No 13745, Saturday 24 Dec 2022, Dr. X

Margazhi Day 9 Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

1   Mingle on bed with singles freely? It has advantages and disadvantages (5,8) MIXED BLESSING {MIX}{BED+SINGLES}*

8   Dog's coming back, crossing borders of estate - go faster! (3,2) GEE UP {G{Es..tE}UP<=}

9   Lukewarm chapatti rolls stuffed with a little eggplant (9) APATHETIC {CHAPATTI}* over {Eg...t}

11 Shoddy curtain, it's not aesthetically appealing (10) UNARTISTIC*

12 Rodent on a tree in New Zealand (4) RATA {RAT}{A}

14 Popular liberal arrested by leader for innuendo (7) INKLING {IN}{K{L}ING}

16 Silencer in front of pistol, a Luger perhaps (7) EARPLUG {Pi...l+A+LUGER}*

17 Bowed down to pick up musical instrument (7) SALUTED {SA{LUTE}D}

19 Society girls spending money to acquire Armani's latest big girl's blouses (7) SISSIES {S}{mISS{a...nI}ES}

21 Wanting right grill for kiln (4) OAST rOAST

22 Possible to separate from cheat cavorting in spot with lassie on vacation (10) DETACHABLE {D{CHEAT*}AB}{La..iE}

25 Succeeded in impressive round with mate involving bishops (9) EPISCOPAL {EPI{S}C}{O}{PAL}

26 Drunkard grabbing sailor's wooden shoe (5) SABOT {S{AB}OT}

27 Seasoned thief, craftily avoiding risk (2,3,4,4) ON THE SAFE SIDE*

DOWN

2   Ipecac mixed with potassium, it's applied to reduce swelling (3,4) ICE PACK {IPECAC}*{K}

3   Elaborate about royal in exile (10)  EXPATRIATE {EXPAT{R}IATE}

4   Palpitations with recurrent pain around middle of chest (5) BEATS {B{chEst}ATS<=} Semi&lit

5   Applicants in a store welcomed by former partners (9) EXAMINEES {EX{A}{MINE}ES}

6   Very sexy model going out in London's nightlife centre (4) SOHO {SO}{HOt}

7   Captain of Bangladesh meets everyone after final game (7) NETBALL {Ba...h}{ALL}<=>{NET}

8   Vanish, like cigars do? (2,2,2,5) GO UP IN SMOKE [DD]

10 Police record, say, about woman with ecstasy found in plot (6,5) CHARGE SHEET {EG<=}{SHE}{E} in {CHART}

13 Expert starting to suggest idea for artificial body part (10) PROSTHESIS {PRO}{Su...t}{THESIS}

15 Gulp! She discovered about affair in retreat - we're doomed (3,4,2) GOD HELP US {GULP+SHE}* over {DO<=}

18 Gay woman in the French bar, consuming drink heartily (7) LESBIAN {LES}{B{drInk}AN}

20 Leading industrialist, bisexual, cuddling male on couch is drunk (7) IMBIBED {In...t}{M}{BI}{BED}

23 As much as fifty pounds stolen by vile oaf (3,2) ALL OF {L}{L} in {OAF}*

24 Excellent hospital in province of Indonesia (4) ACEH {ACE}{H}

Reference List

Popular = IN, Liberal = L, Society = S, Money = M, Right = R, Suceeded = S, Sailor = AB, Royal = R, Model = T, Ecstasy = E, The in French = LES, Fifty = L, Pound = L, Hospital = H