Indian Crossword League 2025 ( IXL 25)

 

WWW.CRYPTICSINGH.COM

Registration starts on 23 Aug 2025

No 14570, Friday 22 Aug 2025, Incognito

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   Toilet occupied? No further options? (7,2,2) NOWHERE TO GO [DD]

9   In South Africa, little one gets diving equipment (5) SCUBA {S{CUB}A}

10 Simple meal with fish? It's hard... (9) GRUELLING {GRUEL}{LING}

11 Sad? Sprint away and get plans... (10) BLUEPRINTS {BLUE}{SPRINT*}

12 Kind of light one distributed at noon (4) NEON {ONE*}{N}

13 Animal changing lane at end of road (5) ELAND {LANE*}{roaD}

15 Puts off US and Jordan arrangement (8) ADJOURNS {US+JORDAN}*

17 Person wanting to get away from reality, having Spanish headgear, is trailing at first (8) ESCAPIST {ES}{CAP}{IS}{Tr...g}

19 Remembers carrying smouldering coal (5) EMBER [T]

22 Spotted salmon from company head office (4) COHO {CO}{HO}

23 Company's objective? To get a cut! (10) COMMISSION {COM}{MISSION}

26 Removed organ and saved (9) DELIVERED {DE-LIVERED}

27 Prompt running guardsmen after throwing away arms (5) NUDGE {GUarDsmEN}*

28 Information about power supply in latest headlines? (7,4) CURRENT NEWS [C&DD]

DOWN

1   Run about carrying gold in island country (5) NAURU {N{AU}RU*}

2   Concluded. "Is fully absorbed" (7,2) WRAPPED UP [C&DD]

3   Need GI at sea? Insert... (4,2) EDGE IN*

4   Blew up! Blew up rude pet! (7) ERUPTED*

5   But endless nylon gets entangled (4) ONLY NYLOn*

6   A lovebird can mutate to show uniform colour (5,4) OLIVE DRAB*

7   American sailor at port with leave finally capable of utilisation (6) USABLE {US}{AB}{L}{l..vE}

8   Spies' silver wrongly sent (6) AGENTS {AG}{SENT*}

14 Person addicted to liquor obtained from Cocoa Hill (9) ALCOHOLIC*

16 Respect old boy arranging seance around 1 (9) OBEISANCE {OB}{E{1}SANCE*}

17 Create cipher from "Nurse fish and start to experiment" (6) ENCODE {EN}{COD}{Ex...t}

18 Plague Supreme Court and love press? (7) SCOURGE {SC}{O}{URGE}

20 Called queen's forest officer (6) RANGER {RANG}{ER}

21 In the middle of a street, dim characters retreat (6) AMIDST {A}{DIM<=}{ST}

24 Remove oar from dinosaur writhing in river (5) INDUS DINoSaUr*

25 Completed 6 deliveries (4) OVER [DD]

Reference List

Noon = N, Spanish = ES, Company = CO, COM, Sailor = AB, Port = L(Left), Old Boy = OB< Nurse = EN(Enrolled Nurse), Queen = ER, Street = ST

No 14569, Thursday 21 Aug 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 17D 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   Retreat from angry bull in herd (8) PULLBACK {P{BULL*}ACK}

5   Line to enter most stylish joint (6) SPLIFF {SP{L}IFFy}

10 Drinking a little beer, I croon, performing with vigour (3,4) CON BRIO {Beer+I+CROON}*

11 Pay for former head touring Italy (7) EXPIATE {EX}{P{I}ATE}

12 See 9 Down

13 Delightful finale captivates listener (9) ENDEARING {END{EAR}ING}

14 Otherwise gentle, fools after consuming ecstasy act without restraint (3,7,2) LET ONESELF GO {GENTLE+FOOLS}* over {E}

18 Discovered why felon initially terrified every unnoticed observer (3,2,3,4) FLY ON THE WALL {WHY+FELON+Te...d}*{ALL}

21 Attractive gentleman beginning to arouse in sack, turning on English lady in retreat (9) DESIRABLE {SIR}{Ar...e} in {BED<=} on{E}{L}<=

