The Hindu Crossword No. 9418 Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Across

 1 Pull up or down as required to crossover (10) DRAWBRIDGE

 6 Swear mildly, needing to make repair (4) DARN

 9 Increased in stature — as became an adult (5,2) GROWN UP

10 Bill’s story (7) ACCOUNT

12 Accompanied lady on an evening out (8) ESCORTED

13 Below par (5) UNDER

15 Past days (5) OLDEN

17 Simple phrases used to try to encourage impoverished customers (4,5) EASY TERMS

19 Puts down a sporting group, traditionally (9) RELEGATES

21 Right name given to this Japanese dish (5) RAMEN

23 He takes the French road alternatively (5) ERROL?

24 Opening for film-maker? (8) APERTURE

27 Gathered in great quantity at the same mad assembly (7) AMASSED

28 Game between a couple of golfers (7) TWOSOME

29 Old Indian weight of about 2 lb (4) SHER

30 How much one swapped for? (5,5) TRADE PRICE

Down

 1 Taunt at the lodgings given (4) DIGS

 2 Stimulated as with a revolutionary design (7) AROUSED

 3 Instrument used to keep out a little woman (5) BANJO

 4 Short-tempered statement of doctor’s charge (9) IMPATIENT

 5 In the field or on the track, he’s often in the van (5) GUARD

 7 Dan sure assembly will fall apart (7) ASUNDER

 8 There’s no time like now to be missing (3,7) NOT PRESENT

11 Against having a scorekeeper (7) COUNTER

14 Undergraduate’s first ancestors became mistresses (10) COURTESANS

16 Makes rather a fuss when legs are wobbly after knocking back gin! (7) NIGGLES

18 Had guilty thoughts (9) SUSPECTED

20 A dull fellow, but he might lead run (7) LURDANE

22 He first went on air broadcast with megacycles initially (7) MARCONI

24 A snake found dead, out by the river (5) ADDER

25 Scouts’ parade (5) TROOP

26 In summer everyone sails on the lake (4) MERE

The Hindu Crossword No. 9417 Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Across

 1 An admired gent, unusually popular (2,5,6) IN GREAT DEMAND

 8 Treason disturbs him (7) SENATOR

 9 Sportswear for the honest village blacksmith for instance (7) SWEATER

11 Ted set to become an abominable person (6) DETEST

13 Told many around to see concealed place (8) CLOSETED

15 Keep off former physical trainer apprentice (5) EXPEL

16 Defective treadle to be changed (7) ALTERED

18 Rouse MP into seeing C-in-C (7) SUPREMO

19 A body almost a -- dead one (5) CORPS

21 Man not right to take in girl as native to States (8) AMERICAN

23 A daughter deputising for counsel! (6) ADVISE

25 Tear away scorching with van (7) HOTHEAD

26 A measure that dealt exclusively with non-members of the establishment (4,3) TEST ACT

28 Advancing by degrees towards the answer (7,6) GETTING WARMER

Down

 2 Constant number new to street work (3-4) NON-STOP

 3 He changes sides for unworthy motives (3) RAT

 4 Distorted war to the young (4) AWRY

 5 To lead on is wrong causing great distress (10) DESOLATION

 6 Hunting parties provide food, we hear (5) MEETS

 7 Scored — gallery in agreement (7) NOTATED

 8 Not the end one’s prepared for (6,5) SUDDEN DEATH

10 Organisation in Islamic countries, tending to sick and wounded (3,8) RED CRESCENT

12 Quietly offer tuber orchids at reduced prices (5) SALEP

14 Manager we’d ordered to run the wildlife reserve (10) GAMEWARDEN

17 Cared about having to hurry (5) RACED

18 Its bearer commands unusual respect (7) SCEPTRE

20 Manipulated unit of painter to complete destruction (7) RUINATE

22 Unsuitable to use pen, it was realised (5) INEPT

24 Adds water, turns over, and there’s food (4) STEW

27 English drops out when you rise up to respectfully address (3) SIR

The Hindu Crossword No. 9416 Monday, December 29, 2008

Across

 1 Stage performer (7) ACTRESS

 5 Lad may cite order proclaimed by authority (7) EDICTAL

10 Make the wood more palatable for the wood worm? (6) SEASON

11 Subdued, so possibly move with care (8) OVERCAME

12 Beg to rid somehow type of card game (6) BRIDGE

13 Cornet substituted in company’s musical composition (8) CONCERTO

14 Get near about editor, to arouse affection (6) ENDEAR

15 Ruse used by engineer to somehow feel safe (6) SECURE

18 Moves oxen to rest in right quarter (6) STEERS

20 Tiny lake with silver in (6) MEAGRE

23 People lying quite unconsciously (8) SLEEPERS

25 Watch horse and rider after the fox (6) HUNTER

26 Jokey talk that gets unacceptable in time (8) BADINAGE

27 Get away to the sun in peace, for a change (6) ESCAPE

28 To rely on money of the French ends as arranged (7) DEPENDS

29 Withdraws in accordance with new decrees (7) RECEDES

Down

 2 Brightens up when one makes a profit (6) CHEERS

 3 Dense rice mixture in home (9) RESIDENCE

 4 Genuine screen I reconstructed (7) SINCERE

 6 Dan to use new direction for ladies who chaperon girls (7) DUENNAS

 7 Revolutionary accountant conceals place for treasure (5) CACHE

 8 Keeper to a monarch of riper years (8) ARMATURE

 9 American leader in agreement with governor (13) CONCERTMASTER

16 French article in support of very bad journal (9) CHRONICLE

17 Ceremonial without measure — just like stars (8) STELLATE

19 Sporting official who waits on board (7) STEWARD

21 A first chapter on the first woman to win (7) ACHIEVE

22 Place of worship for a former primate (6) TEMPLE

24 The old lie about their banishment (5) EXILE

The Hindu Crossword No. 2515 Sunday, December 28, 2008

Across

1 Soft? So drink (6) SHANDY

4 Stiffness shown by celebrity at church (6) STARCH

8 Star entertainer needs finest fruit (3,6) TOP BANANA

11 Loaded and left Yemeni port (5) LADEN

12 Girl in hostel in Darlington (5) LINDA

13 I'm plus one, playing rashly (2,7) ON IMPULSE

14 This was first brought into town to make parachutes (11) THISTLEDOWN

16 Favoured brief, one man quick on the uptake (11) INTELLIGENT

19 Be eager to land in US city (4,5) LONG BEACH

21 Take off from Stansted, initially, on holiday (5) STRIP

23 RC priest's inside getting a souvenir (5) RELIC

24 Kitchener may have had a hand in it (4,5) OVEN GLOVE

25 A herb tea brewed in east (6) TISANE

26 A guy, relaxed (2,4) AT EASE

Down

1 Make one's home in a small market town (6) SETTLE

2 Tree in a small enclosure (5) ASPEN

3 Playwright has tipple with expert right away (9) DRAMATIST

5 A bulb can be extremely useful in the end (5) TULIP

6 Reportedly studied flying machine close to nearest celestial body (3,6) RED PLANET

7 Watch trapper (6) HUNTER

9 Drink - all do it wildly after a short working day (11) AMONTILLADO

10 Hymn from leader of Wesleyans in habit I deem unfit (5,4,2) ABIDE WITH ME

14 Musical instruments in largest complex (9) TRIANGLES

15 Inadvertent mistake concerning landmark (9) OVERSIGHT

17 Girl has drop of Tokay wine (6) CLARET

18 A gun each (6) APIECE

20 Scholar to study English philosopher (5) BACON

22 Spanish drink port? Yes, in Germany(5) RIOJA

UNTIED AT LAST .....................

