Special, Thursday 28 Aug 2025, Keynes

Welcome to our new setter Keynes. Bouquets and Brickbats welcome

Three answers per commenter till 1 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Enjoy.

No 14574, Wednesday 27 Aug 2025, Bruno

Rangoli by Gowri

Artwork by Prasanna

By Bhargav

Solution to 13A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

6  Prosperous as salary is supplemented with fifty million (5) PALMY {PA{L}{M}Y}

7   Gangster's son bottles gangster's offensive poison (8) ALKALOID {AL}{K{AL}{O}ID}

10 Lane near river to wash pot while sailing's so ignored (7) TOWPATH {TO+WAsH+PoT}*

11 Setter with millions around globe with tax agency chasing.. that could be a set of stories (7) MEMOIRS {ME}{M}{O}{IRS}

12 Old queen of England, some say, eventually moved to ancient city (7) SEYMOUR {SOME+saY}*{UR}

13 Major heart transplant's going up (7) L?A?I?G (Addendum - LEAPING LEA(-d+p)PING - See comments) 

14 Failing defence overcome by bully.. Champion finally folding (7,4) CLOSING DOWN {C{LOSING}{D}OW}{c...oN}

19 Wanting $1000, joker ran circles regularly for glory (7) REJOICE {JOkER}*{cIrClEs}

21 Go-getter mounted horse with spur (7) TRIGGER {TRI{GG}ER}

23 Lying around, Polish queen's wearing India's version of 5D (7) BURQINI {RUB<=}{Q}{IN}I Last I from?

25 Survive in melting ice with material (7) ELASTIC {E{LAST}IC*}

26 Full-scale files arranged by Lizzie evenly (4-4) LIFE-SIZE {FILES}*{lIzZiE}

27 Mum left racks with brownies, perhaps (5) ELVES shELVES

DOWN

1   Technique to shoot bottoms in extremely sexy state (4,4) SLOW SYNC {Se{LOWS}xY}{NC}

2   Current producer of dairy goes on vacation to emerging middle eastern country (6) DYNAMO {DairY}{OMAN<=}

3   Rich girl's followed by knight in story - kind and protective (10) FATHERLIKE {FAT}{HER}{LI{K}E}

4   North Korean leader's recycling one kind of milk (4) SKIM {+s)SKIM(-'S}

5   Clothing item from orient stolen from motorcycle in India (6) BIKINI {BIKe}{IN}{I}

6   Chemical from common drug's like heroin (6) POTASH {POT}{AS}{H}

8   Problem of left bum's solved by a run (7) LUMBAGO {L}{BUM*}{A}{GO} 

9   Consumption of America over time... (5)  USAGE {US}{AGE}

13 ...found to be in lower intensity electronic device (5,5) LIGHT METER [C&DD]

15 Animal dies tripping over piece of iron with rust (7) OXIDISE {OX}{ID{Iron}SE*}

16 Cynical evangelist's sadly - often lost & isolated (8) NEGATIVE {EVANGElIsT}*

17 Bird good at brewing beer (5) GREBE {G}{BEER*}

18 Protective equipment giving support to professionals not accepted (6) BRACES {BRA}{aCES}

20 Dork at home jacket (6) JERKIN {JERK}{IN} 

22 One lost time in business for religious orders (6) IRADES {1}{tRADES}

24 Electronic assistant elevated to a Goddess (4) IRIS<=

Reference List

Fifty = L, Million = M, Gangster = AL(Capone), Offensive = O, Defence = D, $1000 = K, Horse = GG(GeeGee), Queen = Q, India = I, Mum = SH, Knight = K, Orient = E, Heroin = H, Left = L, Good = G, Accepted = A, Time = T

No 14573, Tuesday 26 Aug 2025, Avtaar

Solution to 9A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Not able to speak about India virtually for a short time (6) MINUTE {M{IN}UTE}

4   Brilliant compere taking up commercial hosting India's leading scholar (8) ACADEMIC {AC{AD}E}{M{In..a}C}

9   Constitutional rule to stop introduction of service tax (6) S?R?L? (Addendum - STROLL {Se...e}{T{R}OLL} - See comments ) 