23 Calling husband in French city (5) NICHE {NIC{H}E}

24 Lawyer in Hanoi harassed American (7) IDAHOAN {I{DA}HOAN*}

25 Stumble outside church, primarily straining muscle (7) TRICEPS {TRI{CE}P}{St...g}

26 Number is twelve, essentially divisible by two without a remainder (6) ELEVEN {twELve}{EVEN}

27 Director beginning to evaluate inmate's strange mental illness (8) DEMENTIA {D}{Ev...e}{INMATE*}

DOWN

1   Relish jam (6) PICKLE [DD]

2   Stuffing some tarpaulin in garage (6) LINING [T]

3   Leader of band enters to play with popular American conductor (9) BERNSTEIN {Band}{ENTERS*}{IN}

4   Too obscene, the ending of controversial novel is likely to cause offence (5,2,3,4) CLOSE TO THE BONE {TOO+OBSCENE+THE+c...aL}*

6   Father touring posh Asian province (5) PAPUA {PAP{U}A}

7   Ninja loses head, turns unsettled very soon (2,1,5) IN A JIFFY {nINJA}*{IFFY}

8   Dish containing fish with bit of garlic is satisfying (4-4) FEEL-GOOD {F{EEL}{Ga...c}OOD}

9 & 12 What passengers on trains might do to look for hidden meaning (4,7,3,5) READ BETWEEN THE LINES [C&DD]

15 Rose with vigour to have good time in Spain (9) EGLANTINE {E{G}LAN}{T}{IN}{E}

16 Leap to save runs after bad cricket shot (3,5) OFF DRIVE {D{R}IVE}<=>{OFF}

17 Certainly owned extremely expensive frames and visor (8) ?Y?S?A?E (Addendum - EYESHADE {YES}{HAD} in {Ex...vE} - See comments)

19 Acknowledge excellent point about early sign of cancer (6) ACCEPT {A{Ca...r}CE}{PT}

20 Russia is reportedly capturing back historical region (6) PERSIA [T<=]

22 Improve after beginning to row in European river (5) RHONE {HONE}<=>{Row}

Reference List

Line = L, Former = EX, Italy = I, Ecstasy = E, English = E, Lady = L, Husband = H, Lawyer = DA, Church = CE, Director = D, Popular = IN, Posh = U, Good = G, Time = T, Spain = E, Runs = R, Point = PT

No 14568, Wednesday 20 Aug 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 21A 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 & 23 What Imelda Marcos was constantly looking to buy is quite a different matter (7,4,2,5) ANOTHER PAIR OF SHOES [C&DD]

