No 13209, Wednesday 31 Mar 2021, Anon

Solution to 8D 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.

ACROSS

1   Competence at organising foyer picnic (11) PROFICIENCY*

9   Secrecy about road’s condition? Not at first (7) STEALTH {ST}{hEALTH}

10 On regular roof, statue is well-built (6) ROBUST {RoOf}{BUST}

11 Measuring instrument looks the same from both ends (5) RADAR <=>

12 Squeeze half of them with steel (7) EMBRACE {thEM}{BRACE}

15 Roman emperor starts new era ruling obscenely (4) NERO Acrostic

16 In a riot, await flyer, spend wastefully (6,4) TRIFLE AWAY*

18 Being understanding towards them? Useless! (10) EMPATHETIC {'EM}{PATHETIC}

20 At deli, cook is not working (4) IDLE*

23 Copy-cats or birds? (7) PARROTS [DD]

24 Proposition left to Austen heroine? (5) LEMMA {L}{EMMA}

26 King, new, Conservative, leaves for German capital (6) REGENT RE(-c+g)ENT

27 Headgear for democrat leader surrounded by fruit (7) BANDANA {BAN{De...t}ANA}

28 Thoughtful desecration? Ridiculous! (11) CONSIDERATE*

DOWN

2   Monarchs’ measuring devices (6) RULERS [DD]

3   Alpine wind on flowerless plant, we hear (4) FOHN (~fern)

4   Confirm fun making sweet bread? (4,6) CORN MUFFIN*

5   Boarded Biblical boat inside plant (8) EMBARKED {EMB{ARK}ED}

6   Funds to frighten money-spinner (4,3) CASH COW {CASH}{COW}

7   Alienated eccentric caught in regular eddy (9) ESTRANGED {Ed{STRANGE}Dy}

8   Fixer to stray, lose way even (6) ?E?D?R (Addendum - MENDER MEaNDER - See comments)

13 Adjusted to the East, leaderless, old-fashioned (10) ORIENTATED {ORIENT}{dATED}

14 A hardy bed dismantled in Indian city (9) HYDERABAD*

17 Appetisers in ship contain sour irregular pear (8) STARTERS {S{TART}{pEaR}S}

19 Vesper at venue with odd book (7) PLACEBO {PLACE}{BoOk}

21 Humiliate cardinal who protects the meek partially (6) DEMEAN {DE{MEek}AN}

22 Scheme for alien on Earth, say (6) PLANET {PLAN}{ET}

25 Extreme letters from daubers (4) UBER [T]

Reference List

Left = L, Conservative = C, Ship = SS

No 13208, Tuesday 30 Mar 2021, Lightning

Solution to 29A 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.

