No 14606, Monday 06 October 2025, Karaoke

Solution to 11D 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   Feel indignation about missing first award (6) RESENT pRESENT

4   Expert shot to contain almost well-built outlaw (8) PROHIBIT {PRO}{{HI{BIg}T}

9   First and second pocketed by soldiers (6) MAIDEN {M{AID}EN}

10 Yahoo has to bring in woman with brown hair (8) BRUNETTE {BRU{NET}TE}

12 OK, none left, quite contrary (3,5) ALL RIGHT [C&DD]

13 Despises intensely missing parking in dizzy bar hops (6) ABHORS {BAR+HOpS}*

15 Avoid channel ignoring time for kids mainly (4) DUCK DUC(-t+k)K

17 Man, gents' room mainly in ruins, so... (10)  STRENGTHEN {GENTS+Room}*{THEN}

19 ...You will do this when things are terribly taking time (10) STRAIGHTEN {THINGS+ARE}* over {T}

20 Many cycling for an opening in the organisation (4)  SLOT (+s)SLOT(-s)

23 Group of four in illegal trade with model (6) TETRAD {T} in {TRADE}*

24 Flying or sailing? No good to go (8) AVIATION nAVIgATION

27 Film duck swimming underwater without breathing equipment (8) SKINDIVE {SKIN}{DIVE}

28 Save Conservative from fire, that is more coloured with embers (6) ASHIER cASHIER

29 Japanese dish from Tokyo mostly cooked with a mirin essentially (8) YAKITORI {TOKYo+A+mIRIn}*

30 Hitmen shot one going for a song (6) ANTHEM H(-i+a)ATMEN*

DOWN

1   Butter and most of dairy destroyed in robbery in store (3-4) RAM-RAID {RAM}{DAIRy}*

2   Immobile cashboxes on rotation (5) STILL (+s)STILL(-s)

3   Noises disturbing the activity of the intellect (6) NOESIS*

5   Exceptional rule long time back (4) RARE {R}{ERA<=}

6   Spooner's forbidden ugly women with reticules (8) HANDBAGS (banned hags to handbags)

7   Model entering exotic hotel with bar for marriage proposal (9) BETROTHAL {T} in {HOTEL+BAR}*

8   Trotsky essentially the main cause for mutiny (7) TREASON {troTsky}{REASON}

11 Calling rogues as animals? (7) ?H?T?H? 

14 Merit of book, readers heartily finished first reading (7) DESERVE  {rESERVE}<=>{reaDers}

16 Maybe magicians' favourite vehicle, mainly dirty to take for a ride (4,5) CARD TRICK {CAR}{Di..y}{TRICK}

18 Indian buffet in extremely great cocktail (3,3,2) GIN AND IT {Gre{INDIAN}*aT}

19 In a manner of speaking, alcoholic is extremely oblivious, yes (2,2,3) SO TO SAY {SOT}{Ob...uS}{AY}

21 Beginning of tooth cavity causes fit of rage (7) TANTRUM {To..h}{ANTRUM}

22 Endlessly flattering Sultana (6) RAISIN pRAISINg

25 Language, it is before setter (5) IRISH {IRISH setter}

26 State of public house mostly ignoring time (4) AVER tAVERn

 

Reference List

Parking = P, Time = T, Model = T, No = N, Good = G, Conservative = C, Rule = R, Reading = R 

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday, Sunday 05 Oct 2025, Arden

ACROSS

1   Morning meeting of influential people might stop quickly (5,9) POWER BREAKFAST {POWER}{BREAK FAST}

10 Liable to gather essential idea from expert (5) ADEPT {A{iDEa}PT}

11 Third bomb blast - also twice outside the famous test site (3,6) LOS ALAMOS {boMb} in {ALSO+ALSO}*

12 Spindle diameter providing fast movement inside (7) DISTAFF {DI{FAST*}F} Diameter/Dif? (Correction - {D}{I{FAST*}F} See comments

13 "Island in part" - a musical review (7) SUMATRA [T]

