Sunday 13 March 2011

No 2625, Sunday 13 Mar 11

Great crossword which really exercised my mind. Got almost nothing in the first pass.
ACROSS
1   - Do exercises in school (5) - TRAIN [DD]
4   - Perform with copper and doctor, to a degree, in a sort of play (9) - {DO}{CU}{DR}{A}{MA}
9   - Use the least useful thing available, and fix the lot! (6,3,6) - SCRAPE THE BARREL [CD]
10 - Earliest PM (7) - PREMIER [DD]
11 - Appear in disguise close to ancient balustrade (7) - {PARAPE*}{T}
12 - Swag in sack (4) - LOOT [DD]
13/17 - Saying there's doubtful merit talking with skinhead (5,5,5,5) - GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE*
18 - Bird spotted in Leatherhead (4) - RHEA [T]
20 - Little Bernard has line in flattery (7) - {B{L}ARNEY
21 - Cat shown in newspaper next to pretty girl (7) - {RAG}{DOLL}
22 - Ignored an untidy bleeder in resort (6,1,5,3) - TURNED A BLIND EYE*
23 - Item on list, part of a shoe (9) - {HEEL}{PIECE}
24 - Person beyond saving, individual imprisoned by King George (5) - {G{ONE}R}
DOWN
1   - High flier up for trial? (4,5) - TEST PILOT [CD]
2   - Drop unresolved argument with side with a greater ego, possibly (5,2,8) - AGREE TO DISAGREE*


3   - Serviette, sort mostly used after game (6) - {NAP}{KINd}
4   - Put off, in crude terms (5) - DETER [T]
5   - Inexpensive, flag of inferior quality (9) - {CHEAP}{JACK}
6   - Drawings of Mardi Gras, not right somehow (8) - DIAGRAMSr*
7   - Very little indeed of what returning US astronauts may expect? (1,4,2,3,5) - A DROP IN THE OCEAN [DD] Not nowadays though as they land their Shuttles like a plane.
8   - Earmark a tax to be raised (5) - {A}{LLOT<-}
14 - Note amateur runs ahead of champion in track event (5,4) - {RE}{LAY} {R}{ACE}
15 - Trivia is what one may get in the pub (5,4) - SMALL BEER [DD]
16 - Shallow type involved in leak (4-4) - {S{KIN-D}EEP}
19 - Urge small number to have good warming drink (6) - {EGG}{NO}{G}
20 - Clubs in English city making a collection (5) - {BAT{C}H}
21 - Poet may show anger about ending in limerick (5) - {RIL{K}E}



16 comments:

  1. Enjoyable crossword. Had to refer to dictionaries to confirm a few meanings like docudrama and swag.

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  2. I am making no recommendation, but read:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8377914/Stephen-Fry-took-cocaine-to-enjoy-crosswords.html

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  3. Deepak, your first line says it all. Only 6 words got in first pass:

    RHEA
    LOOT
    GONER
    ALLOT
    DIAGRAMS
    DETER

    btw, DETER also appers in TOI as 23d as Put off Ted's rise with hesitation (5)

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  4. CV : Solving a puzzle like this gives one enough kick, why resort to extra dope.

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  5. Typical Everyman. 13/17d though was very unlike Everyman with no hint of what the "Saying" is, although it was clear that it was an anagram.

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  6. How is the looming amendment to the IT Act going to affect bloggers. Any thoughts and info on this. Maybe we should also represent to the Government

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  7. Maybe,Col.should have a rethink on anagrams-they are so well concealed here,particularly 13 & 17a.Though It was clear about "saying",I started thinking about sayings on skinheads.Real good and enjoyable exercise for the brain on a Sunday morning.

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  8. Suresh
    Yes, I had read about the amendment to IT Act.
    No idea how it affects bloggers like us.
    Any opinion appreciated.

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  9. My COD is 7D.

    And Oh! I djd not realise that 13/17 was an anagram

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  10. Let me try and get a copy of the amendment. As far as I know it was meant to combat cyber-terrorism, but in the process some provisions appear to have affect personal liberties if newspaper reports are anything to go by

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  11. Awesome one with great satisfaction when finally cracked. Thing is, many a clue could not be solved independently, but once a couple of long ones got fixed, it became a lot easier

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  12. Very tough crossword.

    Use the least useful thing available, and fix the lot! (6,3,6) - SCRAPE THE BARREL [CD]

    I thought {SCRAPE} {THE} {BARREL}
    fix= scrape
    the=the
    But how lot=barrel?
    Or is this just a CD?

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  13. Hi Ajeesh

    You are right. It is a d&cd. Barrel means lot, as in a barrel of luxury etc.

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  14. CV/Suresh -- Here it is :
    http://kafila.org/2011/03/05/get-ready-for-indias-blogger-control-act/

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