No 14546, Friday 25 Jul 2025, Pixie Dust

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   Partly miss our celebrity author (6) SOURCE [T]

8   Drunk and beaten (8) HAMMERED [DD]

9   Capital of Finland's impressing and enchanting (8) FETCHING {Fi...d}{ETCHING}

10 Oppose somewhat difficult sis, erratically backtracking (6) RESIST [T<=]

11 To raise money, boy is married the next day (8) TOMORROW {TO}{(-b+m)MORROW}

12 Look Noel lay oddly withdrawn (6) LONELY {LoOk+NoEl+LaY}

13 Broken nails, yet used often substantially? (11) ESSENTIALLY {NAILS+YET}* Letter Bank

18 Hired help's extremely lonesome here (6) TEMPLE {TEMP}{Lo...mE} Definition not clear?

20 Ruled as monarch over decades, finally stepped down (8) RESIGNED {RE{d...sS}IGNED}

22 Stu and Zan missed last letters in verse (6) STANZA {STu}{ANd}{ZAn}

23 Accommodating Bill, performing without Charlie around 3rd of September (8) ADAPTING {AD}{Ac{sePt...r}TING}

24 Log from Spooner's craft corner? (8) NOTEBOOK (boat nook to notebook) 

25 First signs of respite is seen in North Gujarat revolt (6) RISING Acrostic

DOWN

1   Thus build home with wife by hook or crook (7) SOMEHOW {SO}{HOME+W}*

2   Short path to hills in vehicles (8) TRACTORS {TRACk}{TORS}

3   Major sore in pants (6) SENIOR*

4   Rain check? (8) UMBRELLA [CD]

5   Almost bare model (6) LESSON {LESS ON}

6   Boisterous teens, extremely lively in a nervous way (7) TENSELY {TEENS}*{Li..lY}

8   Market war at peak? (4-5,4) HIGH-WATER MARK {MARKET+WAR}* [RA]

14 Leave crazy conservative missing the last lift (8) ELEVATOR {LEAVE*}{TORy}

15 Most fair polygraph picked up (8) LIGHTEST (~lie test)

16 Notices corrupt department (7) SECTION*

17 Shrinking wife leaves following the French in tendency (7) LEANING {wANING}<=>{LE}

19 Small animals pose in disguise (6) PONIES*

21 In audition looks fixedly at steps (6) STAIRS (~stares)

Reference List

Boy = B, Married = M, Bill = AD, Charlie = C, Wife = W, The in French = LE

No 14545, Thursday 24 Jul 2025, Pixie Dust

Solution to 7A 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   Knight overwhelmed by cad's feelings (6) ?R?A?T (Addendum - BREAST {B{R}EAST} - See comments)

8   Conservative girl provided YMCA's file (8) CLASSIFY {C}{LASS}{IF}{Y}

9   Hot nurse's oddly meridional (8) SOUTHERN*

10 Caught an idle broadcast (6) NAILED*

11 From the beginning the English Rose Resort in Faridabad inspired contentment - it's fabulous! (8) TERRIFIC Acrostic

12 Some have to escape embargos (6) VETOES [T]

13 Spooner mentions 'Bride's tresses' say, in varieties of occupations? (5,2,4) WALKS OF LIFE (~locks of wife to walks of life)