ACROSS

1   Spinner to rule Gambhir, Sehwag and Dravid perhaps? (3,5) TOP ORDER {TOP}ORDER}

5   Disallow odd golden ornament (6) BANGLE {BAN}{GoLdEn}

9   Adjust excellent and standard pitch (4-4) FINE-TUNE {FINE}{TUNE}

10 Damage one flute that is useless (6) FUTILE {1+FLUTE}*

12 Presses clubs (5) IRONS [DD]

13 Revolutionary act dividing group with fortune — it could be dangerous (5,4) BLOOD CLOT {BLO{DO<=}C}{LOT}

14 Shape of approximately short line on earth (6) CIRCLE {CIRCa}{L}{E}

16 Language with quip to throw a punch at one (7) PUNJABI {PUN}{JAB}{1}

19 Very happy, Penny left relieved (7) PLEASED {P}{L}{EASED}

21 Essex empty, partly free from obligation (6) EXEMPT {EX}{EMPTy} (Correction = [T] - See comments)

23 Dealt with gunshot outside Los Angeles in fierce attack (9) ONSLAUGHT {ONS{LA}UGHT*}

25 Right unit to measure land by river is more uncommon (5) RARER {R}{ARE}{R}

26 Unexpected metal I see on the radio (6) IRONIC {IRON}{I}{C}(~ see)

27 Act of cruelty at part of Rome and Venice? (8) ATROCITY {AT}{ROme}{CITY}

28 Attract last listener (6) ENDEAR {END}{EAR}

29 Bound by editor, it ends broadcast (8) ?E?T?N?D (Addendum - DESTINED {IT+ENDS}*{ED} - See comments})

DOWN

1   Quarrel at home for light meal (6) TIFFIN {TIFF}{IN}

2   Top men aim to be cast in Christmas entertainment (9) PANTOMIME*

3   King had second ranks (5) RATES {R}{ATE}{S}

4   When no blessing held honour (7) ENNOBLE [T]

6   A roll with salsa for one is plenty (9) ABUNDANCE {A}{BUN}{DANCE}

7   Breathing device — without resistance, it could burn (5) GRILL {G{R}ILL}

8   Choose to trim cost of a type of eco-friendly car (8) ELECTRIC {ELECT}{pRICe}

11 Swimming area up north — it’s closed (4) LOOP <=

15 Fellow actor joins one accountant in this country (5,4) COSTA RICA {COSTAR}{1}{CA}

17 Like individual without one smear (9) ASPERSION {AS}{PERS{1}ON}

18 Ordinary and not a suitable antonym, say (8) OPPOSITE {O}{aPPOSITE}

20 Appreciates lodgings (4) DIGS [DD]

21 Sent it left withholding permit (7) ENTITLE [T]

22 Sincerely requested salary to cover royal education (6) PRAYED {P{R}AY}{ED}

24 Saint not enthusiastic to criticise (5) SCOLD {S}{COLD}

25 Part of plant, around the tip of stem providing shelter for birds (5) ROOST {ROO{Stem}T}

Reference List

Line = L, Earth = E, Penny = P, Left = L, Right = R, River = R, King = R, Second = S, Resistance = R, Ordinary = O, Royal = R, Education = ED, Saint = S

No 13207, Monday 29 Mar 2021, Incognito

Solution to 4D 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.

