No 14446, Monday 31 Mar 2025, Dr. X

EID MUBARAK

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 2D 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   Muddled novelist urged to become eloquent (6-7) SILVER-TONGUED*

8   Grandma's pickle contains savoury jelly (5) ASPIC [T]

9   Nationalistic film about a tense rebellion (9) PATRIOTIC {P{A}{T}{RIOT}IC}

11 Versatile cricketer's ordeal - run out after crossing fifty (3-7) ALL-ROUNDER {ORDEAL+RUN}* over {L}

12 European drunkard consuming cocaine (4) SCOT {S{C}OT}

14 Group beginning to sell pastries outside English college (7) SPECIES {Sell}{P{E}{C}IES}

16 European maiden and prince misbehave around old ruler (7) EMPEROR {E}{M}{P}{ER{O}R}

17 Hairy Republican in fancy hotel suite (7) HIRSUTE {R} in {H+SUITE}*

19 Good detective endlessly following Mafia boss in Chinese county (7) DONGTAI {G}{TAIl}<=>{DON}

21 Ghetto in endless decline (4) SLUM SLUMp 

22 & 5 What competent carpenter will do to state the truth exactly (3,3,4,2,3,4) HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD [DD]

25 A place of vice and immorality in extremely obscure compound (9) ADENOSINE {A}{DEN}{Obs{SIN}curE}

26 Desire portrait featuring rebellious cowboy (5) ROPER [T<=]

27 Extra lithe guys attempt to conquer peak of Annapurna (13) SUPPLEMENTARY {SUPPLE}{MEN}{T{An...a}RY}

DOWN

2   Urge brat to exercise! Gaining pounds (7) I?P?L?E (Addendum - IMPULSE {IMP}{{U{L}SE} - See comments)

3   Successful opening of concert with virtuoso performing over island (10) VICTORIOUS {Co...t+VIRTUOSO}* over {I}

4   Revolutionary Irish writer becoming mellow (5) RIPEN {IR}<= {PEN}

5   See 22 Across

6   Gun-wielding leader of insurgents in carriage (4) GAIT {GA{In...t}T}

7   Charmer in lodge entertaining chicks heartily (7) ENTICER {ENT{chICks}ER}

8   Loss of sensation in a peasant, he is strangely losing power (11) ANAESTHESIA {A+pEASANT+HE+IS}*

10 Provide support and grub (11) CATERPILLAR {CATER}{PILLAR}

13 Creep cavorting with steno? Private matter that's known to many (4,6) OPEN SECRET {CREEP+STENO}*

15 Doctor is tireless, working to save patient at centre (9) STERILISE {TIRELESS}* over }{patIent}

18 Character stealing posh, gold pile of coins (7) ROULEAU {RO{U}LE}{AU}

20 Hiker runs, bitten by monkey (7) TRAMPER {T{R}AMPER}

23 Tree collapsed outside hotel at that place (5) THERE {T{H}ERE*}

24 Move back to South African village (4) DORP<=

Reference List

Tense = T, Fifty = L, Cocaine = C, English = E, College = C, European = E, Maiden =[ M, Prince = P, Old = O, Hotel = H, Good = G, Pounds = L, Island = I, Power = P, Posh = U, Runs = R, Irish = Ir

Special, Sunday 30 Mar 2025, IIT(M) Word Games Club Final, Dr. X

THREE answers per commenter till 6 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 Sunday Crossword No 3351, Sunday 30 Mar 2025

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

1   Loose rope – vessel misses the alarm? (10) OVERSLEEPS*

6   Hot beverage, somewhat archaic (4) CHAI [T]

9   In Paris, Peter embraces girlfriend in townhouse? (4-1-5) PIED-A-TERRE {PIE{DATE}RRE}

10 City consultor regularly ignored (4) OSLO {cOnSuLtOr}

11 Location for evening dress? (7,5) IRONING BOARD [CD]

15 Recovered from gangrene, wallaby’s fresh start (7) RENEWAL [T]

16 Location with unpleasant smell: its effect is psychological (7) PLACEBO {PLACE}{BO}

17 ‘I cry a river’: first of stanza’s lines showing who’s under pressure (7) ISOBARS {I}{SOB}{A}{R}{St...a}

