No 13647, Monday 29 Aug 2022, Gussalufz

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   Dictator gets award for style (5) IDIOM {IDI}{OM}

4   Break — in theory — for European Commission in a month (9) DISMEMBER {D{-ec+ism)ISMEMBER}

9   Died horribly after consuming off-limits toxic compound (7) DIOXIDE {DI{tOXIc}DE*}

10 Anthem in American industrial city: Not Dead, Drug-Free (7) INTROIT {IN}{deTROIT}

11 Quietly substituted more brusque hotel employee? (6) PORTER (-sh+p)PORTER

12 Malt liquor that is almost alcohol-free and frequently free — new bar/tavern's revolution! (4,4) NEAR BEER {fReE+nEw+BaR+tAvErN}<=

14 Buy cycles for short journeys (4) HOPS (-s}HOP(+s)S

15 Snug orange pants? Mortified! (10) GANGRENOUS*

18 Exercising session can lead to higher achievements (10) ASCENSIONS*

19 Shouted, "Run away! Blood-sucking insect!" (4) FLEA(~flee)

22 Adjust to a new life in Rome's outskirts after leaving a Washington city (8) RESETTLE {RomE}{SEaTTLE}

24 After getting corrected, men are more unkind (6) MEANER*

26 Screen activity (7) PROJECT [DD]

27 "Game point!?" (Loses courage) (7) SQUAILS {S}{QUAILS}

28 Musicians and comics exchanging one-to-one letters (9) SITARISTS S(-a-i)IT(-i+a)ARISTS

29 Hollow males high over heroin — they are said to be attention-seeking (5) A?E?S (Addendum - AHEMS - {MAlES}* over {H}- See comments)

DOWN

1   Shrink division in popular hospital getting full! (2-5) IN-DEPTH {DEPT} in {IN}{H}

2   Is upcoming Portuguese city one roughly growing equally in every direction? (9) ISOTROPIC {IS}{PORTO<=}{I}{C}

3   Field in which electron bumps one over (6) MAIDEN MAID(-a+e)EN

4   Comedy, editorially trimmed at the edges and made more colourful (4) DYED {c..eDY+EDi...y}

5   Arms crushed in SUV, legs spread across the top of wheel (6-4) SWIVEL-GUNS {IN+SUV+LEGS}* over {Wh..l}

6   Restaurants in Spain had their videos shown every now and then (8) EATERIES {E}{hAd+ThEiR+vIdEoS}

7   Liquor that is second-rate, slimy stuff (5) BOOZE {B}{OOZE}

8   About to get joint with pot, old Bob comes back (7) RETURNS {RE}{T}{URN}{S} 

13 Blows hot and cold and makes empty boasts — sick! (10) VACILLATES {VAC{ILL}ATES}

16 God will send aging men lacking clothes this machine (3,6) OIL ENGINE {gOd+wILl+sENd+aGINg+mEn}

17 King spoiled a winter woollen garment? (8) KNITWEAR {K}{A+WINTER}*

18 Poor sap potters about (7) APROPOS*

20 Hair dryer set is regularly used for nails (7) ARRESTS {hAiR+dRyEr+SeT+iS}

21 Crab, perhaps unable to run? (6) NEBULA*

23 Intrepid ticket scalper pursuing seats in front (5) STOUT {TOUT}<=>{Se..s}

25 "Like the present, sis?" Answer coming up... (2,2) AS IS {SIS}{A}<=

Reference List

Award = OM(Order of Merit), In theory = ISM, European Commission = EC, Dead = D, Drug = E, Quietly = P, SH, Point = S(South), Heroin = H, Popular = IN, Hospital = H, Roughly = C, Electron = E, Spain = E, Second-rate = B, About = RE, Joint = T, Old Bob = S(Shilling), King = K