ACROSS

8   Detest hotel at end of avenue (4) HATE {H}{AT}{a...uE}

9   Entertainment, initially on platform, before time (5) OPERA {On}{Pl...m}{ERA}

10 First man in Dharwad, a musician (4) ADAM [T]

11 Arterial blocks... may be mobile (6) EMBOLI*

12 Mice bile concoction for fool (8) IMBECILE*

13 Outdated and damaged bootees wrapped around leg initially (8) OBSOLETE {OBSO{Leg}ETE*}

15 Dancing lads with half tutu for grown ups (6) ADULTS {LADS+TUtu}*

17 Worried? Dip limb in ale before commencement of dinner (7) ALARMED {AL{ARM}E}{Di...r}

19 Normal assault course conducted in absence of escort (2,5) AS USUAL {ASSAULt+coUrse}*

22 Elegant bird with King at the end of party (6) SWANKY {SWAN}{K}{p..tY}

24 “Flower’s edge” in non-poetic writing (8) PRIMROSE {P{RIM}ROSE}

26 Variable resistor set as “Hotter” (8) RHEOSTAT*

28 GI’s jaw is broken? It’s a puzzle! (6) JIGSAW*

30 Word for area surrounded by water in Dali’s lexicon (4) ISLE [T]

31 Perhaps, a monarch earning extensive royalty, for starters (5) AMEER Acrostic &lit

32 Slim movie director (4) LEAN [DD]

DOWN

1   Moderately heated fight by militants in the beginning (4) WARM {WAR}{Mi...s}

2   Scheduled time for military operation? 00:00 (4,4) ZERO HOUR [DD]

3   Submissive doctor is endlessly ill... has some earache (6) DOCILE {DOC}{ILl}{Ea...e}

4   Also next to ship (7) ?E?I?E? (Addendum - BESIDES {BESIDE}{S} - See comments)

5   Some Africans release girl for Zulu and other Africans (8) ZAMBIANS (-g+z)ZAMBIANS

6   Ethnic Chinese person with Chinese uniform (6) MANCHU {MAN}{CH}{U}

7   Cry, “Ring” (4) CALL [DD]

14 Under bent elbow (5) BELOW*

16 Hot beverage at beginning of match session for groups of players (5) TEAMS {TEA}{Ma..h}{Se...n}

18 Mad Pat eying Pharaoh, for example (8) EGYPTIAN*

20 Fight saint on mat with broken leg (8) STRUGGLE {ST}{RUG}{LEG*}

21 Saw something like a leopard (7) SPOTTED [DD]

23 Loops ring into snouts (6) NOOSES {NO{O}SES}

25 Indian legal panel’s loss (6) INJURY {IN}{JURY}

27 That guy’s sister starts to make sibilant sound (4) HISS {HIS}{Si...r}

29 Middle Easterner found in car abroad (4) ARAB [T]

Reference List

Hotel = H, King = K, Ship = S, Girl = G, Zulu = Z, Uniform = U, Saint = ST,  Indian = IN

Special, Sunday 28 Mar 2021, Veeyares

Three answers per commenter till 6 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)

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword No 3143, Sunday 28 Mar 2021

ACROSS

1   Book, slim part of Bible, poetry without rhyme (5,5) BLANK VERSE {B}{LANK}{VERSE} 

6   Man perhaps somewhat misleading (4) ISLE [T]

9   Where you can bet sailors will give you a purgative (5,5) EPSOM SALTS {EPSOM}{SALTS}

10 Tense? Regularly take garlic powder (4) TALC {T}{gArLiC}

12 Leg at start of exercise being given circular motion and elevation? (9,2) LIMBERING UP {LIMB}{Ex...e}{RING}{UP} &lit

15 Everyman is taking speed in Elvis' home (7) MEMPHIS {ME}{MPH}{IS}

16 Translation of 'Danger!' before tip of epée is seen? (2,5) EN GARDE {DANGER*}{Epee} Semi&lit

17 Chemists use these witty comebacks (7) RETORTS [DD]

19 Prime Minister that is 7-10 year-old (7) BROWNIE {BROWN}{IE}

20 Trophy from a ceramics moulding held aloft (8,3) AMERICAS CUP {A}{CERAMICS*}{UP}

23 Native Americans seeing bear-like characters every so often (4) ERIE {bEaR+lIkE}

24 Amassed much water and industrial kit (4-6) PILE-DRIVER {PILED}{RIVER}

25 Empty kettle and glass vessels (4) KEGS {Ke..lE}{Gl.sS}

26 Wayward youth is behind fiery eruption somewhere in C Europe (10) BRATISLAVA {BRAT}{IS}{LAVA}

DOWN

1   Auntie looking up and down (4) BEEB <=>

2   In despair, looking up, seeing part of church (4) APSE [T<=]

3   Imminent White House inhabitant treated shark malaria (6,6) KAMALA HARRIS*

4   Theologian enthralled by opera's musicality (7) ERASMUS [T]

5   Primarily, something offered to herald ending (rude expression!) (2,5) SO THERE Acrostic &lit

7   Amazing seeing the Queen in second act of vandalism (10) STAGGERING {S}{TAGG{ER}ING}

8   In disguise, he'd creep in sneakily (10) ENCIPHERED* 

11 Struggle in France to order foie gras pies (5,2,5) SIEGE OF PARIS*

13 Jumped-up master, having absorbed a smattering of learning, extremely 'clever Dick'! (5,5) SMART ALECK {SMART{A}{Le,,,g}E*}{Cl...cK} &lit

14 Parenting where 'son comes first' is suffocating (10) SMOTHERING {MOTHERING}<=>{S}

18 Wound up about one that's more fearsome (7) SCARIER {SCAR}{RE<=} over {1}

19 His most famous character is never performed in modern theatre (7) BECKETT [CD]

21 Whereby type of light starts to enter animals? (4) UVEA {UV}{En..r}{An...s} &lit

22 Topic like 'Bigger Moustaches in EastEnders' (4) AREA (~'airier)

Reference List

Book = B, Tense = T, Queen = ER, About = RE 

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday # 30, Sunday 28 Mar 2021, Incognito

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday can be accessed at the link given below. The interactive version at the link is free, you just need to sign in using an email ID and password, no subscription is required.

The crossword is not being blogged as the annotations are provided in the interactive version itself which can be seen if you click on 'Show a hint' under the 'reveal' tab on the top.

