Saturday 9 September 2017

No 12108, Saturday 09 Sep 2017, xChequer

Easier one from xChequer today

ACROSS

7   Part ultimately breaking off, trailing precious fuel (6) PETROL {PET}{ROLe}
8   Swim back, worn by exercise, have to wrap up (4,4)  PIPE DOWN {PI{PE} D<=}{OWN}
9   Flip if one heartlessly distorts the picture (4,2,2) LIFE OF PI {FLIP+IF+OnE}*

10 Save rejected scrap for animal (6) RABBIT {RAB<=}{BIT}
11 Having said that, silence (5) STILL (DD)
12 Colour extremely soft and pale (6) PASTEL {SofT+PALE}* &lit
14 Representing yon Dark Ages? Yes, old time in the distant past (7,5,3) DONKEY'S YEARS AGO  {YON+DARK+AGES+YES*}{O}
17 Transform into a new state (6) NATION {INTO+A*}{N}
18 Spy for king, favourite game (5) SPOOF {SPOO(-k+F)}
22 Christmas drink over, departed riding horse (6) EGGNOG {E{GG}NOG<=}
23 'Do or Die' — compressed version for Trump (8) OVERRIDE {O{VER}RIDE*}
24 More audacious with unrestrained support (8) BRASSIER {BRASSIERe}
25 Drill for Crown Agent checking leather (6) TREPAN {T{REP}AN}

DOWN

1   Image of record-breaking delivery style (9) DEPICTION {D{EP}ICTION}
2   Difficult time when men bargain (6) ORDEAL {OR}{DEAL}
3   Kid's height, say (5) BLUFF (DD)
4   El Capitan possibly having base at tree below observation point (8) OPERETTA {OP}{TREE+AT*}

5   Several cases where not even the total appears in balance sheet (8) ODDBALLS {ODD}{B{ALL}S}
6   Lover dispatched for liberal wife (5) SWAIN {S(-l+W}AIN}
8   Our policy arm setting rule gets red perhaps (7,6) PRIMARY COLOUR {OUR+POLICY+ARM}*{R}
13 Since rum left over, each getting plenty (1,4,4) A GOOD DEAL {A GO}{OD D}{EA}{L}
15 Sends ink pads for tender consideration (8) KINDNESS {SENDS+INK}*
16 Desire to adopt a gait styled 'in' once more (3,5) YET AGAIN {YE{A+GAIT*}N}
19 Accountant at sea — one whose name is Incognito? (6) PURSER Anno not clear (DD) See comments
20 Nuisance of jetlag growing (5) AGGRO (T)
21 Lifts the sofa, occasionally struggling (5) HEFTS {THE+SoFa}*

Reference list  

Exercise=PE, Old=O, King=K, Favourite=F, Horse=GG, Version=Ver, Agent=Rep
Record=EP, Men=OR, Observation point=OP, Balance Sheet=BS, Liberal=L, Wife=W, Rule=R, Left=L, Each=Ea

Color/Font Scheme

DefinitionSolutionComponent lettersEmbedded links, Anagram IndicatorC/C indicatorReversal IndicatorHidden word IndicatorLetter Pick indicatorDeletion IndicatorHomophone IndicatorMovement IndicatorPositional IndicatorSubstitution, IndicatorLink/Connector, Extraneous
GRID 

28 comments:

  1. 14 When it is apostrophised word - DONKEY'S, should enu show as 7 or 6'1? What is the convention?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Although people have started using 6'1, by convention 7 is used..perhaps experts can throw light

      Delete
    2. The convention is 7. 6'1 is used by some in recent times. But that is not needed, IMnot-so-humbleO. If we allow this, we may have to do other similar things.

      Delete
    3. CV is right. One need go so low to be too cryptic by dropping the apos. Annotations are for guidance and there is no need to be cryptic which should be strictly in the cluing domain. Hyphens and apostrophes and portmanteau words or double-barreled words should be appropriately indicated within the bracket. IMnot-so-humbleO. This is my firm opinion. Or else, go to the American style where no annotations are indicated in brackets- could be single, double or even triple words . I do the ones in the Indian Express of Sunday.

      I expected the Hindu to reincarnate yesterday's crossie today as an apology; but no. They don't care a hoot or a shout !

      Delete
  2. Yes quite an easy one.And also with the online cw, a satisfactory solve

    ReplyDelete
  3. 19D: Purser is an accountant at sea (in the ship), and "Purser's name" is a nautical term for a false name (i.e. incognito) - had to look it up :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow. Thanks for the input. Didn't know that phrase.

      Delete
    2. It refers to the false name given to the purser by a passenger travelling incognito.

      Delete
  4. Our Incognito may be an accountant but he has never been at sea physically.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And unlike xChequer he doesn't make us feel 'all at sea'

      Delete
    2. At least- definitely not as Incognito!

      Delete
    3. xC is an accountant too! Does being deep below sea level count as being at sea?

      Delete
  5. xC's English is purebred British English.

    ReplyDelete
  6. 19D xChequer remembers his 'friend'

    ReplyDelete
  7. Fared much better than yesterday- not withstanding Nadal reaching Finals. At least, I was not all at sea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How is Nadal's tennis match linked to your performance?

      Delete
    2. Not directly. Meant the distraction part- which was same yesterday and today. But MY performance was better today.

      Delete
    3. Oh!Multitasking!Great.
      I am quite bad at multitasking. It is either crossies or TV.

      Delete
  8. 1 doubt - check=restrain, so doesnt 25A indicate REP restraining TAN and not the other way?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CHECKING = hampering/obstructing.
      So, REP is interfering/interrupting/intervening in TAN

      Delete
  9. 2 down- Difficult time when men bargain (6) OR for men ?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes. This has come up before and I had asked the same doubt. Unfortunately, I don't remember the exact explanation.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I found the meaning- "Military or other ranks"- in Chambers.
    Thank you Vasant for the prompt reply.

    ReplyDelete

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