14 Bad smell? Chop head off fish (5) TENCH sTENCH

16 He was philosophical about 14 size (9) NIETZSCHE {TENCH+SIZE}*

19 Insult to church, shape to be altered (5,4) CHEAP SHOT {CH}{SHAPE+TO}*

20 Loves speed, get-up-and-go (5) OOMPH {OO}{MPH}

22 Blister means hearts go for spades (7) VESICLE VE(-h+s)SICLE

25 Greek Goddess's gift, giving out half (7) ARTEMIS Anno pending (Addendum {ART}{EMISsion} - See comments)

27 Bones broken - team on pitch is recalled (9) METATARSI {TEAM}*{TAR}{IS<=}

28 Perfect inside a laundry (5) IDEAL [T]

29 Follow direction, then play around with girls - it's a natural phenomenon (8,6) NORTHERN LIGHTS {NORTH}{THEN+GIRLS}*

DOWN

2   Be nice - so a criminal gets respect (9) OBEISANCE*

3   Old painting hung up additionally (5) EXTRA {EX}{ART<=}

4   Bird having a fill perhaps amid the flowers (9) BULLFINCH {BU{FILL*}NCH}

5   Chides for the lack of time, becomes moderate (5) EASES tEASES

6   Ex-president before a menagerie in US city (9) KALAMAZOO {KALAM}{A}{ZOO}

7   Student essentially comes in the morning, it becomes own (5) ADMIT {A{stuDent}M}{IT}

8   Having the will, say to support those disheartened... (7) TESTATE {STATE}<=>{ThosE}

9   ...and getting in touch with the criminal (6) BANDIT {B{AND{IT}

15 Hard work to score in a game (9) HOPSCOTCH {H}{OP}{SCOTCH}

17 Hormone details or composition (9) ESTRADIOL*

18 Cat hides hand, say, when it's used to catch mice (9) CAMEMBERT {CA{MEMBER}T}

19 Beginning with Charlie and Victor - name picked up by our ancestor (4,3) CAVE MAN {Ch...e}{And}{Vi...r}{NAME<=}

21 Bother with high sales output (6) HASSLE {H}{SALES*}

23 Instrument in transit, arriving shortly (5) SITAR [T]

24 Merry sort, no covers, one slip (5) ERROR {mERRy}{sORt}

26 Connecting it perhaps when height is unknown (5) TYING T(-h+y)YING

Reference List

Diameter = D, Church = CH, Hearts = H, Spades = S, Old = EX, Time = T, Hard = H, High = H, Height = H, Unknown = Y

No 14605, Saturday 04 October 2025, Avtaar

 ACROSS
1 Mom visiting homes for lotus flowers to be used in pooja (6) PADMAS {PAD{MA}S}

5 Most uncouth bums lying in bed (8) COARSEST {CO{ARSES}T}
9 John and Avtaar carrying bread for Turkish boss bosses (8) CAPITANI {CA{PITA}N}{I} Didn't find it on-line but BRB has it. See comments.
10 Held in deposit after return by writer (4-2) PENT-UP {PUT<}<=>{PEN}
11 Singing legend, (not a Rastafarian), performed captivating "New York", at the end (5,7) FRANK SINATRA {RASTAFARIaN}* over {N}{yorK}

13 Revolutionary upset a royal (4) RAJA {JAR<}{A}
14 Bishop pokes a judge to irritate (8) ACERBATE {ACE}{R{B}ATE}
17 Spooner's guy rations fuel (8) FIREWOOD Spoonerism of WIRE FOOD
18 Smart chap, perhaps, retired in Iceland, after leaving India (4) ALEC {iCELAnd}<
20 Mostly gormand sorts starting to enjoy cooking (12) GASTRONOMERS {GORMANd SORTS Enjoy}* &Lit For some strange reason the online version was insisting this was wrong. Update: Now Rectified.
23 Sharper, thinner, low leaves (6) WILIER {WILlowIER}
24 Made way through article by director - gripping study (8) THREADED {TH{READ}E}{D}
25 Host quietly ignored one taking umbrage (8) RESENTER {pRESENTER}
26 Creeps in ship taking over lounge (6) SIDLES {S{IDLE}S}

DOWN
2 Set of notes about seaweed (4) AGAR {RAGA<}
3 I'm looking up label sealing father's computer (9) MAINFRAME {I AM}<{N{FR}AME}
4 A boring quiet chap who practises black magic (6) SHAMAN {SH}{A}{MAN}

5 Extremely cool, dark, romantic novel outside small shop that sells online too (6,3,6) CLICKS AND MORTAR {CooL}{DARK ROMANTIC}* over {S}
6 Pressure on police department to arrest rebel after American provided a brief (8) APPRISED {P}{P{RISE}D}<=>{A}
7 Amundsen napped consuming laxative (5) SENNA [T]
8 Maids cleaned up our settees stained with black, pouring a drop of ethanol (10) SOUBRETTES {OUR SETTEeS}* over {B} New word for me
12 Invest in recycled plastic, increasing environmental awareness, basically (10) CAPITALISE {PLASTIC Increasing Environmental Awareness}*
15 Mark holding back British orchestra (5,4) BRASS BAND {BR{ASS}{B}AND}