10 Capsicum pie in crust of tomato baked with a bit of masala (8) PIMIENTO {PIE+IN+To..tO+Ma...a}*

11 Misrepresentation by school - parents mostly fleeced with ultimate in donations (5,9) FALSE PRETENCES {PARENTS+FLEECEd+d...nS}*

13 Victims of one-night stands? (10) CASUALTIES {CASUAL TIES}

14 Cheaply constructed gable going around (4) LEGO [T<=] 

16 Supply not starting for long (4) ACHE cACHE

18 Ambulance left a mortuary's entrance and travelled round the bend (10) UNBALANCED {amBULANCE+AND}*

21 Lost in the rush, heading for grand, magical heavenly spectacle (8,6) SOUTHERN LIGHTS {LOST+IN+THE+RUSH+Gr..d}*}

23 Prevail over our shortened boat crew cycling across Wales (8) OUTWEIGH {OUr}{(+t)TEIGH(-t)} over {W}

24 In which you will find lead members of the panel against retiring (6) GALENA [T<=]

25 Carefully consider introducing it in court following Avtaar (8) MEDITATE {D{IT}ATE}<=>{ME}

26 Cool tennis ace after losing a game at the end (6) SERENE {SERENa}{gamE}

DOWN

1   Disregard letter I have despatched (4) MISS MISSive

2   Typical standards of Vikings having left for Norway (7) NORMALS NORMA(-n+l)LS

3   Boxer's married wearing brown amulet (8) TALISMAN {T{ALIS}{M}AN}

5   What separates No-conflict zones? (7,4) CHINESE WALL [CD]

6   Cabbie runs into pickpocket (6) DRIVER {D{R}IVER}

7   Chain armour reportedly lined with tin after mounting (7) MANACLE {(~mail)MA{CAN<=}LE}

8   Army seizing vessel smuggling gold - it has lights in many parts (9) CROSSWORD {CRO{SS}WD} over {OR}

12 Power leads in apparatus having tentacles to secure shelter and gear gets IP certificate (6,5) PATENT RIGHT {P}{Ap...s}{Ha...g}{Te...s} over {TENT}{RIG}

13 Dreamy schoolmaster missing the new refurbished place where he is to take lessons (9) CLASSROOM {SChOOLMASteR}*}

15 Say, Kashmiri monkey losing tail before maturity (8) LANGUAGE {LANGUr}{AGE}

17 Tormented harassed groups close to paranoia (7) HAUNTED {H{p...iA}UNTED}

19 Model fills valise with two pieces of yellow gemstone (4-3) CATS-EYE {CA{T}SE}{YEllow}

20 Danger which inhibits engineers (6) THREAT {TH{RE}AT}

22 Animal fleece picked up (4) HARE(~hair)

Reference List

India = IN, Commercial = AD, Rule = R, Compere = MC, Wales = W, Left = L, Norway = N, Married = M, Runs = R, Vessel = SS{Steamship), Power = P, Model = T, Engineers = RE(Royal Engineers)

No 14572, Monday 25 Aug 2025, Hypatia

Solution to 23A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Essentially leaving in vehicle for elite food (6) CAVIAR {C{leAVIng}AR}

4   Convicted criminal regularly seen in parties soon met Republican (8) PRISONER {PaRtIeS+sOoN+mEt}{R}

9   Chase American university to admit son in daughter's place (6) PURSUE PUR(-d+s)SUE

10 Birds quarrel before fights (8) SPARROWS {SPAR}{ROWS}

11 Pedestrian classification of Vande Bharat Express, for one (4-5,5) HIGH-SPEED TRAIN {PEDESTRIAN}* [RA]

13 Upgrades bookmaker for Spooner (4,6) GETS BETTER (bets getter to gets better)

14 Say, queen taking fine meat (4) BEEF {BEE}{F}

16 Swindle in shares cornering Asian markets, initially (4) SCAM Acrostic

18 Starter of rice in hot meal is cooked with temperature kept constant (10) ISOTHERMAL {Rice} in {HOT+MEAL+IS}*

21 Proposal helping to onboard million workers in European firm at Germany (14) RECOMMENDATION {RATION} over {M}{MEN}in {E}{CO}{D}