Across

 6 Get knotted again (5) RETIE

10 It means the engagement is temporarily off (9) CEASEFIRE

Down

 6 Knot sailors try to avoid (4) REEF

 7 Judge responsible for a row about the Right (5) TRIER

The Hindu Crossword No. 9415 Saturday, December 27, 2008

Tricky knots ........not sure if I untied them!!!

Across

 1 Record symbolised said registration (9) ENROLMENT

 6 Get knotted again (5) NOOSE? (RETIE?)

 9 River breaks embankment, a tragic situation (5) DRAMA

10 It means the engagement is temporarily off (9) CHALLENGE? (??)

11 Copies new head in the bishop’s office (10) EPISCOPATE

12 Black plague animal is a pest (4) BRAT

14 Drive around Northern Ireland to get a TV screen (7) MONITOR

15 Be aware of profit (7) REALISE

17 Parasite plant progresses unsteadily (7) DODDER

19 Distributed cards as required for Hungarian dance (7) CSARDAS

20 Swindle a man on board (4) ROOK

22 Somehow I can compel submission (10) COMPLIANCE

25 Until the dream is realised in it, the same old routine (9) TREADMILL

26 Love to accept fertilised seed from flowering plants (5) OVULE

27 Doctor to imitate a casual and graceful pose (5) DRAPE

28 They intensely hated to rest undisciplined steed (9) DETESTERS

Down

 1 Invest with the return of quarter that’s to be paid (5) ENDUE

 2 Straightened out crooked redealing (9) REALIGNED

 3 Insect that develops from a bookworm? (4,6) LEAF CUTTER

 4 He emerges from unpleasant reality (7) ESCAPER

 5 It’s a help in the kitchen when tots are playing (7) TOASTER

 6 Knot sailors try to avoid (4) NULL? (RATS?)

 7 Judge responsible for a row about the Right (5) OWNER? (TRIER?)

 8 Foreign princess who could be a choosy woman! (9) ELECTRESS

13 Dreadful result of having a claim redirected to us (10) CALAMITOUS

14 Fashion criticised and so toned down (9) MODERATED

16 Documented articles found in plate used for eating (9) INDENTURE

18 Told of parts of building having history (7) STORIED

19 Second to the captain in an airborne vehicle (2-5) CO-PILOT

21 Love to exercise soldiers — that’s Falstaff, for one (5) OPERA

23 Makes the scores equal (5) EVENS

24 Margin of advantage (4) EDGE

The Hindu Crossword No. 9414 Friday, December 26, 2008

Across

 1 With which one is called after another (8) NAMESAKE

 5 Friend in France almost pleasant about a kind of acid (6) AMINIC

10 Tirupati “hairdo”? (7) TONSURE

11 Oriental hint about old, good pastoral poem (7) ECLOGUE

12 Address giver (6) ORATOR

13 Not having suffered a single defeat, fancy bun is consumed (8) UNBEATEN

15 To boot a learner thus (4) ALSO

16 Pleasant place in the garden? (3,2,5) BED OF ROSES

18 What a handyman’s box has (3,2,5) SET OF TOOLS

20 Seethe with airline employee abandoning a small road (4) STEW

23 Excited Rani bends before colourful arcs (8) RAINBOWS

24 Footloose girl back with French friend for sausage (6) SALAMI

26 Glacial matter (7) ICEFALL

27 It can be troubling government officials (7) CABINET

28 Describing the first among one’s children (6) ELDEST

29 Keep quiet with second-stringer (8) PRESERVE

Down

 1 What you do for Bharat? (8,7) NATIONAL SERVICE

 2 Handy volumes (7) MANUALS

 3 U.S. port affected by a state of inactivity (6) STUPOR

 4 Continue to support financially (4) KEEP

 6 Obstinate person, not all there, told to inter a fruit (8) MULBERRY

 7 Denies data put up on seat allocation (7) NEGATES

 8 This sane Wallace managed to be faultless (5,2,1,7) CLEAN AS A WHISTLE

 9 Don’t intend to do any harm to reformed ol’ lineman (4,2,3) MEAN NO ILL

14 Proceed with Western measure to have harmonious relations (3,2,4) GET ON WELL

17 Describing a policeman away from routine duties (3-5) OFF-BEATS

19 Where superior batsmen won’t be (4,3) TAIL END

21 Inter-transfer involving artist coach (7) TRAINER

22 Sent up journalist almost daily with a metre in poetry (6) IAMBUS

25 Mark on second vehicle (4) SCAR

The Hindu Crossword No. 9413 Thursday, December 25, 2008

"Made Haste" with "Free Gifts" in the season of giving - Merry Christmas!

Across

 1 Write quickly: “Punctuation mark is removed” (4,3) DASH OFF

 5 Harangue one in business (6) TIRADE

 9 Meal substance Rex put in (5) GROUT

10 Elucidate a couple of measures about traffic controller (9) ENLIGHTEN

11 Heaps thrown back on asafoetida for naught (7) NOTHING

12 Essence traded off at a fair (7) RATAFIA

13 Delay property divider? (5) HEDGE

14 Knock down father holding learner’s new building schematic (5,4) FLOOR PLAN

16 Act speedily to solve this clue! (4,5) MAKE HASTE

19 Almost reach mother in pause (5) COMMA

21 Brooder in creche? (7) NURSERY

23 Drop a prohibitory order on wear (7) ABANDON

24 By virtue of position of the unknown in disorganised office at ten (2,7) EX OFFICIO

25 Improvise with a German paper fetched back (2-3) AD-LIB

26 Enthusiast to laze around with books (6) ZEALOT

27 Substitute nest egg? (7) RESERVE

Down

 1 Such a policy doesn’t help one or the other (3,2,3,6) DOG IN THE MANGER

 2 Bombastic — yet not finished by Edward (7) SPOUTED

 3 Remote alien loses last of gear (7) OUTSIDE

 4 Presents without any strings attached (4,5) FREE GIFTS

 5 Again illuminated upwardly mobile doorkeeper (5) TILER

 6 Her grit to pick one who redresses (7) RIGHTER

 7 Obedient enough for fluid movement around Union Territory (7) DUTIFUL

 8 You can’t have a say with it (14) UNMAINTAINABLE

15 One who frequents the Bolshoi, perhaps (5-4) OPERA-GOER

17 Area OK — King fixes it for a form of entertainment (7) KARAOKE

18 Giving attention, he’d fuel horses around (7) HEEDFUL

19 They may hang by the necks of well-dressed people (7) CRAVATS

20 Such kitchens are getting popular in India (7) MODULAR

22 Youth beginning to chat about a boat (5) YACHT

The Hindu Crossword No. 9412 Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Some nice ones today ...................

