No 14557, Thursday 07 Aug 2025, Gridzilla

Welcome to the new THC setter Gridzilla. Bouquets and brickbats welcome.

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

8   Facts twisted a bit? (4) DATA {A}{TAD}<=

9   Order lunch perhaps, including starter of dumplings (5) MEDAL {ME{Du...s}AL}

10 Grass is basically recreational - enjoy every drag (4) REED Acrostic

11 Part of mixed fraction having one number missing? (6) FACTOR FRACTiOn* 

12 Discovered best hotel - pricy, and private (8) ESOTERIC {bESt}{hOTEl}{pRICy}

13 They have hopes of getting peace initially, in rocky sierras (8) ASPIRERS {AS{Pe..e}IRERS*}

15 Nymphs love to look at butt of Adonis (6) OREADS {0}{READ}{a...iS}

17 Manipulation of American company by Indian state, is over (7) MASSAGE {GE}<=>{ASSAM<=}

19 Boss went out with wife and apprentice (7) STUDENT {STUD}{wENT}

22 Remove wrapping of fuse & cables to get current (6) USABLE {fUSe}{cABLEs}

24 Like canines in Manhattan need - meals mostly cooked (8) ENAMELED {NEED+MEALs}* What's the role of Manhattan? Ok, Manhattan is indicator for US Spelling

26 Bar owner is drunk all day and not active (8) LANDLADY {ALL+DAY+aND}

28 Plan of cycling team: winning competition ultimately (6) DESIGN {(+de)DESI(-de)}{w...nG}{c...oN}

30 First of all, men actually like erotic sex (4) MALE Acrostic

31 Big lake? Sounds scary (5) EERIE (~erie)

32 Report is from Sweden possibly - not Germany (4) NEWS SWEdeN*

DOWN

1   Hot stuff turning up in Lonavala (4) LAVA [T<=]

2   "Mark goes," says Spooner, "to get some baked goodies" (8) ?A?T?I?S ()

3   Fine cream whipped with a little egg (6) AMERCE {CREAM*}{Egg}

4   Marketing jingle is bad (6) (7) ADVERSE {AD}{VERSE} See comments regarding Enu

5   Remove from below? (5,3) ELBOW OUT {BELOW}* [RA]

6   Country has oil, reportedly (6) GREECE (~grease)

7   Cheese seller made Limburger sandwiches (4) DELI [T]

14 Cracks seen after reviewing bridges (5) SNAPS<=

16 What starts in discos and night clubs everywhere? (5) DANCE Acrostic Semi&lit

18 Renegades managed to deliver ecstasy and explosives (8) GRENADES ReNEGADES*

20 & 29 A robe Gwen & Doris used repeatedly (8,4) DRESSING GOWN {GWEN+DORIS}* Letter Bank

21 From work, Roy went around the city (3,4) NEW YORK [T<=]

23 Huge debt is hurting this economy, eh? (6) BUDGET {BUDGET+EH}* = {HUGE DEBT} [CA]

25 Pulled top off, getting confused (6) ADDLED pADDLED

27 Horse in fair maybe overlooked periodically (4) ARAB {fAiR+mAyBe}

29 See 20D

Reference List

Number = N, Wife = W, Active = A, Germany = DE, Marketing = AD, Ecstasy = E