19 Caribbean island offering halos, certificates of miracles, did you say? (2,5) ST KITTS (~saint kits)

20 Emulate xylophonist: ring any bells (6,1,5) STRIKE A CHORD [C&DD]

23 Frank in tennis championship? (4) OPEN [DD]

24 In stomped University College head, now and again brought into use (10) INTRODUCED {IN}{TROD}{U}{C}{hEaD}

25 Everyman’s eating spot of acrid duck sauce (4) MAYO {M{Ac..d}Y}{O}

26 Artist to draw outline of the old mine? Almost (6,4) TRACEY EMIN {TRACE}{YE}{MINe}

DOWN

1   Supermarkets not opening? Oh dear! (4) OOPS {cO-OPS}

2   Earl to go for duelling sword (4) EPEE {E}{PEE}

3   As Spooner tells it, public school’s meat is a bird of prey (11) SPARROWHAWK (~harrow's pork)

4   Seeing back half of salter, in lane, reversing – it’s going on forever (7) ETERNAL {E{salTER}NAL<=}

5   Rod’s to knock up root vegetable (7) PARSNIP {PINS}{RAP}<=

7   Monarch, one surrounded by hams, cracked joke with dirty ending (3,7) HIS MAJESTY {H{1}SMA*}{JEST}{d..tY}

8   To odiously fudge announcement after the event (1,4,3,2) I TOLD YOU SO*

12 Time for shopping – badly, if rack damaged (5,6) BLACK FRIDAY*

13 Occasion hoping for bright ideas after British wet weather (10) BRAINSTORM {B}{RAINSTORM}

14 Tipsiness: so tiny crackers sandwiching French cheese (10) INSOBRIETY {SO+TINY}* over {BRIE}

18 Tool for bridge? (7) SPANNER [DD]

19 Primarily solid – perhaps heavenly, endlessly rotating in circles? (7) SPHERIC Acrostic &lit

21 Apple computers lifted in con (4) SCAM<=

22 Last bit of wine – private room – paradise! (4) EDEN {winE}{DEN}

Reference List

Girlfriend = DATE, Unpleasant smell = BO(Body Odour), River = R, University = U, College = C, The old = YE, Earl = E, British = B

No 14445, Saturday 29 Mar 2025, Dr. X

 ACROSS
1 Stubborn criminal sprinted abruptly, shot outside (8) CONTRARY {CON}{T{RAn}RY}
5 Good long ride, flying engineless plane (6) GLIDER {G}{L}{RIDE*}
10 Medicine resolved onset of autism and tic (7) ANTACID {Autism+AND+TIC}*
11 Excludes clips screening racism to begin with (7) EXCEPTS {EXCErPTS}
12 Heroin consumed by English drunkard knocking back spirit (5) ETHOS {E}{T{H}OS<}
13 Conclusive trials by department in treatment of tense ascites (4,5) ACID TESTS {D in {T ASCITES}*}
14 Bullfighter in a red robe, jumping over large bull's back (12) BANDERILLERO {L}{bulL} in {IN A RED ROBE}*

18 See 2 Down
21 Disorder of retina and back pain, among other things (5,4) INTER ALIA {RETINA*}{AIL<}
23 Malicious nationalist in party (5) SNIDE {S{N}IDE}
24 Recalled unusual deluge resulting in disease affecting cattle (7) MURRAIN {RUM<}{RAIN}
25 Leader of Iran turned Reagan furious (2,1,4) IN A RAGE {Iran}{REAGAN*}
26 Heartless devilry by most vicious hereditary ruler (6) DYNAST {DevilrY}{NASTy}
27 Desirable guy entering, not European for sure (2,6) IN DEMAND {INDE{MAN}eD}

DOWN
1 Bird behind entrance to coop is chicken (6) CRAVEN {Coop}{RAVEN}
2 & 18 Less than 12 old pence, stupid (3,3,4,8) NOT THE FULL SHILLING [CD & D} 12 pence=1 shilling
3 Original tracks covered by most promising musicians (4,5) ROCK STARS {TRACKS*} in {ROSy}
4 English novelist and wild girl rapidly drink rum at centre (7,7) RUDYARD KIPLING {G RAPIDLY DRINK rUm}*

