No 14052, Friday 22 Dec 2023, Dr. X

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS ON FRIDAYS ONLY

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ACROSS

1   Barbarian is decent, amateur struggling to last till end of boxing bout (2,3,8) GO THE DISTANCE {GOTH}{IS+DECENT+A}*

8   Admired bar in expensive retreat (5) RATED {DE{T}AR<=}

9   Former US Secretary of State is smooching queen (9) KISSINGER {KISSING}{ER}

11 Where motors pile haphazardly? (10) METROPOLIS* &lit

12 Food counter in fortress (4) BURG <=

14 Really excited getting hold of dog - essentially more faithful (7) LOYALER {L{dOg}YALER*}

16 Most vulgar American with couple of females in den (7) NAFFEST {N{A}{FF}EST}

17 Meeting most influential Republican (7) SEMINAR {SEMINAl}{R}

19 Plants with many benefits (7) LOTUSES {LOT}{USES}

21 Stench from estuary releasing carbon (4) REEK cREEK

22 Wants dope to host drug party by end of December (10) DESIDERATA {D{E}{SIDE}{d...eR}ATA}

25 Medley by fantastic pro, it entertains crowd (9) POTPOURRI {PRO+IT}* over {POUR}

26 Loosen up in trip by noon (5) UNPIN {UP+IN}*{N}

27 Miserable after hot fight, we resolved to accept situation (2,4,3,4) GO WITH THE FLOW {HOT+FIGHT+WE}*{LOW}

DOWN

2   Dwell too long with unacceptable associate in filthy place (7) OUTSTAY {OUT}{ST{A}Y}

3   Stop on street after extremely hasty skid on wet road (10) HYDROPLANE {DROP}{LANE}<=>{HastY}

4   Quick glance by con concealing ecstasy, two kilos (5) DEKKO {D{E}{K}{K}O}

5   Lesson is about changes pertaining to a period (9) SESSIONAL {LESSON+IS+A}*

6   Birds confined by setting up wires in aviary (4) ANIS [T<=]

7   Nasty fellow leaves enclosure, stealing waterproof jacket (7) CAGOULE {CAG{fOUL}E}

8 Feature of road safety guidelines saving boy after a little mishap on journey (6,5) RUMBLE STRIP {RU{Mi...p}{B}LES}{TRIP}

10 Perfectly fine in hospital after doctor treated a strain (5,2,4) RIGHT AS RAIN {H}<=>{RIG} with {A+STRAIN}*

13 From where one might lose link spontaneously (3,3,4) OFF THE CUFF [DD]

15 Attention caught by rather unusual metallic element (4,5) RARE EARTH {RARE{EAR}TH*}

18 Expert in some art perhaps (7) MAESTRO*

20 Slice of smoked meat, bit of potato and eggs for cleaner (7) SHAMPOO {Sm...d}{HAM}{Po...o}{OO}

23 Sir is hoping to master language (5) IRISH [T]

24 Architectural mouldings crumble over island (4) TORI {ROT<=}{I}

Reference List

Amateur = A, Bar = T, Queen = ER, Female = F, Republican = R, Carbon = C, Drug = E, Noon = N, Associate = A, Con = DO, Ecstasy = E, Kilo = K, About = A, Fellow = F, Boy = B, Hospital = H, Doctor = RIG, Island = I