18 Empty container inside tub (6) VACANT {VA{CAN}T}

20 Extremely long ground used in second test (8) STRONGLY {S}{TR{LONG*}Y}

22 Letters from Josiahs in uppercase held back, correct? (6) PUNISH [T<=]

23 Puffy's old flame, passionate at first and extremely enamoured (8) EXPANDED {EX}{Pa...e}{AND}{En...eD}

24 Struggle with new flickering sign in alerts (8) WARNINGS {WAR}{N}{SIGN*}

25 Slimmer red tie, perhaps (6) DIETER*

DOWN

1   Criminal prepared a meal holding recipe (7) CROOKED {C{R}OOKED}

2   So these bugs made a mess of aerobatics? (8) BACTERIA {BACTERIA+SO}^= AEROBATICS [CA]

3   Jerks cycling around elevated railway is the very thing (6) ITSELF {(-f}ITS(+f)F} over {EL}

4   Four involved in wanton celebration (8) CARNIVAL {CARN{IV}AL}

5   Top model was ultimately knocked over, right? (1-5) T-SHIRT {T}{waS}{HI{R}T}

6   How deer could be presented? (7) OFFERED {DEER}* [RA]

8   Potentially use coin over and over again for mental activity? (13) CONSCIOUSNESS {USE+CON}* Letter Bank

14 Annoyingly the sink has a bit of crack where dishes are kept? (8) KITCHENS {THE+SINK}* over {Cr..k}

15 Engaged men, say, without any essential resources (8) FINANCES {FI{aNy}ANCES}

16 Brown returns to the mountains, it's to be expected! (7) NATURAL {TAN<=}{URAL}

17 Rip Van Winkle, for one, sold even poetry every now and then (7) SLEEPER {SoLd+EvEn+PoEtRy}

19 A mortgage scheme basically for foreigners (6) ALIENS {A}{LIEN}{Sc...e}

21 Attacks implicating political leader led to outpouring (6) RAPIDS {RA{Po...l}IDS}

Reference List

Knight = R(Ritter), Conservative = C, Second = S, Old flame = EX, New = N, Recipe = R, Elevated railway = EL, Right = R

No 14544, Wednesday 23 Jul 2025, Saral

Solution to 6D 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   Loots guns (6) RIFLES [DD]

9   Kids cried hard, jumping, chewing piece of lollipop with honey essentially (8) CHILDREN {CRIED+H}* over {Lo...p} with {hoNey} 

11 Defilement of instrument rewriting on it (9) VIOLATION {VIOLA}{ON+IT}*

12 One scoundrel with drug is furious (5) IRATE {1}{RAT}{E}

13 Old wager returning inside retreat with small laptops (9) NOTEBOOKS {O}{BET}<= in {NOOK}{S}

16 Gas contained in volcano gradually coming back (5) ARGON [T<=]

17 Grave words in record by Thai president is altered (7) EPITAPH {EP}{THAI+P}* 

19 Chef eventually drops buds (7) FLOWERS {cheF}{LOWERS}

21 Notices cycles in fish (5) SHARK (+s)SHARK(-s)

22 Informed about her strangely quiet entry (9) THRESHOLD {T{HER*}{SH}OLD}

24 Nausea, disoriented European abandoned steam bath (5) SAUNA NAUSeA*

25 Size fixed, game unit designed finally (9) MAGNITUDE {GAME+UNIT+d...eD}* 

27 Painter using simulator not ordinary (8) MURALIST {SIMULAToR}*

28 Spread samosas, plates right away with lemon for starters (6) SPRAWL Acrostic

DOWN

1   Five entering Ripon building near church area (8) PROVINCE {PRI{V}ON*}{CE}

2   Struggle of English force opening castle (6) EFFORT {E}{Fo..e}{FORT}

3   Gamble with a Greek character (4) BETA {BET}{A}

4   Avoid bright star, hot chaps (4) SHUN {S{H}UN}

5   Large reptiles initially rolling, turning a log with tails (10) ALLIGATORS {Ro...g+A+LOG+TAILS}*

6   Realign bent cross above  (8) ?R?A?G?E (Addendum - TRIANGLE {REALIGN}<=>{T} - See comments)

7   Indian ushering new bird trainee (6) INTERN {I}{N}{TERN}

10 Backlash of company controlled by wealthy, evading taxes from the beginning (8) RICOCHET {RI{CO}CH}{Ev...g}{Ta..s}

14 Leader of brigadier wants to include post for forces (10) BLACKMAILS {Br...r}{LACK{MAIL}S}

15 Harry argues engaging two females for voting right (8) SUFFRAGE {SU{FF}RAGE*}

18 Rush from extremely heavy rain maybe engulfing ancient city (2,1,5) IN A HURRY {HeavY+RAIN}* over {UR}

20 Note sly dude moving abruptly (8) SUDDENLY {N+SLY+DUDE}*

21 Sailors pruned, picked up second plant (6) SESAME {SE{A}AMEn}

23 Missing the first funny remark related to viewers (6) OCULAR jOCULAR

25 Reviewing contents of that same post (4) MAST [T<=]

26 Rogues banishing the Spanish in drives (4) IMPS IMPelS

Reference List

Hard = H, Drug = E, Old = O, Record = EP(Extended Play), President = P, Quietly = SH, European = E, Ordinary = O, Church = CE, English = E, Hot = H, Indian = I, Cross = T, New = N, Female = F, Note = N, Second = S, The in Spanish = EL