6 Engage in prostitution? Not very legal (5) LICIT {soLICIT}
7 Undertake to badger person who analyses and forecasts future events (8) DOPESTER {DO}{PESTER}
8 Electrical device in resort is faulty (8) RESISTOR*

9 One billion put into field trial on new treatment for cardiac arrhythmias (14) DEFIBRILLATION {I}{B} in {FIELD TRIAL ON}* 

15 View boys stealing new cloak (9) LANDSCAPE {LA{N}DS}{CAPE}

16 Testified about fellow getting sacked after stealing money (8) AFFIRMED {A}{F}{FIR{M}ED}
17 Fine tailor assembled new device for pressing clothes (8) FLATIRON {F TAILOR}*{N}
19 Group in a tavern restraining one getting smashed at a bash? (6) PINATA [T]

20 Guard in retreat catches fellow beginning to escape with diamonds (6)  DEFEND {DE{F}{Escape}N}{D}
22 Republican rows and yells (5) ROARS {R}{OARS}

REFERENCE LIST

Good=G, Long=L, Heroin=H, English=E, Department=D, Tense=T, Large=L, Nationalist=N, European=E, Girl=G, One=I, Billion=B, New=N, About=A, Fellow=F, Diamonds=D, Republican=R.

No 14444, Friday 28 Mar 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.

ACROSS

1   Reduce bit of booze and grease, start to diet now perhaps (4,4) BOIL DOWN {Bo..e}{OIL}{Diet}{NOW*}

5   Chemically related compound is more volatile (6) ISOMER {IS}{MORE*}

10 Rock legend entertaining girls on base (7) STAGGER {STA{GG}{E}R}

11 Almost sure, love rustic shutters (7) LOUVRES {SURe+LOVE}*

12 Some require tutorial about reproductive organs (5) UTERI [T<=]

13 See old criminal carrying firearm in American city (2,7) EL SEGUNDO {SEE+OLD}* over {GUN}

14 & 25 Start immediately with enthusiasm, like one trying to jump safely out of moving bus will do? (3,3,6,7) HIT THE GROUND RUNNING [DD]

18 Husband breaks trust cavorting with blonde bombshells (12)  THUNDERBOLTS {H} in {TRUST+BLONDE}*

21 Desperately hope boxer finally wins title (9) OWNERSHIP {HOPE+b..eR+WINS}*

23 Approximately right, 100 arrested by spies (5) CIRCA {CI{R}{C}A}

24 Crazier and sillier after drinking whiskey heartily (7) INSANER {IN{whiSkey}ANER}

25 See 14

26 Girls swimming closer to see young salmon (6) GRILSE {GIRLS*}{seE}

27 Insisted on cooking a dessert (8) ASSERTED*

DOWN

1   Quarrel with American model in retro bar (4-2) BUST-UP {US}{T} in {PUB<=}

2   Portrayed male, one climbing over the hill (6) IMAGED {M}{1}<={AGED}

3   Impressive director showed no stress at premiere (9) DIGNIFIED {D}{sIGNIFIED}

4   Uproar about secrets discovered by commission in English county (14) WORCESTERSHIRE {ROW<=}{SECRETS*}{HIRE}

6   Swayed and crooned to captivate wife (5) SWUNG {S{W}UNG}

7   Sweet eaten by customer in guesthouse (8) MERINGUE [T]

8   Returns in pool, wearing costume without top (8) RESPONDS {dRES{POND}S}

9   What makes a cast with opera stars flip out (7,2,5) PLASTER OF PARIS*

15 Reserve nice complex in exotic Crete (9) RETICENCE {NICE}* in {CRETE}*

16 Ducking and blocking, zero for Pakistan's opener (8) STOOPING STO(+o-p)OPING

17 Executed outside academy with knife mostly in Chinese city (8) HUANGSHI {HU{A}NG}SHIv}

19 Creative person's eccentric traits (6) ARTIST*

20 Ranted about government in tatters (6) RAGGED {RAG{G}ED}

22 Hurries to catch glimpse of extraordinary mystic symbols (5) RUNES {RUN{Ex...y}S}

Reference List

Girl = G, Base = E, Husband = H, Right = R, 100 = C, Model = T, Male = M, Director = D, Wife = W, Academy = A, Government = G

