Here it is:
I am deconstructing all the across clues in The Hindu Crossword 7702. Newbies who are not able to go beyond some ten clues usually may check how the answers are derived in the case of those that defied them. Hope this helps. Please post a message if similar notes areneeded for all or any of “down” clues in 7702.
Across
1 Brooding over relative caught by the machine (8)
Thin(kin)g. Container-contained clue. “Thing” as a definition for “machine” is unusual but I think it is acceptable.
5 African country where head of boar is hidden amidst a tree (6)
Zam(b)ia. Another container-contained clue. Head of boar: b. Zamia is a kind of tree. See Chambers (or any other good dictionary). In the first case “caught by” is a container-contained signal; here it is “hidden”.
10 An individual's fairy is an individual (7)
Oneself (individual). One’s (individual’s) + elf (fairy). Bit by bit clue.
11 Pertaining to the theme is the hat on accountant-learner (7)
Topical (pertaining to the theme). Topi (hat) +C.A. (accountant)-L (learner). Bit by bit clue, with use of abbreviations.
12 Mr. Ring, forget the direction to store-room (6)
Larder (storeroom). N (direction) deleted from (Mr. Ring) Lardner, an American writer. “Forget” is the signal for deletion. Other signals noticed in recent instances are “miss”, “ignore” and such phrases. Deletion clue.
13 Revised chapter is about royal Italian poet (8)
Petrarch (Italian poet). Petrach (anagram of chapter) goes around R (abbr. for royal). Part anagram, part container-contained clue. “About” is the signal. “Revised” is the indication to anagram the letters in “chapter”.
15 Wind god in Hindu religion (4)
Vayu. Rather a straightforward clue.
16 Is no one in the running for this theatrical performance? (4-2,4)
Walk-on part. This is a minor, easy role in a play involving little action other than just walking from one part of the stage to another. Obviously few would be interested in grabbing such a role. Hence the query “Is no one in the running…” Pun or wordplay clue.
18 Not wrong: a fight can take a turn (5,5)
Right about (turn) . Right (not wrong) + a (which is derived gratis from the clue) + bout (fight). Bit by bit clue.
20 Mountains: Wall painting frayed on the top edge (4)
Ural (mountains). M deleted from mural (wall painting). “frayed on the top edge” suggests beheading of “mural”. Deletion clue. Deletion can occur in the beginning as in this case or at the end or in the middle in other cases.
23 Where lcky Tory is reformed (4,4)
York City. Anag. of icky tory; “is reformed” is the signal to anagram “icky tory”. Anagram clue. The definition “where” makes us suspect that what we want is a place name. While “is reformed” is the anag. signal here, sometimes it could be just “reformed” while “is” part of the anag. letters. When “icky tory” themselves form 8 (4+4) letters, the solver can ignore “is” as being part of the anag. letters, though it intervenes between the anag. letters and the anag. letters. However this does not mean that the anag letters may be separated as in instances of some lazy clues by some sloppy compilers.
24 Soldiers' leader in the military station is a tyrant (6)
Despot (tyrant). S (soldier’s leader) in depot (military station). Container-contained clue.
26 Attribute of a penman (7)
Ascribe (attribute) a (got free from the clue) + scribe (penman). Bit by bit clue.
27 The woman gives the Secret Service Oriental residue (7)
Vinasse (residue) See Chambers. Vina (name of a woman) +S.S. (Secret Service) + E (Oriental). Bit by bit clue, with abbreviations.
28 Fear of King involved in war (6)
Fright (fear). R (short for Rex, meaning king) in fight (war). Bit by bit, with abbr.
29 Rocks Rex in mixed doubles (8)
Boulders (rocks as a noun, not verb). R (see above) in bouldes, anag. of doubles, mixed being the anag. signal.
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