No 14661, Wednesday 10 Dec 2025, Vidwan

Solution to 18D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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   Retired Arsenal striker heading out to church for nothing! (5) ZILCH {oZIL}{CH}

4   Oye Brutus! Cunning like some influencers on social media! (9) YOU TUBERS*

9   Brothel keeper covering California road in olden days (7) MACADAM {MA{CA}DAM}

10 Edible bun, possibly unbeatable! (7) EATABLE {EATABLE+BUN}=UNBEATABLE [CA]

11 Did we rant about an easterly gale? (5,4) TRADE WIND*

12 Swamp's cold, not hot after beginning of May (5) MARSH {hARSH}<=>{May}

13 Much more than full, paramour loses head, almost in nameless state! (14) OVERPOPULATION {lOVER}{POPULar}{nATION} 

17 Cunning bold liar! Royal Scot linked to crafts and administrations of works! (14) LIBRARIANSHIPS {B+LIAR}*{R}{IAN}{SHIPS}

21 Path one gets into because life's hollowed (5) AISLE {A{1}S}{LifE}

22 Boisterous duet - "Hopes for Alabama" (4,5) DEEP SOUTH*

24 Cut fruit! Cut into small cubes! Cut in harmony! (7) MELODIC {MELOn}{DICe}

25 An Italian river flowing into a sea between Greece and Anatolia, cutting Europe at the highest point (7) APOGEAN {A}{PO}{G}{E}{AN} (Correction - {Ae{PO}GEAN} - See comments)

26 Bretton Woods institution regularly led by suppression in industry! (5,4) WORLD BANK {WOR{LeD}{BAN}K}

27 South African returning a very hot kiss (5) XHOSA {A}{SO}{H}{X}<=

DOWN

1   Zee TV's some broadcast about local councils in Russia (8) ZEMSTVOS {Z+TVS+SOME}*

2   Left work at England to produce milk (7) LACTATE {L}{ACT}{AT}{E}

3   Protection carried by distinguished gentlemen (5) HEDGE [T]

4   Male King, one very softly interrupting your time of atonement (3,6) YOM KIPPUR {YO{M}{K}{1}{PP}UR}

5   Super, limitless and extremely nuanced reverse (5) UPEND {sUPEr}{Nu...eD}

6   Epitomes of many without male companions (9) ULTIMATES {mULTI}{MATES}

7   Restriction on movement! So acquires a post-graduate degree! (7) EMBARGO {E{MBA}RGO}

8   Observe itchy men regularly expressing rage (6) SEETHE {SEE}{iTcHy+mEn}

14 Ale finished as foretold (9) PORTENDED {PORT}{ENDED}

15 Miss having comfort and bit of buying/selling property and renting same thereafter! (9) LEASEBACK {L{EASE}{Bu...g}}ACK}

16 Abnormal loss of strength like in the afflicted adult (8) ASTHENIA {AS}{IN+THE}*{A}

18 Limited, lacking in hormone and not extremely rare (7) I?S?L?R (Addendum - INSULAR {INSULin}{rARe} - See comments)

19 Routine moves within the womb (2,5) IN UTERO*

20 Who may blast pile of straw? (6) HAYMOW*

22 Country house had a chapel inside (5) DACHA [T]

23 Native American promise for English male, say (5) SIOUX (~sue)  (Correction - S(-e+iou)IOUX - See comments)

Reference List

Church = CH, Hot = H, Name = N, Bold = B, Royal = R, Kiss = X, Zee = Z, Left = L, Male = M, King = K, Very soft = PP, Male = M, Adult = A

No 14660, Tuesday 09 Dec 2025, Pixie Dust

Solution to 17A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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   Priest and secular theologist of repute basically (6) PASTOR Acrostic &lit