8   Tart, one containing large mushroom caps (5) PILEI {PI{L}E}{1}

9   Does away with leader of rebels involved in abominable sabotage (9) ABROGATES {AB{Re...s}OGATES*}

11 Withdrawal of statement by tense Republican, overwhelmed by backlash (10) RETRACTION {RE{T}{R}ACTION}

12 Friend eating starter of egg roll (4) PEAL {P{Egg}AL}

14 Entice models, getting hold of ultimately sleek fashion accessory (7) NECKTIE {NEC{s..eK}TIE*}

16 Sort this mess, discard old tops (1-6) T-SHIRTS {THIS*}{RoTS} (Correction {SoRT+THIS}* )

17 Performed with rebellious jerk enthralled by grass (7) RECITED {RE{TIC<=}ED}

19 Toothed dog at entrance leapt at teen (7) DENTATE {Dog}{AT+TEEN}*

21 Crook in hotel. excited after stealing money (4) H?M? (Addendum - HUMP {H}{U{M}P} - See comments)

22 Punishes son accepting dare in high spirits (10) FRISKINESS {FINES}{S} over {RISK}

25 Thai cop is beating nut (9) PISTACHIO*

26 British-American poet in a posh retreat (5) AUDEN {A}{U}{DEN}

27 Face financial ruin as extraordinary horse is stolen (4,4,5) LOSE ONES SHIRT*

DOWN

2   Nothing relating to ear or relating to tongue of African people (7) NILOTIC {NIL}{OTIC}

3   Tired after hosting function, one involving three groups (10) TRIPARTITE {TRI{PART}{1}TE}

4   Old American model outside club is perfect (5) EXACT {EX}{A}{T} over {C}

5   Alleged duper operated around harbour (9) PURPORTED {PUR{PORT}ED*}

6   His essentially deceitful move crushes Desdemona finally (4) IAGO {hIs}{GO} over {d...nA} &lit (Correction - {d..eIt..l}{GO} over {d...nA} Semi&lit}

7   Last longer than foremost of athletes in precarious western route (7) OUTWEAR {At...s} in {W+ROUTE}*

8   Ultimately, liaison with a hot stripper wrecked marriage (11) PARTNERSHIP {l...oN+A+H+STRIPPER}*

10 A large espresso around noon for shop assistant (11) SALESPERSON {A+L+ESPRESSO}*{N}

13 Give something to smoke outside hotel in Indian city (10) CHANDIGARH {C{HAND}IGAR}{H}

15 Slyly drop in when wife's away - it will provide a rush (9) ENDORPHIN {DROP+IN+wHEN}*

18 Regains consciousness in cot, smashed after drinking some rum (5,2) COMES TO {COT}* over {SOME*}

20 Editor beginning to annoy fellows backing socialist (7) AMENDER {An..y}{MEN}{RED<=}

23 See 1 Across

24 Kiss-cam at event catches couple (4) MATE [T]

Reference List

Large = L, Tense = T, Republican = R, Old = O, Hotel = H, Money = M, Son = S, Posh = U, American = A, Model = T, Club = C, Western = W, Hot = H, Noon = N, Wife = W

No 14567, Tuesday 19 Aug 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 23A 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   Average American chap touring a South American country (8) PARAGUAY {PAR}{A}{GU{A}Y}

5   Climax as groom passionately expresses love (6) ORGASM {AS+GRoOM}*

10 Suspect in retreat smuggling dope and ecstasy is a spa employee (7) MASSEUR {RUM<=}{ over {ASS}{E}

11 Dump rotten egg picked up by boy (7) OFFLOAD {OFF}{L{O}AD}

12 Scratched back, having ultimately irritating fungal disease (5) ERGOT {TO{i...nG}RE<=}

13 Extraordinary trick to steal painting by Leonardo at inauguration (9) STARTLING {ST{ART}{Le...o}ING}

14 & 16 How to make quartet draw a conclusion from various facts (3,3,3,3,8) PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER [DD]

18 Noticeable rash developing around body part with the passage of time (4,3,5) OVER THE YEARS {OVERT}{H{EYE}ARS*}

21 Wondered about saving a little income to provide comfort in retirement (9) EIDERDOWN {E{In...e}DERDOWN*}

23 Jagged lesion around middle of leg (5) E?O?E (Addendum - EROSE {SORE<=}{lEg} - See comments)

24 Heroin used by Romeo to get more aroused (7) HORNIER {HEROIN*}{R}

25 Fantastic recipe captivating posh gourmet (7) EPICURE {EPIC{U}RE*}

26 Tottered in base, left enthralled by grass (6) REELED {RE{E}{L}ED}

27 Leave furtively with most affectionate fellow to have liaison (5,3) SLINK OFF {SOFt}{F} over {LINK}

DOWN

1   Pet beginning to meow in study (6) PAMPER {PA{Meow}PER}

2   Abandon girl, captivated by exotic siren (6) RESIGN {RESI{G}N*}

3   Elderly relative's wasted after drinking a little rum with lunch (5-4) GREAT-AUNT {G{R}{EAT}AUNT}

4   Terribly scared, host runs after snake enters, affecting everyone (6-3-5) ACROSS-THE-BOARD {SCARED+HOST+R}* over {BOA}