Across

 1 It’s sweet to recline and take one shot of alcohol (8) LOLLIPOP

 5 A fellow rebuilding hers from scratch (6) AFRESH

 9 Lock with a spring in it? (7) RINGLET

10 Good words in French (3,4) BON MOTS

11 Say whatever you’ve on your mind! (4,3,2) COME OFF IT

12 Roll after second push (5) SURGE

13 Forwarded a foreign coin, reportedly (4) SENT

14 Stop corruption of purer tint (9) INTERRUPT

17 Thief sang after breaking bank depository (5,4) NIGHT SAFE

19 Zulu regiment in scrimpiest outfit (4) IMPI

23 Talks excitedly about heading off warriors (5) RAVES

24 Tending to exalt by making someone a knight (9) ENNOBLING

25 Oil mixed in cold, gelatinous substance (7) COLLOID

26 Arise from having the call-back to tea bungled up (7) EMANATE

27 Unruffled though teased badly (6) SEDATE

28 Fools coming before single alternative judge (8) ASSESSOR

Down

 1 One who writes words for the songs (8) LYRICIST

 2 Nothing put up to Yemen’s uninitiated electricians (7) LINEMEN

 3 Not obtained properly, present is withdrawn by ace and a couple of learners (3-3) ILL-GOT

 4 Delirious, for foe has outdone in reformation (3,2,4,4) OUT OF ONE'S HEAD

 6 Openings show aster blooming beyond the bog (8) FENESTRA

 7 Outing by the self? (3-4) EGO-TRIP

 8 Has half a score in race (6) HASTEN

10 They can’t be trusted to hold something (13) BUTTERFINGERS

15 Act of terminating gradually has Oriental in a grimace (5-3) PHASE-OUT

16 Shakespearean character smothering regal kin (4,4) KING LEAR

18 Someone who is ill and ridiculously vain, getting cover (7) INVALID

20 Fellow’s about to help playgrounds in India (7) MAIDANS

21 Supports Bihar’s top tribes (6) BRACES

22 Boy trapped in a lounge on fire (6) ABLAZE

The Hindu Crossword No. 9411 Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Dedicated to Shuchi .......................

Across

 1 Zest with which we’re wielding splinter removers (8) TWEEZERS

 6 Monumental entrance in a Nicobar church (4) ARCH

 9 We don’t begin to see medical chart info (6) WEIGHT

10 So a role is set for dispenser of fine spray (7) AEROSOL

13 Love to the fellows in North Dakota improving (2,3,4) ON THE MEND

14 Bob, pound the sea creature! (5) SQUID

15 Squandered money in ignoble ways (4) BLEW

16 Safe from the flood? (4,3,3) HIGH AND DRY

19 Tire with idle talk on car emission (7,3) EXHAUST GAS

21 Crazy over joke by Andhra’s leader (4) GAGA

24 Behaves boastfully in the absence of five relatives (5) AUNTS

25 Being cocksure, resolves teasers around 4 (9) ASSERTIVE

26 Try Udupi’s head cook Hal’s hodgepodge (7) GOULASH

27 Well-known person father recalled: Tarzan (6) APEMAN

28 In the pink, so back in line (4) ROSY

29 Being unscrupulous, badly hurt the French son (8) RUTHLESS

Down

 2 Water sprinkled by the man on garland (7) WREATHE

 3 Disheartened guide goes up to allow trapping a young flier (6) EAGLET

 4 Emir texts reformed ultra (9) EXTREMIST

 5 Burn or Scandinavian bard (5) SCALD

 7 Don’t begin to jump after engineer’s echo (7) RESOUND

 8 One who takes break from normal occupation (12) HOLIDAYMAKER

11 Feel bitter about tens wasted away (6) RESENT

12 Beggared loud display of a typographic symbol (6,6) DOUBLE DAGGER

17 Advantage of the man with bill on exotic tarts (4,5) HEAD START

18 Nation where airs were thrown about us (6) RUSSIA

20 Interruptions during telephone conversation, perhaps (7) HANGUPS

22 Manila’s relocated beasts (7) ANIMALS

23 Writer’s alternative to spring (6) ORWELL

25 Hate sailor beginning to hoard gold (5) ABHOR

The Hindu Crossword No. 9410 Monday, December 22, 2008

Dedicated to Chaturvasi sir and Schuchi ...........................

Across

 1 Disease suffered by soldiers in the pit (6,5) TRENCH FEVER

 9 Bit not completed by lazy Annie in two-year periods (7) BIENNIA

10 Monkey drops dead from tree (7) TAMARIN

11 Man some feel I humbled (5) ELIHU

12 Few people govern in this political system (9) OLIGARCHY

13 Very attack is not complete (5) ASSAI

15 Paper communication? (9) TELEGRAPH

18 A number of people together — one more than what may be considered company (9) THREESOME

21 Garment father returned to boy (5) APRON

22 Pack off a tec with a team to perform duties (9) OFFICIATE

24 One, much disintegrating, pertaining to vegetable mould (5) HUMIC

26 Cocktail from shop in India’s capital (7) MARTINI

27 Complaint that confuses names with borders of India (7) AMNESIA

28 Does one wake up from it with better appearance? (6,5) BEAUTY SLEEP

Down

 1 Al battles for recomposition of cooking ingredient (5,4) TABLE SALT

 2 Fragrant oil extracted back in the time left (5) ELEMI

 3 Study young person in the Orient serving as mistress (9) CONCUBINE

 4 Fail completely at top speed? (4,3) FLAT OUT

 5 Severe criticism by five and fifty about one group of three (7) VITRIOL

 6 Odd sailor crops up in exotic dance (5) RUMBA

 7 It is not a reputable setting for a critic (8) ARMCHAIR

 8 Sole refusal put up by lady without publicity (4) ONLY

14 The kind of success an arsonist would like to have? (8) SUREFIRE

16 Manually greets in a warm and friendly manner (4-5) GLAD-HANDS

17 Manual bonding between friends (4-5) HAND-CLASP

19 Instrument in a car smashed by the second of rowdies (7) OCARINA

20 Stylish member in neat arrangement (7) ELEGANT

22 Nothing hard to military head’s units of resistance (4) OHMS

23 Go on to a higher level (5) CLIMB

25 Crowd over Oriental club (5) MASSE

The Hindu Crossword No. 2515 Sunday, December 21, 2008

Across

1 Stop copper, a good sort (3,3) CUT OFF

4 Alarm! Oil running out, here in Texas (8) AMARILLO

9 Mysterious, first half of Cats penned by composer (6) ARCANE

10 Note a pal changed with no effort (2,1,5) ON A PLATE

12 Girl volunteers to cage first of hound dogs (5,8) IRISH TERRIERS

14 Article located in ruins? That's hearsay (9) ANECDOTAL

16 Painter from eastern state (5) ERNST

17 Colonel knocked back a litre in nearby pub (5) LOCAL

19 This could be best fare (including duck) (5,4) ROAST BEEF

21 One who exposes referee? (7-6) WHISTLE-BLOWER

24 I tell lies about one from Jersey, perhaps (8) ISLANDER

25 I rowed angrily with a strange person (6) WEIRDO

26 Ninety, possibly, round centre of Naples, and teeming (2,6) IN PLENTY

27 Paper is written after the end of Michaelmas (6) THESIS

Down

1 Generous daily, albeit misguidedly (10) CHARITABLE

2 Pleasant to touch, climbing cat I let out (7) TACTILE

3 Fine island bird (5) FINCH

5 Drink fizzy wine and rare malt (7,5) MINERAL WATER

6 Mean about gift (9) REPRESENT

7 I suffer over boy's affair (7) LIAISON

8 Frank, old writer (4) OPEN

11 Withdraw, exhausted, to a sanctuary (4,1,7) BEAT A RETREAT

13 Where teachers may be, in form fatso's vandalised (10) STAFFROOM

15 Flirting, daughter before marriage (9) DALLIANCE

18 Female creature's sitting on border flower (7) COWSLIP

20 Yachtswoman Tracy saw red, drifting round close to dockyard (7) EDWARDS

22 Doctor about to inject into raised part of foot (5) LEECH

23 Sister's short skirt (4)MINI

Reality Check

I can conveniently blame things on the "Christmas party" but I have to realistically admit that I was thoroughly "humbled" by the Gridman! Also, I did not realize the extent of damage suffered by my brain cells, due to a certain Nita Jaggi's grids, till it went into a gridlock when faced with some intelligent clues yesterday.