5   Tense and upset with nut mainly endangering part of vehicle's exhaust system (8) TAILPIPE {T}{AIL}{PIP}{En...g}

9   Broadcast, Tesla managed with metal worker almost entirely (8) TRANSMIT {T}{RAN}{SMITh}

10 Understanding fellow is dominated essentially (6) WISDOM [T]

11 Rift over firstly endorsing Tina say, in a captivating book (4-6) PAGE-TURNER {GAP<=}{En...g}{TURNER}

12 Pet wildfowls seen now and then (4) IDOL wIlDfOwLs

13 Combines suites in building (8) UNITISES*

16 Seamstress rejects model for southern mariner (6) SAILOR (-t+s)SAILOR

17 Slip, Troy? Tear it into small pieces (4,2) ?R?P ?P (Addendum - TRIP UP {Troy}{RIP UP} - See comments)

19 Sweet canine's hurting (8) CHARMING {C}{HARMING}

21 Disciplined cycling to reach river in Venezuela (4) META (-ta}ME(+ta)TA

22 NCSE, repeatedly used characteristic property of maturity? (10) SENESCENCE [Letter Bank]

25 Film maker's lace work on back to front raincoat (6) WEBCAM {WEB}{MAC<=}

26 Tubes shattered, ears hurt! (8) URETHRAS*

27 Music Producer from Chelsea, Caroline never ate regularly (8) CLARINET {CheLseA+caRolIne+NevEr+aTe}

28 Shacks housing king's ribbons (6) SHREDS {SH{R}EDS}

DOWN

2   Big vessel going west north from Commissariat Road (5) AORTA [T<=] See comments

3   Drop can, extremely gauche (5) TINGE {TIN}{Ga..hE}

4   Sour words whispered? (7) RUMOURS {SOUR}* [RA]

5   Offensive rump condition (7) TETANUS {TET}{ANUS}

6   Reverend's levity makes sparks fly? Okay! (7)(2,5) IT WORKS (~wit irks to it works) Error in Enu? See comments

7   Look! This negative thinking made Mike spoil Moss? (9) PESSIMISM {PESSIMISM+LOOK}*={MIKE+SPOIL+MOSS}

8   Zoo patron's perhaps relating to very small organisms (9) PROTOZOAN*

14 Courage to dispose of (as per auditor) sender of electrical and chemical message (5,4) NERVE CELL {NERVE}{(~sell)CELL}

15 Narc taped tight performer (3,6) TAP DANCER*

18 Circle around most amazing man of letters? (7) POSTMAN {P{MOST*}AN}

19 Kid with old Dutch coin in passage (7) CONDUIT {CON}{DUIT}

20 A bishop's burden can be sore (7) ABSCESS {A}{B'S}{CESS}

23 Blue thermos filled with oxygen (5) ETHER [T] Oxygen?

24 Picked up burnt vegetable (5) CHARD (~charred)

Reference List

Tense = T, Tesla = T, Model = T, Southern = S, Troy = T, Canine = C, King = R, Bishop = B

No 14659, Monday 08 Dec 2025, Pixie Dust

Solution to 1D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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

7   All pack bulk of a kind of wool (6) ALPACA {ALl}{PACk}{A}

8   Peace maker accepted stock in the dark (8) UNAWARES {UN}{A}{WARES}

9   Plain dad repelled mom (8) APPARENT {PA<=}{PARENT}

10 Novelist Paul Otho, born without extremities (6) AUTHOR {pAUl+oTHo+bORn}

11 America condemned cut fur, a legal right (8) USUFRUCT {US}{CUT}FUR}*

12 Criminal ruing a toy rifle (3,3) AIR GUN*

13 Allow insufficient light to awkwardly nuder old model (11) UNDEREXPOSE {NUDER}*{EX}{POSE}

18 So, tale going around about frozen dessert (6) GELATO [T<=]

20 "Fancy! I'm ten" played repeatedly in the air? (8) IMMINENT Letter Bank

22 Outdo gambler? (6) BETTER [DD]

23 Sinful stuffed-bun, cha, steak sandwiches (8) UNCHASTE [T]

24 Fine to adopt a program, basically legal and encrypted to find abnormal growth on trees (3,5) OAK APPLE {O{A}K}{APP}{Le..l}{En...d}

