No 14251, Monday 12 Aug 2024, KrisKross

Solution to 21A 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Cut work times in New Delhi (8) WHITTLED {W}{HI{TT}LED*}

5   Mishandles a vehicle - engine's gutted! (6)  ABUSES {A}{BUS}{En...eS}

9   Tally updated menu cost (8) NUMERATE {MENU*}{RATE}

10 Wife reaches Bury in time for Christmas (6) WINTER {W}{INTER}

12 Lawyer from Rhode Island is involved in trade (9) BARRISTER {BAR{RI'S}TER}

13 Run in the early morning, becoming fatigued (5) DRAWN {D{R}AWN}

14 Free European trip (4) RIDE {RID}{E}

16 Air train (7) EXPRESS [DD]

19 Zee TV originally broadcast entertaining genre of music - swingers could get high on it (7) TRAPEZE {ZEE+Tv}* over {RAP}

21 Lot of rich men losing margins (4) F?T? (Addendum - FATE {FAT}{mEn} - See comments)

24 Switzerland poet's always in high spirits (5) CHEER {CH}{EER}

25 Ready bed finally... light off, and a toy for company (5,4) TEDDY BEAR {READY+BED+l..hT}*

27 Toiler baked loaf (6) LOITER*

28 "Concentrate! Study! Study!" say education heads (8) CONDENSE {CON}{DEN}{Say}{Ed....n}

29 Describe Spooner's ultimate delight (6) RELATE {s...eR}{ELATE}

30 They design pen tips (8) STYLISTS {STY}{LISTS}

DOWN

1   Basically wasted effort...never touched books...yet passed (4,2) WENT BY Acrostic

2   Jail one setter consuming alcohol in retreat (6) IMMURE {1}{M{RUM<=}E}

3   Marshy land covered by moderate rain (5) TERAI [T]

4   Allow IT student to go through NEET after revision (7) ENTITLE {ENT{IT}{L}E*}

6   Opener at Lord's in trouble countering spinners - he can't see clearly here (5,4) BLIND SPOT {B{Lords}IND}{TOPS<=}

7   Ornate suit had diamonds installed (8) SITUATED {SUIT*}{ATE}{D}

8   Hurt Frenchman's piercing cry for help (8) SORENESS {SO{RENE'S}S}

11 Egg on clean plate at first polished off (4) URGE pURGE

15 Serious member engrossed in exciting tennis (2,7) IN EARNEST {IN{EAR}NEST*}

17 Lady wearing square watch - she is very finicky (8) STICKLER {S}{TICK{L}ER}

18 Stuff friend with Iranian bread (8) MATERIAL {MATE}{RIAL}

20 Has everyone around tried soup for starters? (4) EATS Acrostic

21 Become inaudible...deaf? (4,3) FADE OUT {DEAF}* [RA]

22 Plays a trick and collapses in the auditorium (6) FEINTS (~faints)

23 Places for putting vegetables (6) GREENS [DD]

26 Upset, miserable, do you have to cry shrilly? (5) YODEL [T<=]

Reference List

Work = W,Time = T, Wife = W, Run = R, European = E, Switzerland = CH, Student = L, Diamonds = D, Lady = L, Square = S