6   Renovate bar after terrible fire (5) REFIT {T}<=>{FIRE*}

7   Lovers disregarding caste initially suffered ostracism (8) AMORISTS {OSTRAcISM}*

8   Crazy journalist penning sentimental drivel was successful (4,4) MADE GOOD {MAD}{E{GOO}D}

9   Playing around with lean, lithe models hosting party? No chance at all! (3,1,4,2,4) NOT A HOPE IN HELL {ON<=}{LEAN+LITHE}* over {HOP}

15 European is wearing no pants (9) NORWEGIAN*

16 See 14 Across

17 Info on male arrested by brave police officer in France (8) GENDARME {GEN}{DAR{M}E}

19 Arboreal mammal in enclosure almost bites bear (6) COLUGO {CO{LUG}Op}

20 Concerning this star cuddling English female (6) HEREOF {HER{E}O}{F}

22 Releasing old thick-skinned animal close to Assamese river (5) RHINE {RHINo}{a...sE}

Reference List

Average = PAR, American = A, Ecstasy = E, Romeo = R, Posh = U, Base = E, Left = L, Fellow = F, Girl = G, Runs = R, Bar = T, Journalist = ED(itor), Party = HOP, Male = M, English = E, Female = F

No 14566, Monday 18 Aug 2025, Afterdark

Solution to 4D 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

6   Set up home on land (7) INSTATE {IN}{STATE}

7   Setback on tour, second on second test (7) RELAPSE {RE}{LAP}{S}{tEst}

9   Receiver on training? Yes, internal (5) PAYEE {P{AYE}E}

10 English stall fight (9) ENCOUNTER {EN}{COUNTER}

11 Stew! Laughs raucously after taking a round (7) GOULASH {G{O}ULASH*}

13 Reside divinely without limits for a change (4,2) LIVE IN dIVINELy*

15 Property I have on headland is on use (13) EFFECTIVENESS {EFFECT}{IVE}{NESS}

19 Accord with company and US university on the last day (6) COMITY {CO}{MIT}{daY}

20 New series? At last you dug into a copy (7) REISSUE {REISS{yoU}E*}

23 Heartless hatred & hard? No, it's a show (9) SPLENDOUR {SPLeEN}{DOUR}

24 Letters from Putin trolling presentation (5) INTRO [T]

26 Handheld device has limitless alphabets; it's a mess (7) PHABLET aLPHABETs*

27 England on both sides of borders, concealing (7) ECLIPSE {E}{CLIPS}{E}

DOWN

1   Pale like gutted hubby (4) ASHY {AS}{HubbY}

2   Arrived with artist and snapper, say (6) CAMERA {CAME}{RA}

3   Type of lens used by predecessor (9) TELEPHOTO [DBE]

4   Replacing one by one, suggestion that it's a mirage (8) ?L?U?I?N (Addendum - ILLUSION (-a+i)ILLUSION - See comments)

5   Hope oats is cooked well and becomes an ideal example (10) APOTHEOSIS*

6   Challenge imperfect undergraduate on numbers (6) IMPUGN {IMP}{UG}{N}

7   Energetic orchestra? Cynical nearly (4) RACY [T]

8   Mistake with commission (6) ERRAND {ERR}{AND}

12 Angry unfair mail, that's strange (10) UNFAMILIAR*

14 Always immature to pine, say (9) EVERGREEN {EVER}{GREEN}

16 Inside president angled with a knot (8) ENTANGLE [T]

17 Cats runs around having drink and misbehaves (4,2) ACTS UP {ACT*}{SUP} Should have been CAT and not CATS

18 Request individual? Go away (6) BEGONE {BEG}{ONE}

21 I primarily contracted lice infection leading to cold spike (6) ICICLE {I}{Co...d}{LICE*}

22 Ball placed in carpet is in wide ditch (4) MOAT {M{O}AT}

25 Record a form of dance (European) (4) TAPE {TAP}{E}

Reference List

Home = IN, Tour = LAP, Second = S, Training = PE, English = EN, Company = CO, English = E, Artist = RA, Undergraduate = UG, Numbers = N, European = E