No 14543, Tuesday 22 Jul 2025, VMA Nair

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   A daybreak at sea (6) ADRIFT {A}{D}{RIFT}

4  An expert at calculation, say, interrupts a very promising person (8) COMPUTER {COM{PUT}ER}

9   Worthless experiment by China (6) PALTRY {TRY}<=>{PAL}

10 Brilliant student about to crack exam for a program on small screen (8) TELECAST {ACE}{L}<= in {TEST}

12 Arabian authorities primarily plan to detain a person from ancient Syria (8) ARAMAEAN {AR}{Au...s}{M{A}EAN}

13 Compound having same formula as another is more complex (6) ISOMER* 

15 Troll daughter trapped in shelter without a bit of compassion for own failure to recognise reality (4-8) SELF-DELUSION {ELF}{D} in {SEcLUSION}

18 Menopause file? (6,2,4) CHANGE OF LIFE {FILE}* [RA]

21 Fellow leaving recreation ground around noon to relax (6) UNBEND {fUN}{BE{N}D}

22 Resembling glass from Soviet Union, perhaps, containing borax essentially (8) VITREOUS {SOVIET+U}* over {boRax}

24 Master's vocal about suggestion of importing alcoholic drink (8) ORIGINAL {OR{Im...g}{GIN}AL}

25 Colour of trendy work outfit, basically (6) INDIGO {IN}{DIG}{Ou...t}

26 University at last promoted a little regionalism in language for an exceptional intellectual (8) UBERGEEK {U}{BE}{(+r)RG(-r)EEK}

27 Welsh soldiers rejected ecstasy and dope (6) RENEGE {RE} and {E}{GEN}<=

DOWN

1   Develop computer program before survey (8) APPRAISE {RAISE}<=>{APP}

2   After retirement, disheartened senior keeps bond in safe (8) RELIABLE {ELd{BAIL}ER}<=

3   Progressive female soldiers charge at weak ruler (7-8) FORWARD-THINKING {F}{OR}{WARD}{THIN}{KING}

5   Submit our business expenses yearly for starters (4) OBEY Acrostic

6   Harry prefers scene featuring dupe for meeting with reporters (5,10) PRESS CONFERENCE {PREFERS+SCENE}* over {CON}

7   Agony aunt runs away, avoiding national media on vacation (6) TRAUMA {AUnT+R}*{MediA}

8   Crash outside junction close to busy traffic circle (6) ROTARY {RO{T}AR}{busY}

11 Business consultant originally spent 1000 dollars (7) ?A?L?N? (Addendum - CALLING {Co...t}{ALL IN}{G} - See comments)

14 A beautiful woman ultimately becomes convent's latest nun (7) ASCETIC {A}{SCE(-n+t)TIC}

16 Prepared notice describing popular substance found in tobacco (8) NICOTINE {NICOT{IN}E*}

17 Get some new fancy jewel (8) GEMSTONE {GET+SOME+N}*

19 Couple of countries turned up to host event for number puzzle (6) SUDOKU {UK}{US}<= over {DO}

20 Force Rob right away to misrepresent government shares (6) OBLIGE {rOB}{LI{G}E}

23 Video of some patient from the south (4) TAPE [T<=] 

Reference List

Day = D, China = PAL(Rhyming slang), Student = L, Arabian = AR, Daughter = D, Fellow = F, Noon = N, Union = U, Trendy = IN, University = U, Last = BE, Soldiers = RE(Royal Engineers), Ecstasy = E, Dope = GEN, Female = F, Soldiers = OR, Runs = R, National = N, Junction = T, 1000 dollars = G, Popular = IN, New = N, Event = DO, Right = R, Government = G

No 14542, Monday 21 Jul 2025, Karaoke

 Solution to 23D 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   According to Spooner, beggars dance when author lacks inspiration at times (7,5) WRITERS BLOCK (blighters rock to writers block)

