Fhe Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 22, Sunday 21 Sep 2025, Incognito

ACROSS

8 & 12 E-tag for barging in without invitation (4,8) GATE CRASHING {ETAG}* [RA]

9   Entertain Aligarh Muslim University students at first with sweetheart (5) AMUSE {AMU}{St...s}{swEet}

10 Initially, Assam state police station gets snakes (4) ASPS Acrostic

11 Bachelor gets divine gift for monkey (6) BABOON {BA}{BOON}

12 See 8 Across

13 Engage one top performer to follow a couple of females around mid morning (8) AFFIANCE {1}{ACE}<=>{A}{FF} around {morNing}

15 Peter's urn (3,3) RUN OUT {URN}* [RA]

17 Hen can't run around and bewitch (7) ENCHANT*

19 Around one, President, gets a bit of hope for resounding victory (7) TRIUMPH {TR{1}UMP}{Hope}

22 Nearer shutter (6) CLOSER [DD]

24 Twirl fine rope and start shooting (4,4) OPEN FIRE*

26 Monetary incentive for arranging cab and shack (8) CASHBACK {CAB+SHACK}*

28 Hot goods dealers from marshy lands around church (6) FENCES {FEN{CE}S}

30 Embrace, with love, author Victor (4) HUGO {HUG}{O}

31 Europeans captured by Sudanese (5) DANES [T]

32 Long dash with setter's award (4) EMMY {EM}{MY}

DOWN

1   Kathak academy's ceremonial war dance in New Zealand (4) HAKA [T]

2   Destroy dilapidated limo shed (8) DEMOLISH*

3   Criminal adopts a new name and gets a big gun (6) CANNON {C{A}{N}{N}ON}

4   Follow and win (7) SUCCEED [DD]

5   Person mending relationship between spouses at odds with one another? (8) REPAIRER {RE-PAIRER}

6   Irishman, Chinese and Pashtun (6) PATHAN {PAT}{HAN}

7   Rotate rolling pins (4) SPIN*

14 Last part of fish is with a student (5) FINAL {FIN}{A}{L}

16 Uttar Pradesh person without issue gets part of shoe (5) UPPPER {UP}{PERson}

18 Average student leaving New York around beginning of day for French region (8) NORMANDY {NORMAl}{N{D}Y}

20 Baseless! Losing nothing and getting no monetary allocation! (8) UNFUNDED UNFoUNDED

21 Actor Anthony jumps around relatives (7) HOPKINS {HOP{KIN}S}

23 Where many fish learn? (6) SCHOOL [DD]

25 Channel fishes, to some extant, can be small (6) ELFISH [T]

27 A peculiar flowering plant (4) ARUM {A}{RUM}

29 The Spanish manuscript for trees (4) ELMS {EL}{MS}

Reference List

Female = F, Church = CE, Long dash = EM, New = N, Name = N, Student = L, Student = L, The in Spanish = EL

No 14594, Saturday 20 September 2025, Vidwan

 ACROSS
1 Most passionate young man, leading India to the place redefining ancient Indian history (7) KEELADI {KEEn}{LAD}{I}

5 One working in frenzy during Sangam times? (4,3) IRON AGE {I}{R{ON}AGE}
9 Choices of love potions, unleashing love! (7) OPTIONS {O}{PoTIONS}
10 Some blunt, ruthless tale (7) UNTRUTH [T]
11 Leaving France, beautiful bride has grand agreement for free travel between two countries (3,6) AIR BRIDGE {fAIR}{BRID{G}E}
12 Language crossing borders of China, reaching Delhi borders (5) HINDI {cHINa}{DelhI}
13 Candy dames stop traffic for school kids (8,6) LOLLIPOP LADIES {LOLLIPOP}{LADIES}

16 Teaching expert actualised into comic! (14) EDUCATIONALIST*
21 Evaluation of cost sans Public Relations glaze (5) ICING {prICING}
22 British dope at spooky, unopened restaurant (9) BRASSERIE {BR}{ASS}{eERIE}