Special, Sunday 17 Aug 2025, Moriarty

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 17, Dr. X

ACROSS

1   Most raunchy in cruise around river Seine on vacation (8) COARSEST {COA{R}{SeinE}ST}

5   Analysed acids containing phosphorus in protein shell of virus (6) CAPSID {CA{P}SID*}

10 Put down plane in river (7) DEFLATE {DE{FLAT}E}

11 Dash to get hold of spray and insecticide (7) LINDANE {LIN{AND*}E}

12 Devastation around a city in China (5) RUIAN {RUI{A}N}

13 Souvenirs and Japanese liquor found in dungeons (9) KEEPSAKES {KEEP{SAKE}S}

14 Shift in normal routine that bowler might use? (6,2,4) CHANGE OF PACE [DD]

18 Be in latrine, suffering after eating starter of mushrooms non-stop (12) INTERMINABLE {BE+IN+LATRINE}* over {Mu...s}

21 Reserved hotel, nearly new, to host party (9) HUSBANDED {H}{US{BAND}ED}

23 Watching some hockey in ground (5) EYING [T]

24 Generally, associate used laser to tackle onset of uveitis (2,1,4) AS A RULE {A}{LASER*} over {Uv...s}

25 Worry about rebellious misdeed after consuming spirit and ecstasy (7) AGONISE {A}{SIN<=} over {GO and{E}

26 Masked leader of hoodlums died around noon (6) HIDDEN {Ho...s}{DIED*}{N}

27 Familiar with the experience of tottering outside bar (4,2,2) USED TO IT {OUTSIDE+T}* 

DOWN

1   Remarkably sacred trees (6) CEDARS*

2   Fling with female in a gala (6) AFFAIR {A}{F}{FAIR}

3   Fans upset about American songstress becoming more stout (9) STAUNCHER {NU{A}TS<=}{CHER}

4   Talk ambiguously of immorality involving top director and lady in trips (5,2,7) SPEAK IN RIDDLES {S{PEAK}IN}{RID{D}{L}ES}

6   Workers union breaking relations (5) AUNTS {A{U}NTS}

7   Bolt after fire engulfs new cafe (5,3) SNACK BAR {BAR}<=>{S{N}ACK}

8   Groom desires designer's latest to become more stylish (8) DRESSIER {DESIRES}*{d...eR}

9   Fully attentive as leader analyses blunders (3,4,3,4) ALL EYES AND EARS*

15 Lie in shade and fool around (9) FALSEHOOD {SHADE+FOOL}*

16 Confusion in motorway on island with accident outside hotel (8) MISHMASH {M}{I}{S{H}MASH}

17 Reportedly irritated as idiot is spilling alcohol heartily (2,2,4) IT IS SAID {AS+IDIoT+AS}*

19 Excellent youngster, close to pro in Japanese form of self-defence (6) AIKIDO {A1}{KID}{prO}

20 Old English king, say, and queen involved in venture (6) EGBERT {EG}{BE{R}T}

22 A laceration on back of knee is dangerous (5) ACUTE {A}{CUT}{kneE}

Reference List

River = R, Dungeons = KEEPS, Hotel = H, Associate = A, Ecstasy = E, Noon = N, Bar = T, Female = F, American = A, Director = D, Lady = L, Union = U, New = N, Motorway = M, Island = I, Queen = R

No 14565, Saturday 16 August 2025, Afterdark

Rangoli by Gowri

Artwork by Prasanna

ACROSS

8 Spartan prophet touring Vatican with energy (6) SEVERE {SE{V}ER}{E}
9 In a way, I've need to collect challan first as proof (8) EVIDENCE {I'VE NEED}* around {Challan}
10 Karma is nothing; trifle? Gutted (4) FATE {FA}{TriflE}
11 Distant viewing devices made of steel carried by a policeman at Spain (10) TELESCOPES {STEEL}*{COP}{ES}