A big thanks to Chaturvasi sir, Schuchi, and Raghava for unlocking my gridlock. You guys are Uber cool ............................

The Hindu Crossword No. 9409 Saturday, December 20, 2008

So far .............

Across

 1 To reveal faults in lift (8) ELEVATOR

 5 Rides roughly to catch student with turtle (6)

 9 Pro admen managed to mention prominent persons (4-4) NAME-DROP

10 Small like the Kalpakkam plant? (6) ATOMIC

12 Volume measure for Indian river (4) SONE

13 Shop annexe remodelled for ancient philosopher (10)

15 State a lie goes out of estrangement (6)

17 Ancient people some police nicely escort (5) INCAS

20 Examinations of ethical principles don’t start (5) ORALS

21 Sudden movement of UP brat (6) ABRUPT

24 If it is not sharp, it won’t be cutting (5-5) KNIFE-POINT

27 Third move to complete in athletics (4) JUMP

29 Shrink with band in church (6) CRINGE

30 As a pupil, this one has a long way to go (8) BEGINNER

31 Of speech sounds of worker and boy (6) SONANT

32 Nice, real display of trust (8) RELIANCE

Down

 1 He sounds serious (6) ERNEST

 2 Fur? Um… it belongs to me (6) ERMINE

 3 One can be helpful in revealing the heart of a girl (4) AIDA

 4 Round the area there’s gas (5) OZONE

 6 Closer to the door? (5)

 7 Command Act 2 needs to be restructured (8) COMEBACK?

 8 It is suitable for seedy development (4,4)

11 You have better prospects if you turn it (6) CAREER?

14 Forms of chocolate? (4) BARS?

16 One after another fighting? (2,1,3) IN A ROW

17 One politician’s brats (4) IMPS

18 Why a football player takes part in the game, perhaps (3,5) FOR KICKS

19 One from Chennai is a spy skirting the head of ministry followed by a Scot (8) TAMILIAN

22 Introduce light? (4,2) TURN ON

23 Criticism raised among the Secret Service by the head of espionage is meagre (6) SPARSE

25 Nigel’s broken marbles (5) ELGIN

26 Clenched fist shown at last by one woman (5) NIECE?

28 Girl takes off without civil service (4)

The Hindu Crossword No. 9408 Friday, December 19, 2008

Across

 1 Approve to terminate the yellow bridge opponents (7) ENDORSE

 5 Not a dull boy exactly (6) BRIGHT

10 Father has an oar man to take a view (8) PANORAMA

11 Opposed to a piece of poetry (6) AVERSE

13 Soundly lift the sun beams (4) RAYS

14 Goon head in charge of new workers in time for the Congress (10) GOVERNMENT

16 A new line cut off for a holding device (6) ANCHOR

18 Announced a number to bring forth an ancestor (8) FOREBEAR

21 Trimmings of articles (8) CUTTINGS

22 Odd car pins miss the crunch (6) CRISIS

25 Powerful computer length fashionable for the girl (10) COMPELLING

27 Father is mostly ill with the bucket (4) PAIL

30 Left a metal covering without the tube on a crater (6) (-C)LARION

31 National carrier to display the liquid black ink (3,5) AIR INDIA

32 Girl under age left at a yearly event (6) ANNUAL

33 Campaign for a soldier at the art gallery (7) AGITATE

Down

 2 Grandmother of a female goat (5) NANNY

 3 Ancient city in an old style belonging to us (4) OURS

 4 Mark a percussion instrument, overheard (6) SYMBOL

 6 Enthusiastic for a new bird (5) RAVEN

 7 Garnered strong workers (9) GARDENERS

 8 Precious time to start off her speaker (7) TWEETER

 9 Special painting of a Greek city (6) SPARTA

12 Guard to pose around at the end of July (5) SEPOY

15 Circle in a big type of desert (4) GOBI

17 Common Admission Test in the morning for the painter at noon on the boat (9) CATAMARAN

19 Real kind of a nobleman (4) EARL

20 Swift adult fighter left the Orient (5) AGILE

21 Company chief left each organ (7) COCHLEA

23 Greeting! Alas to be returned in the morning (6) SALAAM

24 Headless men clash at a grand finale (6) ENDING

26 Be back with a loop line in the middle of a heart disease (5) EBOLA

28 Go over a type of a car in a short time (5) AUDIT

29 Tiny sized container (4) PINT

The Hindu Crossword No. 9407 Thursday, December 18, 2008

Posting from the hometown of Coca Cola ......

ACROSS

1. HEREUPON
5. CHAR
9. NOBLEMAN
10.UNISON
12.LASS
13.AGREEMENTS
15.AGATHA CHRISTIE
17.CHALK AND CHEESE
21.BEACH WAGON
22.OMIT
25.BATTLE
26.SHINGLER
27.ELSE
28.ATTAINED

DOWN

1. HANDLE
2. ROBES
3. USER
4. OTALGIA
6. HANDMAIDEN
7. RESONATES
8. DUNES
11.MESH
14.STOKEHOLDS
16.GUARANTEE
18.NOAH
19.CROCHET
20.STORED
21.BABEL
23.MELON
24.ANNA

The Hindu Crossword No. 9406 Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Across

 8 Indoor ice train has a loud cooling device (3-11) AIR-CONDITIONER

 9 Conference at the mountain top (6) SUMMIT

10 Priest around a electroplated organ (8) RECEPTOR

11 Gravity on different loads in boats (8) GONDOLAS

13 One in capital at the side of an advertisement (6) MAIDEN

14 Sudden flash of a colour (6) STROBE

16 In to go for a plan (6) INTEND

19 Father turns back for a fruit to be visible (6) APPEAR

21 Albert has a set for a boy to be distributed (8) ALLOTTED

23 Almost old head of a lady in problems for warm clothes (8) WOOLLENS

24 Similar establishments in a range of mountains (6) COLONY

26 Little woman wearing most of their shades to enlist in the army (4,3,7) JOIN HER COLUMNS

Down

 1 Note for the bishop to turn short Louise into someone excellent (8) FABULOUS

 2 Cutting down of terbium evenly (4) TRIM

 3 Thailand covered by a good human being (6) MORTAL

 4 Formal speech given at the place where one resides (7) ADDRESS

 5 Merchandise in the morning returned to a new farmer (8) STOCKMAN

 6 Soundly round off the best wishes (10) COMPLIMENT

 7 Earlier in time to exist in the front (6) BEFORE

12 Sweetheart to cover the Joint Entrance Exam in the tea-producing state (10) DARJEELING

15 Display a closed sealed container (8) BARRELED

17 Depth of a low-pitch sound? (8) DEEPNESS

18 Accountant has a small hosiery in a long garment (7) CASSOCK

20 Expert has a large amount of particles cut off (6) PROTON

22 Trains running for the people in the same area (6) LOCALS

25 Solid mass acceptable in incomplete contributions (4) LUMP

The Hindu Crossword No. 9405 Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Across