No 14443, Thursday 27 Mar 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 18D 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   For example, L&T Tech is up, easily breaking resistance (4-4,5) BLUE-CHIP STOCK {TECH+IS+UP}* in {BLOCK}

8   Throw out most depraved model consuming cocaine (5) EVICT {EVIl}{C}{T}

9   Adult staying at home, essentially providing for baby (9) MINIATURE {M{IN}{p..vId..g}ATURE}

11 Helpless condition of drug addict in desert? (4,3,3) HIGH AND DRY {HIGH}{AND}{DRY}

12 Finish second best (4) STOP{S}{TOP}

14 Note remarkable new loupe having nine parts (7) NONUPLE {N}{N+LOUPE}*

16 Men leaving Academy, extremely disciplined (7) ORDERLY {OR}{DEaRLY}

17 Tree collapsed outside retreat in Mongolian city (7) ERDENET {ER{DEN}ET*}

19 Plant is most delightful in bazaar (7) SANICLE {SA{NICe}LE}

21 Other sample of gel selected (4) ELSE [T]

22 Just crippled in crash (10) PRINCIPLED*

25 More tired, having endless trouble in period of pregnancy (9) TRIMESTER {TRI{MESs}TER}

26 One captivated by revolutionary surrealist's epic poem (5) ILIAD {DA{1}LI<=}

27 Son in a dodgy eatery nervously giving order for starters (5,6,2) READY STEADY GO {S} in {A+DODGY+EATERY}*

DOWN

2   Yang's partner overwhelmed by large alcoholic drink is sleeping till late (5,2) LYING IN {L}{YIN}{GIN}

3   Fantastic trip, Penang's enticing (10) ENTRAPPING*

4   Muggy and hot, turning overcast around capital of Uganda (5) HUMID {H} and {DIM}{Ug...a}<=

5   Very poor writer releasing ultimately pathetic novel (9) PENURIOUS {PEN}{cURIOUS}

6   Relax in bar with hot American women (4) THAW {T}{H}{A}{W}

7   Litter from lake put into sailing vessel (7) CLUTTER {C{L}UTTER}

8   Applied henna paste for embellishment (11) ENHANCEMENT {HENNA*}{CEMENT}

10 Foolish, ultimately silly man in dept made blunders (5-6) EMPTY-HEADED {s..lY}{HE} in {DEPT+MADE}*

13 Recognised leader of industry, remarkably fit indeed (10) IDENTIFIED {In...y}{FIT+INDEED}*

15 Result of primarily insanitary cooking in street stalls? (9) ENTERITIS {In...y} in {IN+STREET} &lit

18 Regardless of rubbish-heaps all round, enters river (7) D?S?I?E ()

20 Cold and exhausted, girl's crying (7) CALLING {C}{ALL IN}{G}

23 Encourage nationalist fervour, wanting victory (5) NERVE {N}{vERVE}

24 Turn in sack to cuddle fiancée heartily (4) BEND {BE{fiaNcee}D}

Reference List

Model = T, Cocaine = C, Second = S, Note = N, New = N, Men = OR, Academy = A, Son = S, Large = L, Hot = H, Bar = T, American = A, Women = W, Lake = L, Cold = C, Girl = G, Victory = V

No 14442, Wednesday 26 Mar 2025, Afterdark

Solution to 26A 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

9   Manage a child, one's seven essentially (7) ACHIEVE {A}{CH}{1}{sEVEn}

10 Substitute agent with one lady initially (7) REPLACE {REP} and {ACE}<=>{L}

11 Big reptiles are litter-bugs (7) TURTLES [CA] {TURTLES+BIG}*={LITTER-BUGS}

12 School member hired in plant (7) COLLEGE {COL{LEG}E}

13 Dads cried uncontrollably when thrown out (9) DISCARDED*

15 Edgar's new rank (5) GRADE*

16 A college chief initially exploits then incriminates (7) ACCUSES {A}{C}{Ch..f}{USES}

19 Show one's place in time (7) DISPLAY {D{1'S}{PL}AY}

20 Time limits for nurses (5) TENDS {T}{ENDS}

21 Viewpoints contain advanced, rigid heartless principles (9) STANDARDS {STAND{A}{RigiD}S}

25 Weather in capital during Champions Trophy erratic from the beginning (7) CLIMATE {C{LIMA}T}{Er...c}

26 Sweden surrendering after leader was overthrown in a meeting (7) S?S?I?N (Addendum - SESSION {S}{cESSION} - See comments)