23 Bar for one, replacing leading advocate in practice (8) P?O?I?I? (Addendum - PROHIBIT {PRO}{H(-a+1)IBIT} - See comments)

24 Cheetah in India eating sesame dip (6) TAHINI [T]

25 Reportedly criticize authors in hand out (8) DISPENSE {~dis pens)

26 Girl at city checking hot skirt (6) GHAGRA {G}{H}{AGRA}

DOWN

1   Manage children outside park entrance, basically (4) COPE Acrostic

2   Opinion of ancient Sanskrit scriptures about right time (7) VERDICT {VE{R}DIC}{T}

3   American bachelor at Dubai working outside hot capital city (3,5) ABU DHABI {A}{B}{UD{H}ABI*}

5   Discourage wasting time on the counter packing gift displayed (11) REPRESENTED {DEtER<=} over {PRESENT}

6   King in clutches of evil goblin (6) SPRITE {SP{R}ITE}

7   Airplane on a terminal carrying latest arrival (7) NEONATE [T]

8   Bitter criminal enters Gulf? Not good! (9) RESENTFUL {ENTERS+gULF}*

12 Specialist bakeries repeatedly re-using ingredients in parties (11) PATISSERIES {PARTIES}* [Letter Bank]

13 Creature's tail twisted squeezing tight old strap (9) GASTROPOD {DOG<=} over {O+STRAP}*

15 Source of irritation in the exact area so frequently getting hard (4,4) HEAT RASH {tHe+ExAcT+aReA+So}{H} Is would have been better than so to maintain the frequent pattern

17 Devices to secure TV show hosts (7) ANCHORS [DD]

19 Low crew typing up a boat (7) MOORING {MOO}{RING} Typing seems to be a typo for tying

20 This referee hates ordering pushier team (6) UMPIRE {UMPIRE+HATES}*=PUSHIER TEAM

22 Upcoming, keen star (4) DIVA<=

Reference List

Republican = R, Son = S, Daughter = D, Fine = F, Million = M, European = E, Germany = D, Girl = G, Hot = H, Right = R, Time = T, American = A, Bachelor = B, King = R, Good = G, Old = O, Hard = H

Special, Sunday 24 Aug 2025, Ghaza

Three answers per commenter till 1 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Part-B: Find the remaining characters hidden in the puzzle.

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 18, Sunday 24 Aug 2025, Incognito

ACROSS

8   Setter and lieutenant convert solid into liquid by application of heat (4) MELT {ME}{LT}

9   Counterfeit for giving exchange initially (5) FORGE {FOR}{Gi...g}{Ex...e}

10 Sketch doctor with a woman (4) DRAW {DR}{A}{W}

11 Stick advertisement at this place (6) ADHERE {AD}{HERE}

12 US cat lay writhing in hospital department (8) CASUALTY*

13 Extraordinary ace tests container (8) CASSETTE*

15 Mad vet leaves Venetians in a tizzy (6) INSANE {veNEtIANS}*

17 One travelling around carrying counterfeit visa results in circumvention of law (7) EVASION {ONE}* over {VISA}*

19 Roars, “Smithy uses it” (7) BELLOWS [DD]

22 Commencement of pain, laceration and fever leads to medieval epidemic (6) PLAGUE {Pain}{La...n}{AGUE}

24 Close shave next to girl! (4,4) NEAR MISS {NEAR}{MISS}

26 Peninsular Malaysia is behind reportedly high mountain range (8) HIMALAYA {MALAYA}<=>{(~high)HI} 

28 Embosses postal fee receipts (6) STAMPS [DD]

30 Cobalt, aluminium and anthracite (4) COAL {CO}{AL}

31 Hong Kong gangs’ torture instruments (5) TONGS [DD]

32 “Arabian port” is bad English to some extent (4) ADEN [T]