12 Announced a small subsidy (4) SAID {S}{AID}
13 Pleasure to mention people in text, first off (10) EXCITEMENT {tEX{CITE}{MEN}T} 
17 Really, if the tail's cut short on book, it will denote a word of action (4) VERB {VERy}{B}
18 Remove eaters, primarily they should be out in a heap (5) ERASE {EAtERS}*
19 Firm's time has value (4) COST {CO'S}{T}
21 Say, biologists work on insects, its characters (10) SCIENTISTS*
23 Neglect Naomi, try somewhat (4) OMIT [T]
24 Popular clues? Fuss about collection (10) SUCCESSFUL {CLUES FUSS C}*
28 Say, Jack has vehicle at the end of the road (4) CARD {CAR}{roaD}
29 Edward sweeps all around part of the houses (8) BEDROOMS {B{ED}ROOMS}
30 Move once, other way round, primarily decide to stretch (6) EXPAND {PAN}<=>{EX}+{Decide}

DOWN
1 Isolated new apes to assess (8) SEPARATE {APES}*{RATE}
2 Honest deal penned to collect billions, nothing new to be confused (10) DEPENDABLE {DEAL PENnED}* around {B}
3 Payment to community (10) SETTLEMENT [DD]
4 Narrate well, avoid introduction, begin on time (4) TELL{wELL}<=>{T}
5 Poses with appeal in ship (4) SITS {S{IT}S}
6 Raze road in the middle, make it nothing (4) ZERO [T]
7 Blind //guard (6) SCREEN [DD]
14 Refuses to talk on marine creatures (5) CLAMS [DD]

15 In their normal condition, on vessel met, assembled around hospital (10) THEMSELVES {VESSEL MET}* around {H}
16 Scientific device created crime scoop (10) MICROSCOPE*

20 Prison band is lively (8) STIRRING {STIR}{RING}
22 Auditor practices principles (6) CAUSES {CA}{USES}
25 My daughter's bond (4) CORD {COR}{D}
26 Sleet is special at present (4) SNOW {S}{NOW}
27 Swimmer's provided return to keep quiet (4) FISH {IF<}{SH}

REFERENCE LIST

Vatican=V, Energy=E, Nothing=FA(Fanny Adams), Spain=ES, Small=S, Book=B, Time=T, About=C, Edward=Ed, Once=Ex, Billions=B, (Sex)Appeal=It, Ship=SS, Hospital=H, Auditor=CA(Charted Accountant), My(!)=Cor, Special=S, Quiet=Sh.