28 Chose to delete first composition as it turns out bad (7) ELECTED {DELETE+Co...n}*

29 Southern queen, reportedly with ease reached Zambia to primarily engage with press (7) SQUEEZE {S}{QU}{(~ease)EE}{Z}{En...e}

DOWN

1   Starters of tikkis, aloo-chaat, samosa, tandoori-paneer, eggroll, dhokla were sampled (6) TASTED Acrostic

2   Records created by child star; fantastic (6) CHARTS {CH}{STAR*}

3   Reconcile with a vagabond as per instructions (4) HEAL (~heel)

4   Seems daughter is troubled and upset (6) MESSED {SEEMS+D}*

5   Came first but quietly returned (8) PRECEDED {P}{RECEDED}

6   Regretted a game with new good side (10) APOLOGISED {A}{POLO}{G+SIDE}*

7   Support everyone embracing British game (8) BASEBALL {BASE}{ALL} over {B}

8   Mercilessly terminate and deploy odd characters away (8) SEVERELY {SEVER}{dEpLoY}

14 23 workers and helpers (10) ASSISTANTS {ASSIST}{ANTS} Should have been 22 and not 23!

16 New retail store at the launch stored cold items (8) ARTICLES {RETAIL*}{St..e} over {C}

17 Imprisoned cheat and punished (8) CONFINED {CON}{FINED}

18 Dismisses South American writer's daughters heartlessly (8) SUSPENDS {S}{US}{PEN}{Da...rS}

22 Mala's sister withholds help (6) ASSIST [T]

23 Congratulated first off and elevated (6) RAISED pRAISED

24 Son played tunes at dusk (6) SUNSET {S}{TUNES*}

27 Told to turn down right away (4) SPUN SPUrN

Reference List

Child = CH, Lady = L, College = C, Place = PL, Time = T, Queen = QU, Daughter = D, Quietly = P, Good = G, British = B, Cold = C, South = S, Son = S, Right = R

No 14441, Tuesday 25 Mar 2025, Afterdark

Solution to 12A 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   Used his tiding dubiously to become famous (13) DISTINGUISHED*

10 Item is returned after cheat essentially stresses and persists (9) CONTINUES {UNIT<=}<=>{CON} and {strESses}

11 Into talks to include Count (5) TOTAL [T]

12 State's article released regularly this month (5) A?R?L (Addendum - APRIL - {AP}{aRtIcLe} - See comments)

13 Titles like Chief - Business Strategy primarily (9) HEADLINES {HEAD}{LINE}{St...y}

14 Say, Alto burns almost at run (6) SINGER {SINGEs}{R}

16 One in hurry causes damage (4) RUIN {RU{1}N}

19 Shock to see North is overthrown by rule (4) SCAR SCA(-n+r)R

20 Times misprint creates panic (6) TERROR {T}{ERROR}

25 Dialects used in illegal gun sale include Arabic & Gujarati primarily (9) LANGUAGES  {GUN+SALE}* over {Ar...c}{Gu...i}