25 Darling cycling with ex? not happening for now! (2,4) ON HOLD {(-h)ON(+h)H}{OLD}

DOWN

1   Spooner's work at dashing airshow? (7) ?L?P?S? (Addendum - FLYPAST (~ply fast to flypast) - See comments)

2   Penny broke affair with Newton, the lubricator (8) PARAFFIN {P}{AFFAIR*}{N}

3   Girl had a piece of upside-down cake (6) GATEAU {G}{ATE}{A}{Up...e}

4   Lantern from the French states and member of parliament (4,4) LAVA LAMP {LA}{VA}{LA}{MP}

5   Server weak in theory every now and then (6) WAITER {WeAk+In+ThEoRy}

6   How code can become protocol? (7) DECORUM {CODE}* [RA]

8   Is this latest atrocious epithet mutinous? (2-2-3-6) UP-TO-THE-MINUTE {UP TO THE MINUTE +IS}*={EPITHET+MUTINOUS}* [CA]

14 Self indulgences? Essentially senseless- take off and strip randomly (3,5) EGO TRIPS {s..sEl..s}{GO}{STRIP}*

15 Ashen but somehow get a tan (8) SUNBATHE*

16 Chiefly very experienced, trained extensively, respected always, noble old soldier (7) VETERAN Acrostic

17 Set up present block (7) INSTALL {IN}{STALL}

19 Like the stars in Northeast Rallies (6) ASTRAL [T]

21 Measure note with curt friend (6) MICRON {MI}{CRONy}

Reference List

Accepted = A, Program = APP, Penny = P, Newton = N, Girl = G, The in French, States = VA, LA< Present = IN, Note = MI

Special, Sunday 07 Dec 2025, Veeyares

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.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 33, Sunday 07 Dec 2025, Dr. X

ACROSS

1   Pleasure-seeker is a bit overwhelmed by painful problem (8) GADABOUT {G{A}{DAB}OUT}

5   A small box containing phosphorus in hollow beneath fireplace (3-3) ASH-PIT {A}{S}{H{P}IT}

10 Restrain drunk grabbing maiden on island (5) LIMIT {LI{M}{I}T}

11 Took fresh sandwiches, cut of meat and vodka at centre (9) PURLOINED {PUR{LOIN}E}{voDka}

12 Flat in Seattle, fancy and extremely spacious (9) TASTELESS {SEATTLE}*}{Sp...uS}

13 Girl dumps male, stuffy and tempestuous (5) GUSTY {G}{mUSTY}

14 Bowl from ancient city stolen by youth (6) TUREEN {T{UR}EEN}

15 Learn about new company holding inauguration of industrial plant (7) SENECIO {SE{N}E}{C{In...l}O}

18 Element in starch, a bit atypical (7) HABITAT [T]

20 Ecstasy, heroin and marijuana finally found in flat (6) HEAVEN {H}{E{m...nA}VEN}

22 Article about India's foremost female bandit (5) THIEF {TH{In..a}E}{F}

24 Doctor finally ordered rest cure to revitalise (9) RESURRECT {d...oR}{REST+CURE}*

25 Offended by doctor, nurse left (9) RESENTFUL*

26 Very upset after onset of arthritis, getting help (5) AVAIL {V}{AIL}<=>{Ar...s}

27 Most pretty model breaking signal on street (6) CUTEST {CU{T}E}{ST}

28 Climber died in an incident on top of ridge (8) ASCENDER {A}{SCEN{D}E}{Ri..e}

DOWN

1   Fantastic gelato in American city (6) GOLETA*

2   Check quips about primarily boring anticlimax (4,5) DAMP SQUIB {DAM}{QUIPS*}{Bo...g}

3 & 7 Where bums might be using intuition (2,3,4,2,4,5) BY THE SEAT OF ONES PANTS [DD]

4   Plenty of university fellows receiving physical training on base (7) UMPTEEN {U}{M{PT}{E}EN}

6   Naughty nights with amour are ultimately leading to this? (7,8) SHOTGUN MARRIAGE {NIGHTS+AMOUR+ARE+l...nG} Semi&lit

7   See 3 Down

8   Current leader of band captivated by doll is British rebel of 1950's rock subculture (5,3) TEDDY BOY {T{EDDY}{Band}OY}

