No 14738, Wednesday 11 Mar 2026, Hypatia

Solution to 16D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered by a non-regular/novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Dilapidated mine hidden by "Private" sign (6) GEMINI {G{MINE*}I}

9   Praise active president's detailed scheme on employment (8) APPLAUSE {A}{P}{PLAn}{USE}

10 Freezes pickles to finish off, per Spooner (5,5) KEEPS STILL (~steeps kill to keeps still)

11 Those people's leader killed for the next in line (4) HEIR tHEIR

12 City in America managed to block foreign visa (8) VARANASI {V{A}{RAN}ASI*}

14 Once, Singh has frequently filed stable reports? (6) NEIGHS {oNcE+sInGh+HaS}

15 Please switch off? (7) DELIGHT {DE-LIGHT}

17 Selection of top end antique hanging (7) PENDANT [T]

20 Sadly rejected morning greeting (6) SALAAM {ALAS<=}{AM}

22 Epic of an army fighting to save Sita, ultimately close to Lanka (8) RAMAYANA {AN+ARMY}* over {sitA} and {l..kA}

24 Polish chiefly brightening up faded furniture (4) BUFF Acrostic

25 Huge island warring became neglected (10) LANGUISHED*

27 Expect gangster to conceal hint in treason (8) BETRAYAL {BET}{AL} over {RAY}

28 Threads covering oriental pines (6) YEARNS {Y{E}ARNS}

DOWN

1   Make fresh green tea (8) GENERATE*

2   Stubbing member's foot softly, walk unsteadily (4) LIMP {LIMb}{P}

3   Party food includes extra spicy, tasty appetisers for starters (6) FIESTA Acrostic Semi&lit

4   Often a weak point hits large deer (7) WAPITIS {WeAk+PoInT+hItS}

5   Wealth of old, posh lecturer invested in British coins (8) OPULENCE {O}{P{U}{L}ENCE}

6   In Riyadh, a situation that's beyond control (3,4,3) BAD HAIR DAY {RIYADH+A}* [RA]

7   Wodehouse character - positive male in this novel (6) PSMITH {P}{S{M}ITH*}

13 Book in Hindi initially isn't available to translate a Rahman film (6,4) ANIMAL FARM  {A+RAhMAN+FILM}*

16 Mountain ash layer scattering this range with neutrons (8) H?M?L?Y?  

18 Parts of snake repeatedly used in Chinese clothes (8) NANKEENS* [Letterbank]

19 Twist removing a clear plastic around tattoo (7) CRINKLE {CLEaR}* over {INK}

21 Hysteria cum envy constraining judgement (6) ACUMEN [T]

23 Dynasty that ruled ancient city immersed in illusion (6) MAURYA {MA{UR}YA}

26 Battle arising from strikes (4) SPAR<=

Reference List

Private = GI, Active = A, President = P, America = A, Gangster = AL(Capone), Oriental = E, Softly = P, Old = O, Posh = U, Lecturer = L, Positive = P, Male = M, Ancient city = UR, Illusion = MAYA

No 14737, Tuesday 10 Mar 2026, Hypatia

Solution to 3D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered by a non-regular/novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Presents containing essence of full flowers (6) TULIPS {T{fULl}IPS}

4   Hypocritical woman behind bar, filling mug in retro party (3-5) TWO-FACED {W}<=>{T} and {FACE<=} in {DO<=}

9   Remembrance of note, really vacuous (6) MEMORY {MEMO}{Re..lY}

10 Attributes of journalist probing American society (8) ASCRIBES {A}{SCRIBE}{S}

11 Similarity in writing (14) CORRESPONDENCE [DD]

13 Spooner's sweet turns on large rats (10) BANDICOOTS (~candy boots to bandicoots)

14 Devices from entrances allow transacting money securely (1,1,1,1) ATMS Acrostic

16 Indian bread, banana and sandwiches (4) NAAN [T]

18 Type of labourers who repair or call (4-6) BLUE-COLLAR {OR+CALL}* [RA]

21 Where a wildlife photographer won't be seen sitting pretty (5,2,3,4) AHEAD OF THE GAME [DD]

23 Fat spectacles worn by active Italian (5,3) OLIVE OIL {O{LIVE}O}{IL}

24 Collection of fliers by A.I. blocking change (6) AVIARY {A}{V{I}ARY}

25 Plan moving targets to end of July (8) STRATEGY {TARGETS*}{julY}

26 Fly Westbound planes testing limits (6) TSETSE [T<=]

DOWN

1   Sacrificing independence in life, say for a pet (4) TAME T(-i+a)AME

2   Make fun of a maiden in swimming pool before noon (7) LAMPOON {L{A}M}POO*}{N}

3   Left without putting up single painting or picture (8) P?R?R?I? (Addendum - PORTRAIT {POR} over {1+ART}<= - See comments)

5   The most wide buckles for backbiters? (6,5) WISDOM TEETH*

6   Units of carry and use oddly rejected (6) FARADS {oF+cArRy+AnD+uSe} 

7   Group of ministers can't be gallivanting outside India (7) CABINET {CANT+BE}* over {I}

8   Doctor presides over new pharmacist (9) DISPENSER {PRESIDES}* over {N}

12 Changing places involving work, student's stealing (11) SHOPLIFTING {SH{OP}{L}IFTING}

13 Girl and old women stuffing pastries in houses (9) BUNGALOWS {BUN{GAL}{O}{W}S}

15 Overlooks very boring fellow's drunken binges (8) FORGIVES {F}{ORGI{V}ES}

17 Binged on story joining reading workshop (7) ATELIER {ATE}{LIE}{R}

19 Thrash bachelor chasing maiden in terminal (7) LAMBAST {BA}<=>{M} in {LAST}

20 Frequently find clues set that are least likely to work (6) IDLEST {fInD+cLuEs+SeT}

22 What's behind much flashy build-up, maybe! (4) HYPE Tail Acrostic Semi&lit

Reference List

Woman = W, Bar = T, Party = DO, American = A, Society = S, Spectacles = OO, Italian = IL, Independence = I, Maiden = M, Noon = N, India = I, New = N, Student = L, Old = O, Women = W, Very = V, Fellow = F, Reading = R, Bachelor = BA