9   Beggar going around neighbourhood collecting money (5) TRAMP {P{M}ART<=}

10 Expert statement, master rejected by apple of the eye (9) COMPETENT {COmM{PET}ENT} 

11 Handsome earl bent to hug girl (7) ELEGANT {E}{LE{G}ANT}

12 Name that is assumed by everyone carrying plastic money with no hassle ultimately (7) ALLONYM {ALL}{MONeY}*

13 Dummies for babies to suck, then rest (8) SOOTHERS {SO}{OTHERS}

14 Drop small court petition first (5) SWOOP {S}{WOO}{Pe...n}

18 Give up cocaine immediately to make up for deficiencies (5) ATONE {AT ONcE}

20 Bear touring around Accra often in container (3,5) TEA CADDY {TE{AcCrA}DDY}

24 Praises once in a funny manner about plan (7) ENCOMIA {ONCE*}{AIM<=}

26 Ready for action, thespian performing without a trace of tears (2,5) IN SHAPE tHESPIAN*

27 Haze and frost follow wind destroying island in peace (9) ARMISTICE {MIST}{ICE}<=>{AiR}

28 Unpleasant smell from skunk essentially passing through swinging door (5) ODOUR {ODO{skUnk}R*}

29 Ask section about eligible trains primarily. It is good for several trips (6,6) SEASON TICKET {ASK+SECTION}*{El...e}{Tr...s}

DOWN

1   How a table could become a conveyance! (9) WHALEBOAT*

2   Short drive, almost long charge (7) IMPEACH {IMPEl}{ACHe}

3   Continuing in the same way, alien chasing alien participating in mixed race (2,6) ET CETERA {ET}{C{ET}ERA*}

4   Relish deer (6) SAMBAR [DD]

5   Fabrication prolonged, goes unnoticed (4,3) LIES LOW {LIE}{SLOW}

6  Unadulterated drug infesting society (5) CLEAN {CL{E}AN}

7   Freethinker takes time to participate in a robbery (7) ATHEIST {A}{T}{HEIST}

8   At start, players must struggle for wicket (5) STUMP {Pl...s+MUST}*

15 Amount for one differing from others in a group? (3-3-3) ODD-MAN-OUT {AMOUNT}* [RA]

16 Using brie repeatedly causes disease! (8) BERIBERI {BERI}* Letterbank

17 Both years unusual, so sad to remove from memory (2,5) BY HEART {BoTH+YEARs}*

19 Magi returned without taking special revenge! (7) NEMESIS {wISEMEN<=}{S}

21 Money in short supply? No tension for outerwear (7) CASSOCK {CASh}{StOCK}

22 Right side of a cricket field at arm's length basically (5) LEGAL {LEG}{Arm}{Le...h}

23 Food and the like, one rejected in counter-attack (6) ?A?I?N (Addendum - RATION (R etal i ATION)

25 Celestial object swapped tails for philosopher (5) COMTE COM(E<=>T)

Reference List

Money = M, Master = M, Earl = E, Girl = G, Small = S, Court = WOO, Cocaine = C, Island = I, Drug = E, Time = T, With = W, Special = S, Tension = T, and the like = ET AL

Special, Sunday 20 Jul 2025, WCCC-2025 On Stage Final 1,

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 13, 20 Jul 2025, Incognito

ACROSS

8   Virginia representative's a seductress (4) VAMP {VA}{MP}

9 & 11 Perhaps, registered nurse's money (5,6) LEGAL TENDER {LEGAL}{TENDER}

10 City shown in diagram (4) AGRA [T]

11 See 9 Across

12 Dreamt I made gin cocktail (8) IMAGINED*

13 Makes around first of month and burns (8) CREMATES CRE{Mo..h}ATES}

15 Bachelor takes frozen water with protein supplement at first to build muscles (6) BICEPS {B}{ICE}{Pr...n}{Su...t}

17 Old boy's remedy is esoteric (7) OBSCURE {OB'S}{CURE}

19 Vehicle storage space near English gun (7) CARBINE {CAR}{BIN}{E}

22 Saw Spanish prince die badly (6) ESPIED {ES}{P}{DIE*}

24 No, Canada destroyed large snake (8) ANACONDA*

26 Hog or ram butchered in biblical location (8) GOMORRAH* 

28 Wish to cover street for tea party location (6) BOSTON {BO{ST}ON}

30 More construction in Italian capital (4) ROME*

31 Confused Saint Mark (5) STAIN*

32 European capital invested in Barbados locality (4) OSLO [T]

DOWN

1   Lass starting to exercise in storm (4) GALE {GAL}{Ex...e}

2   Pie medic distributed leads to widespread disease (8) EPIDEMIC*

3   Clear confusion before starting to taste wine (6) CLARET {CLEAR*}{Ta..e}

4   Anti anti-gas movement (7) AGAINST*

5   Harm Alba wrongly in Spanish monument (8) ALHAMBRA*

6   Male with one account is a madman (6) MANIAC {MAN}{1}{AC}

7   Liberate without charge (4) FREE [C&DD}

14 It's a puzzle about a vehicle (5) REBUS {RE}{BUS}

16 Carried a torch made from tree having a bit of dirt (5) PINED {PINE}{Dirt}

18 Agency providing health services fudged records before commencement of scrutiny (3,5) RED CROSS {RECORDS}*{Sc...y}

20 After sound intended to scare, king hops around in establishment vending paperbacks, for example (8) BOOKSHOP {BOO}{K}{HOPS*}