16 Head of anarchic state's chant about leaders of clamorous rioters storming vessel (8) MOBOCRAT {OM<}{ BOAT} over {Clamourous}{Rioters}
19 Faces animals crossing terminal in Dortmund (6) BEARDS {BEAR{dortmunD}S}
21 Your warmth in entertaining inspires (5) THINE [T]
22 Loud spy dog (4) PEKE {~PEEK}

REFERENCE LIST

Mom=Ma, New=N, Bishop=B, A=Ace, India=Ind, Director=D, Quietly=P, Ship=SS, Father=Fr, Quiet=Sh, Small=S, Pressure=P, Police Department=PD, Black=B, British=B.

No 14604, Friday 03 Oct 2025, Bruno

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

6   Large American city with no grassy area (5) LLANO {L}{LA}{NO}

7   Record-breaking complex not an ogre - made with this building material (3, 5) RED BRICK  {RECorDBReaKIng}*

10 If part of the body's... (7) MIDRIFF IF is middle of rIFf  Semi&lit

11 ... even touched, cut off wrap (7) ENVELOP {EVEN}*{LOP} Touched/Anind?

12 Grill AI-inspired child following centre of exhibit (7) HIBACHI {A{CH}I}<=>{exHIBit}

13 Whip son having no hint of any guts (7) SCOURGE {S}{COURaGE}

14 How's this Olympic event? (11) SHOWJUMPING {HOWS}* [RA]

19 Declare: most of Mexican cooking contains mainly lentils (7) EXCLAIM {MEXICAn}* over {Le...s}

21 Moderate seaside area home to bulk of organisms (7) QUALIFY {QUA{LIFe}Y}

23 Fire current into fuel with a kind of cable (7) COAXIAL {AX}{I} in {COAL}

25 Russia's last liberal collapsed at heart imprisoned in ruler's castle (7) ALCAZAR {r...iA}{L}{C{collApsed}ZAR}

26 Led Zeppelin originally played around AZ after Robert essentially became blind (8) BEDAZZLE {LED+Ze...n} over {AZ} after {roBErt}

27 Crossing river... cold with fear (5) DREAD {D{R}EAD}

DOWN

1   Spooner's father gambles and defaults (3,5) BAD DEBTS (dad bets to bad debts)

2   Set of signs some cricket match in South Africa's corrupt to begin with (6) ZODIAC {Z{ODI}A}{Co...t}

3   Storm's often very loud in Jamaica - leaving area destroyed and long vehicle lines (7,3) TRAFFIC JAM {sToRm} and {FF} in {JAMAICa}*

4   Grandad zealously guarding tool (4) ADZE [T]

5   Leader disregarded funny visual (6) OCULAR jOCULAR

6   Tissues of Latin Goddesses expressing sadness, at heart (6) LYMPHS {L}{nYMPHS}

8   Italian food recipe has garlic sauce infused with bit of vinegar (7) RAVIOLI {R}{A{Vi...r}IOLI}

9   Mysterious sound's starting when setting up Zoom (5) SPEED {DEEP}{So..d}<=

13 Note: Resume developed with AI (first version) can contain questionable beginning (10) SEMIQUAVER {RESUME+AI+Ve...n} over {Qu...e}*

15 Old vehicle in America - one that produces sound through holes (7) OCARINA {O}{CAR}{IN}{A}

16 Grey-haired girl showered with top off (8) GRIZZLED {G}{dRIZZLED}

17 Throw out some rebel churchgoers (5) BELCH [T]

18 Extremely happy new wife leaving home finally, becomes cross (6) HYBRID {HappY}{BRIDe}

20 Mad-Z chasing car crashes (6) CRAZED {ZED}<=>{CAR}*

22 Agree - Eastern Indian peninsula largely needs to be uplifted (6) ACCEDE {E}{DECCAn}<=

24 Dim husband becoming large and idle (4) LAZY (-h+l)LAZY

Reference List

Large = L, Child = CH, Son = S, Fire = AX, Current = I, Liberal = L, River = R, South Africa = ZA, Very loud = FF, Latin = L, Recipe = R, Old = O, America = A, Girl = G, Eastern = E, Husband = H