26 Worried to participate in department's Saturday meetings (5) DATES {D}{ATE}{S}

27 About to receive greeting note from a country (5) CHINA {C{HI}{N}A}

28 Rates sure to modify fortunes (9) TREASURES*

29 Domestic arrest of people without leader (General) (13) INTERNATIONAL {INTERN{nATION}AL

DOWN

2   Bad rating frames number of blind (8) IGNORANT {IG{NO}RANT*}

3   Team leader taking money leads to case (5) TRIAL {Team}{RIAL}

4   Nothing new's tough when worked upon (6) NOUGHT {N}{TOUGH*}

5   State reportedly watches at a higher level (8) UPSTAIRS {UP}{(~stares)STAIRS}

6   Say, moon's position is over a state (9) SATELLITE {S{A}{TELL}ITE}

7   Warming and taking lid off and consuming (6) EATING hEATING

8   Seas can destroy canoes (6) OCEANS*

9   Shoot fellow before strike (5) FLASH {F}{LASH}

15 Boost in nurse's bottle (9) ENCOURAGE {EN}{COURAGE}

17 Female's correct, essentially gent will intimidate (8) FRIGHTEN {F}{RIGHT}{gENt}

18 Conditions are terribly erratic where setter is housed (8) CRITERIA {ERRATIC}* over {I}

21 Oppose others bossing a society (6) RESIST {RES{1}{S}T}

22 Stop development (5) BLOCK [DD]

23 Say, you or me will get back support in hotel (6) INDIAN {IN{AID<=}N}

24 Position of party leader in caste conflict (6) ASPECT {AS{Pa..y}ECT*}

26 Take princess's company to club (5) DISCO {DI'S}{CO}

Reference List

Run = R, North = N, Rule = R, Times = T, Department = D, Saturday = S, About = CA, Note = N, Number = NO, New = N, Fellow = F, Nurse = EN(Enrolled Nurse), Female = F, Society = S, Company = CO

No 14440, Monday 24 Mar 2025, Afterdark

Solution to 1D 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   Designed culottes in college at England for Romaine (3,7) COS LETTUCE {CULOTTES} in {C}{E}

6   Crowd seen in Christmas service (4) MASS [T]

10 A priest is out of favour during trial period (9) PROBATION apPROBATION

11 A win once more (5) AGAIN {A}{GAIN}

12 Arranged mass meet, hence red liqueur (5,2,6) CREME DE MENTHE {M+MEET+HENCE+RED}* 

14 Those people's article ending in tragedy (4) THEY {THE}{t...dY}

15 Say, China's eaters in a mess are at fault (3,7) TEA SERVICE {EATERS*}{VICE}

17 Cassettes played in legal actions as a precedent (4,5) TEST CASES*

21 Career or Carrier (5) CRAFT [DD]

22 Say, aggressive sales vets rife surprisingly (4-9) SELF-ASSERTIVE*

24 A space ultimately made wide open (5) AGAPE {A}{GAP}{madE}

25 Increase support at one entrance (9) PROPAGATE {PROP}{A}{GATE}

26 Trade some soda and liquor (4) SALE {Soda}{ALE}

27 People with time follow Insta luminaries primarily for payment (10) INSTALMENT {MEN}{T}<=>{INSTA}{Lu...s}

DOWN

1   Enable or restrict account accessing a tape, remove page on time (10) C?P?C?T?T? (Addendum - CAPACITATE {CAP}{AC}{!}{TA(-p+t)TE} - See comments)

2   Sleek moss when burnt has no fumes (9) SMOKELESS*

3   Polish setter found in back alley (6) ENAMEL {ENA{ME}L<=}

4   Boat's timer malfunctions, royal engineers inducted (7) TRIREME {TRI{RE}ME*}

5   Cheats smuggle iron statues primarily to own (7) CONFESS {CON{FE}{St...s}S}

7   Watchful in a funeral (5) AWAKE {A}{WAKE}

8   Yodelled one in Singapore (4) SUNG {S{UN}G}

9   Jog in American terminals (6) CANTER [T]

13 Conclusion to pay people on time (10) SETTLEMENT {SETTLE}{MEN}{T}

16 Dead inmate in a compound (9) INANIMATE*

18 Visitor was more quiet when man left and lady entered (6) CALLER CAL(-m+l)LER

19 File's quiet on writer circumventing a rule (7) SHARPEN {SH}{A}{R}{PEN}

20 Mark ousts us in a terrible way (4,3) SUSS OUT*

21 Restrict dogs (7) CURTAIL {CUR}{TAIL}

22 A sluggish person has taken small digital protection (5) SNAIL {S}{NAIL}

23 Girl has style but no brain (4) LASS cLASS

Reference List

College = C, England = E, Priest = P, Mass = M, Time = T, Page = P, Royal Engineers = RE, Man = M, Lady = L, Quiet = SH, Rule = R, Small = S

Special, Sunday 23 Mar 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)

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword No 3350, Sunday 23 Mar 2025

