No 14519, Tuesday 24 Jun 2025, Hypatia

FOR ATTENTION OF ALL VISITORS TO THE BLOG

I am reopening the blog so that anyone can access it, however from 7AM on Friday 27 Jun onwards, I will again be restricting access to the blog permanently and only custom readers will be able to access the blog. 

Those who want access to the blog as custom readers may therefore send me an e-mail at deepakgita@gmail.com and I will approve the same. Those who have already done so need not do so again.

I have been forced to change the settings as one person refused to adhere to the rules of the blog despite being advised on many occasions. Once the blog is restricted to custom readers as it was for the past 3 days, I will have the administrative power to remove anyone who does not follow the rules.

Solution to 5A 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   Rat forcing cat to run (8) TURNCOAT*

5   Free delivery (6) ?E?C?E (Addendum - RESCUE [DD?] - See comments)

10 Little daughter at hospital ward nursed by mother (7) MODICUM {MO{D}{ICU}M}

11 Hypatia's books collected by cool Egyptian architect (7) IMHOTEP {I'M}{H{OT}EP}

12 Enthroned, Middle Eastern, elite ruler principally (5) EMEER &lit

13 Irregular sleep delayed husband ultimately snuggling close to you (9) NODULATED {NOD}{LATE}{h...nD} over {yoU}

14 Transfer result about unit in plant's output (7,5) PASSION FRUIT {PASS ON}{FRUIT} over {1}

18 British queens embrace new church avoiding mass exercises (5,7) BENCH PRESSES {B}{Em{N}{CH}PRESSES}

21 Strong green tea initially mixed with ice (9) ENERGETIC {GREEN+Tea+ICE}*

23 Ibexes breathing hard for oxygen in mountain passes (5) GHATS {G(-o+h)HATS}

24 Escalating tension? (7) VERTIGO [CD]

25 Cheerful or insecure self-confession (7) AMIABLE {AM I ABLE}

26 Gaining admission in US, a lad soon leaves (6) SALADS [T]

27 Indians and Belgians abroad (8) BENGALIS*

DOWN

1   Periodically the PM appears in bad mood (6) TEMPER {ThE+pM+aPpEaRs}

2   Require vacating judge to acquit (6) REDEEM {Re...rE}{DEEM}

3   Bug Spooner's music tutor (9) COCKROACH (~rock coach to cockroach)

4   Direction Bond gives regularly: "A martini isn't stirred" (14) ADMINISTRATION {bOnD+A+MARTINI+ISNT}*

6   They lit lamps initially in compound (5) ETHYL {THEY}*{La..s}

7   Life-size hoarding tackling sex - "Don't do that!" (3,2,3) CUT IT OUT {CUT OUT} over {IT}

8   Speed up former training with fresh diet (8) EXPEDITE {EX}{PE}{DIET*}

9   Choose as e.g., any futile pursuit (4,5,5) WILD GOOSE CHASE {CHOOSE+AS+EG}* [RA]

15 Young bird finally catching fish quickly took flight sitting above (9) FLEDGING {birD}{LING}<=>{FLED} (Correction {c...nG}{LING}<=>{FLED} - See comments)

16 Sees hint from SEBI over BSE reforms (8) OBSERVES {Sebi+OVER+BSE}*

17 Liberal Government's reliant as a whole (8) INTEGRAL {G+RELIANT}*

19 Play Game Boy endlessly reaching ultimate level (6) GAMBOL {GAMe}{BOy}{l..eL}

20 Flowers outlast erstwhile shows (6) ASTERS [T]

22 Champ's name in part of a crossword (5) GRIND {GRI{N}D}

Reference List

Daughter = D, Books = OT(Old Testament), Cool = HEP, British = B, New = N, Church = CH, Mass = M, Hard = H, Sex = IT, Training = PE, Government = G, Name = N

No 14518, Monday 23 Jun 2025, Hypatia

Solution to 10A 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   Modern AI trial unit's practical (11) UTILITARIAN*