9   Emergency in Cuba with endless threat to lives (6) CRISIS {C}{RISk}{IS}

16 Most intelligent boy wins competition finally in American city (9) CLEVELAND {CLEVEr}{LA{c...oN}D}

17 Bombast of rich rogue consuming ecstasy with revolting degenerate (8) RHETORIC {RH{E}{ROT<=}IC*}

19 Tense disagreement about husband's frugality (6) THRIFT {T}{H}{RIFT}

20 Hurries as ruthless criminal runs away (7) HUSTLES rUTHLESS*

21 Tells about lacking energy, becoming more tired (6) STALER RELATeS<=

23 Smaller map of island close to Mykonos in pocket (5) INSET {I}{N{m...oS}ET}

Reference List

Small = S, Maiden = M, Island = I, Girl = G, Male = M, Ancient city = UR, New = N, Company = CO, Heroin = H, Female = F, Very = V, Model = T, Died = D, University = U, Base = E, Ecstasy = E, Tense = T, Husband = H, Runs = R, Energy = E

No 14658, Saturday 06 Dec 2025, Bruno

 ACROSS
1 Walk to gym - one that's grassy (6) STEPPE {STEP}{PE}

4 Fish shedding tail almost swimming north (6) SALMON {ALMOSt}*{N}

9 Guts of antelope now exposed (4) OPEN [T]
10 Germans mainly use gears with nut's head to interlock tools (6-4) GREASE GUNS {Germans}{USE GEARS Nut}*
11 Deer's twisted hoof, it's infected at the tip (6) WAPITI {PAW<}{IT}{Infected}

12 Catch ones in the middle when they get quicker outside (8) FASTENER {FASTE{oNEs}R}
13 Who man perhaps loves - daughter? Or all females? (9) WOMANHOOD {WHO MAN}*{O}{O}{D}
15 Family crowding around edge of lobby for hotspot? (4) KILN {KI{Lobby}N}
16 Fat man drops - turns to mush (4) PULP {PLUmP<}
17 This group's threatening to evict one initially for a bit of cursing to become hospitable (9) WELCOMING {WE}{L(-o+C)OMING}
21 Travelling to Togo with nephew? Have fun! (2,2,4) GO TO TOWN {TO TOGO}*{W}{N}
22 Decorative pieces of dark ironwork cut, arranged in rows (6) ORNATE {ORdiNATE}
24 Put off by setter's first dance set (10) DETERMINED {DETER}{MINE}{Dance}
25 That girl will abandon society for the underworld (4) HELL {sHE'LL}
26 Dislike taking top off now (6) RESENT {pRESENT}
27 Lawyer turns fair and correct (6) ADJUST {DA<}{JUST}

DOWN
1 Soak ran over musician (7) SOPRANO {SOP}{RAN}{O}
2 Europe and Italy purchasing Norway's gas ... it shows lack of interest (5) ENNUI {EU}{I} around {N}{N} Gas=Nitrogen=N
3 Panda's head somewhat large, cutting head off creates something like a swine (7) PIGGISH {Panda}{bIGGISH}
5 Demand of people... get rid of leader! (6) ASSESS {mASSES}{S} the last S from?
6 Man gets surprised, while grasping setter's male seductiveness (9) MAGNETISM {MAN GETS}* around {I} then {M}
7 Fabric that in rain, often gets strong (7) NANKEEN {iN rAiN}{KEEN}

8 When playing golf, never sing for free (4-9) SELF-GOVERNING*
14 A company at Rome ordered bonuses finally for everyone (3-6) ALL-COMERS {A}{LLC}{ROME*}{bonuseS}
16 Colleague copping charge for founder (7) PIONEER {P{ION}EER}
18 Busy bird died - one that escaped (7) CROWDED {CROW}{DiED}
19 Letter from school put up on lease (7) NOTELET {ETON<}{LET}
20 Ring with mass held by outlaw warrior (6) BOWMAN {B{O}{W}{M}AN}

23 Hunter firing last bullet shot statesman (5) NEHRU {HUNtER}*

REFERENCE LIST

Gym=PE=Physical Education, North=N, Love=0=O, Daughter=D, Man=M, This group=We, With=W, Nephew=N, Setter's=Mine, Society=S, Lawyer=DA, Over=O, Europe=European Union=EU, Italy=I, Norway=N, Setter=I, Company=LLC=Limited Liability Company, Ring=O, Mass=M. 