24 Art period during daytime can be enervating (7) EVENING {ART+EVENING}*=ENERVATING [CA]
25 Tumultuous flow of pain runs for months (7) TORRENT {TOR(+R-m)ENT}
26 Happiest subject sadly for physiotherapist! (7) HISTORY {HISTORY+HAPPIEST}*=PHYSIOTHERAPIST [CA]
27 Correct work procedure heralded by Sappers (7) REWRITE {W}{RITE}<=>{RE}

DOWN
1 Mostly handle work permit, leaving ordinary work for smart aleck (4-3) KNOW-ALL {KNOb}{W}{ALLow}
2 Part of tenth rally entrance (7) ENTHRAL [T]
3 No resistance! Protection for love affair! (5) AMOUR {ArMOUR}
4 I used it on base thoroughly (6-3) INSIDE-OUT*
5 Get used to hurt after Japan's loss (5) INURE {INjURE}
6 Head actor's amazing eight-faced figure (9) OCTAHEDRA* figure or figures? See comments.

7 E-manual prepared for past female students (7) ALUMNAE*
8 Cultural and moral belief enshrining element of nativism (6) ETHNIC {ETH{Nativism}IC}
14 Setter's tossing coin into boxes! Good! (9) INCOGNITO {G} in {COIN INTO}*

15 Mind John King, a fat peer regularly going missing (4,5) LOOK AFTER {LOO}{K}{A}{FaT pEeR}
17 Democratic contenders, boycotting small time Golf Clubs (7) DRIVERS {D}{stRIVERS}

18 This middle-eastern fellow is real fanatic and independent (7) ISRAELI {IS REAL}*{I}
19 Consume right inside the auditorium (7) THEATRE {TH{EAT}{R}E}
20 Run into most resounding, sophisticated application of science (2-4) HI-TECH {HIT}{ECHo}
22 Spongy love for a floppy (5) BOGGY {B(+O-a)GGY}
23 The fix works for wretches (5) SCREW {SCREW+THE}*=WRETCHES [CA]

REFERENCE LIST

India=I, One=I, Working=On, Love=O, France=F, Grand=G, Public Relations=PR, British=BR, Runs=R, Months=M, Work=W, Sappers=RE, Ordinary=O, Resistance=R, Japan=J, Good=G, King=K, Democratic=D, Small=S, Time=T, Independent=I, Right=R.

No 14593, Friday 19 Sep 2025, Vidwan

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   Intern's commission, good going for beginning of career (6) ENCAGE EN(-g+c)CAGE

4   Hawk CA smuggling African currency (6) KWACHA* Smuggling as Anind?

10 Runs, runs free and quietly to stimulate (7) REFRESH {R}{FREE*}{SH}

11 One doing wrong, one deposed by father, one that is an impediment (7) SPANNER S(-i+pa)PANNER

12 Again setting up Hitler's basement, possibly (2-13)  RE-ESTABLISHMENT*

13 Hippocrates hunt, perhaps for Java man (15) PITHECANTHROPUS*

14 Member of a UK party, real old bat involved with crime organisation (7,8) LIBERAL DEMOCRAT {REAL+OLD+BAT+CRIME}*

18 Suddenly going to new, free ground inside protective fortification for addressing media (5,10) PRESS CONFERENCE {PRESto}{SCO{N+FREE}*NCE} 

19 Oxygen is trapped in sphere, making another form of oxygen (7) OZONISE {O}{ZON{IS}E}

20 Essay about one block and three related works (7) TRILOGY {TR{1}{LOG}Y}

21 Sham fellow, not small like royal (6) FAKING {F}{As}{KING}

22 Dumps English visitors leaving university (6) EGESTS {E}{GuESTS}

DOWN

1   Part of a jewellery, kind of rare pod (7) EARDROP*

2   Spooner's candy wire work, something to look at in drawing room (6-5,4) COFFEE-TABLE BOOK {toffee cable  to coffee table}{BOOK} I don't know if this kind of clue construction is kosher?

3   Famous Professor nailed English media first, for one the biggest economic collapses in history (5,10) GREAT DEPRESSION {GREAT}{D{E}{PRESS}{1}ON} What's the role of 'first, for'?