ACROSS

1   The Fairy King in Borneo resort (6) OBERON*

5   Craving for drink, son moves eastward in short-sleeved top (6) THIRST T(-s)HIR(+s)ST

8   Advice regarding no-fly zone? Let’s change subject (4,2,5) DONT GO THERE [DD]

11 Not hip, not fancy – and balding (4,2,3) THIN ON TOP*

12 Peacekeepers write: ‘Release from enclosure!’ (5) UNPEN {UN}{PEN}

13 Favourite – Oxford, perhaps – with a flower (7) PETUNIA {PET}{UNI}{A}

14 How Spooner introduces Hancock to Starmer: a little furry creature (7) MEERKAT (~keir matt to meerkat)

15 Guilty! Eve naughtily eats, satisfying insidious serpent – in the beginning? (7) GENESIS Acrostic &lit

17 Word for word? (7) SYNONYM [CD]

20 Step one – to be embraced by celebrity (5) STAIR {STA{1}R}

21 Hubby explaining what happens after teams change ends? (5,4) OTHER HALF [DD]

22 Ink in sketch representing where to find washers (7,4) KITCHEN SINK*

23 Cuts some sweet chestnuts (6) ETCHES [T]

24 According to Cockney, Caribbean country’s having decentish innings? (6) EIGHTY (~ haiti)

DOWN

2   Dirty money’s source, concerning fraud in sports equipment (9,6) BADMINTON RACKET {BAD}{MINT}{ON}{RACKET}

3   Burmese city developed ladders? Tell me more (7) RANGOON {RAN}{GO ON}

4   Bedtime booze coming – drop of tequila – tops! (9) NIGHTCAPS {NIGH}{Te...a}{CAPS}

5   Infant happy to count (3,2) TOT UP {TOT}{UP}

6   Decorate cake – younger Scout getting lemonade finally – what keeps it cool? (3,4) ICE CUBE {ICE}{CUB}{l...dE}

7   Keeps thick jeans out for cold-weather clothing (9,6) SHEEPSKIN JACKET*

9   Desist from throwing up cooking vessels (4) STOP<=

10 Bean containers rejected in a mood (4) SNIT<=

14 Mechanic’s nasty accident (9) MISCHANCE*

15 Shocked exclamation: Gee! Venomous reptile! (4) GASP {G}{ASP}

16 What the competent come up to score (7) SCRATCH [DD]

18 What a patient needs is occasional sipping (7) NURSING [DD]

19 Everyman’s standing up with very loud resentment (4) MIFF {I'M<=}{FF}

21 Darts players’ limits discovered in Rochester (5) OCHES [T]

Reference List

Son = S, Oxford perhaps = UNI(versity), Gee = G, Very loud = FF

No 14439, Saturday 22 Mar 2025, Vidwan

 ACROSS
6 Mexican adapting somewhat to cold country (6) CANADA [T]
8 Diplomatic tricks, partly extraordinary! (8) CONSULAR {CONS}{singULAR}
10 ED from old Berlin! (4,6)  EAST GERMAN {EAST}{GERMAN}
11 Shop could be exclusive (4) POSH*
12 King saw it as bad sign (8) SWASTIKA {K SAW IT AS}*
15 Contestant may do this for an ophthalmologist's device (6) EYECUP {EYE}{CUP}
16 Sales staff's hand is brown in photograph (4,9) SHOP ASSISTANT {PASS IS TAN} in {SHOT}
18 Calm angry politician leaving for Virginia (6) LIMPID {LI{-v+MP}ID} V for Virginia? Abbreviation for Virginia is usually VA.
19 A bit of verbalisation is ordinary in boring counselling (8) ADVISORY {A}{D{V IS O}RY}
21 Probability// in conflict (4) ODDS [DD]
22 Some fear Trump ethicality is something that amplifies commonly said things (3,7) EAR TRUMPET [T]

25 Most numerous, most prime and half-mad honestly! (3-2-3) MAN-TO-MAN {MANy}{TOp}{MANiac}
26 Upset about team going back to some imaginary magical solution (6) ELIXIR {RI{XI}LE}<