No 14657, Friday 05 Dec 2025, Saral

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

7   Nothing in list for bird (7) ROOSTER {RO{O}STER}

8   Terribly upset player finally breaks out (6) ERUPTS {UPSET+p...eR}*

9   Hospital almost secure, one admitted (6) CLINIC {CLIN{1}Ch}

10 Debris of crew at sea close to dock near a vacant garage (8) WRECKAGE {CREW*}{docK}{A}{Ga..gE}

11 Old niece perhaps receiving training with right knowledge (10) EXPERIENCE {EX}{NIECE*} over {PE}{R}

13 Twelve months? Mostly long (4) YEAR YEARn

14 Provokes followers (4) FANS [DD]

16 Primarily gliding effortlessly, creature keenly observing lizard (5) GECKO Acrostic

18 Block westbound vessels (4) POTS<=

19 Sharp blow killing that man in cloak (4) SWAT SWAThe

21 Special treats cop arranged for viewers (10) SPECTATORS {S+TREATS+COP}*

23 Bald German without leads to get councillor (8) ALDERMAN {bALD}{gERMAN}

25 European rejected English daughter and ran away (6) ELOPED {POLE<=}{E}{D}

26 About crime? Nothing in gambling house (6) CASINO {CA}{SIN}{O}

27 Shakes pieces (7) SHIVERS {DD]

DOWN

1   Suggestions confusing son with clues (8) COUNSELS*

2   Loading bag with fresh gin outside bar (8) STACKING {S{T}ACK}{GIN*}

3   Boast about rank (4) CROW {C}{ROW}

4   Cancel permit to enter river (6) DELETE {DE{LET}E}

5   Jailer wants new flier (6) TURKEY TURnKEY

6   Motionless deer with insect below tip of nose (8) STAGNANT {STAG}{ANT}<=>{Nose}

7   Rest often briefly at ten (5) RELAX {bRiEfLy+At}{X}

12 City in France checked by husband for vocation (5) NICHE {NIC{H}E}

15 Similarly a balloon with a string initially (2,4,2) AS WELL AS {A}{SWELL}{A}{St...g}

17 Broadcast novel "The Iron man" essentially (2,3,3) ON THE AIR {THE+IRON+mAn}*

18 Course with old information for source of disease (8) PATHOGEN {PATH}{O}{GEN}

20 Paper article is describing views at last (6) THESIS {THE}{viewS}{IS}

21 Mark in musical instrument reportedly (6) SYMBOL (~cymbal)

22 Sage climbing up around strong ridges (5) REEFS {S{F}EER<=}

24 Mesh covering small resort (4) NEST {NE{S}T}

Reference List

Old = EX, Training = PE, Right = R, Special = S, English = E, Daughter = D, About = CA, Bar = T, About = C, New = N, Husband = H, Old = O, Information = GEN, Strong = F, Small = S

No 14656, Thursday 04 Dec 2025, Karaoke

Standing-in for Colonel today

Solution to 2 Down has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 Commercial break, without purpose (6) ADRIFT {AD}{RIFT}
4 Picked up gun with a wish to shadow (3,5) TAG ALONG {GAT<}{A}{LONG}
9 Group constructing a tower over the gateway of a Hindu temple (6) GOPURA {GROUP}*{A}

10 Bond controlling large unit? Good job! (4,4) WELL DONE {WE{L}LD}{ONE}
12 Kill the animal without a bit of sympathy. It's the best medicine (8) LAUGHTER {sLAUGHTER}

13 Avoids dismissal of employees primarily in revolutionary industrial actions (6) SKIRTS {STRIKeS <}
15 Dejected when the crown is lost (11) CRESTFALLEN {CREST FALLEN} My COD
18 Exposed home with darknet illegally (6-5) MOTHER-NAKED*
21 Writer's /sharp-pointed instrument (6) SCRIBE [DD]