5   Do bring the ware and start to actively contrive sidings for rain proofing (15) WEATHERBOARDING {DO+BRING+THE+WARE+Ac...y}*

6   Endless disdain for failing to start a new America from the same generation (15) CONTEMPORANEOUS {CONTEMPt}{pER}{A}{NEO}{US}

7   Ram and Sita consumed drinks of the Gods (7) AMRITAS*

8   Power to leader of Haiti by Caribbean witchcraft and American dread (6) PHOBIA {P}{Ha..i}{OBI}{A}

9   Casualwear model managed his runs on time (1-5) T-SHIRT {T}{HIS*}{R}{T}

14 Slip talks, in impertinent manner (4,3) LIPS OFF {SLIP}* [RA]

15 Large horn without tip for pirate (6) LOOTER {L}{hOOTER}

16 Barren, cold deserts influence outcome in the end (6) EFFETE {EFFEcT}{o...mE} 

17 Attached positively to coloured garments (3-4) TIE-DYES {TIED}{DYES}

Reference List

Good = G, Runs = R, Quietly = SH, New = N, Fellow = F, Small = S, English = E, Power = P, American = A, Model = T, Time = T, Large = L, Cold = C

No 14592, Thursday 18 Sep 2025, Vidwan

Solution to 1D 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   Famous teen having very old records (7) ARCHIVE {ARCHI{V}E}

5   Cretan Princess injured in a dare (7) ARIADNE*

9   That is covering seed barely from inside the womb (2,5) IN UTERO {I{NUT}E}{fROm}

10 I stamp merrily on old, thick layer of paint (7) IMPASTO {I}{STAMP}*{O}

11 Adult, radicalised a bit (5) ULTRA [T] Semi&lit?

12 Oddly Russia is a nation (3) USA rUsSiA

13 Some malai kababs for a Siberian dog (5) LAIKA [T]

14 Lady's there! Naked! (3) HER [T]

15 Stone dealer moving around millions (7) EMERALD {E{M}ERALD*}

17 Disheartened, idealistic, close to penury and bitter (3) ICY {Id...iC}{p...rY}

18 Roger's missing stirred up fear (3) AWE AWokE

19 A squire holding an appropriate perquisite (7) APANAGE {A}{P{AN}AGE}

23 Fire shaft left ignored (3) AXE AXlE

25 Dominant problem, perhaps for mountainsides (5) ISSUE {DOMINANT+ISSUE}*=MOUNTAINSIDES [CA]

26 Calm and anger mixed! That is miracle! (3) IRE {IRE+CALM}*=MIRACLE [CA]

27 Sheeplike or cowlike, not black! (5) OVINE bOVINE

28 Destroying his ego without resistance is villainous (7) OGREISH {HIS+EGO}* over {R}

29 Office fellow replaced by right one for an opening (7) ORIFICE {O{-f+r+1}RIFICE

30 Free love - cost involved in simple joy! (7) ECSTASY {E{CoST}ASY}

31 Seaman's dancing in a group (2,5) EN MASSE* There's an extra A and an E short in the fodder

DOWN

1   Bearing of leader of Zaire boarding train - sophisticated, not ordinary, not cold (7) A?I?U?H (Addendum - AZIMUTH - {A{Za..e}IM}{cOUTH} - See comments)

2   Court sees man rue, shifts to corrective actions (15) COUNTERMEASURES*

3   Repeat freely, repeat it, without pressure (7) ITERATE {REpEAT+IT}*

4   Love lying around with turtles occasionally, on a kind of curve (7) EVOLUTE {LOVE<=}{tUrTlEs}

5   Jehangir skinned, cut founder of Mughal dynasty for a big Chinese corporate (3,4) ALI BABA {sALIm}{BABAr} Founder was BABUR and not BABAR

6   Kind of ideal cops, lawmaker ran through (7) IMPALED {I{MP}ALED*}

7   Differences arising due to Princess' correspondences (15) DISSIMILARITIES {DIS}{SIMILARITIES}

8   My American ego hurts over vote for inter-community marriage (7) EXOGAMY {MY+A+EGO}* over {X} Hurts as Anind?

16 Managed unlimited endowment (3) RAN gRANt

18 Fat head of anarchists is surprisingly poised (7) ADIPOSE {An...s}{POISED*}

19 Bit of a dreamer, Icarus found a land across the pond (7) AMERICA [T]

20 A priest is devout, rejects love in foolish manner (7) APISHLY {A}{P}{IS}{HoLY}

21 Plant name, exotic one (7) ANEMONE {NAME}*{ONE}

22 It’s more about sensuality (7) EROTISM*

24 Interpreter of religious text crosses borders, hexed to come to England (7) EXEGETE {hEXEd}{GET}{E}

Reference List

Very = V, Old = O, Millions = M, Roger = OK, Left = L, Black = B, Resistance = R, Fellow = F, Right = R, Cold = C, Pressure = P, Lawmaker = MP, Princess' = DI'S, Priest = P, England = E

