No 14310, Monday 21 Oct 2024, Afterdark

Solution to 5D 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

9   Understand proper, that is to gain some scholarship (7) REALISE {REAL}{I{Sc...p}E}

10 Encounter with criminal's a stretch (7) CONTEST {CON}{TEST}

11 Entertainment company at NCR takes over English Trust ultimately (7) CONCERT {CO}{NC{E}R}{t..sT}

12 To live, heart should beat inside, so respire (7) BREATHE {B{HEART*}E}

13 Almost certain to give, that is give up (9) SURRENDER {SURe}{RENDER}

15 Sleets at present aboard ship (5) SNOWS {S{NOW}S}

16 Skeptics can't be quiet. Complicated, most fed up (7) SICKEST SKEpTICS*

19 Assembled with society, plan to meet journalist (7) STACKED {S}{TACK}{ED}

20 Wife finally leaves for a skillful tailor (5) ADAPT AD(-e+a)APT

21 Casualties as car in front at distance crashes (9) ACCIDENTS {Car+DISTANCE}*

25 Incentives to get a vehicle? Nonsense scheme primarily (7) CARROTS {CAR}{ROT}{Sc...e}

26 Smoking some pot's acceptable very strongly in Germany (7) PUFFING {Pot}{U}{FF}{IN}{G}

28 Test is in old compound (7) EXAMINE {EX}{AMINE}

29 Enters hurriedly and takes a downpayment (7) EARNEST {ENTERS}* over {A}

DOWN

1   Rates of crispies is reduced in confusion (6) PRICES CRisPIES*

2   Means chap's nerd almost (6) MANNER {MAN}{NERd}

3   Number 4 is seen in fine clothing (4) FIVE {Fi{IV}nE}

4   Analysed a cricket match with editor (6) TESTED {TEST}{ED}

5   Cold people having beer? Good, chill first and serve (8) ?C?B?R?S (Addendum - ICEBERGS {BEER+G+C+I+S}* - See comments)

6   Down? Rise and believe (10) UNDERSTAND {UNDER}{STAND}

7   Publication selected and hired old team leader (bachelor) (8) TEXTBOOK {T{EX}{Team}{B}OOK}

8   Worried about desserts (8) STRESSED*

14 Choose metal, cycling to club for another type of music (10) ELECTRONIC {ELECT}{(-i)RON(+i)I}{C}

16 Looked for vault to store grain? No, the other way round (8) SEARCHED {SE{ARCH}ED}

17 Say, convenor's from Switzerland, a pilot (8) CHAIRMAN {CH}{AIRMAN}

18 Shift sent far for distribution by road (8) TRANSFER {SENT+FAR}*{R}

22 Reproduced a dish topped with fish (6) COPIED {CO{PIE}D}

23 Captured leaders of Norway and Italy and showed the way (6) NAILED {No...y}{And}{It..y}{LED}

24 Observes contests where fellow is knocked out by Stokes (6) SIGHTS (-f+s)SIGHTS

27 Backing Tamil leader at stronghold (4) FORT {FOR}{Ta..l}

Reference List

English = E, Ship = SS, Quiet = P, Society = S, Journalist = ED, Acceptable = U, Strong = F, Germany = G, Editor = ED, Bachelor = B, Club = C, Switzerland = CH, Road = R, Fellow = F

The Sunday Crossword No 3328, Sunday 20 Oct 2024

ACROSS

1   Two descriptions of freshly-baked cake that’s finished off? (4,3,6) DONE AND DUSTED {[DD]

8   Suddenly realise: t-toupée! (4) TWIG {T}{WIG}

9   Flights, not all ending in landings? (10) STAIRCASES [CD]

10 Particle; Rutherford originated this one’s name, orginally! (6) PROTON Acrostic &lit

11 Rashly tasering Tangiers’ ingrates, picking any that’s most furious? (8) ANGRIEST*

12 As a report misrepresented Pavarotti? (5,4) OPERA STAR*

14 Deceiver in bar rebuffed (4) LIAR<=

15 On reflection, fan – Everyman admitted – is … not a sophisticated type (4) NAIF {F{I}AN}<=

16 Contemptuous quality, characteristic of nit? (9) LOUSINESS [C&DD]

20 Here you may see advocate – or advocaat (2,3,3)  AT THE BAR [CD]

21 Pacino’s stunning in Somewhere in France (6) ALSACE {AL'S}{ACE}

23 Glamorous types’ bit of glam rubbish at #1? (10) GLITTERATI {Glam}{LITTER}{AT}{1}

24 That woman had place to keep tools (4) SHED SHE'D

25 Modern inequality, focus of flip-flop? (7,6) DIGITAL DIVIDE [DD]

DOWN

1   Morning’s fresh water and powder sprinkled around duke (7) DEWDROP {DEW{D}ROP*}

2   Report of Bishop’s neighbour’s darkest hours (5) NIGHT (~knight)

3   Agrees, in a hearing, say, to be heard (7) ASSENTS (~ a sense)

4   Moving round Asia – and El Dorado! – showing no animation (4,2,1,8) DEAD AS A DOORNAIL*

5   Removes ropes from a French doctor, son (6) UNRIGS {UN}{RIG}{S} 

6   Customs planting Detective Inspector in time-share (9) TRADITION {T}{RA{DI}TION}

7   Furniture item as’ll help actor (7) DRESSER [DD]

13 The cigars distributed in Parliament (9) REICHSTAG*

15 Earned around half a C; caused irritation (7) NETTLED {NETT{L}ED} {L=50=Half C(100)}

17 Drunkenly wails welcoming greeting – language! (7) SWAHILI {SWA{HI}LI*}

18 Hide, in part of Mediterranean island closest to Cairo (7) SECRETE {S(outh)E(astern) CRETE}

19 Demur, having a thing (6) OBJECT [DD]

22 Dish – often fish, portion of Hippoglossus hippoglossus (5) SUSHI [T]

Reference List

Duke = D, A in French = UN, Son = S