21 Sack with husband and father in Middle Eastern capital (7) BAGHDAD {BAG}{H}{DAD}

23 Pressed trade union to expel aunt during re-organisation (6) IRONED {tRaDE+unION}*

25 Baal is carried around New York state capital (6) ALBANY {BAAL*}{NY}

27 Hobo expected, carrying instrument (4) OBOE [T]

29 Lubricates ring inside left side for starters (4) OILS {O}{In...e}{Left}{Side}

Reference List

Representative = MP, Bachelor = B, Old Boy = OB, English = E, Spanish = ES, Prince = P, Street = ST, Account = AC, About = RE, King = K, Husband = H

No 14541, Saturday 19 July 2025, Gussalufz

     Identify the theme words and Nina. How is the title of the puzzle linked to the theme?                             

                                         Like US?

ACROSS
1 Had two mixed drinks around midnight, inspector (8) WATCHDOG {HAD TWO}* over {C}+{niGht}
6 Is she an MBA? An oddly lost communicator! (6) SHAMAN {iS sHe An MbA aN}

9 Examine recycled tins (4) SCAN {(+S)CAN(-s)}
10 Scrambled 0, ct. Litton — a bunny! (10) COTTONTAIL*

11 Want and mean to lose a pound (6) MISERY {MISERlY}
12 Massage hair with eggs for having more hair (8) SHAGGIER*
13 Some riot repercussions not fully reflected in list (10) REPERTOIRE [T<]
15 A pot that's cracked open (4) AJAR {A}{JAR}
17 Case initially expected to uncover intrigue (4) ETUI [Acrostic]

18 Church posts marketing return on investment, backing mail campaigns, finally (10) PRIORSHIPS {PR}{ROI<}{SHIP}{campaignS}
20 Patrons knocked good melody (4-4) PART-SONG {PATRONS}*{G}
22 Shout uninhibitedly, scare men (6) SCREAM {SCARE}*{M}
24 Base is large house in old country (10) VILLAINOUS {VILLA}{IN}{O}{US}
26 Loud appeal — one might be caught (4) PREY {~PRAY}
27 Unusually shy cop is a dangerous person (6) PSYCHO*
28 Incomplete skull sets grotesquely missing teeth (8) TUSKLESS {SKULl SETS}*
DOWN
2 Founder cold and tense after demo fails to start, site doesn't open (9) ARCHITECT {C}{T}<=>{mARCH}{sITE}
3 Preserve extremely obscure craft (5) CANOE {CAN}{ObscurE}

4 Break and ultimately rat under slight pressure (7) DECRYPT {raT}<=>{DECRY}{P}
5 Understand common factors in great longevity? (3) GET {GrEaT}{lonGEviTy} 
6 Time following second golden era for space (7) STORAGE {T}<=>{S}+{OR}{AGE}
7 Signature of a fantastic author (P. G. ____) (9) AUTOGRAPH {A}{AUTHOR P G}*

8 Lit "teetotaller" evicted by female in uniform (5) AFIRE {A(-tt)(+F)IRE}
12 Special Indian spice packs — hot and splendid (7) SHINING {S}{HIN{IN}G}
14 Like a letter from police, it's unsettling (9) EPISTOLIC*
16 Looks around both sides of senate, for those willing to compromise (9) APPEASERS {APPEA{SenatE}RS}
18 Rider with short demonstration including six jumps at the end (7) PROVISO {PROOf} over {VI}{jumpS}
19 Fights lies, is arrested (7) RESISTS {RES{IS}TS}
21 In the morning, is a bit of supper inappropriate? (5) AMISS {AM}{IS}{Supper}
23 Resist quietly breaking wind (5) REPEL {RE{P}EL}
25 Juvenile getting naked in public (3) OUT {yOUTh}