No 14591, Wednesday 17 Sep 2025, Vidwan

Solution to 28A 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   Sex and ecstasy inhibited by many with refined manner (8) POLITELY {POL{IT}{E}LY} Polly/Many?

9   Part for a clever seer (6) ORACLE [T]

10 British ground is hard and flatter (8) BLANDISH {B}{LAND}{IS}{H}

11 Sex with mostly false name, at a Mediterranean state (6) ITALIA {IT}{ALIAs} Italy in Italian

12 On the inside, cover some even numbered pages of a book (5) VERSO [T]

14 Gloomy dog, died for Hungary (5) DUSKY (-h+d)DUSKY

16 Occasionally torture is legal! (4) TRUE ToRtUrE

18 European wheat stocked by Salem merchants (5) EMMER [T]

19 Small time in year (4) TINY {T}{IN}{Y}

20 Heathen metal in pot (5) PAGAN {P{AG}AN}

21 Paved area that is open, basically a porch (5) PATIO Acrostic

24 Pizarro yomped inside a dried water channel (6) ARROYO [T]

25 Dominance of man for example is regressive mentality basically, simply lacks principle of legitimacy (8) HEGEMONY {HE}{EG<=}{Me...y}{ONlY}

27 Stern and trustworthy stirring up hornet's nest (6) HONEST {HONEST+STERN} = {HORNETS NEST} [CA]

28 No expert disregards a count (8) N?B?E?A? (Addendum - NOBLEMAN {NO}{aBLEMAN} - See comments) Never heard of 'ableman'!!

DOWN

1   Street poet has composed "Love U" (9) BOULEVARD {B{LOVE+U}*ARD}

2   Champion's work secret (6) WINNER {W}{INNER}

3   Hard missing Indian city's food shop for meat (4) DELI DELhI

4   Someone like Kunal Kamra to undress for a newspaper feature (5,5) COMIC STRIP {COMIC}{STRIP}

5   Players hosting match, left passes for person facilitating the event (8) CATALYST {CA{TAlLY}ST}

6   Right statement about poor for the audience (5) CLAIM {C}{(~lame)LAIM}

8   Withholding a yes to no-frills audio, guys regularly ignored Guthrie and new violinist (6,7) YEHUDI MENUHIN  {YEaH}{aUDIo}{MEN}{gUtHrIe}{N}

13 Six balls, good line and the most unexpected development! (10) OVERGROWTH {OVER}{G}{ROW}{THe}Most or Mostly?

15 Trumped-up manic is on! I can't sleep! (9) INSOMNIAC*

17 Old flame, more penurious, left for love for a traveller (8) EXPLORER {EX}{P(-o+l)LORER}

22 Instructions about storing black wood (6) TIMBER {TIM{B}ER<=}

23 Groan about gas! (5) ARGON*

26 Idlest dig can be digestible (4) GIBE diGEstIBle [CA]

Reference List

Sex = IT, Ecstasy = E, British = B, Hard = H, Died = D, Hungary = H, Time = T, Year = Y, Work = W, Left = L, About = C, New = N, Good = G, Old = EX, Black = B

No 14590, Tuesday 16 Sep 2025, Crescent

Solution to 16D 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   List cheat rips, throws, jumps and runs? (9) ATHLETICS*