No 14564, Friday 15 Aug 2025, Afterdark

INDEPENDENCE DAY GREETINGS

Rangoli by Gowri

Artwork by Prasanna

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

9   Flying feat of king exceptional (7) TAKEOFF {FEAT+OF+K}*

10 Arrogant petty officers escort member to America (7) POMPOUS {PO}{M}{PO}{US}

11 Nobleman accepts charged particle from inventor (7) PIONEER {P{ION}EER}

12 Princess's argument leads to conflict (7) DILEMMA {DI}{LEMMA}

13 Calm cats? Yell primarily, running around. Disaster (9) CATACLYSM {CALM+CATS+Yell}*

15 Arab found in a line reportedly gathering mustard seeds in Delhi (5) IRAQI {1}{RA{(~queue)Q}

16 Discarded cats (4-3) CAST-OFF {CATS}* [RA]

19 Neighbour's nieces running across hotel (7) CHINESE {C{H}INESE*}

20 Bordered fabric almost destroyed at the corner (5) LINED {LINEn}{d...eD}

21 Different groups bat for a bar serving food (9) GASTROPUB*

25 Seize criminal at Quebec holding rand (7) CONQUER {CON}{QUE}{R}

26 Aggressive lion and zebra's tails cut off by composer (7) BERLIOZ {LIOn+ZEBRa}*

28 An issue following trouble returns in communication (7) LIAISON {1}{SON}<=>{AIL<=}

29 Plant is liable in a commotion to store oxygen (7) LOBELIA {LIABLE*} over {O}

DOWN

1   Right away, apricot should be thrown as it is related to hereditary hypersensitivity (6) ATOPIC APrICOT*

2   Travelling to UK, outskirts of Eastbourne with husband (3,3) EKE OUT {TO+UK+Ea...nE}*

3   Practice to fish with guest essentially (4) CODE {COD}{guEst}

4   Brawl with a female following Ray (6) AFFRAY {A}{F}{F}{RAY}

5   Say, Covid was same, long all over (8) EPIDEMIC {EP{IDEM}IC}

6   Bird flies, bird's wings are clipped and cooked with a food additive (10) EMULSIFIER {EMU}{FLIES+bIRd}*

7   Co-tenant's capacity to copulate (8) ROOMMATE {ROOM}{MATE}

8   At tea, saint is in confusion (8) ASTATINE*

14 But old curs can get hurt in sudden rainstorm (10) CLOUDBURST*

16 Uninformed visit of first calling aged cousin primarily with everyone (4,4) COLD CALL {Ca...g}{OLD}{Co...n}{ALL}

17 Relative has lion with swan! Crazy (3-2-3) SON-IN-LAW {LION+SWAN}*

18 Statuette damaged in gunfire (not nuclear) (8) FIGURINE {IN+GUnFIRE}*

22 Implied to butlers to arrange right away (6) SUBTLE BUTLErS*

23 Travel across border properly (6) PRIMLY {P{RIM}LY}

24 Market faces blockade around American zone/area (6) BAZAAR {B{A}Z}{A}AR}

27 Group often found near stone (4) RUBY {gRoUp}{BY}

Reference List

King = K, Petty Officer = PO, Member = M, Princess = DI, Hotel = H, Rand = R, Right = R, Female = F, Following = F, Nuclear = N, American = A, Zone = Z, Area = A

No 14563, Thursday 14 Aug 2025, Mythical

Welcome to our new setter Mythical. Bouquets and Brickbats welcome.

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

6   Article about South American saint (7) THERESA {THE}{RE}{SA}

7   Smarten up one getting married (5) GROOM [DD]

9   Party guests appreciate luscious appetisers for starters (4) GALA Acrostic

10 Young woman I love ? Not a preacher! (10) MISSIONARY {MISS}{I}{0}{NARY}

11 Penalise a number involved in awful scene (8) SENTENCE {SEN{TEN}CE*}

13 Train Indians regularly in compound (6) TANNIN {TrAiN+iNdIaNs}

15 Model near street in Paris? That's correct (4) TRUE {T}{RUE}

17 Number three perhaps (5) ETHER*

18 Reportedly durable fabric that's passed on (4) GENE (~jean) 

19 Architects crashed, losing relay race - Darn! (6) STITCH arcHITeCTS* What's the role of 'relay'? See domments

20 Goons hit indiscriminately in gunfire (8) SHOOTING*

23 Cheat and somehow vote in new Assembly (10) CONVENTION {CON}{VOTE+IN+N}*

26 Essentially, archive shows human needs somewhere to live (4) HOME {arcHive}{shOws}{huMan}{neEds}

27 Small plant in bottle (5) SPINE {S}{PINE}

28 Fellow gave up after losing the lead and stopped (7) FIELDED {F}{yIELDED} 

DOWN

1   Director possibly met parent in office (10) DEPARTMENT {D}{MET+PARENT}*

2   Propose amendments protecting sailors (6) SEAMEN [T]

3   Girl leaving Nigerian city for a country in Asia (4) LAOS LAgOS

4   Sparkling silver pieces of paper perhaps (8) AGLITTER {AG}{LITTER}

5   Actor runs frequently, leading to foot trouble (4) CORN {aCtOr+RuNs}

6   Lying about education & skill for job (5) T?A?E ()

8   Outsider little green perhaps? (7) MARTIAN [CD]

12 Indicated people cycling forms character (5) ETHOS (+e)ETHOS(-e)

14 This plant's another thing eaten in Southern Europe (10) NIGHTSHADE {THING*}{HAD}{SE}

16 Break trip occasionally, working with son to get supplies (7) RATIONS {bReAk+TrIp}{SON*} Role of with? (Correction - {bReAk+TrIp}{ON}{S} - See comments)

