {U}{SU{R}PER}

26 One dissolved very long and extremely unpleasant marriage finally (6) SOLUTE {SO}{L}{Un...nT}{m...gE}

27 Unfortunately, English dude got defeated by a narrow margin (5,3) EDGED OUT {E+DUDE+GOT}*

DOWN

1   Pure cocaine and speed (6) CHASTE {C}{HASTE}

2   Precociously seductive girl is drunk, in endless trouble (6) LOLITA {LO{LIT}Ad}

By Bhargav

3   Debar diamond company — seize Choksi finally to bring back big rat (9) BANDICOOT {BAN}{D}{c...sI}{CO}{TO<=}

4   Campaign of flattery by Conservative hurt bad, wistful after losing power (5,9) CHARM OFFENSIVE {C}{HARM}{OFF}{pENSIVE}

6   Bringing back flask with a bit of sherbet for Indian kings (5) RAJAS {JAR<=}{A}{Sh...t}

7   Sweet biscuit in a vehicle, eaten by mooch (8) MACAROON {M{A}{CAR}OON}

8   Favour spending rupees to acquire new company (8) ENSEMBLE {rE{N}SEMBLE}

9   What cricket stadium staff do when it rains to address issue adequately (5,3,6) COVER THE GROUND [C&DD]

15 Wanting victory, gamble to have batter bowl one over (9) E?R?P?U?E (Addendum - ENRAPTURE {vEN{RAP}TURE} - See comments)

16 Insults fellow in rants of rage (8) AFFRONTS {F} in {RANTS+OF}*

17 Type of punishment given by police officer catching Romeo getting vocal (8) CORPORAL {CO{R}P}{ORAL}

19 Pop tottering after alcoholic drink in Middle Eastern city (6) ALEPPO {POP}*<=>{ALE}

20 Artist involved in painting Turkish peak (6) ARARAT {AR{A}{RA}T} Anno for A seems to be missing (Addendum {AR{ARA}T} - See comments)

22 Timorous wife avoids tackling cheat in Mediterranean country (5) EGYPT {wE{GYP}T}

Reference List

Ecstasy = E, Time = T, Hard = H, Republican = R, Very = V, Union = U, Resistance = R, Long = L, English = E, Cocaine = C, Diamond = D, Conservative = C, Power = P, Rupee = R, New = N, Fellow = F, Romeo = R, Victory = V, Artist = ARA, Wife = W 

No 13433, Tuesday 21 Dec 2021, Dr. X

Solution to 8D 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   Immoral scoundrel facing divorce, finally overwhelmed by depression (8) DECADENT {DE{CAD}{d...cE}NT}

5   Tot is possibly having bit of inner ear infection (6) OTITIS {TOT+IS}* over {In..r}

10 Latest stuff in alcoholic drinks (5) FINAL [T]

11 Fairly good programme about role models (9) TOLERABLE {T{ROLE*}ABLE}

12 It’s analysed in a trial to tackle Covid essentially (9) ANTIVIRAL {IN+A+TRIAL+coVid}* &lit

13 Clay sculpture stolen by man brought back (5) EARTH {E{ART}H<=} 

14 Rotten president primarily undone by scandal on reflection (6) PUTRID {P}{Un...e}{DIRT<=}

15 Fellow crushing citizenry ultimately by force around Asian country (7) MYANMAR {M{c...rY}AN}{MAR<=}

18 Prince yearns for flings (7) PITCHES {P}{ITCHES}

20 Smooth iron bar (6) FELINE {FE}{LINE}

22 Rearrange equipment around base with Jack (5) REJIG {R{E}{J}IG}

24 Cavorted in a suite, cuddling maiden finally to get intimate (9) INSINUATE {IN+A+SUITE}* over {m...eN}

25 Deputy decided to tackle leader of bandits pulling out rifle and gun (9) SURROGATE {SUR{ROb}{GAT}E}

26 England’s opener in weird mix-up, losing wicket for a duck (5) EIDER {En...d}{wIERD*}

27 Most diffident woman edging closer to hubby on street (6) SHYEST {SH{h..bY}E}{ST}

28 Becomes more inclined to compose, enthralled by small pegs (8) STEEPENS {S}{TEE{PEN}S}

DOWN

1   Expert checking each puzzle (6) DEFEAT {DEF{EA}T}

2   Found criminal with cocaine in bar (9) CONSTRUCT {CON}{STRU{C}T}

3   What couriers do to perform up to expectations (7,3,5) DELIVER THE GOODS [DD]

4   Having a certain temper, associate turned angry (7) NATURED {A+TURNED}*

6   Ignored entirely nude drunk outside lousy retreat (6,1,5,3) TURNED A BLIND EYE {ENTIRELY+NUDE}* over {BAD<=}

7   Underground stem of beet, regularly found in ascending track (5) TUBER {TU{BeEt}R<=}

8   Escort, funky and hot in backless outfit, coming up (8) S?E?H?R? (Addendum -SHEPHERD {HEP}{H} in {DRESs<=} - See comments)

9   Dash around many obstacles primarily in ski race (6) SLALOM {SLA{L}{Ob...s}M}

16 Mistreat new employee in Asian capital (9) MANHANDLE {MA{N}{HAND}LE}

17 Informs when programme begins (8) APPRISES {APP}{RISES}

19 Vertebral pains, possibly onset of lumbago (6) SPINAL {PAINS*}{Lu...o}

20 Chance to have SA’s captain stumped most quickly (7) FASTEST {FA{Sa}TE}{ST}

21 Guide briskly picks up litter (6) DEBRIS [T]

23 American comedian starting to joke, leaving many cheerful (5) JERRY {Joke}{mERRY} I loved his movies

 

Reference List

President = P, Prince = P, Base = E, Jack = J, Gun = GAT, Wicket = W, Small = S, Each = EA, Cocaine = C, Associate = A, Hot = H, Many = L, New = N, Stumped = ST, Many = M