 7 Former employee as an English politician in an American city at the side is an ideal model (8) EXEMPLAR

 9 Large fleet found to harm a dacoit (6) ARMADA

11 Insisting upon a fool for the queen having money in the end of the bag (9) ASSERTING

12 River oil to cure a disease (5) POLIO

13 Rear end in to glitter at a holy place (6) SHRINE

14 Headless men in a stupor at the gate (8) ENTRANCE

17 A bishop to go back to somehow cane for self-importance (9) ARROGANCE

22 What the helpless get from this? (8) COMEDOWN

23 Compensate with reference to an action (6) RECOUP

25 Move towards the north-east to head off cars (5) NEARS

27 Acknowledgements in a sector are shuffled (9) REACTIONS

28 Article not specific for the wife and the queen to come back (6) ANSWER

29 Main chief (8) CARDINAL

Down

 1 Right to turn around colourless points to fall away (7) RELAPSE

 2 Journalist turns back at a point to rest around an arid land (7) DESSERT

 3 Father with a knight to return to the capital city (5) PARIS

 4 Catch the far end entering in a spout (4) TRAP

 5 Fish for the student and a coronet (7) GARLAND

 6 Lures an accountant with a little woman left at ease (7) CAJOLES

 8 Associated with a quiet trader in a different way (9) PARTNERED

10 Information on rewritten ads in the plans (7) AGENDAS

15 Take a point in to be judged to set up again (9) RECREATED

16 Position situated in the front (7) FORWARD

18 Uproar over the investigation of the lake (7) SCANDAL

19 Layer of mass by the official building (7) EMBASSY

20 Perfume almost cold gone off (7) COLOGNE

21 A post for the French disciple (7) APOSTLE

24 Boat going side to side (5) KAYAK

26 Supporter running through waste materials (4) STEM

The Hindu Crossword No. 9404 Monday, December 15, 2008

Across

 1 To show an unopened box (5) OFFER

 4 Type of a card for the French shelters (7) CRADLES

10 Husband has to change a garment (6) HALTER

11 Title to note in half of Monaco and half of Europe (8) MONSIEUR

13 By the way measure it for the last to leave an alloy (8) STELLITE

14 Drawing stick on a cold fabric (6) CRAYON

16 To take the test of a former partner in the morning (4) EXAM

17 Writing surface for an African game (10) BLACKBOARD

20 Loud migrant to scatter the organisation of information (10) FORMATTING

21 At first, evil person eliminates each with a weapon (4) EPEE

24 No race is altering the membrane (6) CORNEA

26 Desire to shut up and cry (8) PENCHANT

28 Someone from Poland to live and come to an end of the scriptures doing as told (8) OBEDIENT

29 Bond the note in money (6) CEMENT

30 Poise to form an element (7) ISOTOPE

31 Mother to turn a single ship going out of order (5) AMISS

Down

 2 Illusory locks of wigs (5,4) FALSE HAIR

 3 First woman not permitted to measure in a regular way (6) EVENLY

 5 Gypsy covers a round space (4) ROOM

 6 Give details of the French clerk (8) DESCRIBE

 7 Men lacking leadership with them on the other side (5) ENEMY

 8 Simple for many to rush (6) CHASTE

 9 President of the peacekeepers with the journalist to cut off the superfluous (6) PRUNED

12 Let in to hate a wrong player (7) ATHLETE

15 Device for one who inspects (7) SCANNER

18 Bathes around in a mountain range of letters (9) ALPHABETS

19 Restoration of cosmetic surgery (8) FACELIFT

20 Play in for a circumstance (6) FACTOR

22 Creature in the department of Information Technology at the end of the day (6) ENTITY

23 Bad to scare me almost with a loud cry (6) SCREAM

25 Right to turn back the price of Bach’s works on cays (5) REEFS

27 Sharp sound of a shot (4) SNAP

The Hindu Crossword No. 2513 Sunday, December 14, 2008

Across

1 Sharp, a group of investigators (4) ACID

3 High liver, Emil, eating cold pasta (10) VERMICELLI

9 Quaintly attractive copper given endless tea (4) CUTE

10 Nobody about as he waved toy weapon? (10) PEASHOOTER

12 Doing wrong wearing the German pistol (9) DERRINGER

13 Reportedly spotted site (5) SCENE

14 An orchestra should be well-informed (4,3,5) KNOW THE SCORE

18 On the board, proven manmanagers? (12) GRANDMASTERS

21 Star part (not the lead) (5) ACTOR

22 Oven dish, as Creoles prepared (9) CASSEROLE

23 Appropriate name that is found in nunnery (10) CONVENIENT

24 Singer promptly dropping off instruments (4) BASS

25 Newspaper magnate in crowd at pub, tipsy (5,5) PRESS BARON

26 Carry large animal (4) BEAR

Down

1 Emperor's son cooked her a duck (8) ARCHDUKE

2 Topliner abroad in crime unit (8) INTERPOL

4 Holly, say, always retaining popularity (9) EVERGREEN

5 One thinking about male drug addict (5) MUSER

6 Transvestite annoyed over actor's assistant (5-7) CROSS-DRESSER

7 Refuse a stretcher (6) LITTER

8 One's upset king and country (6) ISRAEL

11 Plants found on a golf course between autumn and spring? (12) WINTERGREENS

15 Inherits from murdered economist (5,4) COMES INTO

16 Be beaten up during meeting - it makes one very sad (8) DESOLATE

17 One who judges animals, tailless kind (8) ASSESSOR

19 Oddball in stupid hat (6) MADCAP

20 Good man's article on church reveals point of view (6) STANCE

22 Punch a mate (5) C _ I _ A?

The Hindu Crossword No. 9403 Saturday, December 13, 2008

Across

 1 People talk rapidly as more bath bulbs collapse (13) BLABBERMOUTHS

 8 Opponent to search a shirt for a worker (9) COMBATANT

 9 What it takes to cast a spell? (5) CHARM

10 Point at a religious book summary (7) EPITOME

12 Request our man who is within the finest (6) BEHEST

14 Cover to bail one out (5) ALIBI

16 The woman’s ring for a protagonist (4) HERO

19 Frequent spread of fire (4) RIFE

20 Copy the date put up for fifty one feline at the end of the pile (9) DUPLICATE

21 Initially, zebra engulfs round objects at the bottom (4) ZERO

22 Number one at the Los Angeles fair (4) MELA

25 The French head man in the ancient city of the primate (5) LEMUR

27 Rare mark left on a boat (6) SCARCE

29 Most of the sequel love one article of a large tree (7) SEQUOIA

32 Notwithstanding the whisper on stage (5) ASIDE

33 Journey of a fighter plane for food allowance (9) MIGRATION

34 Doting western to develop at Number 10 (7,6) DOWNING STREET

Down

 2 Cumbersome to wrongly lure one politician within (7) LUMPIER

 3 Cry of approval for the British bible in Ohio (5) BRAVO

 4 Paint the headless men in the morning with the Spanish (6) ENAMEL

 5 Mother with an alien turns back to a friend (4) MATE

 6 Peacekeepers with the French relative (5) UNCLE

 7 By the way reference to a ship almost full is causing worry (9) STRESSFUL