DOWN

1   Force boy at last (4) BEND {B}{END}

2   Emphasises, “Small locks” (8) STRESSES {S}{TRESSES}

3   A couple of females with middlemen in European court get result (6) EFFECT {FF}{mEn} in {E}{CT} 

4   Pain in injured rat’s windpipe (7) TRACHEA {TR{ACHE}A*}

5   Sweat on steeple (8) PERSPIRE {PER}{SPIRE}

6   Thought beginners in legal service can be role models (6) IDEALS {IDEA}{Le..l}{Se...e}

7   Throw wild cats (4) CAST*

14 Smith’s block included in Roman villas (5) ANVIL [T]

16 New stew cooked in salamanders (5) NEWTS {N}{STEW*}

18 Wrongly carve a bit of tendon in large hams (8) OVERACTS {CARVE*}{Te...n} in {OS}

20 A sad lamb dances and dances (8) LAMBADAS*

21 United Nations container near New York is mysterious (7) UNCANNY {UN}{CAN}{NY}

23 Girl and woman hug student happily (6) GLADLY {G}{LAD{L}Y}

25 Help like sister when queen is away (6) ASSIST {AS}{SISTer}

27 Historical curtain once protecting Soviet Union from unfair onslaughts (4) IRON [T]

29 Good King Edward’s seaside construction (4) PIER {PI}{ER}

Reference List

Woman = W, Advertisement = AD, Boy = B, Small = S, Female = F, European = E, Court = CT, New = N, Large = OS, Girl = G, Student = L, Good = PI, King Edward = ER

Indian Crossword League 2025 ( IXL 25)

 

WWW.CRYPTICSINGH.COM

Registration starts on 23 Aug 2025

No 14571, Saturday 23 August 2025, Incognito

 ACROSS
8 Insect gets right drink (4) BEER {BEE}{R}
9 Cruise along shoreline (5) COAST [DD]
10 Consumer appears in trousers (4) USER [T]
11 Person displaying// rain (6) SHOWER [CD and D]
12 Boy correct about seaside resort (8) BRIGHTON {B}{RIGHT}{ON}

13 Design changed to absorb pressure and energy for moving at high velocity (8) SPEEDING {S{P}{E}EDING*}
15 Fast dances from girls having operation (6) GALOPS {GAL{OP}S}
17 22 Laos cat's holiday spot (7,6) COASTAL RESORT {LAOS CAT}* [RA]
19 Art seen in part of bridge in old city (7) SPARTAN {SP{ART}AN}
22 See 17 Across (6)
24 Doctor wrongly singes bandage (8) DRESSING {DR}{SINGES*}
26 Resident of box turning tops getting large sums of prize money (8) JACKPOTS {JACK}{TOPS*}
28 Lives in tents around university and university grounds (6) CAMPUS {CAMP{U}S}
30 Island mentioned in Minsk yearbook (4) SKYE [T]

31 Retains silly pekes (5) KEEPS*
32 Girl leaves game for precious stone (4) RUBY {RUgBY}

DOWN
1 In short, queen's wager with husband (4) BETH {BET}{H}
2 Fighters rolling barrels around front of wineshop (8) BRAWLERS {BARRELS*}around {Wineshop}
3 Tax coir to be twisted (6) OCTROI*
4 Bachelor in vehicle storage area produces junk (7) GARBAGE {GAR{B}AGE}
5 Hang saint and make telephone call (6,2) STRING UP {ST}{RING UP}
6 Four pecks from former American president chased by the Spanish (6) BUSHEL {BUSH}{EL}
7 After losing wife, owner is confused in city (4) RENO {OwNER}*
14 Call head of police honey endlessly (5) PHONE {Police}{HONEy}
16 Some non-vegetarian food wrap is recycled, no? (5) PRAWN {WRAP}*{N}
18 Statues, for example, and two arks renovated around end of October (8) ARTWORKS {TWO ARKS}* around {octobeR}
20 Where one may come face to face with four stony presidents... (8) RUSHMORE [CD}

21 Yes, rejected after soy containing a bit of dirt spoiled long journey (7) ODYSSEY {YES<}<=> {Dirt} in {SOY*}
23 York development covers north eastern archipelago (6) ORKNEY {YORK}* around {N}{E}