8   Socialise after captain of Mumbai team retired (3) MIX {Mu...i}{XI<=}

10 Bragged in party (4) ?R?W (Addendum - CREW [DD] - See comments)

11 Middle Easterners re-building Basra (5) ARABS*

12 Attacks fools (4) MUGS [DD]

13 River Seine, extremely hot earlier to bathe (5) RINSE {R}{SeinE}<=>{IN}

15 Fancy clothes in wash - rest mostly dirty (9) SHERWANIS {IN+WAS+RESt}*

16 Invites him later to tour capital city (6) SHIMLA [T]

18 Colourful bird or two on air before May (6) TOUCAN {(~two)TOU}{CAN}

21 A rich child's booster seat (4-5) HIGH-CHAIR {A+RICH}* [RA]

23 Leaders of huge empires inheriting remarkable status! (5) HEIRS Acrostic Semi&lit

25 Women passing through never sent back in Sabarimala, say (4) TOWN {N{W}OT<=} Sabarimala is a hill and not a town

26 Perfect old performance (5) EXACT {EX}{ACT}

27 Incomplete cipher requiring a final part (4) CODA {CODe}{A}

28 Oddly join with girl to dance (3) JIG {JoIn}{G}

29 Reserved match, pointed Spooner (5-6) TIGHT-LIPPED (~light tipped to tight-lipped)

DOWN

1   Sea creature's prominent angle (8) STARFISH {STAR}{FISH}

2   Reflection of animal in stream (4) FLOW<=

3   Ultimately unfinished country album? (5) ATLAS {AT LASt}

4   Infuse exotic herb tea (7) BREATHE*

5   Language without writing tools, pens (8) SANSKRIT {SANS}{K{R}IT}

6   Antelope seen in his log cabin regularly (6) NILGAI {iN+hIs+LoG+cAbIn}

9   Young author's unpopular, discontented, boring friend (8) IMMATURE {I'M}{MAT{Un...aR}E}

14 Recalled why no HP mystery features a musical composition (8) SYMPHONY [T<=]

17 Allow sharing chat - one unusually active (8) ATHLETIC {LET} in {CHAT+1}*

19 A newly wed daughter securing ghunghat initially clipped (8) ABRIDGED {A}{BRID{Gh...t}E}{D}

20 Basic test about state leading to arrest killer (7) PIRANHA {P{IRAN}H}{Ar...t}

22 Working in ICICI? Most famous! (6) ICONIC {IC{ON}ICi}

24 Looted from shop changing hands (5) STOLE STO(-r+l)LE

27 Initially cut or paste your transcript (4) COPY Acrostic 

Reference List

Hot = IN, Women = W, Girl = G, Writing = R, Basic test = Ph

Special, Sunday 22 Jun 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 Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 9, Sunday 22 Jun 2025, Arden