The same will be posted on every Sunday at 6 AM.

Link to the Crossword

Enjoy.

No 13206, Saturday 27 Mar 2021, Incognito

 Across

8 General went back with prisoner, initially, to ex-PM of the United Kingdom (4) PEEL {LEE}{Prisoner}<=
9 Nations’ loss of talent when Indian god infiltrates into grey matter (5,5) BRAIN DRAIN {BRA{IN DRA}IN}
10 Lawrence goes around sets to get a fly (6) TSETSE {T{SETS}E}
11 The German goes back and slices bread for Barbarossa (8) REDBEARD {DER<=}{BREAD*}
12 Hitler, after losing European race, initially, is the first bridge player to make catalogues of persons to be eliminated (8) HITLISTS {HITLer}{IST}{S}
14 Sibling // found in a convent or hospital (6) SISTER (DD)
16 Twelve pies // for a Tamil leader (4) ANNA (DD)

17 Mob crowed without energy (5) CROWD {CROWeD}
18 America generally holds animals in this (4) CAGE (T)
19 Greek father in south India has Italian brandy (6) GRAPPA {GR}{APPA}
21 Swap old coins (8) EXCHANGE {EX}{CHANGE}
23 Put forward weapon, that is, an artillery piece (5,3) FIELD GUN {FIELD}{GUN}
26 Fall over the pond, as the British say, // before winter (6) AUTUMN (DD)
27 Mixture, um, found in clinics of doctors of yore (10) COMPOUNDER {COMPOUND}{ER}
28 Water storage // used by the armoured corps (4) TANK (DD)

Down

1 Limb twister found in a cricket team (3,7) LEG SPINNER {LEG}{SPINNER}
2 A small fleet I’ll float at sea (8) FLOTILLA {I'LL+FLOAT*}
3 Sailor Elizabeth became mother superior (6) ABBESS {AB}{BESS}
4 Just // light complexioned (4) FAIR (DD)
5 Doctor with adenoids coated metal (8) ANODISED {ADENOIDS*}
6 Pieces of underwear // that lawyers take to court (6) BRIEFS (DD)
7 Food, right on the seaside (4) PIER {PIE}{R}
13 Addressed some Pakistan-occupied Kashmir editors at first (5) SPOKE (Acrostic)
15 Betrothal // that a fighter pilot might look forward to during wartime (10) ENGAGEMENT (DD)
17 Mischievously CO and langur made loud noise (8) CLANGOUR {CO+LANGUR*}
18 In city, has time for purity (8) CHASTITY {C{HAS}{T}ITY}
20 Around the beginning of last year, Pops got abnormal growths (6) POLYPS {PO{Last}{Year}PS}
22 Hundred hairs can be found on furniture in barber shops (6) CHAIRS {C}{HAIRS}
24 Decrease metal that ferryboat contains in the beginning (4) IRON (Fe=Iron)
25 Dunce, having lost a cent, danced in the buff (4) NUDE {DUNcE*}

 

Reference List

General=Lee, Indian God=Indra, Lawrence=TE, The German=Der, Bridge player=S, Energy=E, Greek=Gr, Father in South India=Appa, Old=ex, Coins=Change, Um=Er
Sailor=Ab, Elizabeth=Bess, Right=R. Time=T, Hundred=C, Cent=C

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word,  Reference list word, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Opposite indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

 

No 13205, Friday 26 Mar 2021, Incognito

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS ON FRIDAYS ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only

The regular blog will replace the clues at 4 PM.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

