Variety Cryptic 10: Late Timing

 

Late Timing

By Elgel

This puzzle has come in late; it's up to you just how late it is.

There is a misprint in 9 of the across clues and 3 of the downs. If you are consistent, the 12 corrected characters in clue order will help explain one of the other clues (which is otherwise unfairly cryptic).

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Squares filled: 0/160

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Crossword ID: xet-late-timing

Exolve v1.47 December 19, 2022 Report Bug Exolve on GitHub

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Overwritten letters will briefly be coloured like this (before fading back to this) just to draw your attention so that you can fix any accidental typing errors.

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Page size: Letter: 8.5in x 11in A4: 210mm x 297mm A3: 297mm x 420mm A5: 148mm x 210mm B4: 250mm x 353mm B5: 176mm x 250mm Legal: 8.5in x 14in Ledger: 11in x 17in

Margin (inches):

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Across

1.

4.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

17.

20.

21.

23.

25.

27.

29.

30.

31.

32.

Down

1.

2.

3.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

15.

16.

18.

19.

22.

24.

26.

28.

Other

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There are two possible answers to this puzzle, depending on whether you prefer CHRISTMAS or HALLOWEEN.
The misprint corrections vary for each version, and give either 'DEC 25 IS OCT 31' or 'OCT 31 IS DEC 25'
This explains the clue for 15d; 25 in base 10 is equal to 31 in base 8, so DEC 25 = OCT 31.

Title: I tried to write this the week before Christmas, but it ended up taking too long. It's also an appropriate title for a very late Halloween puzzle

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Down & Up

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Across

1	Concealed by phenom, is less-map and did get sent astray (6) MISLED. or HIDDEN. Either: [less -> leds, phenoM IS LEDs-map] or: [map -> mop, (PHENOM-MOP + DID)*]
4	Judge an Elvis impersonation as it gets pitched (8) JAVELINS. J + (ANELVIS)*
10	Position bases to patio theater set with Sue to move (7) REHOUSE. or POSTURE. Either: [set -> see, (patiO theateR seE witH SUE)*] or: [bases -> cases, (PatiO TheateR SUE)*]
11	Children's original features, perhaps? (7) URCHINS. UR-CHINS
12	Lengths of quads (5) YARDS. D.d.
13	Open in France, one-nil (5) UNZIP. UN + ZIP
14	Pulled back rifle's butt to get antelope (3) GNU. GUN w/ N back
15	What is halved every sixth habit, prior to artistic con May's fortune telling? (10) CHIROMANCY. or HIEROMANCY. Either: [What -> Chat, CHat + habIt prioR + (CONMAY)*] or: [What -> That, IE in Habit pRior + (CONMAY)*]
17	Filter given in street (4) SIFT. IF in ST
20	After Orlando's letter, I set out to be, in case? (4) REST. or LEST. Either: [I -> 2, oRlando + (SET)*] or: [I -> 3, orLando + (SET)*]
21	Potentially unlucky hitter then went out (10) THIRTEENTH. (HITTERTHEN)*
23	6 of latest to mean relative (3) SIS. or ONE. Either: [6 -> 5, lateSt + IS] or: [6 -> 1, tO meaN relativE]
25	Vole in Americana Style (5) NASTY. Vole -> Vile, americaNA STYle
27	On the downturn after power goes off (5) WORSE. power -> sower, (SOWER)*
29	Interpretation of naked engines with fare in mirdle aspects; gross (7) MEANING. or EARNING. Either: [fare -> fore, (eNGINEs + Mirdle Aspects)*] or: [mirdle -> middle, (eNGINEs + fARe)*]
30	Like a bad promise many held for Shaggy (7) UNKEMPT. M in UNKEPT
31	Join the Royal Navy after then, and/or direction (8) SOUTHERN. or NORTHERN. Either: [Join -> Coin, SOU + THE + RN] or: [and -> end, THE + RN after theN + OR]
32	Agreement with Oxbridge kid, perhaps (6) UNISON. UNI + SON

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Down

1	Glad of much horn, perhaps, after double changing (5) MERRY. or HAPPY. Either: [horn -> torn, MESSY w/ SS->RR] or: [horn -> corn, HAMMY w/ MM->PP]
2	Rd shapes with Ed, Ross and hip troubles (9) SPHEROIDS. or DISORDERS. Either: [Rd -> 3d, (ED ROSS HIP)*] or: [and -> 2nd, (RD ED ROSS hIp)*]
3	Paint removal where 1000 replaced old Windows (8) EMULSION. EXPULSION w/ XP -> M
5	With activity, you interrupt sailor snoring (5) ABUZZ. U in AB + ZZ
6	Water over temperature; over 90 bar (6) EXCEPT. PEE< + T w/ XC in
7	I give Carol, say, something piping (5) ICING. Hom. of I SING
8	Quash Cat's broadcast revealing mysterious creature (9) SASQUATCH. (QUASHCATS)*
9	Gift in Spain; what's in hit hard (8) BEQUEATH. QUE in BEAT + H
15	Holiday confusing for base reasons? (9) CHRISTMAS. or HALLOWEEN. This is the unfair clue; refer to the overall explanation.
16	Perform, as Ted would to get touted? (5,3) CARRYOUT. TED -> TOUTED by carrying OUT
18	I took over as leader for Bugs Moran, mad fool (9) IGNORAMUS. (I bUGS MORAN)*
19	Maybe aware with knowledge to come out of retirement (8) REAWAKEN. (AWARE)* + KEN
22	Improve Ellen and Cavendish's housing to include central atrium (6) ENRICH. atRIum in ElleN CavendisH
24	In positions; 2 to suspend natural algorithm following utter disaster (5) SNAFU. or ERROR. Either: [2 -> 1, Suspend Natural Algorithm Following Utter] or: [2 -> 5, suspEnd natuRal algoRithm follOwing utteR]
26	Turned up Italian sauce's sweetener (5) SUGAR. RAGU'S<
28	Giant achieving no ends (5) ETTIN. gETTINg

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Other

Corrected characters: (12) See explanation after full reveal

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