Reference List

Around=C, Pound=L, Marketing=PR, Return On Investment=ROI, Good=G, Men=M, Old=O, Cold=C, Tense=T, Pressure=P, Time=T, Second=S, Golden=OR, Teetotaller=TT, Special=S, Hot=In, Six=VI, Morning=AM, Quitely=P

No 14540, Friday 18 Jul 2025, Avtaar

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   Movie choice announced - "Old town in Tennessee's outskirts" (7) PICTURE {(~pick)PIC}{Te...{UR}...eE}

5   Foot fragments outside entrance to Harappan digs (7) FATHOMS {F}{AT{Ha...n}OMS}

10 Like to go on reading (4) PEER {PEE}{R}

11 Egg stored in box is close to first drawer (10) CARTOONIST {CART{O}ON}{IS}{f..sT}

12 University taken over by government is bust (6) STATUE {STAT{U}E}

13 Luncheon's organised without entree? That is unusual (8) NONESUCH lUNCHEONS*

14 Lawyer's restraint binding banks in suit (9) BARRISTER {BARRI{SuiT}ER}

16 Weld aluminium counter holding bucket with long handle (5) LADLE [T<=]

17 School tournament's finale followed by every one (5) TEACH {t...nT}{EACH}

19 Open platform in disused craft leaked, leaving shores of Latvia (9) AFTERDECK {CRAFT+lEaKED}*

23 Country doctor participating in a cricket match, entertained by accountant (8) CAMBODIA {C{A}{MB}{ODI}A}

24 Unsound regulation adopted by leading Central bank (6) FLAWED {F{LAW}ED}

26 Spooner's cooks look for drink (6,4) SPRUCE BEER (~ brews peer to spruce beer)

27 Bird's stomach opening out (4) ROOK bROOK

28 Mike distributed sheet describing promo (7) HEADSET {HE{AD}SET*} A mike per se cannot be a headset

29 Kant's original perception about new religious scripture of fundamental importance (7) KEYNOTE {Kant}{EY{N}{OT}E}

DOWN

2   Avtaar's joining new English cadet for beverage (4,3) ICED TEA {I}{E+CADET}*

3   Card-sharp wins nothing (5) TAROT {TAR{O}T}

4   Condition of insects about to be freed (7) RICKETS cRICKETS

6   Somewhere near a field, German's hidden (6) AROUND {A}{gROUND}

7   Exercise routine in Shetland Islands almost completely performed without trellises, essentially (9) HANDSTAND  {SHeTlANDislANDs}*

8   Say, Chicago's problem taken up by leader of Indiana state in US (7) MUSICAL {SUM<=}{In...a}{CAL}

9   Saw open rifle shot clipping head of Connery in "The Man Who Would Be King" (6,2,5) PRINCE OF WALES {SAW+OPEN+RIFLE}* over {Co...y}

15 Covered with hard stones all over, fencing of castle keeps bulging, basically (4-5) ROCK-BOUND {RO{Ca...e}{Ke..s}{Bu...g}OUND}

18 One-time rich model (7) EXAMPLE {EX}{AMPLE}

20 Insist on measure supporting church (7) ENFORCE {EN}{FOR}{CE}

21 Idiot stealing the lady's smoking thingy (7) CHEROOT {C{HER}OOT}

22 Keep commercial now (6) ADHERE {AD}{HERE}

25 Top of arching, mostly inclined projection on stage (5) APRON {Ar...g}{PRONe}

Reference List

Old Town = UR, Foot = F, To go = PEE, Reading = R, University = U, Accountant = CA, Promo = AD, New = N, Religious scripture = OT(Old Testament), English = E, About = C, Measure = EN, Church = CE, Commercial = AD

No 14539, Thursday 17 Jul 2025, Vidwan

Solution to 19D 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   Prove...a sun explodes and becomes this! (9) SUPERNOVA* Semi&lit