8   Sound like a pig in fine surroundings (4) OINK {O{IN}K}

9   Charlie takes okra preparation to perish in a toadish way? (5)  CROAK {C}{OKRA}*

10 Brown horse’s initially rough cry (4) BRAY {B{Ro..h}AY}

11 Ring with master is for the Lord of the Underworld (6) OSIRIS {O}{SIR}{IS}

12 Possessed landing places for boats getting fishes (8) HADDOCKS {HAD}{DOCKS}

13 Englishman joked, “Supplied with proper tools” (8) EQUIPPED {E}{QUIPPED}

15 By means of large moving pictures with sound accompaniment (6) VIDEOS {VIDE}{OS}

17 Had bad shivering around midnight in capital city (7) BAGHDAD {HAD+BAD}* over {niGht}

19 American brain is addled about initial apathy in Scheherazade’s nights, perhaps (7) ARABIAN {A}{RABI{Ap...y}N*}

22 Sister catches little Caitlin and sports-person (6) SKATER {S{KATE}R}

24 Squash, for example, stray dog trapped within a short distance (8) CUCURBIT {CU{CUR}BIT}

26 Devious con urges bum (8) SCROUNGE*

28 Shout, “Elbow is bent around middle of niblick” (6) BELLOW {BEL{nibLick}OW}

30 Howl like an owl, “Too hot to be returned!” (4) HOOT [T<=]

31 Compére and addled notary absent during disturbance of tea ceremony (5) EMCEE {tEa+CErEMony}*

32 Right paddle makes sound possibly heard in the forest (4) ROAR {R}{OAR}

DOWN

1   That chap’s sister initially makes sibilant noise (4) HISS {HIS}{Si...r}

2   Kiss him excitedly around end of December and fight! (8) SKIRMISH {KISS+HIM}* over {d...eR}

3   Spills catsup and behaves badly (4,2) ACTS UP*

4   How dice is cast on leather, for example (7) COWHIDE*

5   Jumper who may carelessly drop to hasty conclusion (8) SKYDIVER [DD]

6   Overseas sailor’s on the street (6) ABROAD {AB}{ROAD}

7   Bishop’s ship’s woody exterior (4) BARK {B}{ARK}

14 Doctor? Yes and No! Perhaps a pretentious “Medical Officer” (5) QUACK {QU}{ACK}

16 Fine, a hog without tail is an animal! (5) OKAPI {OKAy}{PIg}

18 Set a piece of cooking equipment in middle of empty road (8) ARRANGED {A}{Roa{RANGE}D}

20 Robbers grab URLs deviously (8) BURGLARS*

21 Indian in southern church makes shrill note (7) SCREECH {S}{CREE}{CH}

23 Solicitors consume king-fishes (6) TROUTS {T{R}OUTS}

25 Wired: “Taxi was in the forefront” (6) CABLED {CAB}{LED}

27 Cold war boast? (4) CROW {C}{ROW}

29 Say, “Part of 8”? That’s fine! (4) OKAY 

Reference List

Charlie = C, Englishman = E, Large = OS, American = A, Right = R, Sailor = AB, Bishop = B, Southern = S, Church = CH, King = R, Cold = C 

No 13204, Thursday 25 Mar 2021, Neyartha

Solution to 9A 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.

ACROSS

1   Deterrent power finds place in an absurd policy chart (12) PROPHYLACTIC {P} in {POLICY+CHART}*

8   Approve of the French returning for the Oriental naval officer (7) ADMIRAL ADMIR(-e+la<=}AL

9   Classes with information on the sound wave detector end in turmoil (6) G?N?R? 

11 Gloomy number by clumsy Rob welcomed by Sue from the west (9) TENEBROUS {TEN}{E{ROB*}US<=}

12 A selection of travel items for the upper classes (5) ELITE [T]

14 Sculpture technique revealed by a graduate on Sabbath with calmness (3,6) BAS RELIEF {BA}{S}{RELIEF}

16 One seeking enlightenment leading youth onto greater ideals (4) YOGI Acrostic

18 Auditor’s twin in a fight for honour (4) DUEL (~dual)

19 Elevated playing area where appeals can be heard? (4,5) HIGH COURT {HIGH}{COURT}

21 Bat’s left with no role in this contribution to the score (5) EXTRA [CD]

22 Please consider... (9) ENTERTAIN [DD]

23 ... getting protected from the upsetting note attached to the decorated menu (6) IMMUNE {IM<=}{MUNE*}

25 Creeper placed around a small quantity of a medical breakthrough (7) VACCINE{V{A}{CC}INE}

26 Grasp the mark indicating one of the possible horizontal directions (7,5) COMPASS POINT {COMPASS}{POINT}

DOWN

2   Awakening memories of a track official from the south holding burning incense after losing heart (11) REMINISCENT {REMI{INCeNSE*}T<=}

