The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 14, Sunday 27 Jul 2025, Dr. X

ACROSS

1   Deleting old, bad quality picture (8) PORTRAIT {POoR}{TRAIT}

5   Blunders with boastful talk after consuming very strong drug (6) GAFFES {GA{FF}{E}S}

10 Lady falling for Romeo, audacious rogue (7) VARIANT {VA(-l+r)RIANT}

11 Slim European men captivating girl (7) ELEANOR {LEAN} in {E}{OR}

12 Belief in alternate netherworld (5) TENET [T]

13 Giant mice all over the place? That's mysterious (9) ENIGMATIC*

14 Flawed individual's crazy about ancient ring, possessed by spirits (7,5) DAMAGED GOODS {MAD<=}{AGED}{GO{O}DS}

18 Fixing fracture in his leg after taking incision (12) ESTABLISHING {IN+HIS+LEG}* over {STAB}

21 Fail completely to perform backstroke perhaps (2,5,2) GO BELLY UP [DD]

23 Leader's measure (5) RULER [DD[

24 Fictional character in short story by a British amateur (3,4) ALI BABA {ALIBi}{A}{B}{A}

25 Lights up and smokes, losing head after misfortune (7) ILLUMES {fUMES}<=>{ILL}

26 Alleges angrily - student killed birds (6) EAGLES ALlEGES*

27 One on schooner is tense, communicates about trouble (8) STAYSAIL {S{T}AYS}{AIL}

DOWN

1   Turns, reacts to vipers around bags (6) PIVOTS [T]

2   Enthusiastic group hosting a party at centre (6) RARING {R{A}{paRty}ING}

3   Knocking back whiskies in bar, start to order exotic dish of meat (5,4) ROAST LAMB {B{MALTS}AR}<= with {Or..r}

4   Expecting onset of adversity, while Nifty may crash (2,3,6,3) IN THE FAMILY WAY {Ad...y+WHILE+NIFTY+MAY}*

6   Beverage in morning for elite group (1-4) A-TEAM {A{TEA}M}

7   Cheat having sex in retreat after lively party (8) FUNCTION {C{IT<=}ON}<=>{FUN}

8   Smartest tip from solicitor upset scoundrel in trial (8) SPRUCEST {So...r}{P{CUR<=}EST}

9   Bit stoned, I pee foolishly outside hotel - that's impertinent (6,3,5) BESIDE THE POINT {BIT+STONED+I+PEE} over {H}

15 Usually perk up after dope and ecstasy (9) GENERALLY {RALLY}<=>{GEN}{E}

16 Live close to central station in capital city (8) BELGRADE {BE}{c...aL}{GRADE}

17 Slashing con tackling sailor boy (8) STABBING {ST{AB}{B}ING}

19 Female graduate edited manual (6) ALUMNA*

20 Bad cold sore releasing a little dark, oily liquid (6) CRESOL {COLd+SoRE}*

22 Rent large facility (5) LEASE {L}{EASE}

Reference List

Old = O, Very strong = FF, Drug = E, Lady = L, Romeo = R, European = E, Men = OR(Other ranks), British = B, Amateur = A, Student = L, Tense = T, Sex = IT, Hotel = H, Dope = GEN, Ecstasy = E, Sailor = AB, Boy = B, Large = L