Special, Thursday 02 Oct 2025, Veeyares

Artwork by Prasanna

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 14603, Wednesday 01 Oct 2025, Hypatia

Rangoli by Gowri

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

7   Great fun with one entertained by computer (8) MAJESTIC {MA{JEST}{1}C}

9   Bored by working, had director repented (6) ATONED {AT{ON}E}{D}

10 Maiden painting store (4) MART {M}{ART}

11 Stop indicator in pool lit by Spooner (5,5) BRAKE LIGHT (lake bright to brake light)

12 Season fertilizer changing Nitrogen's temperature (6) MATURE MA(-n+t)TURE

14 Gen Y girl moving cautiously (8) GINGERLY*

15 Hard to comprehend where curlers are placed (5,4,4) ABOVE ONES HEAD [C&DD]

18 Dangerous dacoit gaining time with Republican tyrant (8) DICTATOR {DACOIT+T}*{R} (Correction - {DACOIT}* over {T} with {R} - See comments)

20 In fact, his view's frequently intuitive (6) NATIVE {iN+fAcT+hIs+ViEw}

21 Work in Lahore or abroad in verbosity (10) LOGORRHOEA {GO} in {LAHORE+OR}*

22 Afghan carving a new course (4) PATH PATHan

23 Hollow spaces without frame for antenna, say (6) ?I?O?E (Addendum - DIPOLE {DIP}{hOLEs} - See comments})

24 Issued or kept confidential (8) SECRETED [DD]

DOWN

1   Managed to hold God of death back with an epic saga (8) RAMAYANA {R{YAMA<=}AN}{A}

2   Primarily nifty, elegant and tasteful! (4) NEAT Acrostic &lit

3   Permanent housing for nags (6) STABLE [DD]

4   Shows power supported by mature soldiers (8) PAGEANTS {P}{AGE}{ANTS}

5   Propose to build store e.g. outside barren location (4,6) GOBI DESERT {BID} in {STORE+EG}*

6   Deadly drug imported by permit with gangster (6) LETHAL {H} in {LET}{AL}

8   Gosh! Romancing casually in places where folks undress (8,5) CHANGING ROOMS*

13 Maverick University player turning party animal (10) UNORTHODOX {U}{NORTH}{DO<=}{OX}

16 Restaurants in great Erie street (8) EATERIES [T]

17 Aficionados in building voted to erect Church (8) DEVOTEES {VOTED*}{SEE<=}

19 Very famous Indian bank abruptly bored by working (6) ICONIC {IC{ON}ICi}

20 Trace sister at church touring America (6) NUANCE {NUN}{CE} over {A}

22 Announced petition for game (4) PREY (~pray)

Reference List

Director = D, Maiden = M, Temperature = T, Time = T, Republican = R, New = N, Power = P, Drug = H(Heroin), Gangster = AL(Capone), University = U, Player = NORTH, Church = SEE, Church = CE, America = A

No 14602, Tuesday 30 Sep 2025, Hypatia

Solution to 4A 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   Penny's fortunate and brave (6) PLUCKY {P}{LUCKY}

