No 14391, Saturday 25 Jan 2025, Dr. X

 ACROSS

1 Give money to suppress South European witness (6-2) PASSER-BY {PA{S}{SERB}Y}
5 Problem to control subject's phlegm (6) SPUTUM {S{PUT}UM}
10 How a tree releases oxygen, changing atmospheric conditions (7) WEATHER {HoW A TREE}*
11 Eye doctor's old book contains chapter on early sign of uveitis (7) OCULIST {{O}{C}{Uveitis}{LIST}}
12 Fibre from old rope in middle of dump behind tree (5) OAKUM {dUMp}<=>{OAK}

13 Narrow-minded bully stifles poor bride right away (9) HIDEBOUND {HOUND} over {BrIDE}*
14 Feeling hurt, staying single after end of relationship (12) PRESENTIMENT {RESENT{I}MENT}<=>{relationshiP}
18 Worried as hot surfer embraces partner heartily? You bet! (5,3,4) THAT'S FOR SURE {AS HOT SURFER}* over {parTner}
21 Confines dirty revolutionary cracking safe (9) PERIMETER {P{MIRE<}ETER}
23 Petition about conserving a little rare English bird (5) GREBE {BE{Rare}G}< +{E}

24 Endless craving for drug (7) ASPIRIN {ASPIRINg}
25&4 Boyfriend captivated by remarkably hot Bulgarians - the outcome is inevitable (3,4,3,3,8) ALL OVER BAR THE SHOUTING {LOVER} inside {HOT BULGARIANS THE}*
26 Legend in gala conducting finale (6) ENDING [T]
27 Most intense irritation after terrible rash (8)  SHARPEST {PEST}<=>{RASH}*

DOWN
1 Exclamation of wonder after revolutionary work by women in conference (6) POWWOW {WOW} <=>{OP<}{W}
2 Stylish bird on island, passing close to lake (6) SWANKY {SWAN}{KeY}
3 Unusual premise about helium in astronomical almanac (9) EPHEMERIS {PREMISE}* about {He}

4 See 25 Across
6 Excellent! Bowled precisely (5) PLUMB {PLUM}{B} 
7 Praises enigmatologist's latest rebus, it's devious (8) TRIBUTES {enigmatisT}{REBUS IT}*
8 Contacted American associate taking endless time to provide info about info (8) METADATA {MET}{A}{DATe}{A}
9 What person swimming underwater will do// to wait in anxious expectation (4,4,6) HOLD ONE'S BREATH [DD]
15 Crooked liar! Urge Republican to change (9) IRREGULAR* 
16 Expert hosting summit on power shutdown (8) STOPPAGE {S{TOP}{P}AGE}
17 Whipped fatty stuff containing pure junk (8) LARRUPED {LARD} over {PURE}*
19 Wants large art museum to conserve European painter's complete works (6) OEUVRE {lO{E}UVRE}

20 Mysterious cult conducting religious education (6) SECRET {SEC{RE}T}

22 Miserable Monroe wanting ecstasy and dope (5) MORON {MONROe}*

REFERENCE LIST

South=S, Oxygen=O, Old=O, Right=R, Single=One=I, English=E, Women=W, Helium=He, American, Associate=A, Republican=R, Power=P, Large=L, European=E, Religious Education=RE, Ecstasy=E.