10 Record with ceremony (5) WRITE {W}{RITE}

11 City of naked monk (3) RIO pRIOr

12 Recent, never changing control point (5,6) NERVE CENTRE*

13 Arctic creature found via sonar whaleboats (7) NARWHAL [T]

14 Royal scheming about gallery (7) STATELY {S{TATE}LY}

16 One final deposit appallingly stuck-up (4-11) SELF-OPINIONATED*

20 Seen and humiliated after one's banished (7) SIGHTED SlIGHTED 1 or L is banished?

21 I do invocation perhaps for custodians (7) SANCTUS [CA] {SANCTUS+I+DO}* = CUSTODIANS

23 Consistently trusts this for nutty trip ice-cream (5-6) TUTTI-FRUTTI {TrUsTs+ThIs+FoR+nUtTyThIs}

25 Exclude local staff (3) BAR MD

26 Problem of spirit lamp basically (5) PERIL {PERI}{Lamp}

27 Urbane company representing outer America (9) COURTEOUS {CO}{OUTER*}{US}

DOWN

1   German cheats wearing red undergarments (1-7) G-STRINGS {G}{ST{R}INGS}

2   Regularly support on-air ruckus (6) UPROAR {sUpPoRt+On+AiR}

3   Time to soak! Taking day off, Kitty wears ordinary dress for rainy day! (6,4) TRENCH COAT {T}{dRENCH}{C{O}AT}

4   Runs into tender large weed like Gongura (6) SORREL {SO{R}RE}{L}

5   Wife took high risk for a ride on lake (5,3) WATER SKI {W}{ATE}{RISK*}

6   Over-sentimental bit that we enjoy (4) TWEE [T]

7   Abuse at spies' party (8) MISTREAT {MI'S}{TREAT}

8   Dissidence seen in lady's essay regularly (6) HERESY {HER}{EsSaY}

15 Publicly talk about a new sister at the Company with vacuous title (10) ANNUNCIATE {A}{N}{NUN}{CIA}{TitlE}

17 Girl at EU distracted Bond (8) LIGATURE*

18 Implied charge about religious education (8) INDIRECT {INDI{RE}CT}

19 Suspicion is that Charles broke this! (8) D?S?R?S? 

20 An exercise form can be puissant (3-3) SIT-UPS [CA] {SIT UPS+AN}* = PUISSANT 

21 Stalwart has energy to sail forth (3,3) SET OUT {S{E}TOUT}

22 Couple without work clipped small shop at a fair, in addition (2,4) TO BOOT {TwO}{BOOTh}

24 Second line in that is inch (4) ISLE {I{S}{L}E} 

Reference List

With = W, German = G, Red = R, Time = T, Day = D, Ordinary = O, Runs = R, Large = L, Wife = W, New = N, Religious education = RE, Energy = E, Work = W, Second = S, Line = L

No 14538, Wednesday 16 Jul 2025, Spinner

Solution to 5D 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   Evaluate taking on a partnership with American organization, finally giving commitment (13) ASSIDUOUSNESS {ASS{I}{DUO}{US}{o...oN}ESS}

10 Hurry, it's real! (5) LEGIT {LEG IT}

11 Therapy for men in tatters, unfulfilled and broken! (9) TREATMENT {MEN} in {TATTERs}*

12 Communist leader locks seats (6) CHAIRS {Co...t}{HAIRS}

13 Choose alternative saving time - maybe? (8) OPERATOR {OPT}{OR} over {ERA}

15 Right coalition's pained cry for insurgent's head (9) ALLOWANCE ALL(-i+ow)OWANCE

16 Strike down priest, nun loses her head! (4) STUN {ST}{nUN}

20 Caps student access cards (4) LIDS {L}{IDS}

21 Boxer in control of clash, claiming title at the end! (9) UNDERWEAR {UNDER}{W{t..lE}AR}

24 Still lacking time, Spinner's cryptic set is most whimsical (8) SILLIEST {StILL}{I}{SET*}

26 Where hidden advantages and the hearts of the emotional lie? (6) SLEEVE [DD]

28 Settled, wealthy society's left for the moon, perhaps? (9) SATELLITE {SAT}{EL{L}ITE}

29 Annoys woman with hollow lines (5) GALLS {GAL}{LineS}

30 Match official fixes holding period to essentially disrupt those keeping it cool (13) REFRIGERATORS {REF}{RIG{ERA}{TO}{disRupt}S}

DOWN

2   Shoddy design masks everything announced (9) SIGNALLED {SIGN{ALL}ED*}

3   Bury outside city centre (8) INTERIOR {INTE{RIO}R}

4   For understanding nuclear, try Oppenheimer's tips (4) UNTO Acrostic

5   Disruptive radioactive element's future gaining muscle basically every day! (10) U?E?P?C?E? (Addendum - UNEXPECTED {U}{NEX{PEC}T}{Every}{Day} - See comments)

