The Sunday Crossword No 3302, Sunday 14 Apr 2024

HAPPY VISHU and TAMIL NEW YEAR

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

1   Supports – or declines to intervene? (6,2) STANDS BY [DD]

5   Gives a place to grad – MIT spellbound (to some extent) (6) ADMITS [T]

9   'Relaxing'? Terrifying! (8) CHILLING [DD]

10 Weighty and large stones (6) GRAVEL {GRAVE}{L}

11 African shivering with cold; time: 10.35? (7,8) DECIMAL FRACTION {AFRICAN+COLD+TIME}*

13 What's found in first-aid kit? In part, swab and a gel (7) BANDAGE [T] 

14 I and others are ... or used to be ...? (4) WERE {WE'RE} 

18 Reportedly deserves coffee in large quantities, here (4) URNS (~earns)

19 Meal prepared with headless fish for Abraham's son (7) ISHMAEL {MEAL+fISH}*

23 Patient type is fast at work, case bringing professional pride (3,12) JOB SATISFACTION {JOB}{IS+FAST}*{ACTION}

24 Peninsula? Wrong answer (6) CRIMEA {CRIME}{A}

25 'Plaiting twists': some youngsters talk this way (3,5) PIG LATIN* 

26 Star is earnest, did you say? (6) SIRIUS (~serious)

27 Without changes, Benedict's regularly failing, in my view (2,1,3,2) AS I SEE IT {AS IS}{bEnEdIcT}

DOWN

1   Break away from some predecessors, being revolutionary (6) SECEDE [T<=]

2   One coin per person (6) APIECE {A}{PIECE}

3   Sam and Everyman cover up problems (8) DILEMMAS {SAM}{ME}{LID}<=

4   Report by young fellow: is he perhaps from S. Asia? (11) BANGLADESHI {BANG}{LAD}{IS+HE}*

6   What the Coen Brothers do is straightforward (6) DIRECT [DD]

7   Accounts consisting of utterances (8) INVOICES {IN}{VOICES}

8   Unwisely realigns with US author (8) SALINGER*

12 Urchins having sport, largely, in itinerant funfairs (11) RAGAMUFFINS {RA{GAMe}UFFINS*}

15 Lays open the topics (8) SUBJECTS [DD]

16 Somewhat nastier, overprivileging bluer blood in élitist reactions, primarily? (8) SNOBBIER Acrostic &lit

17 Removes crusted matter from stinking sled case (8) DESCALES*

20 Golden Gate – first, cake! (6) GATEAU {AU}<=>{GATE}

21 Circus venue's not quiet: audience finally seeing 'Piggy' (3,3) BIG TOE BIG TO(-p+e)E

22 Allow granny to hang loose? (6) UNKNOT [CD]

Reference List

Large = L, Answer = A, Quiet = P