4   A bit shy before my church singers do this (6) ?C?R?H (Addendum - SCORCH {Shy}{COR}{CH} - See comments)

9   Starts to generate neat advertisements through flyer (4) GNAT Acrostic

10 Spooner's labelling rotten bananas (7,3) BARKING MAD (marking bad to barking mad)

11 Followed author's boring story to date (6) TAILED {TA{I}LE}{D}

12 Praise champion sheltering pop and daughter (8) ACCOLADE {AC{COLA}{D}E}

13 Boost phone software to cover North and Southeast Asians (9) FILIPINOS {FILIP}{I{N}OS}

15 Detailed inspection for boss (4) STUD STUDy

16 Broken hut abandoned in rocky Halibut island (4) BALI hALIBut*

17 Make a hole in paper for a template (9) PERFORATE [T]

21 Play interrupted by a gun shot in house (8) BUNGALOW {B{A+GUN}*LOW)

22 Oddly took around two hours plus to weed out (6) UPROOT {TwO+hOuRs+PlUs}<=

24 Boys in blue pants strike behind with padding material (6,4) BUBBLE WRAP {BU{BB}LE*}{RAP}<=>{W}

25 Elected representative briefly backing American plant (4) AMLA {MLA}<=>{A}

26 English pilot ultimately prepares to go ahead and fly (6) TSETSE {E}<=>{p..oT}{SETS}

27 Avoid that man chasing key wicket (6) ESCHEW {HE}<=>{ESC} and {W}

DOWN

1   Joke and poke with one's tongue (7) PUNJABI {PUN}{JAB}{1}

2   Before you return, get thali meal at last (5) UNTIL Tail Acrostic 

3   Kid lost tackling a poor game - it's touch and go! (7) KABADDI {K{A}{BAD}DI*}

5   Secure piece of cake gaining pounds (6) CLINCH {C{L}INCH}

6   Got a rule modified by writing to SEBI, say (9) REGULATOR {GOT+A+RULE}*{R}

7   Fiercely adored by husband and treasured (7) HOARDED {ADORED}*<=>{H}

8   Do owners thus fail to keep a promise? (5,4,4) BREAK ONES WORD {DO+OWNERS}* [RA]

14 Say throw up bile after ailing and faint (9) ILLEGIBLE {EG}{BILE*}<=>{ILL}

16 Modern boutique delivering single bunch of flowers (7) BOUQUET BOUTiQUE*

18 Message about uniform given to father with school slip (4,3) FAUX PAS {FA{U}X}{PA}{S}

19 Extremely lethargic trail outside European city (3,4) TOO SLOW {TO{OSLO}W}

20 Switching sides, digs without right tools (6) PLIERS {P(-r+l)LIES} over {R}

23 Come to power (5) REACH [DD]

Reference List

Penny = P, My = COR, Date = D, Daughter = D, North = N, Boy = B, With = W, American = A, English = E, Key = ESC, Wicket = W, Pound = L, Writing = R, Husband = H, Uniform = U, School = S, Right = R

No 14601, Monday 29 Sep 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   Turn round and bash terribly pompous officials (4-4) POOH-BAHS {HOOP<=}{BASH*}

5   Start to see reel about Catholic parchment (6) SCROLL {See}{ROLL} over {C}

10 Like a salad and meat after eating good oriental starter of tofu (7) VEGETAL {VE{G}{E}{Tofu}AL}

11 Mistake in printed matter by English cad overwhelmed by drink (7) ERRATUM {E}{R{RAT}UM}

12 Enjoyable to host essentially sweet relative (5) NIECE {NI{swEet}CE}

13 Discharge an inmate, cured after receiving oxygen (9) EMANATION {AN+INMATE}* over {O}

14 Where rejected songs are not to be made public (3,3,6) OFF THE RECORD [DD]

18 Really fanatic, a cult went berserk (2,6,4) IN ACTUAL FACT*

21 Model cheats around, inviting ultimately hot male for a five-day affair (4,5) TEST MATCH {T}{ES{hoT}{M}ATCH*}

23 Eccentric person going topless, say (5) U?T?R (Addendum - UTTER nUTTER - See comments) 

24 Rushed to enter, dressed to a T in Italian city (7) TARANTO {RAN} in {TO+A+T}*

25 Desires to screen tape about divine beings (7) DEITIES {D{TIE<=}IES}

26 Sailor embarrassed about delay (6) RETARD {RE{TAR}D}

27 Worries as associate advances to check rebellious misdemeanour (8) AGONISES {A}{GO{SIN<=}ES}

DOWN

1   Dance floor accommodates about ninety at launch (6) PAVANE {PAV{Ab..t}{Ni...y}E}

2   Carelessly ignores, disregards nationalist parties (6) ORGIES IGnORES*

3   Dairy product's perfect with bit of fondue in club (9) BUTTERFAT {B{UTTER}{Fo...e}AT}

4   Smug head of Hachette irritated author in hotel (6-4-4) HOLIER-THAN-THOU {Ha...e}{AUTHOR+IN+HOTEL}*

6   Caught rebellious character outside posh papal court (5) CURIA {C}{AIR<=} over {U}

7   Men deceive to steal most fine TV camera tube (8) ORTHICON {OR}{CON} over {THIn}

8   Foolishly made one large drink (8) LEMONADE {MADE+ONE+L}*

9   Warning sign bothered a few frightfully on return journey (6,2,3,3) BEWARE OF THE DOG {BOTHERED+A+FEW}*{GO<=}

15 Old criminal ensnaring most opulent leader of industry in bar (9) EXCLUSION {EX}{CON} over {LUSh}{In...y}

16 Tyrant's atrocious act finally incited riot (8) DICTATOR {ACT+i...eD+RIOT}*

17 Language of extraordinary saints captivating king and queen (8) SANSKRIT {SANS{K}{R}IT*}

19 Groups in retreat holding stylish beer mugs (6) STEINS {SETS<=} over {IN}

20 Checks hazards after onset of fire (6) FRISKS {RISKS}<=>{Fire}

22 Inferior ham in ordinary sandwiches (5) MINOR [T]

Reference List

Catholic = C, Good = G, Oriental = E, English = E, Model = T, Male = M, Associate = A, Nationalist = N, Caught = C, Posh = U, Men = OR, Large = L, Old = EX, King = K, Queen = R(Regina)

