No 13234, Thursday 29 Apr 2021, Dr. X

Lockdown Day 2 of 14 Stay Safe

Solution to 25A 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   Misgivings about mixing liquor and ecstasy — it’s a gamble (6,2,5) DOUBLE OR QUITS {DOUB{LIQUOR+E}*TS}

8   Spiteful person breaking heart (5) HATER*

9   Excellent marijuana on reflection, starting to feel cheerful (3,6) TOP FLIGHT {POT<=}{Feel}{LIGHT}

11 Unsettled by no self-confidence, one enters to propose (10) NEGOTIABLE {N}{EGO}{T{1}ABLE}

12 Brought back a garment worn by ancient Romans (4) TOGA [GOT back}{A}

14 Wrote on complicated series of musical notes (4,3) TONE ROW* 

16 Inspiration’s essentially difficult with deviated septum (7) IMPETUS {d..fIc..t}{SEPTUM*}

17 One roaming around, tense, wanting job essentially? (7) MIGRANT {RoAMING}*{T} &lit

19 Rumour about old man is disgusting (7) NOISOME {NOIS{O}{M}E}

21 University to reject computer operating system (4) UNIX {U}{NIX}

22 Innkeeper is throttled by guest on vacation — most creepy (10) GHOSTLIEST {Gues{HOST}{LIES}T} LIES from? See comments

25 Chance to come out drinking? Yeah! Extremely good time to get drunk (5,4) H?P?Y ?O?R (Addendum - {HAP}{P{YeaH}OUR} - See comments)

26 Shift closer to espy bird belonging to thrush family (5) VEERY {VEER}{espY}

27 Failed lads with ego shattered have an unhappy existence (4,1,4,4) LEAD A DOGS LIFE {FAILED+LADS+EGO}*

DOWN

2   Start to observe criminal holding revolver over a figure (7) OCTAGON {Ob...e}{C{GAT<=}ON}

3   Heartless brat snatches container with best dessert (5,5) BURNT CREAM {Br{URN}aT}{CREAM}

4   Accessory involved in sex trafficking (5) EXTRA [T]

5   Disgust shown by Republican facing dismissal after losing vote (9) REPULSION {R}{ExPULSION}

6   Loathsome guy freely snorting line (4) UGLY {UG{L}Y*}

7   Eviscerate revolting snake at bottom of mast in towing vessel (7) TUGBOAT {GUT<=}{BOA}{masT}

8   Show of surprise that’s precarious (4-2-5) HAND-TO-MOUTH [DD]

10 Model performed twirl in style briefly (11) TRANSIENTLY {T}{RAN}{IN+STYLE}* 

13 Share flat having staggered rooms (5,5) SPLIT LEVEL {SPLIT}{LEVEL}

15 Take care of controversy over Democrat’s slogan (9) WATCHWORD {WATCH}{ROW<=}{D}

18 Sight of exotic legs enthrals rascal (7) GLIMPSE {GL{IMP}SE*}

20 Personal identity of felons roaming around England (7) ONESELF {FELONS}* over {E}

23 Child entertained by humorous programme (5) SPROG [T]

24 Watched a little yacht in river capsizing (4) EYED {DE{Ya..t}E}<=

Reference List

Ecstas

= E, No = N, Tense = T, Old = O, Man = M, University = U, Republican = R, Vote = X, Line = L, Model = T, Democrat = D, England = E