ACROSS

9   Aunty in trouble withe investment contract (7) ANNUITY* 

10 Tough to hold out - nothing inside? Sounding uncertain (7) HOODLUM {HO{O}DL*}{UM}

11 Obstructs containers (7) HAMPERS [DD]

12 Polish figure crossing the line of no return (7) RUBICON {RUB}{ICON}

13 Country came out - no stopping aid going west (9) MACEDONIA {CAME}*{AI{NO}D<=}

15 High rent all around - it's a source of irritation (5) THORN {T{H}ORN}

16 Some lad abandoned the maiden (7) DAMOSEL*

19 Zany, zany get a flower (7) YANGTZE*

20 Warriors name in German admission (5) NINJA {N}{IN}{JA}

21 Makes fun of outputs - not out, but that's OK (2,2,5) UP TO SNUFF {FUN+OF+outPUTS}*

25 Showing interest in special race, so refuse (7) SCORIAE {I} in {RACE+SO}*

26 Call within a month to capital (7) ABIDJAN {A}{BID}{JAN} Former capital

28 Vulgarian - trust a crook to keep quiet (7) UPSTART {TRUST+A}* over {P}

29 Some come back and get selected - it's heavenly (7) CELESTE [T<=]

DOWN

1   Growing tuber on the border creates disturbance (6) MAYHEM {YAM<=}{HEM}

2   Coming around is incomprehensible (6) GNOMIC* Is this definition correct?

3   Award for play (4) GIVE [DD]

4   Compound featuring setter's very big home (6) MYOSIN {MY}{OS}{IN}

5   Drug dealer's fast to contain damage (8) PHARMACY {P{HARM}ACY}

6   Groom workers to get hold of a top team of fighters (10) COMBATANTS {COMB}{ANTS} over {A}{Team}

7   Need to stop fight for a state of oblivion (8) BLACKOUT {B{LACK}OUT}

8   Nice men appointed by English Cardinal (8) EMINENCE {NICE+MEN}*{E}

14 Book on Indian political party's rise - talk about accepting a constant input (3,7) DAS KAPITAL {SAD<=}{KA{PI}TAL*}

16 Victim of a natural disaster is around, moving (8) DINOSAUR* 

17 Big animal entertains volunteer group, becomes much smaller (8) MONGOOSE {MO{NGO}OSE}

18 Award winner delayed importing fertiliser (8) LAUREATE {LA{UREA}TE}

22 Leadership change - country in a daze (6) TRANCE (-f+t)TRANCE

23 Only under central fund - that's not fair (6) UNJUST {JUST}<=>{fUNd}

24 Plant experience - news trickling in (6) FENNEL {FE{N}{N}EL}

27 Invested legitimately, banks doing nothing (4) IDLY {In...eD}{Le...lY}

Reference List

High = H, Name = N, Yes in German = JA, Interest = I, Quiet = P, Very big = OS, Home = IN, English = E, Constant = PI, Volunteer group = NGO, New = N

No 14517, Saturday 21 June 2025, Karaoke

Because of one rotten egg in the blog I have taken the following step.

I have changed the settings to custom readers.

Those of you are unable to comment now onwards please send me an email and I will add you to the custom readers list. That way I can delete someone who doesn't follow the rules.

Please bear with me for a few days I will add all the regulars by sending you an invitation to join after you send me your email.

In case you do not get the email after I send it, please check your Spam folder.

Col Gopinath

Artwork by Prasanna

ACROSS
1 Often drunken man crashed into India Gate by accident (4,3,5) TIME AND AGAIN {MAN}* inside {INDIA GATE}*
9 Fluid injected into body of the other side mostly with key adrenaline (5) ENEMA {ENEMy}{Adrenaline}
10 Opt to pocket daughter's offer? May it not happen! (3,6) GOD FORBID {GO{D} FOR}{BID}
11 Trouble from the borders of Pahalgam intruded by butchers mainly in the job (7) PROBLEM {PahalgaM} over {RO{Butchers}LE}
12 The Spanish glue lacking essential viscous ingredient (7) ELEMENT {EL}{cEMENT}
13 Maybe penchant for a writer's last work? (4,4) SWAN SONG {SWAN}{SONG} penchant to be split and read as pen chant
14 Original Inuit can keep gun in house (5) IGLOO {Inuit}{G}{LOO}

18 Primarily bribe on duty becomes extra income (5) BONUS {Bribe}{ONUS}
20 Central forces involved in action set out for illegal substance (8) NARCOTIC {foRCes} in{ACTION}*
24 Keep record of return gift on promotion (7) DIARISE {AID<}{RISE}
26 Odd man out having interest for ice (7) DIAMOND {ODD MAN}* over I
27 Finally olive oil with inapt treatment causing loss of hair (9) EPILATION {olivE OIL INAPT}*
28 Easier to solve after key tip-off and put out of your mind (5) ERASE {EASiER}*
29 How do forums, take time, to spread rumours? (5-2-5) WORDS-OF-MOUTH {HOW DO FORUMS}* over {T}
 

DOWN
1 It is socially acceptable thing// for this //vegetable (3,6) THE POTATO [DD] The Potato or The Clean Potato is given in Chamber's Thesaurus and the Wikitionary.
2 Disease, maybe nameless, but not new (7) MEASLES {nAMELESS}*
3 Case of facility recruiting unnamed professional killers (8) ARGUMENT {ART} over {GUnMEN}
4 He avoids setter perhaps having date with editor on vacation (7) DODGER {DO{D}G}{EditoR}
5 Attempt a poem on horse, get an exclamation of approval (4,3) GOOD EGG {GO}{ODE}{GG}
6 Setter's depressed, doesn't take long to saturate (5) IMBUE {I'M}{BlUE}
7 Make-shift estate facing violent wind (7) TEMPEST {TEMP}{EST}
8 Checks issues, withdraws money for daughter (5) EDITS {E(-m+D)ITS}
15 Doctor hopes to examine a bone. He manipulates skeletons (9) OSTEOPATH {HOPES TO}* over {A}{T}
16 Some applaud a numbing narcotic painkiller (8) LAUDANUM [T]
17 Mixture of small cider and water essentially for beverage (4,3) ICED TEA {CIDEr wATEr}*
19 Tight-fitting garment, one put on by a rural dean (7) UNITARD {UNIT}{A}{RD}

21 Couple of beverages drunk heartily in country house (7) CHATEAU {CHA}{TEA}{drUnk}

22 Ride away after stealing large gold brick (5) IDLER {RIDE* over L}
23 Sheep hurriedly gone out of burning engine room (6) MERINO {engINE RoOM}

25 Friend is radical, good-for-nothing primarily (5) AMIGO {AMI(-n+G)O}

REFERENCE LIST

Daughter=D, The Spanish=EL, Gun=G, Time=T, New=N, Horse=GG(gee-gee), Setter's=I'M, Long=L, Make Shift=Temp(orary), Estate=EST, Money=M, Daughter=D, Bone=T (the T bone), One=Unit, Rural Dean=RD, Good=G.