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday, Sunday 28 Sep 2025,

ACROSS

7   Unit of measurement for a kiss? (4) PECK [DD]

8   Eddy's loop (9) WHIRLPOOL {LOOP}* [RA]

10 Arrest German captain removing headgear (6) DETAIN {DE}{capTAIN}

11 Opened Irish port in middle of nude dancing (8) UNCORKED {UN{CORK}ED*}

12 Member of staff's crooked eye follows English member of parliament, see? (8) EMPLOYEE {EYE}<=>{E}{MP}{LO}

14 & 13 Spooner's receptacle for mail gets superior security devices (6,5) BETTER LOCKS (~letter box to better locks)

16 Go before, start to pray and go back (7) PRECEDE {Pray}{RECEDE}

18 Other than covering last character's citation (7) EXCERPT {EXCE{c...eR}PT}

21 Fully exhausts from awful acupressure in absence of carer (4,2) USES UP acUPreSSUrE*

23 Giving up, lie dying horribly (8) YIELDING* 

25 Hero was running around end of war to get charger (8) WARHORSE {HERO+WAS}* over {waR}

27 Well-known investor's self-service meal (6) BUFFET [DD]

29 Nuts, screws and bolts, for example (9) FASTENERS [CD] Reminds me of the Mad rapist who escapes!!

30 Cutting instruments like X, Y or Z, perhaps (4) AXES [DD]

DOWN

1   Communist emeer turns into saviour (8) REDEEMER {RED}{EMEER}*

2   Vegetable from Bangkok ranch (4) OKRA [T]

3 & 6 & 20 Always, approximation of Pi is wrongly mentioned, with its numerator overstated by 2 (6,4,2,5) TWENTY FOUR BY SEVEN {(22+2)/7}

4   Records tunes wrongly composed by music institute initially (7) MINUTES {TUNES}*<=>{Mu..c}{In...e}

5   Flight recorder having dark colour in front of spar (5,3) BLACK BOX {BLACK}{BOX}

6   See 3 Down

9   Feudal lord's limb covers one sweetheart (5) LIEGE {L{1}EG}{swEet}

13 See 14 Across

15 Empty tankard covers small rough fabric (5) TWEED {Tank{WEE}arD}

17 Sent back to native country carrying wine, indeed (8) DEPORTED {DE{PORT}ED}

19 Reflective thinker transported per drone (8) PONDERER*

20 See 3 Down

22 Breakfast with female employees (5) STAFF {FAST}*{F}

24 Decorate setter on retirement with superior officer (6) EMBOSS {ME<=}{BOSS}

26 That guy's straw initially makes sibilant sound (4) HISS {HIS}{St..w}

28 Obese without eating at first? It's an achievement! (4) FEAT {F{Ea...g}AT}

Reference List

German = DE, English = E, Female = F

No 14600, Saturday 27 September 2025, Dr. X

 ACROSS
1 Blunder serving meat - a sin essentially in this? (13) VEGETARIANISM {SERVING MEAT A sIn}* SEMI &LIT
8 Groove with extremely smart character in retreat (5) STRIA {SmarT}{AIR<}
9 Unusual desire to consume very strong crack (9) DIFFERENT {DI{FF}E}{RENT}
11 Anagram indicator 'zany' at the end in wordbook (10) DICTIONARY {INDICATOR}*{zanY}

12 & 27 Prepare to work hard and expose superior members? (4,2,4,7) ROLL UP ONE'S SLEEVES [D&CD]
14 Device helping one to leave jet - core's damaged (7) EJECTOR*
16 Start to applaud musical group playing in desert (7) ABANDON {Applaud}{BAND}{ON}
17 Abandon reactionary party permanently (3,4) FOR GOOD {FORGO}{DO<}
19 Shows European nationalist involved in immoralities (7) EVINCES {E}{VI{N}CES}
21 Came to check about securing shelter for animals (4) COTE [T<]