22 Lunatic in retreat goes around to tease a lady in court (8) TRIBUNAL {NUT<} around {RIB}+A+L
24 Consumes tea, it's not mostly wasted (4,4) EATS INTO {TEA IT'S NOt}*
25 Little one really new for first class (6) INFANT {INFA(-c+N)T}
26 Bars maintain paying guest accommodations primarily for emergencies (8) STOPGAPS {STOPS} around {Paying Guest Accommodations}
27 Gain height like some cosmic object (6) ASCEND {AS}{Cosmic}{END}

DOWN
1 To some extent, evangelical garden plant (8) ANGELICA [T]

2 Breaches in transports are not for upper-class (8) R?P?U?E?  RUPTURES{R(-a+U)PTURES} See Comments
3 Temporarily keep them in big vacant estate in ruins (3,3,4,5) FOR THE TIME BEING {FORT}{THEM IN BIG EstatE}*
5 Cuts excise duties, withdraws amendment finally (4) AXES {tAXES}
6 Extremely thin foreign banks lend loans with interest (3,4,3,5) ALL SKIN AND BONES*
7 Smells badly, outdoors to be trimmed (6) ODOURS {OUtDoORS}*
8 Fatty substance from European country, I am told (6) GREASE {~GREECE}

11 Payment failed, left without money? Fine (7) PENALTY {PAYmENT L}*
14 Mix gin mainly with beer at fancy bar. It helps solve problems (7) ALGEBRA {AL{Gin}E}{BAR*}

16 Sunscreen may be family fright, Spooner says (8) SKINCARE {Spoonerism of Kin Scare}

17 Corrupted heartlessly but praised excessively (8) ADULATED {ADULterATED}
19 Common people generally lack money to mainly settling tax (6) ASSESS {mASSES}{Settling}
20 Annoyed to hug Romeo in the underground chamber (6) GROTTO {G{R}OT TO}
23 Check position, time to swap top of panel (4) STOP {S(-p+T}O(-t+P}

REFERENCE LIST

Commercial=Ad, Large=L, Lady=L, Unit=One, New=N, Interest=I, Money=M, Romeo=R, Time=T.

 

No 14655, Wednesday 03 Dec 2025, Gussalufz

Solution to 21D 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.

JAYANT'S ISSUE

ACROSS

1   Mixing with the man's family? Good (8) WHISKING {W}{HIS}{KIN}{G}

6   Russian scientist's secretary filed Swedish manufacturing company's review (6) PAVLOV {PA}{VOLVo<=|

9   Field's crowded in Filmfare Awards (4) AREA [T]

10 Windies star's one chasing National Award winning actress, in an impressionable state (6,4) TABULA RASA {LARA'S}{A}<=>{TABU}

11 Bad guy in sleeveless jacket (6) JERKIN {JERK}{IN}

12 Most potent in sack, having extraordinary size (8) BOOZIEST {BOO{SIZE*}T}

13 Some day care, till Ishant gets over inability to read? (10) ILLITERACY [T<=]

15 Goddess & Murphy's third in two rankings, finally (4) IRIS {1{muRphy}1}{r...gS}

17 Textile worker rejected Jeffrey Dahmer's sandwiches (4) DYER [T<=]

18 "Missing India," Nick posted on Insta, disheartened (2,8) IN ABSENTIA {I}{NAB}{SENT}{InstA}