9   Force breaking set lifting action (4) LOFT {LO{F}T}

10 Be blatant and take French leave? (2,7,6) GO WITHOUT SAYING [DD]

12 A case of regulation in code possibly? (9) ORDINANCE {A+Re...oN+IN+CODE}* &lit

13 Well-padded robe seamstress hems (5) OBESE [T]

14 Advance of one million initially paid, balance to follow (7) IMPREST {1}{M}{Paid}{REST}

17 Last month's boring old chestnut for example? (7) EXTREME {EX}{TRE{M}E}

19 Back to one's tongue (5) HINDI {HIND}{1}

21 Topping choice by pope in liberal circles (9) PEPPERONI {PER} in {POPE+IN}* 

24 Minor error margin, frequently enough, set tight limits (4,2,3,6) SLIP OF THE TONGUE {LIP}{OFT} in {ENOUGH+SET}*

25 Present judge picked up (4) HERE (~hear)

26 Unlikely it is clear? Very likely (9) REALISTIC* 

DOWN

1   Big shot involved with grant caught red-handed (4,2,6) BANG TO RIGHTS {BIG+SHOT+GRANT}*

2   Nervous man, married, captivated by prize (6,2) CHEWED UP {C{HE}{WED}UP}

3   Gas masks with time becoming standard unit for force (6) NEWTON {NE{W}{T}ON}

4   Renounce one jamming Democratic broadcast (6) DISOWN {D}{1}{SOWN}

5   Wonder about holding pose so to speak (2,2,4) AS IT WERE {AWE}{RE} over {SIT}

6   Empty box catches attention (5,3) CLEAR OUT {CL{EAR}OUT}

7   Twin murder in State Department (6) OFFICE {OFF}{ICE}

11 Number that is ringing in emergency rousing operator in the background (4,8) GREY EMINENCE {N+IE+EMERGENCY}* (Correction - {I{N}E}  in {EMERGENCY}* - See comments)

15 Musical passages reflecting taste in English lyrics (8) EPISODES {SIP<=} in {E}{ODES}

16 Track information sources delivering a history checked by banks (8) T?P?T?R? 

18 Stretch scandal involving Musk? (8) ELONGATE {{ELON}{GATE}

20 New upset spiked (6) NAILED {N}{AILED}

22 Fork out ahead? Jimmy throttles up to take off (6) PREPAY {PR{APE<=}Y}

23 Parthenos island takes part in proposed Greek Cypriot union (6) ENOSIS [T] Semi&lit

Reference List

Force = F, Million = M, Moth = M, Old = EX, With = W, Time = T, Democratic = D, About = RE, Number = N, English = E, New = N, Take off = APE

No 14589, Monday 15 Sep 2025, KrisKross

HAPPY ENGINEERS DAY

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   Fly from Basra via Teheran (6) AVIATE [T]

4   Spooner says boy, drunk, is an unsporting person (3,5) BAD LOSER (~lad boozer}

10 She has no hope in new diets having energy to cut obesity (9) DEFEATIST {DE{F{E}AT}IST*}

11 Surrealist about to paint India's epic (5) ILIAD {DA{I}LI<=}

12 Heart patient's endless worry about nursing help after retirement (7) CARDIAC {CARe} and {C}{AID}<=  (Correction {CARe}{C} over {AID}<= - See comments)

13 Be careful in European park when cycling (2,5) EN GARDE {E}{(+n)NGARDE(-n)}

14 Everyone trusts this, oddly (5) TUTTI {TrUsTs+ThIs}

15 Leave den in retreat centrally sited in West Asian country (8) EVACUATE {CAVE<=}{UA{siTed}E}

18 Farm building - one housing large creature (8) BARNACLE {BARN}{AC{L}E}

20 Attractive person from Portugal quitting prize match (5) CUTIE {CUp}{TIE}

23 Runs a bath to hide worry (7) PERTURB {PER}{TU{R}B}

25 Prosecute artist assuming a doctor's name (7) ARRAIGN {A}{R{RA}IG}{N}

26 Orange mineral outside church (5) OCHRE {O{CH}RE}

27 Bankers arranged 50% loan for resident of Omaha (9) NEBRASKAN {BANKERS*}{loAN}

28 Academy's contrarian leader expelled - it's fitting (8) APPOSITE {A}{oPPOSITE}

29 Makes one group in University to withdraw (6) UNITES {SET}{IN}{U}<=

DOWN

1   Daring one killed in luxury car near a metropolis (8) AUDACITY {AUDi}{A}{CITY}

2   Dead tissue beginning to rot inside? Really? (7) INFARCT {Rot} in {IN FACT}

3   It's customary to be tense, avoiding a treatment for cancer (9) TRADITION {T}{RADIaTION}

5   Macbeth says: "A peer's heart changes according to the circumstances" (2,3,4,3,2) AS THE CASE MAY BE {MACBETH+SAYS+A+pEEr}*