Advisory

Because of one rotten egg in the blog I have taken the following step.

I have changed the settings to custom readers.

Those of you are unable to comment now onwards please send me an email and I will add you to the custom readers list. That way I can delete someone who doesn't follow the rules.

Please bear with me for a few days I will add all the regulars by sending you an invitation to join after you send me your email.

In case you do not get the email after I send it, please check your Spam folder.

No 14516, Friday 20 Jun 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.

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

ACROSS

1   Punishment's one way to preserve without honey, essentially (6) CANING CANnING

4   America's about boys circling old city neighbourhood (6) SUBURB {US<=}{B}{UR}{B}

9   Protest to repeal privileges essentially dropped (4) STIR RIghTS<=

10 Surprised man soon crashed vehicle (10) MOONSTRUCK {M}{SOON*}{TRUCK}

11 Professional film portraying leader of Wales (6) LAWYER {LA{Wa..s}YER}

12 River running through toxic slum air is characteristic of undeveloped area (8) RURALISM {R} in PSLUM+AIR}*

13 Girl's going around Indonesian island with head therapist and healer (9) HERBALIST {HER{BALI}S}{Th...t}

15 Stuff starts in summer - takes one week (4) STOW Acrostic

16 River and harmful stream (4) RILL {R}{ILL}

17 Peacekeeper's chief detective caught in the middle of fake alcohol problem (9) CONUNDRUM {UN}{De...e} in {CON}{RUM}

21 Artist framing groin artistically on dead - a feature of 4ac? (4,4) RING ROAD {R{GROIN*}A}{D}

22 Firm just fired leader to toe the line (6) COMPLY {CO}{aMPLY}

24 Overreliance of Pence ended in trouble (10) DEPENDENCE*

25 Unpleasant feeling that distant relative, finally would be visiting (4) FEAR {F{r...vE}AR}

26 Article on medicine covered a particular topic (6) THEMED {THE}{MED}

27 Ghost with hair billowing around bone (6) WRAITH {W+HAIR}* over {T}

DOWN

1   House is away from geostatic orbits (7) COTTAGE GEOsTATiC*

2   Niece's head injured - very anxious (5) NERVY {Ni..e}{VERY*}

3   Figure of hurt lumberman - medic abandoned (7) NUMERAL LUmbERMAN*

5   Numerous ordinary men starting to come out swaggering, becoming less confident (6) UNSURE NUmERoUS*

6   Runners often get happy - that may not be connected (9) UNRELATED {rUnNeRs}{ELATED}

7   Money was returned by lumberjack's assistant (7) BUCKSAW {BUCK}{WAS<=}

8   Identical score composed about Royal lake in Germany (13) CORRESPONDING {CO{R}RES*}{POND}{IN}{G}

14 Italian boy transporting Congolese leader disappeared (9) BOLOGNESE {B}{cONGOLESE}*

16 After rain stopped early, people got out finally with clothing (7) RAIMENT {RAIn}{MEN}{ouT}

18 Dubious type of energy upper classes promoted (7) UNCLEAR (+u)UN(-u)CLEAR

19 Heartless relative remains free (7) UNLEASH {UNcLE}{ASH}

20 Nurse withheld documents - hiding recall (6) CODDLE [T<=]

23 Both genders linked by union, rejecting it is religious scholar (5) MUFTI {M}{U}{F}{IT<=}

Reference List

 Boy = B, Old city = UR, Man = M, River = R, Artist = RA, Dead = D, Firm = CO, With = W, Bone = T, Medic = MB, Royal = R, Germany = G, Upper class = U, Genders = M,F, Union = U

No 14515, Thursday 19 Jun 2025, Gussalufz

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.