 8 Language of the final letter in the city surrounded by the church (5) CZECH

11 Article in to employ a different kind of folk dance (7) MAYPOLE

12 Unusual line of work on the arrival at eight (7) BIZARRE

13 Group of women have a large rabbit at the end of the palm (5) HAREM

15 Talk of a dictator having a sacred syllable (5) IDIOM

17 Former partner with the monarch caught on the wrong side of a task performed (9) EXERCISED

18 Even good voguer has a strong smell (5) ODOUR

23 Develop a bone after the first bite of rubber (7) EBONITE

24 A rise at another time (5) AGAIN

26 Methods to turn the learned men (6) USAGES

28 Good many in a different lane (5) CLEAN

30 Book for the head of the queen on view to all in the sky (5) QUAIR

31 Don’t start to pen afterwards the morning word (4) AMEN

The Hindu Crossword No. 9402 Friday, December 12, 2008

Across

 1 Sense to rave about a brilliant idea (10) BRAINSTORM

 9 A father in the church to point at a gangster (6) APACHE

10 Teen lad ran in another way from a primitive man (10) NEANDERTAL

11 Insect to strike off almost all from local uranium in the street (6) LOCUST

12 Ashen mess in Georgia over a deity (7) GANESHA

16 Booty of a lot of stems (5) HAULM

17 King to help in a sudden attack (4) RAID

18 Animal in the morning in a tea producing state (5) ASSAM

19 Map of a church painting (5) CHART

20 Operational with the oriental in the past (4) ONCE

21 Social worker for one performer (5) ACTOR

22 Vain sort of an exotic male ending the lack of experience (7) NAIVETE

27 Rapidly talk of a teetotaller in a large tale (6) TATTLE

29 Holy pop is confused by the doctrine (10) PHILOSOPHY

30 To display in with the first woman (6) EVINCE

31 Daring to take on a new project? (10) ENTERPRISE

Down

 2 Dance on a photographic film (4) REEL

 3 Fail to notice (6) IGNORE

 4 Leader to move, overheard (6) SHEIKH

 5 Frequently found in a soft envelope (5) OFTEN

 6 Everything in Microsoft establishments (5) MALLS

 7 Accountant together with you is behind schedule to collect a large number of things (10) ACCUMULATE

 8 Main place covering a mite of unusual length (10) CENTIMETRE

12 Promised to plant a stake for the editor (10) GUARANTEED

13 Also note it in a different way one behind the other (4, 2, 4) NOSE TO TAIL

14 Large structure is new in the subject of study (5) ARENA

15 Warning signal loud for a sea-nymph (5) SIREN

23 Iron-cladding detachment belonging to us (6) ARMOUR

24 Six to go to ancient city with enthusiasm (6) VIGOUR

25 Crossed fencing sword put up on a tent (5) TEPEE

26 Stretch a sun shade (5) STINT

28 Shut off like this (4) THUS

The Hindu Crossword No. 9401 Thursday, December 11, 2008

This compiler is crazy ......................

Across

4 Signalling devices are sensory appendages (8) ANTENNAS

 8 Place a square for British engineers to turn in a golf club (6) PUTTER

 9 Complete discharge of gases starting off from a hive (10) EXHAUSTIVE

10 Compact undiluted drink (4) NEAT

11 Nothing to write in clear space (4) OPEN

13 Two new ties for a leader (6) PRIEST?

15 Rhythm after not being used is unconventional (7) OFFBEAT

17 Tents set up for an accountant and a politician (4) CAMP

18 Unopened loops of paints (4) OILS

19 Many wheel parts with almost one colour (7) CRIMSON

21 Oddly get ordained to leave behind on the shore (6) STRAND?

22 Heartless homeless cat is here to remain (4) STAY

25 Every other buoyant vessel (4) BOAT

26 Reference to a mint tree disturbed in seclusion (10) RETIREMENT

27 Space the tonic to point at the locomotive (6) ENGINE

28 Very large ball of fire overheard by one’s offspring (8) GRANDSON

Down

 1 Slap the time period on the leader of the kin (5) SPANK

 2 Society to teach an animal group (6) STRAIN

 3 Caught a nobleman turning up to move quietly (5) CREEP

 4 Remains of headless men pale in appearance (5) ASHEN

 5 Elephant’s call for an instrument (7) TRUMPET

 6 Turn into one form of food science (9) NUTRITION

 7 Worthy of doing an advertisement for the authorisation of a lawyer to point (9) ADVISABLE

12 Remains of a fire lying after the first beam (5) EMBER

14 Journal for the queen having a list of information (9) GAZETTEER

15 Choice around a period of planned activity (9) OPERATION

16 To let in a new maid in a short time (5) ADMIT

19 Sticks the food chewed again in thick substances (7) CUDGELS

20 Fear about a local circle of two on a road (6) PHOBIA

22 Rents a large part of the ship (5) STERN

23 Plant by the way at a point of service (5) ASTER

24 Saint at ease with the follower ending to go away (5) STEER?

The Hindu Crossword No. 9400 Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Across

1 Opinion found in to misguide arguments (4) IDEA

 9 Designed an ice manor in shore regardless of the circumstances (4,4,2,5) COME RAIN OR SHINE

10 Sound of bells in the outer layer, overheard (4) PEAL

11 Refusal of an old style of English bird trap (5) NOOSE

12 I’m a leader of Muslim men (4) IMAM

13 Many tear off a large container (5) CRATE

14 Starting off a close association with a friend by making a droning sound (7) HUMMING

16 Strikes out a container for the Church of England left in space (7) CANCELS

18 Get-together a bit at the end of the day (5) PARTY

22 Black caliph on an island (4) BALI

23 Love the main kind of Arab inhabitant (5) OMANI

24 To start doing every big task is a liability (4) DEBT

25 For keeping secret information — edit inflation to be disclosed within the borders of a country (15) CONFIDENTIALITY

26 Go through the net to ride a wave (4) SURF

Down

 2 Daughter is keeping good health forever being a resident (7) DWELLER

 3 Design of a giant salad sold despite many obstacles (7,3,4) AGAINST ALL ODDS

 4 Dirty snowball to be available in a short time (5) COMET

 5 Joining of a news agency being broadcast (5) UNION

 6 Failures of rules by an Iran soldier having single relations (14) IRREGULARITIES

 7 One saint head is within them having the belief in the existence of God (6) THEISM

 8 Too strange for the peacekeepers with a girl unknown (7) UNCANNY

15 Father having a large solar shade (7) PARASOL

17 Persons in charge of life energy of the oriental ends of flowers (6) CHIEFS

19 Small child to cross an unusual line for almost an era (7) TODDLER

20 Virtuous person in South Africa is new in Information Technology (5) SAINT

21 To put an end to a mammal in a boat (5) ABATE

The Hindu Crossword No. 9399 Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Across