6   Dishonest agent missed giving a response (5) LYING repLYING

7   Vegetable again planted in border (7) SKIRRET {SKIR{RE}T}

8   Milk producer following essentially "Dairies guide" (6) RUDDER {UDDER}<=>{daiRies}

9   Place to keep cutlery for informal advisors (7,7) KITCHEN CABINET [DD]

16 Centaur with wings of iron flying up in the air (9) UNCERTAIN {CENTAUR+IroN}*

17 Stall workers carrying national flags (8) ?E?N?N?S (Addendum - PENNANTS {PEN}{ANTS} over {N} - See comments)

19 Shows cool form of transport (7) AIRSHIP {AIRS}{HIP}

21 Sign in gift: "Not a toy!" (7) TRINKET {TR{INK}EaT}

22 An exercise covering half of nose leads to a breathing problem (6) APNOEA {A}{P{NOse}E}{A}

24 Customers and escorts leaving hotel (5) USERS UShERS

Reference List

Energy = E, India = I, About = C, European = E, Large = L, Runs = R, Artist = RA, Name = N, Church = CH, Academy = A, University = U, Tense = T, Again = RE, National = N, Cool = HIP, Exercise = PE, Hotel = H

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 21, Sunday 14 Sep 2025, Dr. X

ACROSS

1   Guy gets extremely sick after knocking back drink in Russian city (8) MURMANSK {MAN}{SicK}<=>{RUM<=}

5   Boy and girl start to explore a city in Tanzania (6) SONGEA {SON}{G}{Ex...e}{A}

10 Help son with renovation of tavern (7) SERVANT {S}{TAVERN*}

11 Criticise a member beginning to blunder in final (7) LAMBAST {L{A}{M}{Bl...r}AST}

12 General holding long gun (5) RIFLE {RIF{L}E}

13 Worthless criminal turned to tackle a judge (2-7) NO-ACCOUNT {C{A}ON<=}{COUNT}

14 Bored couple drinking gin finally relaxed (12) UNINTERESTED {UNI{giN}TE}{RESTED}

18 Danger of UFOs? Surprisingly unprepared (3,4,5) OFF ONES GUARD*

21 On second thought, article on angina's incorrect (4,5) THEN AGAIN {THE}{ANGINA*}

23 Worm behind large shelf (5) LEDGE {EDGE}<=>{L}

24 Enthralled by guy at premiere, very muscular (7) GRIPPED {Guy}{RIPPED}

25 Stifled by diva in estate, most arrogant (7) VAINEST [T]

26 Delayed by boy picking up breakfast food in retreat (6) LAGGED {LA{EGG<=}D}

27 English seaside resort is close to pub? Absolutely (8) BRIGHTON {puB}{RIGHT ON}

DOWN

1   Blunder inviting extremely rude, revolting cheapskates (6) MISERS {MIS{RudE<=}S}

2   Make less dense starter of aloo in new fryer (6) RAREFY {R{Aloo}REFY*}

3   Greek king's soon having fun with maiden (9) AGAMEMNON {A{GAME}{M}NON}

4   Fail to applaud? Take no action (3,2,4,5) SIT ON ONES HANDS [DD]

6   Immense chapter covered is relating to the sense of smell (5) OSMIC {cOSMIC}

7   Fellow's worried after popping a drug (8) GRADUATE {ATE}<={A+DRUG}*

8   Faculty is feeling a little pressed for time (8) APTITUDE {A(+p-t)PTITUDE}

9   Novel enraptures! Love to continue reading (6,4,4) PLEASE TURN OVER*

15 Entering awfully long line outside entrance to racecourse (9) ENROLLING {LONG+LINE}* over {Ra...e}

16 Wine with posh girl in European country (8) PORTUGAL {PORT}{U}{GAL}

17 Suggesting to kill group smuggling ecstasy (8) OFFERING {OFF}{E}{RING}

19 Approach a crater over mouth of volcano (6) ADVENT {A}{D{Vo...o}ENT}

20 Groom had a meal after end of function (6) NEATEN {EATEN}<=>{f...oN}

22 Plenty of maple nuts (5) AMPLE*

Reference List

Girl = G, Son = S, Member = M, Long = L, Large = L, Maiden = M, Chapter = C, Time = T, Posh = U, Ecstasy = E