17 Henna applied around last month has intensified (8) ENHANCED {HENNA*}{DEC<=}

21 Wild cats ? They're part of the pound (6) OUNCES [DD]

22 Traveller listed among cases coming up (5) NOMAD [T=]

24 Arrogant streak, you say ? (4) VAIN (~vein)

25 News or facts needed immediately lifted from sources (4) INFO Reverse Acrosic

Reference List

About = RE, Model = T, Street in Paris = RUE, New = N, Small = S, Fellow = F, Director = D, Girl = G, Son = S

No 14562, Wednesday 13 Aug 2025, KrisKross

Solution to 4D 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   Class in college translated Tagore story in the end (8) CATEGORY {C}{TAGORE*}{s..rY}

5   Losing initial momentum, batsmen playing and missing (6) ABSENT BATSmEN*

9   Very large chunk of stollen or mousse (8) ENORMOUS [T]

10 Today, simply change (6) ADJUST {AD}{JUST}

12 What a rustler may do to assess the situation (4,5) TAKE STOCK [DD]

13 To sum up, exhausted after exchange of words (2,3) IN ALL {ALL<=>IN}

14 Unfortunately, healthy food mostly rejected (4) ALAS SALAd<=

16 Bumpy ground around lake (7) NODULAR {AROUND+L}*

19 Say, a clarinet missing note wrongly (7) ARTICLE {A+CLARInET}*

21 Bouquet picked up and mailed (4) SENT (~scent)

24 Weapon with tip broken - look! (5) LANCE gLANCE

25 Juicy cryptic clue: "For starters, cashew nuts" (9) SUCCULENT {CLUE+Ca...w+NUTS}*

27 Bit of light soup, not crackers (6) PHOTON {PHO}{NOT*}

28 Pieces of paper scattered often in traditional celebrations, principally (8) CONFETTI {OFTEN+In+Tr...l+Ce...s}* Semi&lit

29 Can't stand? Do exercises for beginners - try! (6) DETEST {Do}{Ex...s}{TEST}

30 Dirty tea-set broken by that man - one sensitive to taste (8) AESTHETE {HE} in {TEA+SET}* 

DOWN

1   Does Switzerland have the ultimate in chocolates? (6) CHEATS {CH}{EAT}{c...eS}

2  Soldiers wearing uniform reversing a vehicle (6) TROIKA {KI{OR}T}<={A]

3   Group activities making everyone sweat primarily? (5) GAMES Acrostic &lit

4   Screeching on the telephone, make you and I startled (7) R?U?O?S (Addendum - RAUCOUS (~ rock us) - See comments)

6   Invalid ordered to eat red bananas (9) BEDRIDDEN {B{RED*}IDDEN}

7   After due suffering, guy is fit to be trained (8) EDUCABLE {DUE*}{CABLE}

8   Protecting old King Lear, going mad at end of play (8) TUTELARY {TUT}{LEAR*}{plaY}

11 Hide second family (4) SKIN {S}{KIN}

15 He's cruel, evil, without love, wanton (9) LECHEROUS {HES+CRUEL}* over {0}

17 Ran quickly following good hit.. Wicket lost! (8) GALLOPED {G}{wALLOPED}

18 Small function to implement, basically using tables in Excel (5,3) STAND OUT {S}{TAN}{DO}{Us..g}{Ta...s}

20 Crossing borders, stopped for rest (4) EASE cEASEd

21 Most angry, cutting charge for sugar (7) SUCROSE {SU{CROSs}E}

22 Live telecast project! (6) BEETLE {BE}{TELE*}

23 Fight in East River (6) STRIVE [T]

26 Sick fellow in army division (5) UNFIT {UN{F}IT}

Reference List

College = C, Today = AD, Lake = L, Note = N, Switzerland = CH, Soldiers = OR, Second = S, Good = G, Wicket = W, Small = S, Function = TAN, Fellow = F