No 14799, Thursday 21 May 2026, Gussalufz

Solution to 7D 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.

BY GEORGE!

ACROSS

1   European in hurry, cycling for show (5) USHER {E} in {(-r)USH(+r)R}

4   Supported revolutionary Polish pacifist, right? (5,4) TIDED OVER {EDIT<=}{DOVE}{R}

9   West Indian player's style: play flamboyantly well, chasing century (7) CALYPSO {PLAY*}{SO}<=>{C}

10 Chest scratched on both sides? Characteristic of fretfulness (7) COFFRET [T]

11 Man, perhaps I'm boring, overly fussy (6) ANIMAL {AN{IM}AL}

12 Stick slice of orange in bread—pastry! (8) NAPOLEON {NA{POLE}{Or...e}N

14 Gluttons slurp revoltingly, guzzling gallons (4) PIGS {S{G}IP<=}

15 Worried if flu U-turn is something not likely to yield (10) UNFRUITFUL*

18 With constraints dropped, Agent-I lessened courteous behaviour (10) GENTILESSE [T] Not exactly constraints that are dropped?

19 Till supply ends / first of February (4) FARM {ARM}<=>{Fe...y}

22 Unethical lab won; safeguards partially retracted? Swell! (8) SNOWBALL [T<=]

24 Popcorn ABC? (6) CARBON {CORN+AB}*

26 Firm absurdly leaden, time to intervene (2,5) AL DENTE {LEADEN}* over {T}

27 Exciting undergarment and new shirt, after six (7) VIBRANT {BRA}{N}{T}<=>{VI}

28 Deodorise extravagantly around centre of navel, conceding, "I used too much" (9) OVERDOSED {DEODORiSE}* over {naVel}

29 Dog//fighter? (5) BOXER [DD]

DOWN

1   Release snake under bulk of relative (7) UNCLASP {ASP}<=>{UNCLe}

2   Continuing with unfinished holy dip? No, god no! (7,2) HOLDING ON {HOLy}{DIp}{No}{GOd}{No}

3   Withdraw and go authentic, says Rev. Spooner (6) REPEAL (~pee real to repeal)

4   Excessively large organ (4) TOOL {TOO}{L}

5   A tense detective from the south: "Lock this tyrant!" (10) DICTATRESS {A}{T}{CID}<={TRESS}

6   Flower's top decomposed one day after coming up (8) DAFFODIL {LID}{OFF}{A}{D}<=

7   Very complete bar, special spirit (5) V?R?E (Addendum - VERVE {V}{sERVE} - See comments)

8   It's about parts of kidneys, about part of eye (7) RETINAL {RE{IT<=}NAL}

13 Being not OK with news—sullen, distressed (10) UNWELLNESS*

16 Female hit lovers with torches (9) FLAMBEAUX {F}{LAM}{BEAUX}

17 Stripped and dressed bird, including part of skeleton (8) RIBBONED {RIB{BONE}D*}

18 Bad cops with backing? Nothing touches, say! (7) GESTAPO {O}{PATS}{EG}<=

20 Brute force unleashed by Mrs., often randomly (7) MONSTER {MRS+OfTEN}*

21 Tree regularly seen by a tomb, maybe (6) BAOBAB {By+A+tOmB+mAyBe}

23 Love left to wither, that's nothing new (5) OLDIE {O}{L}{DIE}

25 A film that's intense (4) AVID {A}{VID}

Reference List

European = E, Right = R, Well = SO, Century = C, Gallons = G, Time = T, New = N, Shirt = T, Large = L, Tense = T, Lock = TRESS, Day = D, Very = V, Special = S, Female = F, Force = F, Left = L

No 14798, Wednesday 20 May 2026, Gussalufz

Solution to 28A 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.

FIVE FIRSTS

ACROSS

1   I.A.S.-mess-rejected paneer is cooked for groom (5) PREEN {PaNEER+is}*

4   Think, essentially during rehabilitating, dad's peer lost hope (9) DESPAIRED {thInk}* in {DADS+PEER}*

9   Therefore, time to get into fried roti and rice dish (7) RISOTTO {SO}{T} in {ROTI}*

10 I caught hint of lightheartedness in tear-jerking piece (7) ARTICLE {ART{I}{C}{Li...s}E*}

11 "Am like this" statement of kinky person's sex life (4-10) SELF-EXPRESSION {PERSONS+SEX+LIFE}* {PERSONS+SEX+LIFE}*

12 Has secretly grown stronger (4) OWNS [T]

13 Internal communication terminals? Never send shocking letters (5,4) NERVE ENDS*

17 Brought balance to English squad? Lie, unfortunately (9) EQUALISED {E}{SQUAD+LIE}*

19 So savage, revolting! (4) ERGO<=

22 Typical daily routine, retired father's habit (14) CHARACTERISTIC {CHAR}{ACT}{SIRE<=}{TIC}

25 Muslim League Dr. regularly rejected separation theory? (7) DUALISM {MuSlIm+LeAgUe+Dr}<=

26 Call mum, son's misbehaving (7) SUMMONS*

27 Thought Tendulkar initially did umpiring all around (9) MEDITATED {MEDI{Te...r}ATED}

28 Jam? Badgers not sure (5) P?E?S (Addendum - PRESS PRESsureS - See comments)

DOWN

1   Whisper: "Is cop ethically carrying navy instrument?" (9) PERISCOPE [T]

2   Greek character cycled solo, drinking sip after exercising (7) EPSILON {(+e)ELON(-e)} over {SIP}*

3   Tune cocktail, adding minute bit of ground spice (6) NUTMEG {TUNE}* over {M} and {Gr...d}

4   Dung drips, pong spreads (9) DROPPINGS*

5   Film mount (5) SCALE [DD]

6   Cadet, set target somewhat westward; confirmed? (8) ATTESTED [T<=]

7   Nocturnal creature gallivanting on a croc (7) RACCOON*

8   Outstanding tenor song (4) DUET {DUE}{T}

14 Put right colour on unfinished sweet after flipping (9) REDRESSED {RED}{DESSERt<=}

15 Arrays of small pipes constraining toilet area (9) SHOWCASES {S}{HO{WC}{A}SES}

16 Philanthrope, gangster, one inspired by faith (8) ALTRUIST {AL}{TRU{1}ST}

18 Never listened to you (reportedly) and her frolicking (7) UNHEARD {(~you)U)(AND+HER}*

20 Fury wife unleashed on staff, blowing top for dirty room (7) RATHOLE {wRATH}{pOLE}

21 Stabilise tree stump, cutting 40% off (4,2) FIRM UP {FIR}{stUMP}*

23 Around peak of Olympus, encountered heavenly sight (5) COMET {C}{Ol...s}{MET}

24 Feature gains depth deleting tense reference entry (4) IDEM I(+d-t)DEM

Reference List

Time = T, English = E, Minute = M, Tenor = T, Small = S, Toilet = WC, Area = A, Gangster = AL(Capone), Wife = W, Around = C, Depth = D, Tense = T