20 Cranky grannies — they're rebels (8) AGINNERS*

22 Rough policeman arrests husband (case of piracy) (6) CHOPPY {C{H}OP}{Pi..cY}

24 Air travel firm bumping those in front for photography equipment (5,5) LIGHT TABLE {fLIGHT}{sTABLE}

26 Old walkway from Paris to Argenteuil (4) STOA [T]

27 I wish setter, affectionately: "Drop dead" (2,4) IF ONLY {I}{FONdLY}

28 One erg roughly rounds to half new radiation unit (8) ROENTGEN {ONE+ERG}* over {To} with {N}

DOWN

2   A tip from headquarters: record amateur antics (9) HORSEPLAY {H or S}{EP}{LAY}

3   Dog and son have a conversation (5) STALK {S}{TALK}

4   Popular X user, nakedly violent (7) INTENSE {IN}{TEN}{uSEr}

5   Get back and talk (3) GAB<=

6   Soft offering from Kapil — low yorker (7) PILLOWY [T]

7   Ian Irving worked from a U.S. state (9) VIRGINIAN*

8   Well, nothing unchanged! (5) OASIS {O}{AS IS}

12 Beginner in Bollywood has around a month to deliver songs (7) BHAJANS {Bo...d}{HA{JAN}S}

14 Claim rank, handpick mostly bygone cricketer (5,4) IMRAN KHAN [T]

16 Old Ugandan procedure to polish percussion instrument (9) IDIOPHONE {IDI}{OP}{HONE}

18 Stupidly and heartlessly, European country imprisons revolutionary writer (7) INEPTLY {I{PEN<=}TaLY}

19 Regularly test, get rockets set up for release (7) SECRETE {tEsT+gEt+RoCkEtS}<=

21 Suffering, in short, after leader's sex change? (5) G?I?F (Addendum GRIEF (-b+g)GRIEF - See comments)

23 Start editing notes (5) ONSET*

25 Save cake (3) BAR [DD]

Reference List

With = W, India = I, Husband = H, Dead, New = N, Record = EP(Extended Play), Amateur = L, Son = S, Procedure = OP

No 14654, Tuesday 02 Dec 2025, Avtaar

Solution to 14A 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   On the ropes, struggling after losing set, possibly this one can't win (2-5) NO-HOPER {ON+tHE+ROPes}*

5   A seafarer carrying case of pitch that is used for paving (7) ASPHALT {A}{S{PitcH}ALT}

10 Is Diana about to withhold benefits? (4) AIDS [T<=]

11 White House, say, backs probing enigmatic scholar over a missing pupil (10) SCHOOLGIRL {IGLOO<=} in {SCHoLaR}

12 Foamy cosmetic obtained from sulphur filling source of meandering English river (6) MOUSSE {S} in {Me...g}{OUSE}

13 Problem with bank's agenda (2-2,4) TO-DO LIST {TO DO}{LIST}

14 Estuary and desert delta having bounds separated (9) E?T?A?G?D (Addendum - ESTRANGED {EST}{RANGE}{D} - See comments) Clue corrected, see comments

16 Expel members of college staff (5) EGEST [T]

17 Judge's work during break, essentially (5) OPINE {OP}{IN}{brEak}

19 Sticker's put out "See Palo Alto's on vacation interiors" (9) SELLOTAPE {SEE+PALO+aLTo} This was originally a brand name. On vacation would mean {AltO}? Clue corrected. See comments

23 With it, cryptic setter gets attention (8) INTEREST {IN}{SETTER}*

24 Where you may find head of peacekeepers free from being barred (6) UNSTOP {TOP}<=>{UNS}(Correction - UN's TOP - See comments)

26 Lady shouting head off making false pitch (10) MISSELLING {MISS}{yELLING}

27 A cross-section outlining Avtaar's vertebra (4) AXIS {A}{X}{I}{S}

28 Court doing volte-face holding a set of hangings (7) DRAPERY {YARD<=} over {PER}

29 Cut chicken roast without stuffing brought back in serving table (7) TROLLEY {YELLOw}{RoasT}<=

DOWN

2   Moon is oddly obscuring core of sun, portending bad luck (7) OMINOUS {MOON+IS}* over {sUn}

3   Raised well outside a small island that provides relief when troubled (5) OASIS {SO<=} over {A}{S}{I}

4   One who enjoys eating a lot ignoring fellow nationalist from Japan, say (7) EASTERN {fEASTER}{N}

6   Unusual to enter reserved second-class (6) SHODDY {SH{ODD}Y}

7   Call attention to Spooner's fiction "Crown" (9) HIGHLIGHT (~lie height to highlight)

8   Primates look to climb, starting to swing (7) LORISES {LO}{RISE}{Sw..g}

9   Transforming theoretic construct on light particles, principally relating to an effect of Einstein (13) PHOTOELECTRIC {THEORETIC+Co...t+On+Li..t+Pa...s}* Semi&lit