25 Old tax surplus (6) EXCESS {EX}{CESS}
27 Boats in Newark sailing-club (4) ARKS [T]
29 Protuberance in gum-bottle (4) UMBO [T]

REFERENCE LIST

Right=R, Boy=B, Pressure=P, Energy=E, University=U, Girl=G, Husband=H, Bachelor=B, Saint=ST, The (in) Spanish=EL, Wife=W, No=N, Old=Ex

No 14570, Friday 22 Aug 2025, Incognito

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Toilet occupied? No further options? (7,2,2) NOWHERE TO GO [DD]

9   In South Africa, little one gets diving equipment (5) SCUBA {S{CUB}A}

10 Simple meal with fish? It's hard... (9) GRUELLING {GRUEL}{LING}

11 Sad? Sprint away and get plans... (10) BLUEPRINTS {BLUE}{SPRINT*}

12 Kind of light one distributed at noon (4) NEON {ONE*}{N}

13 Animal changing lane at end of road (5) ELAND {LANE*}{roaD}

15 Puts off US and Jordan arrangement (8) ADJOURNS {US+JORDAN}*

17 Person wanting to get away from reality, having Spanish headgear, is trailing at first (8) ESCAPIST {ES}{CAP}{IS}{Tr...g}

19 Remembers carrying smouldering coal (5) EMBER [T]

22 Spotted salmon from company head office (4) COHO {CO}{HO}

23 Company's objective? To get a cut! (10) COMMISSION {COM}{MISSION}

26 Removed organ and saved (9) DELIVERED {DE-LIVERED}

27 Prompt running guardsmen after throwing away arms (5) NUDGE {GUarDsmEN}*

28 Information about power supply in latest headlines? (7,4) CURRENT NEWS [C&DD]

DOWN

1   Run about carrying gold in island country (5) NAURU {N{AU}RU*}

2   Concluded. "Is fully absorbed" (7,2) WRAPPED UP [C&DD]

3   Need GI at sea? Insert... (4,2) EDGE IN*

4   Blew up! Blew up rude pet! (7) ERUPTED*

5   But endless nylon gets entangled (4) ONLY NYLOn*

6   A lovebird can mutate to show uniform colour (5,4) OLIVE DRAB*

7   American sailor at port with leave finally capable of utilisation (6) USABLE {US}{AB}{L}{l..vE}

8   Spies' silver wrongly sent (6) AGENTS {AG}{SENT*}

14 Person addicted to liquor obtained from Cocoa Hill (9) ALCOHOLIC*

16 Respect old boy arranging seance around 1 (9) OBEISANCE {OB}{E{1}SANCE*}

17 Create cipher from "Nurse fish and start to experiment" (6) ENCODE {EN}{COD}{Ex...t}

18 Plague Supreme Court and love press? (7) SCOURGE {SC}{O}{URGE}

20 Called queen's forest officer (6) RANGER {RANG}{ER}

21 In the middle of a street, dim characters retreat (6) AMIDST {A}{DIM<=}{ST}

24 Remove oar from dinosaur writhing in river (5) INDUS DINoSaUr*

25 Completed 6 deliveries (4) OVER [DD]

Reference List

Noon = N, Spanish = ES, Company = CO, COM, Sailor = AB, Port = L(Left), Old Boy = OB< Nurse = EN(Enrolled Nurse), Queen = ER, Street = ST

No 14569, Thursday 21 Aug 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 17D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Retreat from angry bull in herd (8) PULLBACK {P{BULL*}ACK}

5   Line to enter most stylish joint (6) SPLIFF {SP{L}IFFy}

10 Drinking a little beer, I croon, performing with vigour (3,4) CON BRIO {Beer+I+CROON}*

11 Pay for former head touring Italy (7) EXPIATE {EX}{P{I}ATE}

12 See 9 Down

13 Delightful finale captivates listener (9) ENDEARING {END{EAR}ING}

14 Otherwise gentle, fools after consuming ecstasy act without restraint (3,7,2) LET ONESELF GO {GENTLE+FOOLS}* over {E}

18 Discovered why felon initially terrified every unnoticed observer (3,2,3,4) FLY ON THE WALL {WHY+FELON+Te...d}*{ALL}

21 Attractive gentleman beginning to arouse in sack, turning on English lady in retreat (9) DESIRABLE {SIR}{Ar...e} in {BED<=} on{E}{L}<=

