No 14743, Tuesday 17 Mar 2026, Pixie Dust

Have an early morning drive, so leaving the CW for the regulars. Will update the post later in the evening.

Three answers per commenter till 1 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

ACROSS

1   Diplomatic organisation's mainly political acknowledgement, brief & empty (6)

5   Gossip about satisfactory sex, (ultimate fantasy!) and celibacy (8)

9   Reverend's not pleased at first, to admit Switzerland's sailing vessel (8)

10 Picked up rows, few and far between (6)

11 Imperious dad in Paris, meets conservative member of parliament going ahead (10)

12 Yes, cycled around park, See! (4)

13 My one emergency fund? (3,5)

16 Finally locked abusive chef, without official delay, skilfully (6)

17 Try solid, clipped font (6)

19 Pipes too can be different (8)

21 Grave stand to begin with, bishop is extremely righteous? (4)

22 Busybody's late - frequently picked on? (10)

25 Analyse speed of light and unit of distance (6)

26 Sea captain spends energy and prime resources for a tall pole that supports the sails (8)

27 On vacation referee is back with double net (8)

28 Tempestuous stud smuggles gold for members of a royal family (6)

DOWN

2   Mother of Pearl, adventurer (Canadian) carried from the south (5)

3   Make up for amateur kicking small rock (5)

4   Spooner orders: "Call Uncle Boss!" (7)

5   Swear endlessly or begin to yell, it's unmindful (7)

6   Surveyed a small state, extremely excluded (7)

7   Sad effort deployed to reach some kind of compromises (5-4)

8   Should this flier indiscriminately hold up stilettos? (4,5)

14 A magic toe developed these days? (6,3)

15 Overly theatrical actor upset with former Prime Minister's mentor (9)

18 Loosely cut each food additive (7)

19 Perfect gem capturing endless era (7)

20 Principal mistakenly protects one who works hand-in-hand with customer (7)

23 Modest statement:"I'm idealistic to a large extent (5)

24 Underdog's not the first person wrapping up deal successfully (5)

No 14742, Monday 16 Mar 2026, Saral

Solution to 14A 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

7   Crowded square got hotter (7) SWARMED {S}{WARMED}

8   Entry of a tax including charges primarily (6) ACCESS {A}{CESS} over {Ch...s}

9   Girl disheartened by long problem (6) GLITCH {GirL}{ITCH}

10 Playing shloka, initially bhajan at house (3,5) LOK SABHA {SHLOKA}*{Bh...n}{At}

11 Gangster controlling English reporters (international) in valley (10) DEPRESSION {D{E}{PRESS}{I}ON} 

13 Repaired sherwani, every now and then (4) SEWN {ShErWaNi}

14 Nearly squeeze large plant (4) ?I?L (Addendum - MILL {MILk}{L} - See comments)

16 Almost escape running in gap (5) SPACE ESCAPe*

18 Team leaders from several industrial departments enter (4) SIDE Acrostic

19 Shortly examine stable (4) STUD STUDy

21 Native sailor fixing an oil rig (10) ABORIGINAL {AB}{AN+OIL+RIG}

23 Fellow least bothered about one Victor in party (8) FESTIVAL {F}{EST{1}{V}AL*}

25 Creating new image for riddle (6) ENIGMA {N+IMAGE}*

26 Leave power grabbing society (6) RESIGN {RE{S}IGN}

27 Golden brown durians at first in fruit garden (7) ORCHARD {OR}{CHAR}{Du...n}

DOWN

1   Finished a type of exam relating to rural life (8) PASTORAL {PAST}{ORAL}

2   Stress from mishaps sadly after drug (8) EMPHASIS {MISHAPS}*<=>{E}

3   Heroine is dancing only lambada from the beginning (4) IDOL Acrostic

4   Knocked over container, spilling ink? Getting towel (6) NAPKIN {PAN<=}{INK*}

5   Drops fights (6) SCRAPS [DD]

6   Avoided shredded cheese with salad in the end (8) ESCHEWED {CHEESE+W}}*{s..aD}

7   Perhaps loves to answer (5) SOLVE*

12 Harry hid a ring in this place (5) IDAHO {HID+A}*{O}

15 Banks essentially tried badly to catch that man owing money (2,3,3) IN THE RED {baNks+TRIED}* over {HE}

17 Height of wall not fine outside pit (8) EMINENCE {fE{MINE}NCE}

18 Mark covering object below one master's weapon (8) SCIMITAR {SCAR} over {IT}<=>{1}{M}

20 Check and tie roughly (6) DETAIN*

21 Arrival of a director before opening (6) ADVENT {A}{D}{VENT}

22 Targeted media by mistake (5) AIMED*

24 John finally left stolen goods (4) LOOT {LOO}{lefT}

Reference List

Square = S, English = E, Large = l, Sailor = AB, Fellow = F, Victor = V, New = N, Society = S, Drug = E, With = W, Master = M, Director = D, John = LOO