 2 Carbohydrate stiffener (6) STARCH

 7 Bachelor quiet at a party (4) BASH

 9 Ahead of time, like a nobleman? (4) EARL

10 Alter rim cast on a chest of drawers for non-elective government officials (13) BUREAUCRATISM

12 Shrivelled with age and depleted of moisture (5,2) DRIED UP

13 Accept as true to be in contradiction with five head elements (7) BELIEVE

15 Tax one in a passenger car (4) TAXI

17 Cut back the growth of a dried plum (5) PRUNE

18 Turn back at the French with a short story (4) TALE

19 Gifts bestowed on a very big ship (7) LARGESS

21 Central theme found inside Turkey notes (7) KEYNOTE

23 Selling by phone a different milk tree agent (13) TELEMARKETING

27 A slight indication of an even chain net (4) HINT

28 Reel backwards with a sneering look (4) LEER

29 Do not accept discarded food (6) REFUSE

Down

 1 Aggressive remark directed to the Queen by a hairdresser (6) BARBER

 2 The act of decreasing in length the fat used in baked goods (10) SHORTENING

 3 Initially, a round embankment around a part of a surface (4) AREA

 4 Greek letter with the elegant and the stylish (4) CHIC

 5 One led backwards to a shop selling salads (4) DELI

 6 The highest quality of five articles left in the ancient stages (8) PRIMEVAL

 8 It cuts a dashing figure (5) SUAVE

11 Prime letters in the United States for referees in a sports competition (7) UMPIRES

13 Degree no good for a king all right, in Thailand city (7) BANGKOK

14 In time for big return of article of the French is difficult to define (10) INTANGIBLE

16 Bachelor turns at public act of violence back at slaughterhouse (8) ABATTOIR

20 Ballroom dance found in Assam banquets (5) SAMBA

22 Turn at girl guide’s editor bearing a label (6) TAGGED

24 Dead after the expected time (4) LATE

25 Steal note end to obtain a garment (4) ROBE

26 Even red car put a light brown colour (4) ECRU

The Hindu Crossword No. 2512 Sunday, December 07, 2008

Across

1 Wrong folio in official papers (4) BUMF

3 Puppet taken from girl by another heading off (10) MARIONETTE

9 The result of nurse's attention at the bedside? (8,7) HOSPITAL CORNERS

11 A wit badly described by brand new author (4,5) MARK TWAIN

12 One amongst crowd in lift (5) HOIST

13 Pair of wrestlers, game couple (3,4) TAG TEAM

16 Boy, one pecked by sea eagle (5) ERNIE

18 Mexican's mate in a plane close to Mexico (5) AMIGO

19 Unusually scanty clothing for all to see in Italian region (7) TUSCANY

21 Inappropriate, a French affair of honour, unfinished (5) UNDUE

22 Odd athlete, one who smuggles (9) RUMRUNNER

25 Anyone march today? Drink needs to be ordered (3,4,3,5) TOM DICK AND HARRY

26 Bless sort of ancestor in church (10) CONSECRATE

27 Worthless pedestal (4) BASE

Down

1 Monstrous creature initially bought the home in a devious way (8) BEHEMOTH

2 Penny-pincher causing endless suffering (5) MISER

4 Girl found in canal, an artiste (5) ALANA

5 Acting jointly during show (2,7) IN CONCERT

6 Book partners for bridge (5,3,5) NORTH AND SOUTH

7 Teach mine about motion pictures (3,6) THE CINEMA

8 Substitute some players at Zagreb (6) ERSATZ

10 Coming, as oil may be (2,3,8) IN THE PIPELINE

14 Soldier keeps an eye on bishop, say (9) GUARDSMAN

15 Novel sail (9) MOONRAKER

17 Rain again? According to some (3,5) EYE RHYME

20 Simple game with short club (6) RUSTIC

23 One entering extremely modest French impressionist (5) MONET

24 Almost typical opera (5) NORMA

The Hindu Crossword No. 9397 Saturday, December 06, 2008

Across

 1 Little woman on ship (a sick model) caught with Chinese incense (4,5) JOSS STICK

 6 Hurts the charges (5) COSTS

 9 Fruit for Guruvayoor leader taking part in Onam celebrations (5) MANGO

10 Capacitors blow up without phosphorus in San Jose country (5,4) COSTA RICA

11 Vocal crowd follows the peacekeepers when not given an audience (7) UNHEARD

12 Princess shelters one breaking law in festival (6) DIWALI

14 Inert explosive (5) NITRE

15 Aerial gun goes off, causing acute pain (9) NEURALGIA

17 Get going with a set of tools to assemble tracks inside (4-5) KICK-START

19 Abuse for slogging and missing out on a 6 (5) SLANG

20 Vehicle from the east to swerve around in the tunnel (6) SUBWAY

22 Policeman in cricket side needs cooked rice (7) OFFICER

24 Bad luck hidden in letters that Artemis chanced upon (9) MISCHANCE

25 Cut down the slight hope, reportedly, for the Indian TV channel (5) RAZEE

26 Harry’s best friend is sent back inside to fetch the varnish material (5) RESIN

27 Songs and drinks for Oriental at peace (9) SERENADES

Down

 1 State the bone of contention between two neighbours (5,3,7) JAMMU AND KASHMIR

 2 Awfully tiny chest that is man-made (9) SYNTHETIC

 3 Seasoning herb will go bad when put back inside the closet (7) STORAGE

 4 Minor attendant (10) INCIDENTAL

 5 Make up companion for a relationship on the mend (4) KISS

 6 Czech website replaces firm backing music producer, an old Russian royal (7) CZARINA

 7 *Pole in Oriental country is decapitated (5) SHINA?

 8 *Anagrams ‘sir held’ by mistake (8,7) SHALIMAR GARDENS

13 Gavel pounder outside the court (10) AUCTIONEER

16 I entered a Czech site and tentatively agreed about it being made Hellenic (9) GRAECIZED

18 *Cook enchiladas without dal (7) SIACHEN

19 *Boy catches note turning up in French website (7) SAFFRON

21 Ground in Quirimbas Islands (5) BASIS

23 Headache resulting from missing the first additional payment (4) (-P)ANGS?

The Hindu Crossword No. 9396 Friday, December 05, 2008

Across

 1 Justification for a victory sign (11) VINDICATION

 9 A part for FBI agents in a group (7) SEGMENT

10 Cells producing ova of queer coyotes (7) OOCYTES

11 Old local official featured in a rare event (5) REEVE

12 Chatting casually about giant tern in flight (9) NATTERING

13 Constituent of cabbage (4) LEAF

15 Turn given to a (tennis) ball, the highest turn! (7) TOPSPIN

19 Title for an English land owner of old (7) ESQUIRE

20 It provides a choice for the consumer (4) MENU

24 Spider, a natural at dance (9) TARANTULA

25 Make a formal speech (5) ORATE

27 Lock up a prisoner? Excellent (7) CONFINE

28 Powerful feeling that may overtake one in operation (7) PASSION

29 Rome, forever there (7,4) ETERNAL CITY

Down

 1 Imprecise, like some Geneva guesstimates (5) VAGUE

 2 They may call you uncle (6) NIECES

 3 Plan at home to take care of someone (6) INTEND

 4 Commercial choice for providing care for an orphan maybe (8) ADOPTION

 5 One new wrinkle — that is an addition (8) INCREASE

 6 Nourishing with a fresh nut — I’ve it raw initially (9) NUTRITIVE

 7 Usually, Laura’s English falters (2,1,4) AS A RULE

 8 You and me grow with practice (5) USAGE

14 Promise of confidence (9) ASSURANCE

16 Road needing a toll from users (8) TURNPIKE

17 Once a miss in Germany! (8) FRAULEIN

18 Plant found by uncle travelling around the outskirts of Ettumanur (7) LUCERNE

21 Small bloodsucker is a means of punishment (5) STICK

22 From a freshwater fish, a large bone (6) CARPAL

23 There is a bias on cultivating a miniature tree (6) BONSAI

26 Friendship — a girl accepts it (5) AMITY

The Hindu Crossword No. 9393 Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Across