22 Completely fantastic raga, new work to be performed with increasing slowness (10) ALLARGANDO {ALL}{RAGA*}{N}{DO}
25 Decided to secure brown bag finally for an additional fee (9) SURCHARGE {SUR{CHAR}{baG}E}
26 One welcoming a member of an Eastern Catholic church (5) UNIAT {UNI{A}T}
27 See 12 Across

DOWN
2 Painful complaint of English amateur beginning to hobble in contest (7) EARACHE {E}{A}{RAC{Hobble}E}
3 Gauntness of poor old inmate probed by spies (10) EMACIATION {O+INMATE}* over {CIA}
4 Accessory of American mafia boss stealing diamonds (3-2) ADD-ON {A}{D{D}ON}
5 Fire a unit arousing anger (9) INFURIATE*
6 New volume released for Christmas (4) NOEL {NOvEL}

7 Drug abused by those wanting a heavenly body (7) STEROID {aSTEROID}
8 Unintended consequences of silicon and iron reviewed in deficiencies (4,7) SIDE EFFECTS {SI}{DE{FE<}FECTS}
10 One searching for skilled people in Trinidad and Tobago to fence new consulate (6,5) TALENT SCOUT {T T} over {CONSULATE}*

13 Checking American stars overwhelmed by knocking back liquor and ecstasy (6,4) MAKING SURE {A}{KINGS} in {RUM<} then E
15 Warnings of great danger with Liberal arrested, beaten up (3,6) RED ALERTS {L ARRESTED}*
18 Right to arrest a revolting character in filthy place (7) RATTRAP {R{A}T}{PART<}
20 Lock up criminal? All right (7) CONFINE {CON}{FINE}
23 Screening very rare larvae of a region (5) AREAL {LARvAE}*
24 Feature in each investigation (4) CHIN [T]

REFERENCE LIST

Very Strong=FF, European=E, Nationalist=N, New=N, English=E, Amateur=A, Old=O, Spies=CIA, American=A, Diamonds=D, Volume=V, Silicone=Si, IRON=Fe, Trinidad and Tobago=TT, Ecstasy=E, Liberal=L, Right=RT, Very=V.

No 14599, Friday 26 Aug 2025, Dr. X

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   Arrived outside park to rest in place where people can pitch a tent (8) CAMPSITE {CAM{P}{SIT}E}

5   Stiff tequilas on vacation, turning mischievous (6) STARCH {Te...aS<=}{ARCH}

10 Fever caused by polluted air? Yep, toxic essentially (7) PYREXIA {AIR+YEP+toXic}*

11 Disagreed with newspaper article about rebellious operation ending in success (7) OPPOSED {OPED}over {OP<=}{s...eS}

12 Worm in piece of cake repelled aristocrat (5) CREEP {Cake}{PEER<=}

13 Lure with fantastic discount to bring in clients at centre (9) SEDUCTION {DISCOUNT}* over {cliEnts}

14 & 21 What mechanic might do to regain energy by resting for a while (8,4,9) RECHARGE ONES BATTERIES [C&DD]

18 Perfection of leader in French Revolution (12) FLAWLESSNESS {Fr...h}{LAWLESSNESS}

21 See 14 Across

23 Sample of shiny, long synthetic material (5) NYLON [T]

24 English king died, badly cut by brutal revolutionary (6,1) EDWARD I {ED{RAW<=}DI*}

25 Back of auto, almost overflowing with methamphetamine and crack (7) ORIFICE {autO}{RIFe}{ICE}

26 British economist's pointers about national economy at inauguration (6) KEYNES {KEY{Na...l}{Ec...y}S}

27 Guys losing head in hole, getting small torch (8) PENLIGHT {P{mEN}LIGHT}

DOWN

1   Kiss after company makes money in Russia (6) COPECK {PECK}<=>{CO}

2   Take out wine on reflection after knocking back liquor (6) MURDER {RED<=}<=>{RUM<=}

3   Bored by old program? Shut it! (3,6) SEX APPEAL {EX}{APP} in {SEAL}

4   Dynamic hitter's tip to dominate bowlers is awesome (5,3,6) THATS THE SPIRIT {HITTERS+TIP}* over {HATS}

6   Question in first chapter about iodine (5) TOPIC {TOP}{C} over {I}

7   Some countrymen worked in USSR, say, endlessly (8) RUSSIANS {IN+USSR+SAy}*

8   Sensuality of trim, handsome young man going topless inside (8) HEDONISM {HE{aDONIS}M}

9   Go to the toilet with model to consume ecstasy and downers on set (6,4,4) POWDER ONES NOSE {POSE} over {E+DOWNERS+ON}*

