No 14882, Wednesday 26 Aug 2026, Dr. X

HAPPY ONAM

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 10D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only 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   Playful sexual activity of Bond having drink with English lady in retreat (4,3,6) SLAP AND TICKLE {S{LAP}{AND}TICK} with {E}{L}<=

8   Massage the Spanish star (5) RIGEL {RIG}{EL}

9   Charges in Leeds animatedly after taking wicket (9) DELEGATES {DELE{GATE}S*}

11 See godson slyly stealing money - oh dear! (8,2) GOODNESS ME {SEE+GODSON}* over {M}

12 Wire-tap catches nationalist giving bribe (4) BUNG {BU{N}G}

14 Hint about turbulent ride in disturbed sea due to currents (4,3) TIDE RIP {T{RIDE*}IP}

16 Highest in quiz, dominates completely (7) TALLEST {T{ALL}EST}

17 Associate eventually checks innermost layers of blood vessel (7) INTIMAE {A} in {IN TIME}

19 Topless seaside resort in England is trendy (5-2) RIGHT-ON bRIGHTON

21 Girl on edge, becoming sullen (4) GRIM {G}{RIM}

22 American character beginning to feel good after controlling hot, quick temper (1,5,4) A SHORT FUSE {A}{SORT}{Feel}{USE} over {H}

25 Prominent feature of model on one's arm (5,4) ROMAN NOSE*

26 Consumed some wine at entertainment (5) EATEN [T]

27 Couple consuming ganja essentially and relaxing in flat (13) UNINTERESTING {UNI{gaNja}TE}{RESTING}

DOWN

2   Pursue large dog running around tree (7) LOGWOOD {WOO} in {L+DOG}*

3   Romp with lad in fancy European racecar perhaps (10) PALINDROME {ROMP+LAD+IN}*{E} DBE

4   Star in retreat cuddling extremely divine, unclad art models (5) NUDES {SUN<=} over {Di..nE}

5   Reel about the French master's scientific instrument (9) TELEMETER {TE{LE}{M}ETER}

6   Pound of cocaine on degenerate (4) CAGE {C}{AGE}

7   Vegetable cutlet served with starter of eggplant (7) LETTUCE {CUTLET*}{Eg...t}

8   Footballer erring with shot over top of goal (5-6) RIGHT-WINGER {ERRING+WITH}* over {Goal}

10 Guess the number in jar without looking (5,6) S?G?T ?N?E?N ()

13 One chasing blonde in gathering is most frivolous (10) FLIGHTIEST {I}<=>{LIGHT} in {FEST}

15 Emphasise how to return cursor to beginning of current active line (5,4) PRESS HOME [C&DD]

18 I am weak, taking vitamin (7) THIAMIN {TH{I}{AM}IN}

20 Relative enthralled by tenor performing in English county town (7) TAUNTON {T}{AUNT}{ON}

23 Selection of robes, extremely large (5) OBESE [T]

24 Informed about naked sot entering bar (2,2) IN ON {IN{sOt}N}

Reference List

English = E, Lady = L, The in Spanish = EL, Money = M, Nationalist = N, Associate = A, Girl = G, Hot = H, Pursue = WOO, Large = L, European = E, The in French = LE, Master = M, Cocaine = C, Tenor = T

No 14881, Tuesday 25 Aug 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 3D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only 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   Master dwelt on awful accident in nuclear reactor (8) MELTDOWN {M}{DWELT+ON}*

5   Extract from ripe cacao that's used to induce vomiting (6) IPECAC [T]

10 Mysterious moans in stately home (7) MANSION*

11 Wine merchant beginning to visit model in secret (7) VINTNER {Vi..t}{IN{T}NER}

12 Look at hunk, ultimately sexy (5) STUDY {STUD}{sexY}

13 Thievish con lures a drunk (9) LARCENOUS*

14 Cynthia baked crackers some time ago (4,2,3,3) BACK IN THE DAY*

18 Inadequate actions that pint drinkers avoid? (4,8) HALF MEASURES [C&DD]

21 Love to cuddle over essentially comfortable mat in front of fireplace (9) HEARTHRUG {HEART}{H{c...oRt...e}UG}

23 Ruffle Republican in charge (5) FRILL {F{R}ILL}

24 A con is running outside institute in capital city (7) NICOSIA {A+CON}* over {I}

25 Invalidate union with sick, regressive fellow in New York (7) NULLIFY {N{U}{ILL<=}{F}Y}

26 Provides vehicles to tour Tenerife on vacation (6) CATERS {CA{Te...fE}RS}

27 Extremely wealthy youth at premiere consuming ecstasy in fact is naive (4-4) DEWY-EYED {We...hY}{Yo..h} over {E} in {DEED}

DOWN

1   Starts to malign inept member, very upset about bloomer (6) MIMOSA {Ma...n}{In..t}{Me...r}{SO<=}{A}

2   Group enthralled by alcohol, in euphoria (4,2) LINE UP [T]

3   Raised millions to acquire secluded place producing milk (5,4) D?I?Y ?A?M (Addendum - DAIRY FARM {MYRIAD<=} over {FAR} - See comments))

4   New tea maker with new lid worked very well (4,4,1,5) WENT LIKE A DREAM {TEA+MAKER+NEW+LID}*

6   British coppers in compound caught rogue finally (5) PENCE {PEN}{C}{r..uE}

7   Bond interrupts criminals making agreements (8) CONCORDS {CON{CORD}S}

8   Bows and arrows at first removed from terribly rusty case (8) CURTSEYS {RUSTY+CaSE}*

9   Go nude in revel, cavorting after consuming cocaine in excess (14) OVERINDULGENCE {GO+NUDE+IN+REVEL+C}*

15 Hydrogen and nitrogen extracted essentially in a careful manner (9) HEEDFULLY {H}{nEEDFULLY}

16 Infernal leader of hoodlums restrained by chief, shot in the arm (8) CHTHONIC {CH}{T{Ho...s}ONIC}

17 Straightforward copper probing violent cartel (5-3) CLEAR-CUT {CLEAR{CU}T*}

19 Cotton fabric turning yellow, fraying at centre (6) DIMITY {TIMID<=}{fraYing}

20 Romped in Portugal with hot European lady (6) PLAYED {P}{E+LADY}*

22 Revolting scoundrel grabs son on base - it's shocking (5) TASER {RAT<=} over {S}{E}

Reference List

Master = M, Model = T, Republican = R, Institute = I, Union = U, Fellow = F, Ecstasy = E, About = A, Caught = C, Cocaine = C, Hydrogen = H, Nitrogen = N, Chief = CH, Portugal = P, European = E, Son = S, Base = E