BALEFUL NURSE AT WORK

ACROSS

9   Ailments cured by fourth-grade level (9) DISMANTLE {AILMENTS}*<=>{graDe}

10 Brilliant boy, reportedly (5) SUNNY (~sonny)

11 Madhya Pradesh engineer boring boss out (7) STUMPED {STU{MP}{E}D}

12 Dislike a censored translation (7) VERSION aVERSION

13 Alarm starts to interrupt consciousness after short rest in retreat (5) PANIC {In...t}{Co...s}<=>{NAP<=}

14 Kitties back calls for jams (9) STOPPAGES {POTS<=}{PAGES}

16 Casting couch? Lamer film, answer NO? (8,7) CHEMICAL FORMULA {COUCH+LAMER+FILM+A}*

19 Orphan cat chewed up fruit with part of flower attached (9) ANTHOCARP*

22 In public, I duly turned playful (5) LUDIC [T<=]

24 One born before one's time, in forlorn eastern empire (7) PREEMIE {E+EMPIRE}*

26 Seen in disco: "N.B.: Riot with spirit" (3,4) CON BRIO [T]

27 Sneakily get in, see for free (3,2) LET GO {GET}* in {LO}

28 "Percussion instrument? Play guitar, Richard!" says Spooner (9) DRUMSTICK (~strum dick to drumstick)

DOWN

1   Figures unpleasant matter is over after dad loosens up (4,2) ADDS UP {PUS<=}<=>{DAD}*

2   Publication of one's opinion getting student ultimately expelled by university (8) ?S?U?N?E (Addendum - ISSUANCE {1'S}{S(-t+u)UANCE - See comments)

3   Beverage lid and container retracted (counterfeit coin) (10) CAPPUCCINO {CAP}{CUP<=}{COIN*}

4   "ABCD" daughter and son arguing (2,4) AT ODDS {A to D}{D}{S}

5   Exclude page describing very revolting enemy (5,3) LEAVE OFF {LEA{V}{FOE<=}F}

6   Person at computer hampered by mouse regularly (4) USER [T]

7   Completion of repair a month away (6) ENDING mENDING

8   Work out locations of gay man's frolicking around India (8) GYMNASIA {GAY+MANS}* over {I}

15 Bulk of wine trade by ship? (10) PORTLINESS {PORT}{LINE}{SS}

16 Man mates in India, they provide support (8) CHAPPALS {CHAP}{PALS}

17 Spiders are sad in shot (8) ARANEIDS*

18 Be at the bottom of anguish, essentially, and cross red line (8) UNDERLIE {angUish}{RED+LINE}*

20 What's left of camp after wife's entry? Unknown! (6) TWENTY {T{W}ENT}{Y}

21 "Prepare to leave partnership": U.K. capitulates, partially regressing (4,2) PACK UP [T<=]

23 Roosters absorbing first bit of light? They might awaken you alarmingly (6) CLOCKS {C{Light}OCKS}

25 Pull dramatically, showing cheek in second over (4) MOON {MO}{ON}

Reference List

Engineer = E, Answer = A, Eastern = E, University = U, Daughter = D, Son = S, Very = V, Month = M, India = I, Ship = SS, Wife = W, Unknown = Y, Second = MO, Over = ON

No 14514, Wednesday 18 Jun 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 11A 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   Cracked the quadratic equations on vacation - not hard, it's a thing one learns to like (8,5) ACQUIRED TASTE {ThE+QUADRIATIC+Eq...nS}*

8   See 10 Down

9   Healing mild acne developing over face of inmate (9) MEDICINAL {MILD+ACNE}* over {In...e}

11 Drug, mostly dope in nice resort giving satisfaction (10) I?D?L?E?C? (Addendum - INDULGENCE - {DULl}{GEN} in {NICE}* - See comments)

12 Hit hard and counterattack finally after century (4) TONK {c...cK}<=>{TON}

14 Low, flat cloud of importance, embodying onset of rains (7) STRATUS {ST{Ra..s}ATUS}

16 Upset by one addict knocking back drink (2,1,4) IN A FLAP {1}{FAN<=}{LAP}

17 Checkmate in one move, crushed by European master making a comeback (7) IMPASSE {1} and {PASS} in {E}{M}<=

19 Warn about most vigorous aquatic animal (7) NARWHAL{WARN*}{HALe}

21 Rebellious boy tackling British aristocrats (4) NOBS {S{B}ON<=}

22 Fish in pub with bit of dark rum in a cocktail (10) BARRAMUNDI {BAR}{Dark+RUM+IN+A}

25 Frenzied commotion about a noisy rave (9) DIONYSIAN {DI{A+NOISY}*N} &lit

26 Moving quickly, striving hard for victory (5) HYING (-v+h)HYING

27 Sexy, stylish model in hut with a roughneck? Extremely wild speculation (4,2,3,4) SHOT IN THE DARK {S{HOT}{IN}{T}HED}{A}{Ro...cK}