15 Main model is leanest (9) ESSENTIAL*

16 Duck! Fellow gets bowled, taken in by unusual delivery (3,5) OFF BREAK {O}{F}{F{B}REAK}

17 Save route after bringing back book of maps (4,4)  SALT AWAY {WAY}<=>{ATLAS<=}

19 Brief dalliance around end of party (6) FLYING {FL{p..tY}ING}

20 Consume gin cocktail on set recklessly (6) INGEST {GIN*}{SET*}

22 Mysterious creature finally caught in North American lake (5) EERIE {c...rE} in {ERIE}

Reference List

Park = P, Newspaper article = OP ED, Methamphetamine = ICE, Wine = RED, Old = EX, Ecstasy = E, Fellow = F, Bowled = B

No 14598, Thursday 25 Sep 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 20A 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   Praises a college student receiving hundred marks (8) ACCLAIMS {A}{C}{L} over {C} then {AIMS}

5   Girl captivated by zebra wandering in capital city (6) ZAGREB {ZA{G}REB*}

10 Marvellous flatfish (5) BRILL [DD]

11 Report citizen stealing a Rolls-Royce (9) NARRATIVE {N{A}{RR}ATIVE}

12 Democrat screening Republican party's chicanery (9) DECEPTION {D}{rECEPTION}

13 Anxiety caused by a national goods and services tax (5) ANGST {A}{N}{GST}

14 Container filled with a new nitrogen compound (6) TANNIN {T{A}{N}{N}IN}

15 Unreasonable male cutting old conifer (7) EXTREME {EX}{TRE{M}E}

18 Exciting scoop about Hyderabad's captain chasing model after the event (4,3) POST HOC {SCOOP}* over {Hy...d}<=>{T}

20 Investigate unionist breaking contract (6) P?R?U? (Addendum - PURSUE {PURS{U}E} - See comments)

22 Mammoth reward inspires cast (5) THREW [T]

24 Cool, without any frills (9) UNRUFFLED [DD]

25 Requiring nourishment, extremely unwell after onset of epidemic (9) ENTAILING {No...nT}{AILING}<=>{Ep...c}

26 Dame erotically cuddling Muslim prince (5) AMEER [T]

27 Still extremely sheepish, about to propose (6) SMOOTH {Sh..{MOOT}..sH}

28 Died after developing tetanus? Not explicitly declared (8) UNSTATED {D}<=>{TETANUS}*

DOWN

1   Sunrise song a beau composed to entertain date (6) AUBADE {A+BEAU}* over {D}

2   Talks with bowlers perhaps after CSK's top batter gets century (9) CHITCHATS {HATS}<=>{Csk}{HIT}{C}

3   Frolicking in the raw, sots consuming drink get a mild punishment (1,4,2,3,5) A SLAP ON THE WRIST {IN+THE+RAW+SOTS}* over {LAP}

4   Intimate in no time, dancing close to maiden (7) MENTION {NO+TIME}*{m...eN}

6   American runner in tears, devastated by bad performance actually (2,1,6,2,4) AS A MATTER OF FACT {A}{SA{MAT}TER*}{OFF}{ACT}

7   Regretting failure, ultimately depressing (5) RUING {RUIN}{d...nG}

8   Break-danced bare with ultimately hot woman (8) BREATHER {BARE*}{hoT}{HER}

9   Rim of iron around hoop (6) FRINGE {F{RING}E}

16 Vivacious belle in fancy bar outside university (9) EBULLIENT {BELLE+IN}*{T} over {U}

17 Son having no marijuana, becoming clean (8) SPOTLESS {S}{POT LESS}

19 Relative in company, working endlessly (6) COUSIN {CO}{USINg}

20 Substance producing fever in children, mostly around end of July (7) PYROGEN {P{julY}ROGENy}

21 Enjoyed a wine after work (6) ADORED {A}{RED}<=>{DO}

23 Old-fashioned resort, sadly lacking latest of amenities (5) RETRO REsORT*

Reference List

College = C, Student = L, Hundred = C, Girl = G, Democrat = D, Republican = R, National = N, New = N, Male = M, Old = EX, Model = T, Unionist = T, Died = D, Date = D, Century = C, American = A, Runner = MAT, Bar = T, University = U, Son = S, Wine = RED