DOWN

1 Indian King's open backtracking (4) RAJA<
2 A ground for legal action mostly involving court and a plant (6) CACTUS {CA{CT}USe}
3 Film about boring mathematical problem (4) SCUM {S{C}UM}
4 Black American writer marching into daylight with a court order (8) SUBPOENA {SU{B}{POE}N}{A}
5 Somehow most assess Trump as good enough for the job (4,6) PASS MUSTER {ASSESs TRUMP}*
7 A Mexican by leaving for border, at last, made right moves towards this! (8,5) AMERICAN DREAM {A MExICAN bordeR MADE R}* {A ME{-x+R}ICAN} {MADE R}*SEMI &LIT see comments
9 Ones never seen can become, what one sees as a silly poem (8,5) NONSENSE VERSE*  An Extra S and one E missing in the fodder?
13 Someone like Brian Lara or Vinod Kambli ends it with a win abroad! (4,6) WEST INDIAN {ENDS IT A WIN}*
14 Lost amongst boats easily! (2,3) AT SEA [T]
17 Rival Chinese mobile manufacturer's position (8) OPPOSITE {OPPO}{SITE}
20 Meeting married men in clubs, say (6) SUMMIT {SU{M}{M}IT}
23 Managed King's position (4) RANK {RAN}{K}
24 Long piece, endlessly winding (4) EPIC {PIECe}*

REFERENCE LIST

E=East, D=German (Deutschland), King=K, Ordinary=O, Team=XI, Court=CT, About=C, Black=B, By=X{e.g. 2 by 2=2x2}, Married=M, Men=M.

No 14438, Friday 21 Mar 2025, Vidwan

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ACROSS

1   Women fix with warmth, start to bake and consume a healthy breakfast (5,5,5) WHOLE WHEAT BREAD {W}{HOLE}{W}{HEAT}{Bake}{READ} 

9   In some measure, Mozart deconstructed a modern creative style (3,4) ART DECO [T]

10 Marches with loud call to ones not working (7) FRINGES {F}{RING}{onES}

11 Buzz on American soil (5) HUMUS {HUM}{US}

12 Spooner's taken nibble for a Spanish pastime (9) BULLFIGHT (~ full bite to bullfight)

13 Remember to search for conservative women's skirts (9) REMINISCE {RE(-c+minis)MINISCE}

15 Dad! Be reasonable! (3,2) ADD UP {DAD}* [RA]

16 Nothing like one's haven (5) OASIS {O}{AS}{1'S}

18 This cop as new nut (9) PISTACHIO*

20 Come back to front, next to textile merchant, mostly for online trading (1-8) E-COMMERCE {(+e)ECOM(-e)}{MERCEr}

23 German president, lacks tact basically and is a whiner! (5) GRUMP {G}{tRUMP}

24 Quivering with delight and putting it back in perspective! (7) ATINGLE {A{IT<=}NGLE}

25 Wet pups cavorting with brushed back hairstyle (7) UPSWEPT*

26 Poker tale, Wright rehashed for a high performer (9,6) TIGHTROPE WALKER*

DOWN

1   All of us regularly want lady's 'profound' elementary predictions (7,8) WEATHER FORECAST {WE}{wAnT}{HER}{FOR}E{CAST} E from?

2   Choose one parent as best! (7) OPTIMUM {OPT}{1}{MUM}

3   Regular numbers for masses (9) EVENSONGS {EVEN}{SONGS}

4   Explosive device planted in South Bombay (1-4) H-BOMB [T]

5   Horror of headless order (9) AWFULNESS lAWFULNESS

6   Short kind of fibre (5) BRIEF*

7   Hired for a wedding? (7) ENGAGED [DD}

8   Trump spoke to half-decent criminal for a common office assistant (7,8) DESKTOP COMPUTER {TRUMP+SPOKE+TO+DECent}*

14 Food quietly left by girl's Batman, say (9) SUPERHERO {SUpPER}{HER}O 'O' From?

15 A gas in ale provides pain relief (9) ANALGESIA*

17 Fiery Samson regularly ignored Monarch (7) SMOKING {SaMsOn}{KING}

19 Hard to break loose wearing uniform and armour (7) HAUBERK {H}{A{U}BERK*}

21 Power - Malwe prerogative? Not right! (5) MIGHT {M}{rIGHT}

22 Last of the duet abandoned for a solo instrumental composition (5) ETUDE {thE}{DUET*}

Reference List

Women = W, With = W, Loud = F. Working = ON, Search = RECCE, Conservative = C, Online = E, German = G, Pro = FOR, Found = CAST, Quietly = P, Hard = H, Uniform = U, Right = R