DOWN

2   Sample of enriched dark cheese (7) CHEDDAR [T]

3   Saving American breaking skull, hip, chest - ultimately difficult job (6,4) UPHILL TASK {A} in {SKILL+HIP+c..sT}*

4   Emir excited about atomic plant (5) RAMIE {R{A}MIE*}

5   Removal of director for primarily shocking corruption (9) DEDUCTION (-s+d)DEDUCTION

6   Piece of popular composition to be played with a bow (4) ARCO [T] 

7   Effort to secure popular, fine wrapping material (7) TINFOIL {T{IN}{F}OIL}

8   Ponder about son turning nine, getting a little defiantly touchy (4-7) THIN-SKINNED {THIN{S}K}{NINE*}{De...y}

10 & 8A Enjoy dentist's job? Very difficult to do (4,7,5) LIKE PULLING TEETH [C&DD]

13 Expressed disapproval and ran quickly to arrest bum on heroin (10) HARRUMPHED {HARED} over {RUMP}{H}

15 Angular unit of acceleration described by a nerd, it's complicated (9) STERADIAN {A} in {A+NERD+ITS}*

18 Start to praise choir boy playing classical music of the bagpipe (7) PIBROCH {Pr...e}{CHOIR+B}*

20 Run, hike, exercise to become more sexually attractive (7) HUNKIER*

23 Farm vehicle overturned outside new hotel (5) RANCH {C{N}AR<=}{H}

24 Indian peasant in yard surrounded by rubbish (4) RYOT {R{Y}OT} Interesting origins of the word

Reference List

Hard = H, European = E, Master = M, British = B, Victory = V, Stylish = IN, Model = T, American = A, Atomic = A, Director = D, Popular = IN, Son = S, Heroin = H, Acceleration = A, Boy = B, New = N, Hotel = H, Yard = Y

No 14513, Tuesday 17 Jun 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 1A 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   Endless mischief after old politician picks up European model (8) E?E?P?A? (Addendum - EXEMPLAR {LARk}<=>{EX}{MP} over {E} - See comments) 