3   Doctor perturbed as model goes missing with a pedigreed animal (8) PUREBRED PREtURBED*

4   Wise Holly at sea turns sallow (9) YELLOWISH*

5   American soldier jumping into the ocean turns up for sponsorship (5) AEGIS {AE{GI}S<=}

6   Energy expelled by one sensitive to inflammatory material (6) TINDER T(-e+i)INDER

7   Pursuit cut short prior to reversal of the vehicle (3) CAR RACe<=

8   Bait Edison prepared with proteins to counter diseases (10) ANTIBODIES*

10 Underground opposition? (10) RESISTANCE [C&DD]

13 Shot aimed to protect? (11) INOCULATION [CD]

15 Leading French university admits sheltering the Italian runaways (9) FUGITIVES {Fr...h}{U}{G{IT}IVES}

17 Macroscopic modifications made before Pam’s departure in a dust storm (8) SCIROCCO maCROSCOpIC*

20 Abhorred by nature? (6) VACUUM [CD]

22 A segment of the gene manipulated in an uncomfortable medical procedure (5) ENEMA [T]

24 Raincoat made of rubberised fabric by an Austrian physicist reportedly (3) MAC (~mach)

Reference List

Power = P, The in Frenceh = LA, Oriental = E, Sabbath = S, Note = MI, Model = T, Energy = E 

Gridman retires

As I had mentioned in the regular post of today, I am reiterating the same here.

Gridman who is undoubtedly the most liked and revered setter among all the setters for The Hindu Crosswords, besides being the longest serving setter. It is unfortunate for all of us that he had to take this decision due to health issues. We will definitely miss him as a setter but I am sure he will continue to guide us with his comments.

Please do leave a comment in the comments section about your interactions with him as also anything else that you wuld like to add.

Gridman aka Chaturvasi aka CV has been the pillar of The Hindu Crosswords and each and every one of us will miss his Crosswords.

I on behalf of all of us respect his decision and wish him all the best for the years to come.

No 13203, Wednesday 24 Mar 2021, Arden

Solution to 23D 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.

ACROSS

1   Gas not even cool when compressed (6,8) CARBON MONOXIDE [CD?] (Addendum - CoOl - See comments)

10 Laws protect, even conceal a resident (5) LOCAL {L{cOnCeAl}L}

11 Dispatched outside — bad scene, being old (9) SENESCENT {SE{SCENE*}NT}

12 Language of money (7) GUARANI [DD]

13 Maybe Minneapolis lost its main character (7) EPSILON minNEaPOLIS*

14 Cat’s finally falling in step (5) TIGER {TI{f...nG}ER}

16 Explain cryptic clue on ‘Indian fruit’ (9) ELUCIDATE {CLUE*}{I}{DATE}

19 One plays around island or many islands in one place? (9) POLYNESIA {ONE+PLAYS}* over {I}

20 Tailor only new material (5) NYLON {ONLY+N}*

22 Announcer assumes Rechabite is an animal (7) CRITTER {CRI{TT}ER}

25 Block in later version covers very short distance (7) TRAMMEL {TRA{MM}EL*} 

27 Different rationale for one who cedes ownership rights (9) ALIENATOR*

28 Inverse part? (5) CANTO [CD]

29 Avoids name in supplement, playboys play a childish game (5,3,6) DUCKS AND DRAKES {DUCKS}{A{N}DD}{RAKES}

DOWN

2   Perhaps Michael originally made a switch to enter both sides (9) ARCHANGEL {A}{R}{CHANGE}{L}

3   Lift a chunk of wood (5) BALSA {A}{SLAB}<=

4   New wine kept overhead shows unsavouriness (9) NASTINESS {N}{ASTI}{NESS}

5   Cat under pressure will jump (5) OUNCE pOUNCE

6   Doubt at regular intervals before sitting — that’s the thing (9) OBSESSION {dOuBt}{SESSION}

7   Perfect to hide a long time inside (5) IDEAL [T]

8   Understanding how to divide thirty into three equal parts, essentially (7) ENTENTE Anno pending (Addendum - tEN TEN TEn - See comments)