 1 The kind of figure that, after some time, good girl gets (9) HOURGLASS

 5 Bone of a flightless bird found in France (5) FEMUR

 8 Characterised by firmness, like our steel product (8) RESOLUTE

 9 Dingy room, part of which a beggar retained (6) GARRET

11 Track down the first in the competition (5) TRACE

12 Forthright transactions captivate one (9) TRENCHANT

13 Versification by an unknown toper? (6) POETRY

14 Stale joke from a reported board game enthusiast (8) CHESTNUT

16 Increase in heartless drug dependence, say (8) ADDITION

18 To make a solemn promise is a fine business (6) AFFIRM

22 ’Teacher’ having a setback in exchange gets a lawyer (9) BARRISTER

23 The way everyone may cause delay (5) STALL

24 Take what does not belong to you (6) THIEVE

25 Vino, more evolved — he eats anything (8) OMNIVORE

26 Message received and understood, says the radioman (5) ROGER

27 Tissue found in liger, a cat variety (9) CARTILAGE

Down

 1 The kind of car for a toughened spinner (4-3) HARD-TOP

 2 Behave arrogantly to one in state theatre (7) UPSTAGE

 3 Hunter’s companion, but what he brings back may not be precious (6,9) GOLDEN RETRIEVER

 4 Shrewd, upper-class taste perhaps (6) ASTUTE

 5 Italian saint canonized in 1228 — poor little man! (7,2,6) FRANCIS OF ASSISI

 6 Cattle disease that is most important around an old place? Right (7) MURRAIN

 7 Sound of someone knocking, an echo of ‘good-bye sailor’ (3-1-3) RAT-A-TAT

10 City that Hilde built (5) DELHI

15 October was the eighth once (5) MONTH

16 One who settles disputes between upset artist and one who stings (7) ARBITER

17 Beloved one shows courage, sheltering a liberal (7) DARLING

19 Mother of modern dance, eponymous heroine of ‘sixties film (7) ISADORA

20 French author who oftener accepted untruth (7) MOLIERE

21 An introductory textbook (6) PRIMER

The Hindu Crossword No. 9392 Monday, December 01, 2008

Was out of country, traveling on business .....................

Across

 1 A bad second, abused, disappeared (9) ABSCONDED

 5 Supply food to some delicate ruminants (5) CATER

 8 Missile with which to hit a bovine alien? (6) BULLET

 9 Study Indian parties making exposes (8) SCANDALS

11 Impertinent talk in a Salvation Army ship (4) SASS

12 What some traders do — contaminate tea with dal? True, sadly (10) ADULTERATE

14 There is little latitude between two engineers to make one intensely happy (5) ELATE

15 Job aspirants’ self-assessments? (7) RESUMES

16 Wine that is cold, a hit in cocktail (7) CHIANTI

17 A number performing with a kind of saw (5) TENON

19 Protein used in medicine to refine torn parts afresh (10) INTERFERON

20 An article in the role of water (4) AQUA

22 Fertilizer — black parts of grain contain one (4,4) BONE MEAL

23 Preserve the body of a business graduate in wood (6) EMBALM

24 Resided almost comfortably in empty dugout (5) DWELT

25 A law to counter TNT menace (9) ENACTMENT

Down

 1 Surprise attack on public transport in morning hour (6) AMBUSH

 2 What it takes to withstand a vendor’s pitch (5,10) SALES RESISTANCE

 3 Kitchen appliance for a witches’ gathering lacking leader (4) OVEN

 4 Can a leader notice unusual slowdown in progress? (12) DECELERATION

 5 Talk endlessly with worker having full knowledge (10) CONVERSANT

 6 In China it is where brown people, hiding Ian, level the score (9,6) TIANANMEN SQUARE

 7 Slices of meat for a more reckless soprano (7) RASHERS

10 Used as a fastening, it has a sticky record (8,4) ADHESIVE TAPE

13 Universal old mantra conjures up a cleaning facility for clothes (10) LAUNDROMAT

16 Member, English, in the outskirts of Cumberland, made his way up (7) CLIMBED

18 Rodent that upsets cat and sheep (6) MARMOT

21 Labour body manuscript returned as being indecent writing (4) SMUT

The Hindu Crossword No. 9380 Monday, November 17, 2008

Across

 1 Worries the head of administration advances about sin boomeranging (8) AGONISES

 6 Clan prepared to accept prince (4) SECT

 9 Developed old city around which friend goes (6) MATURE

10 A number is late in starting and beyond bounds to become equal (4,3) EVEN OUT

13 Stalin led characters to be put in position (9) INSTALLED

14 Foreign college window (5) ORIEL

15 Army entertainer (4) HOST

16 What two persons might do in a loving gesture or one in a prayer (5,5) CLASP HANDS

19 Not to name the person… (3-4-3) YOU-KNOW-WHO

21 Head of soccer outfit in short theatrical episode (4) SKIT

24 Material for a Scottish banker (5) TWEED

25 A famous explorer or a cool PM, perhaps (5,4) MARCO POLO

26 Pawnbroker accepts article that is dirty (7) UNCLEAN

27 One who appears with others in a film (2-4) CO-STAR

28 Try-line covered in blood (4) GORE

29 Where there is crude deposit (8) OILFIELD

Down

 2 Spectacles for good girls (7) GLASSES

 3 Turn to a gun for something to chew on! (6) NOUGAT

 4 The woman will strike a signal, perhaps (5-4) SHE'LL-BLOW

 5 Lay out money at emptied shop at last (5) SPEND

 7 Feeling expressed in English proposal (7) EMOTION

 8 To Laotians it amounts to summing up (12) TOTALISATION

11 Times he and cops are involved in a tangle (6) EPOCHS

12 Nervous as it might be on the violin (6,6) HIGHLY STRUNG

17 Reship lac in fresh round (9) SPHERICAL

18 Nervous — where one may be teetering (2,4) ON EDGE

20 Its owner can still find a buyer if it’s roadworthy (4,3) USED CAR

22 One who won’t accept information from anyone else (4-3) KNOW-ALL

23 Good in France as I cultivate a dwarfed tree (6) BONSAI

25 Fruit piece to try (5) MANGO

The Hindu Crossword No. 9379 Saturday, November 15, 2008

Across

 1 One in the aviary has sound mind about Great Britain and Ireland (11) HUMMINGBIRD

 9 One with this condition feels no pain (7) ANALGIA

10 Excited, has a party. Good, as they say in India (7) SHABASH

11 Call to fellows in a country? (5) YEMEN

12 No lengthy legal action for container (9) BRIEFCASE

13 Demand peace? (5) ORDER

15 No small animal in emblem of sovereignty (5,4) GREAT SEAL

18 Even great men may be mean enough to have this (5,4) SMALL MIND

21 Some topper I take to leading child in Gujarat’s capital (5) ICING

22 “The music in my heart I bore/ __ __ it was heard no more” (Wordsworth) (4,5) LONG AFTER

24 Become excited and leave nothing cold (2,3) GO HOT

26 Undergo change in caste group (7) GOUNDER

27 Set somehow on first-class return to the country (7) ESTONIA

28 Machine to fall on doctor: that is right (6-5) TUMBLE-DRIER

Down

 1 What we suffer when an elephant dies, perhaps (5,4) HEAVY LOSS

 2 Mami’s dispelling foul atmosphere (5) MIASM

 3 Broadly speaking about fashionable army officer (2,7) IN GENERAL

 4 You may draw something from it at present time (4-3) GRAB-BAG

 5 Spark off anger by dangerous spin (7) INSPIRE

 6 Ward off female for being very small (5) DWARF

 7 Aver maid palmed off old Spanish gold coin (8) MARAVEDI

 8 Good and hot bits of cheese added to clarified butter (4) GHEE

14 Hospital section is up with a refusal to the Union Territory that is prolonged (5,3) DRAWN OUT

16 Drove dangerously close to another vehicle to get at lad I suspected (9) TAILGATED

17 Locks which do not make one heavy-headed? Not exactly! (5,4) LIGHT HAIR

19 Termini shifted for the time being (7) INTERIM

20 Novelist undergoing ruder interpretation by a couple of learners (7) DURRELL

22 See the try at corporate symbol (4) LOGO

23 Check that may be for the books (5) AUDIT

25 Financial instrument in temple fixture in India (5) HUNDI