23 Calling husband in French city (5) NICHE {NIC{H}E}

24 Lawyer in Hanoi harassed American (7) IDAHOAN {I{DA}HOAN*}

25 Stumble outside church, primarily straining muscle (7) TRICEPS {TRI{CE}P}{St...g}

26 Number is twelve, essentially divisible by two without a remainder (6) ELEVEN {twELve}{EVEN}

27 Director beginning to evaluate inmate's strange mental illness (8) DEMENTIA {D}{Ev...e}{INMATE*}

DOWN

1   Relish jam (6) PICKLE [DD]

2   Stuffing some tarpaulin in garage (6) LINING [T]

3   Leader of band enters to play with popular American conductor (9) BERNSTEIN {Band}{ENTERS*}{IN}

4   Too obscene, the ending of controversial novel is likely to cause offence (5,2,3,4) CLOSE TO THE BONE {TOO+OBSCENE+THE+c...aL}*

6   Father touring posh Asian province (5) PAPUA {PAP{U}A}

7   Ninja loses head, turns unsettled very soon (2,1,5) IN A JIFFY {nINJA}*{IFFY}

8   Dish containing fish with bit of garlic is satisfying (4-4) FEEL-GOOD {F{EEL}{Ga...c}OOD}

9 & 12 What passengers on trains might do to look for hidden meaning (4,7,3,5) READ BETWEEN THE LINES [C&DD]

15 Rose with vigour to have good time in Spain (9) EGLANTINE {E{G}LAN}{T}{IN}{E}

16 Leap to save runs after bad cricket shot (3,5) OFF DRIVE {D{R}IVE}<=>{OFF}

17 Certainly owned extremely expensive frames and visor (8) ?Y?S?A?E (Addendum - EYESHADE {YES}{HAD} in {Ex...vE} - See comments)

19 Acknowledge excellent point about early sign of cancer (6) ACCEPT {A{Ca...r}CE}{PT}

20 Russia is reportedly capturing back historical region (6) PERSIA [T<=]

22 Improve after beginning to row in European river (5) RHONE {HONE}<=>{Row}

Reference List

Line = L, Former = EX, Italy = I, Ecstasy = E, English = E, Lady = L, Husband = H, Lawyer = DA, Church = CE, Director = D, Popular = IN, Posh = U, Good = G, Time = T, Spain = E, Runs = R, Point = PT

No 14568, Wednesday 20 Aug 2025, Dr. X

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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1 & 23 What Imelda Marcos was constantly looking to buy is quite a different matter (7,4,2,5) ANOTHER PAIR OF SHOES [C&DD]