6   New season missing lead character (6) NATURE {N}{mATURE}

7   Won outright as some supporters shed tears (5) SWEPT {Su...s}{WEPT}

8   Choose leader or choose to oust leader! (5) ELECT sELECT

9   Confess about turning traitor for spying continuously (7) STARING {S{RAT<=}ING}

14 Very damaging to forget starting or finishing process? (10) VARNISHING {V}{tARNISHING}

17 Clerk hosts unending party for tourist (9) TRAVELLER {T{RAVe}ELLER}

18 Dearest captain leaves behind cricket, ultimately! (7) CLOSEST {C}{LOSES}{c...eT}

19 Hard to maintain endless resolve in fag end of one's career? (8) TWILIGHT {T{WILl}IGHT}

22 Intrinsically dark, I'll eradicate! (6) KILLER [T] Semi&lit?

23 Not in favour of forgetting opening line (5) VERSE aVERSE

25 Measure of anger on being interrupted by onset of thunderstorm after fifty (5) LITRE {I{Th...m}RE}<=>{L}

27 One who might sell short or deliver (4) BEAR [DD]

Reference List

Student = L, Time = T, Left = L, New = N, Very = V, Captain = C, Fifty = L

No 14537, Tuesday 15 Jul 2025, KrisKross

Solution to 9A 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   Help to pack box for philosopher (8) SOCRATES {SO{CRATE}S}

5   Softly, KrisKross cutting blue game bird (6) MAGPIE {MAG{P}{I}E*}

9   Bug in table #9 - repulsive! (6,2) L?S?E? I? (Addendum - LISTEN IN {LIST}{NINE<=} - See comments)

10 Have a taste - initial sip's enough (6) SAMPLE {Sip}{AMPLE}

12 Landlord tense, wearing formal dress in a place with no residents (5,4) GHOST TOWN {G{HOST}{T}OWN}

13 Suspend cycling near an African state (5) GHANA {(+g)GHAN(-g)}{A}

14 Look around Thar - ultimately arid! (4) SERE {SE{thaR}E}

16 Girl had to pay money without getting caught! (7) LASSOED {LASS}{OwED}

19 Play extremely depressing and teary? (7) TRAGEDY {d...nG+TEARY}* &lit (Correction - {De...nG+TEARY}* &lit - See comments)

21 American company meets a ruler of ancient empire (4) INCA {INC}{A}

24 Prone to storytelling? (5) LYING [DD]

25 Tree cracking ramshackle tavern causes confusion (9) RAVELMENT {RAV{ELM}ENT*}

27 Faithful soldier leaving base is missing (6) TRUANT {TRUe}{ANT}

28 Slip pal made in writing (8) PROLAPSE {PRO{PAL*}SE}

29 Rabbits in retreat longing to tuck into lettuce (6) CONEYS {CO{YEN<=}S}

30 Judge read about including loan payment in complaint (8) JEREMIAD {J}{ER{EMI}AD*}

DOWN

1   Hermit eating essentially wild fodder (6) SILAGE {S{wILd}AGE}

2   In panic, US to modify policy (6) CUSTOM [T]

3   Master is correct to consume alternate diet (5) ADEPT {A{DiEt}PT}

4   One entering record book is a perfect example (7) EPTIOME {1} in {EP}{TOME}

6   Spies returning to arrest fallen angels to get drug (9) ANALGESIC {CIA<=} over {ANGELS}*

7   Father's withdrawn plan to procure party snack (8) POPPADOM {POP}{PAM<=} over {DO}

8   Reportedly, setter is able to decoy vacuous, pretty girl (3,5) EYE CANDY {(~i)EYE}{CAN}{DecoY}

11 A mostly sick plant (4) ANIL {AN}{ILl}

15 Crisis in Greece - money regularly faked (9) EMERGENCY {GREECE+MoNeY}*

17 Strapping helmet oddly inside storage room (8) ATHLETIC {AT{HeLmEt}TIC}

18 Originally, "Torn Curtain" designed to be silent (8) TACITURN {Tom}{CURTAIN}*

20 Cart overturned in garden (4) YARD<=

21 Contrarian poets think this way? (7) INVERSE {IN VERSE}

22 Ancient town's new helipad not active (6) DELPHI HELIPaD*

23 When it's time to sleep, start to deaden mind (6) ATTEND {AT TEN}{De...n}

26 Tale about ladies in part of France (5) LILLE {LI{LL}E}

Reference List

Softly = P, Tense = T, With = W, Base = E, Judge = J, Record = EP(Extended Play), Party = DO, active = A, Lady = L