9   Promise pickle or jam (6) PLIGHT [DD]

15 Replace inspector general or replace those who call your attention (9) RINGTONES {INSpecTOr+GeNERal}* [CA]

17 May be unrelated but stiil same (9) UNALTERED*

18 Everyone will ask daughter to leave before the last dance (9) ALLEMANDE {ALL}{dEMAND}{thE}

19 It’s daily incase of a bird (7) POCHARD {PO{CHAR}D}

21 Hold light to cover left side primarily (6) NELSON {NE{Left}{Side}ON}

23 One line clue at the very top about a bone (5) I?I?C (Addendum - ILIAC {1}{L}{1A}{C} - See comments)

24 Managed to stay in and inform (3,2) RAT ON {RA{TO}N}

26 Capital account — one that supports credit (5) ACCRA {AC}{CR}{A}

Reference List

Law = L, Indian = I, Island = I, Name = N, New = N, Pressure = P. Daughter = D

No 13202, Tuesday 23 Mar 2021, Arden

Solution to 12A 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.

ACROSS

1   Do second language, start with German (7) SHINDIG {S}{HINDI}{G}

5   Show time — long to be outside (7) PAGEANT {P{AGE}ANT}

9   Herb returned shortly to America (5) SUMAC {CAMe}{US}<=

10 Love talk with naked lady (9) ADORATION {lADy}{ORATION}

11 Valet or cook — many afraid to leave midway (3,6) MAN FRIDAY {MANY+AFRaID}*

12 Leaders go to the bottom with crime detector (5) S?N?R (Addendum - SONAR (-ar)SON(+ar)AR - See comments)

13 Insect bite in reverse (4) GNAT<=

15 Quick inspection of cooperative banks on both sides (4-4) ONCE-OVER {Co...vE} in {ON} and {OVER}

18 Long term contract’s no good (8) DECADENT {DECADE}{NT}

19 Regularly read idea from Norse folklore (4) EDDA {rEaD+iDeA}

22 Spirit imbibed — get hospitalised (5) ETHOS [T]

24 Celebration for planetary transit over a grid, perhaps (5,4) MARDI GRAS {MAR{A+GRID}*S}

26 Genuine gold article and tin mixed about (9) AUTHENTIC {AU}{THE}{TIN*}{C}

27 Step in to include the horse (5) PINTO [T]

28 Decline in entrance to finish one off (7) GAROTTE {GA{ROT}TE}

29 Strange way to cover something prominent (7) SALIENT {S{ALIEN}T}

DOWN

1   Follow directions on identical oil producer (6) SESAME {S}{E}{SAME}

2   State of being inherent in men, came out (9) IMMANENCE*

3   Colour scheme inside corner room (5) DECOR [T]

4   “Thousand moons” — direction is awe-inspiring (9) GRANDIOSE {GRAND}{IO}{SE} (Correction {GRAND}{IOS}{E} - See comments)

5   A flower changes, in short, Penelope’s heart (5) PEONY PE(-n+o)ONY

6   Close to booming, boy’s voice reached a PM once (9) GLADSTONE {b...nG}{LADS}{TONE}

7   One’s right under, that’s strange (5) ALIEN {A}{LIEN}

8   Fish doctor’s intervention is plain (6) TUNDRA {TUN{DR}A}

14 Temporary accommodation, rain’s pouring in (9) TRANSIENT {T{RAINS}*ENT}

16 Complaints about laws broken by a sailor (9) CATARACTS {C}{A}{TAR}{ACTS}

17 Tolerance, with Cobalt correctly counterbalanced (9) ENDURANCE coUNtERbalANCED* [CA]

20 Atonement — church goes for good in the city (6) PENANG PENAN(-ce+G)G

21 Mad democrats - mad to accompany them (6) ESCORT dEmOCRaTS* [CA]

23 Heart problems? One doesn’t like it (5) HATER*

24 Most of the thing is dull (5) MATTE MATTEr

25 Force politician to get involved in raising some money (5) IMPEL {I{MP}EL<=}

Reference List

Second = S, German = G, Contract = NT (In Bridge), About = C, Sailor = TAR, Church = CE, Money = LEI