8   Tart, one containing large mushroom caps (5) PILEI {PI{L}E}{1}

9   Does away with leader of rebels involved in abominable sabotage (9) ABROGATES {AB{Re...s}OGATES*}

11 Withdrawal of statement by tense Republican, overwhelmed by backlash (10) RETRACTION {RE{T}{R}ACTION}

12 Friend eating starter of egg roll (4) PEAL {P{Egg}AL}

14 Entice models, getting hold of ultimately sleek fashion accessory (7) NECKTIE {NEC{s..eK}TIE*}

16 Sort this mess, discard old tops (1-6) T-SHIRTS {THIS*}{RoTS} (Correction {SoRT+THIS}* )

17 Performed with rebellious jerk enthralled by grass (7) RECITED {RE{TIC<=}ED}

19 Toothed dog at entrance leapt at teen (7) DENTATE {Dog}{AT+TEEN}*

21 Crook in hotel. excited after stealing money (4) H?M? (Addendum - HUMP {H}{U{M}P} - See comments)

22 Punishes son accepting dare in high spirits (10) FRISKINESS {FINES}{S} over {RISK}

25 Thai cop is beating nut (9) PISTACHIO*

26 British-American poet in a posh retreat (5) AUDEN {A}{U}{DEN}

27 Face financial ruin as extraordinary horse is stolen (4,4,5) LOSE ONES SHIRT*

DOWN

2   Nothing relating to ear or relating to tongue of African people (7) NILOTIC {NIL}{OTIC}

3   Tired after hosting function, one involving three groups (10) TRIPARTITE {TRI{PART}{1}TE}

4   Old American model outside club is perfect (5) EXACT {EX}{A}{T} over {C}

5   Alleged duper operated around harbour (9) PURPORTED {PUR{PORT}ED*}

6   His essentially deceitful move crushes Desdemona finally (4) IAGO {hIs}{GO} over {d...nA} &lit (Correction - {d..eIt..l}{GO} over {d...nA} Semi&lit}

7   Last longer than foremost of athletes in precarious western route (7) OUTWEAR {At...s} in {W+ROUTE}*

8   Ultimately, liaison with a hot stripper wrecked marriage (11) PARTNERSHIP {l...oN+A+H+STRIPPER}*

10 A large espresso around noon for shop assistant (11) SALESPERSON {A+L+ESPRESSO}*{N}

13 Give something to smoke outside hotel in Indian city (10) CHANDIGARH {C{HAND}IGAR}{H}

15 Slyly drop in when wife's away - it will provide a rush (9) ENDORPHIN {DROP+IN+wHEN}*

18 Regains consciousness in cot, smashed after drinking some rum (5,2) COMES TO {COT}* over {SOME*}

20 Editor beginning to annoy fellows backing socialist (7) AMENDER {An..y}{MEN}{RED<=}

23 See 1 Across

24 Kiss-cam at event catches couple (4) MATE [T]

Reference List

Large = L, Tense = T, Republican = R, Old = O, Hotel = H, Money = M, Son = S, Posh = U, American = A, Model = T, Club = C, Western = W, Hot = H, Noon = N, Wife = W

No 14567, Tuesday 19 Aug 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 23A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Average American chap touring a South American country (8) PARAGUAY {PAR}{A}{GU{A}Y}

5   Climax as groom passionately expresses love (6) ORGASM {AS+GRoOM}*

10 Suspect in retreat smuggling dope and ecstasy is a spa employee (7) MASSEUR {RUM<=}{ over {ASS}{E}

11 Dump rotten egg picked up by boy (7) OFFLOAD {OFF}{L{O}AD}

12 Scratched back, having ultimately irritating fungal disease (5) ERGOT {TO{i...nG}RE<=}

13 Extraordinary trick to steal painting by Leonardo at inauguration (9) STARTLING {ST{ART}{Le...o}ING}

14 & 16 How to make quartet draw a conclusion from various facts (3,3,3,3,8) PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER [DD]

18 Noticeable rash developing around body part with the passage of time (4,3,5) OVER THE YEARS {OVERT}{H{EYE}ARS*}

21 Wondered about saving a little income to provide comfort in retirement (9) EIDERDOWN {E{In...e}DERDOWN*}

23 Jagged lesion around middle of leg (5) E?O?E (Addendum - EROSE {SORE<=}{lEg} - See comments)

24 Heroin used by Romeo to get more aroused (7) HORNIER {HEROIN*}{R}

25 Fantastic recipe captivating posh gourmet (7) EPICURE {EPIC{U}RE*}

26 Tottered in base, left enthralled by grass (6) REELED {RE{E}{L}ED}

27 Leave furtively with most affectionate fellow to have liaison (5,3) SLINK OFF {SOFt}{F} over {LINK}

DOWN

1   Pet beginning to meow in study (6) PAMPER {PA{Meow}PER}

2   Abandon girl, captivated by exotic siren (6) RESIGN {RESI{G}N*}

3   Elderly relative's wasted after drinking a little rum with lunch (5-4) GREAT-AUNT {G{R}{EAT}AUNT}

4   Terribly scared, host runs after snake enters, affecting everyone (6-3-5) ACROSS-THE-BOARD {SCARED+HOST+R}* over {BOA}