15 Vicious turner spun, taking away focus of batters who end up losing (7-2) RUNNERS-UP {tURNERS+SPUN}*

18 Column featuring note on a new type of basket (7) PANNIER {P{N}IER} over {A}{N}

20 Gruel on plastic couch (7) LOUNGER*

21 Word turning up in the SIM or phone (7) PROMISE [T<=]

22 Merchant's letter from Athens to avoid cheat (6) SELLER chiSELLER

25 Narrow places where people go to buy cycles (5) SMALL (+s)SMALL(-s)

Reference List

Seafarer = SALT, Over = O, Work = OP, Estuary = EST, Delta = D, With it = IN, Section = S, Well = SO, Small = S, Island = I, fellow = F, Nationalist = N, Look = LO, Note = N, New = N

No14653, Monday 01 Dec 2025, Hypatia

Solution to 28A 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

8   Nation got closer to leader - Gandhi, say (6) INDIRA {INDI{l...eR}A}

9   Fearless Romeo enters - cool and indifferent (8) INTREPID {IN}{T{R}EPID}

10 Spooner asked to quote newlywed's positive outlook (6,4) BRIGHT SIDE (cite bride to bright side)

11 Andamanese tribe's count grew against all odds (4) ONGE {cOuNt+GrEw}

12 Firm starting to manufacture basic object (8) COMPLAIN {CO}{Ma...e}{PLAIN}

14 Register players with league at first (6) ENLIST {E}{N}{L}{1ST}

15 Essentially saw dust on ground floor (7) ASTOUND {sAw}{DUST+ON}*

17 Horrible bar poorly maintained by staff (7) MACABRE {MAC{BAR*}E} 

20 Preserve wooden frame for Harvard degree, say (6) EMBALM {E{MBA}LM}

22 Fancy parties infiltrated by a freeloader (8) PARASITE {PAR{A}SITE*}

24 Oddly seen in Algerian city (4) AGRA AlGeRiAn

25 Independent artist and a loner, somewhat (5,5) STAND ALONE [T]

27 Prepared manually by female attendant, reportedly (8) HANDMADE (~handmaid) 

28 Musk completely agitated by this gutsy lot's meme (6) P?U?K?  (Addendum - PLUCKY  [CA] (plucky + lots + meme)* = (musk completely)

DOWN

1   Huge animal cycling around New York’s centre (8) ENORMOUS {(+e)EMOUS(-e)} over {N}{yORk}

2   Condiment or item saving time (4) HING tHING

3   Sacred chant of person culminating in connect with God (6) MANTRA {MAN}{c...cT}{RA}

4   Slaves working in short skirts, say (7) MINIONS {MINI{ON}S}

5   English tutors initially create puzzles and so on (8) ETCETERA {E}{Tu...s}{CREATE}*

6   So, learn in American city (3,7) NEW ORLEANS {SO+LEARN}* [RA]

7   Links bypassing boy bands (6) RIDGES bRIDGES

13 Publicity work by a government with what's behind MAGA! (10) PROPAGANDA {PR}{OP}{A}{G}{AND}{magA} &lit

16 Greeting Sankara Mutt’s head in assembly (8) NAMASKAR {SANKARA+Mutt}*

18 Search covering crazy ants and reptile (3,5) RAT SNAKE {R{ANTS*}AKE}

19 Lecturer in top school stepping up with hesitation (7) SPEAKER {PEAK}<=>{S} with {ER}

21 Smug hallmark cloaking ancient ruler (6) MUGHAL [T]

23 Web designer rises and goes down again? (6) REDIPS<=

26 Flashy nobleman's posh for king (4) LOUD LO(+u-r)UD

Reference List

Romeo = R, Cool = IN, Players = E,N(East,North in Bridge), League = L, New = N, Time = T, God = RA, English = E, Boy = B, Publicity = PR, Government = G, School = S, Posh = U, King = R