5   Variety of grass from Australia in retreat - fantastic, I say (6) ZOYSIA {OZ<=}{I+SAY}*

10 Worrywart wants electronic circuit breaker on site (7) FUSSPOT {FUSe}{SPOT}

11 Couple of associates touring research facility with graduate in American state (7) ALABAMA {A}{LAB}{A}{MA}

12 Concern about Vatican sculpture (5) CARVE {CAR{V}E}

13 A little smoke from cooking garlic oil (9) CIGARILLO*

14 Fall apart and put on weight around the hips (2,4-6) GO PEAR-SHAPED [DD]

18 Be utterly destroyed by disastrous megaflop in US (2,2,2,6) GO UP IN FLAMES*

21 Group takes hasty decision at first to make an emergency touchdown (5-4) CRASH-LAND {C{RASH}LAN}{De...n}

23 Bees in apiary circling around flowering plant (5) ANISE [T<=]

24 Critical in retreat after consuming dope (7) EXIGENT {EXI{GEN}T}

25 Old man in a lounge, surveying instrument (7) ALIDADE {A}{LI{DAD}E}

26 Unwillingness to speak in summit, nervous (6) MUTISM*

27 Finest spot outside hotel on vacation (8) SHEEREST {S{H}EE}{REST}

DOWN

1   Most weak, taking tonic finally for strength (6) EFFECT {EFFE{t..iC}Te}

2   Safeguard revolutionary plan to conserve nuclear energy (6) ENSURE {RUS{N}E<=}{E}

3   Sausage and spirit served on pier (9) PEPPERONI {PEP}{ON+PIER}*

4   Deceit shattered the official's firmly held belief (7,2,5)  ARTICLE OF FAITH {ART}{THE+OFFICIAL}*

6  Broadcasting unusual noir films, adult (2-3) ON-AIR {NOIR}* over {A}

7   Stores containing everything for light boats (8) SHALLOPS {SH{ALL}OPS}

8   Snake in Canada horribly crushes old caiman finally (8) ANACONDA {ANAC{O}{c...aN}DA*}

9   Go to eat grandma's extremely nice baked dish (7,3,4) BANGERS AND MASH {BASH} over {GRANDMAS+NicE}*

15 Heat item vigorously to obtain a valuable iron ore (9) HAEMATITE {HEAT+ITEM}* over {A}

16 Playing reggae, member drinks cold beverage (3,5) EGG CREAM {REGGAE}*{M} over {C}

17 Reviewed unusual catalogue featuring American painter of frescoes (8) MURALIST {RUM<=}{LIST} over {A}

19 Trapped by werewolf in a legendary climax (6) FINALE [T]

20 Bond in extremely close fight finally overwhelms guys (6) CEMENT {ClosE}{MEN}{f..hT}

22 Observes hot escort in retreat, cuddling director (5) HEEDS {H}{S{D}EE<=}

Reference List

European = E, Australia = OZ, Associate = A, Vatican = V, Dope = GEN, Hotel = H, Nuclear = N, Energy = E, Adult = A, Old = O, Member = M, Unusual = RUM, Cold = C, American = A, Hot = H, Director = D

No 14512, Monday 16 Jun 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 25A 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 & 26 What organist wanting to play loudly will do to make every effort (4,3,3,3,5) PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS [DD]

8   Mushroom caps in stack on island (5) PILEI {PILE}{I}

9   Planning stylish finale to entertain theatregoers at premiere (9) INTENDING {IN}{Th...s}{ENDING}

11 Dear wife enthralled by knocking back pegs, getting a little raunchy in excitement (10) SWEETHEART {TEE{W}S<=}{HEA{R}T}

12 Ostracise star consuming heroin (4) SHUN {S{H}UN}

14 Trainees played tennis after taking a little rest (7) INTERNS {INTE{Rest}NS*}

16 Fish in quiz about zodiac sign (7) TELEOST {TE{LEO}ST}

17 Visit bumbling stooge on base (2,2,3) GO TO SEE {STOOGE}*{E}

19 Mysterious scream by model in film (7) CRYPTIC {CRY}{P{T}IC}

21 Bird crushed by rickshaw, killed (4) HAWK [T]

22 Nuts start a riot in Italian eateries (10) TRATTORIAS*

25 Most parched, needs a little nightcap - shaken, not stirred (9) T?R?I?E?T (Addendum - TORRIDEST - {nOT+STIRRED}* - See comments)

26 See 1

27 Determination of ace cracking internet scam (13) ASCERTAINMENT {A}{INTERNET+SCAM}*

DOWN

2   Endlessly intoxicated guest tottering around is most disgusting (7) UGLIEST {UG{LIt}EST*}

3   Buried soldier at ground close to outpost (4,2,4) LAID TO REST {SOLDIER+AT}*{o...sT}

4   Odour in estuary containing liquid waste (5) URINE [T]

5   Dilapidated tract in a cold polar region (9) ANTARCTIC {TRACT+IN+A+C}*

6   Give large tip (4) LEND {L}{END}

7   Euphoric after consuming ecstasy, husband cavorts heartily! Ah, well (5-2) HEIGH-HO {H{E}IGH}{H}{cavOrts}

8   Gasps in stadium at inauguration, excited by sizzling tennis stroke (7,4) PASSING SHOT {GASPS+IN+St...m}{HOT}

10 Experts in heredity, say, backing extraordinary scientist (11) GENETICISTS {EG<=}{SCIENTISTS}

13 Pal dancing with my spouse endlessly! Somehow, feign ignorance (4,6) PLAY POSSUM {PAL*}{MY+SPOUSe}*

15 Most elegant nurses start to explain gynaecological procedure (5,4) SMEAR TEST {SM{Ex...n}ARTEST}

18 Revolting drunkard having fight with daughter is concerning (7) TOWARDS {SOT<=} over {WAR}{D}

20 Unsure about most costly cocked hat (7) TRICORN {T{RICh}ORN}

23 Three tenors entertaining upper-class society at centre with all performing together (5) TUTTI {T}{U}{T}{T}{socIety}

24 Enjoy match (4) LIKE [DD]

Reference List

Island = I, Stylish = IN, Wife = W, Heroin = H, Base = E, Model = T, Ace = A, Cold = C, Large = L, Ecstasy = E, Husband = H, Daughter = D,  Tenor = T, Upper-class = U

Special, Sunday 15 Jun 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.