6   Renovate bar after terrible fire (5) REFIT {T}<=>{FIRE*}

7   Lovers disregarding caste initially suffered ostracism (8) AMORISTS {OSTRAcISM}*

8   Crazy journalist penning sentimental drivel was successful (4,4) MADE GOOD {MAD}{E{GOO}D}

9   Playing around with lean, lithe models hosting party? No chance at all! (3,1,4,2,4) NOT A HOPE IN HELL {ON<=}{LEAN+LITHE}* over {HOP}

15 European is wearing no pants (9) NORWEGIAN*

16 See 14 Across

17 Info on male arrested by brave police officer in France (8) GENDARME {GEN}{DAR{M}E}

19 Arboreal mammal in enclosure almost bites bear (6) COLUGO {CO{LUG}Op}

20 Concerning this star cuddling English female (6) HEREOF {HER{E}O}{F}

22 Releasing old thick-skinned animal close to Assamese river (5) RHINE {RHINo}{a...sE}

Reference List

Average = PAR, American = A, Ecstasy = E, Romeo = R, Posh = U, Base = E, Left = L, Fellow = F, Girl = G, Runs = R, Bar = T, Journalist = ED(itor), Party = HOP, Male = M, English = E, Female = F

No 14566, Monday 18 Aug 2025, Afterdark

Solution to 4D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

6   Set up home on land (7) INSTATE {IN}{STATE}

7   Setback on tour, second on second test (7) RELAPSE {RE}{LAP}{S}{tEst}

9   Receiver on training? Yes, internal (5) PAYEE {P{AYE}E}

10 English stall fight (9) ENCOUNTER {EN}{COUNTER}

11 Stew! Laughs raucously after taking a round (7) GOULASH {G{O}ULASH*}

13 Reside divinely without limits for a change (4,2) LIVE IN dIVINELy*

15 Property I have on headland is on use (13) EFFECTIVENESS {EFFECT}{IVE}{NESS}

19 Accord with company and US university on the last day (6) COMITY {CO}{MIT}{daY}

20 New series? At last you dug into a copy (7) REISSUE {REISS{yoU}E*}

23 Heartless hatred & hard? No, it's a show (9) SPLENDOUR {SPLeEN}{DOUR}

24 Letters from Putin trolling presentation (5) INTRO [T]

26 Handheld device has limitless alphabets; it's a mess (7) PHABLET aLPHABETs*

27 England on both sides of borders, concealing (7) ECLIPSE {E}{CLIPS}{E}

DOWN

1   Pale like gutted hubby (4) ASHY {AS}{HubbY}

2   Arrived with artist and snapper, say (6) CAMERA {CAME}{RA}

3   Type of lens used by predecessor (9) TELEPHOTO [DBE]

4   Replacing one by one, suggestion that it's a mirage (8) ?L?U?I?N (Addendum - ILLUSION (-a+i)ILLUSION - See comments)

5   Hope oats is cooked well and becomes an ideal example (10) APOTHEOSIS*

6   Challenge imperfect undergraduate on numbers (6) IMPUGN {IMP}{UG}{N}

7   Energetic orchestra? Cynical nearly (4) RACY [T]

8   Mistake with commission (6) ERRAND {ERR}{AND}

12 Angry unfair mail, that's strange (10) UNFAMILIAR*

14 Always immature to pine, say (9) EVERGREEN {EVER}{GREEN}

16 Inside president angled with a knot (8) ENTANGLE [T]

17 Cats runs around having drink and misbehaves (4,2) ACTS UP {ACT*}{SUP} Should have been CAT and not CATS

18 Request individual? Go away (6) BEGONE {BEG}{ONE}

21 I primarily contracted lice infection leading to cold spike (6) ICICLE {I}{Co...d}{LICE*}

22 Ball placed in carpet is in wide ditch (4) MOAT {M{O}AT}

25 Record a form of dance (European) (4) TAPE {TAP}{E}

Reference List

Home = IN, Tour = LAP, Second = S, Training = PE, English = EN, Company = CO, English = E, Artist = RA, Undergraduate = UG, Numbers = N, European = E