No 14588, Saturday 13 September 2025, Incognito

 ACROSS
8 Combat dead in part of hospital (4) WARD {WAR}{D}
9 In the beginning, organise distillates using our smell (5) ODOUR {Organise}{Distillates}{OUR}
10 Eve's mate evicting Basil from Islamabad in a tizzy (4) ADAM {islaMAbAD}*
11 Pokes around, covering Joule's city (6) SKOPJE {POKES}* around {J}

12 A cold churchman? That's right! (8) ACCURATE {A}{C}{CURATE}
13 10 cover renovated hotel in long winded TV show to raise money (8) TELETHON {TEN} around {HOTEL}*
15 Teresa travels for festival (6) EASTER*
17 Energy in concentrated beams of light spells out letters (7) LEASERS {L{E}ASERS}
19 Support European husband or wife (7) ESPOUSE {E}{SPOUSE}
22 A couple of extras see you (3-3) BYE-BYE {BYE}{BYE}
24 Admits on board, "Planes crashed after long dash" (8) EMPANELS {PLANES}*<=>{EM}
26 Underground take-away (8) SUBTRACT {SUB}{TRACT} underground to be split and read as under ground
28 Went ahead, carrying a military policeman, and walked with disability (6) LIMPED {L{I}{MP}ED}
30 Girl with energy produces strong wind (4) GALE {GAL}{E}
31 Keys in on keyboard,// "Sorts" (5) TYPES [DD]
32 Teen rejects eligibility exam in India (4) NEET<

DOWN
1 Between beginning of Jan., and end of Dec., a king gives a card (4) JACK {Jan}{A}{deC}{K}
2 Padre sat awkwardly, connecting devices (8) ADAPTERS*
3 Mary's husband and Juliet dashed hopes (6) JOSEPH {J}{HOPES}*
4 Drug produced by boss and murderer has energy (7) COCAINE {CO}{CAIN}{E}
5 Goes for revenue (8) PROCEEDS [DD]
6 Crazy gunners start shooting in Chennai of yore (6) MADRAS {MAD}{RA}{Shooting}
7 Require pale model (4) WANT {WAN}{T}
14 European men return Yankee's foe (5) ENEMY {E}{MEN<}{Y}
16 Stand in support of painter? (5) EASEL [CD]
18 Once again performs at Screen relaunch (8) REENACTS*
20 Nurse hugged by matron may give a trinket (8) ORNAMENT {EN} in {MATRON}*
21 Communist record for bureaucratic rigmarole (3,4) RED TAPE {RED}{TAPE}
23 Nourishing food found in halibut territory (6) BUTTER [T]

25 It may be French or North European (6) POLISH [DD]
27 State: "University rejected headwear" (4) UTAH {U}{HAT<}
29 First lady gets new flat (4) EVEN {EVE}{N}

REFERENCE LIST

Dead=D, Joule=J, Cold=C, Energy=E, European=E, Military Policeman=MP, King=K, Juliet=J, Gunners=RA(Royal Artillery), Model=T, Yankee=Y, Nurse=EN(Enrolled Nurse), University=U, New=N 

No 14587, Friday 12 Sep 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

8 & 13 What Uri Geller supposedly did? Snoop? (4,5) BEND SPOON {SPOON}* [RA]

9   Agreement to marry and fight? (10) ENGAGEMENT [DD}

10 Quit right before director leaves plan (6) RESIGN {R}{dESIGN}

11 US island makes ancient clocks (8) SUNDIALS*

12 They are useful when you want to make a drink on the rocks e.g., tonic cocktail with a bit of soda (3,5) ICE TONGS {EG+TONIC}*{Soda}

14 Tree-lined road has a place for holding meeting (6) AVENUE {A}{VENUE}

16 Ran special edition (4) SPED {SP}{ED}

17 Implements used to make stool (5) TOOLS*

18 Park in London for Dr. Jekyll's alter ego (4) HYDE [DD]

19 Cold drink consumed by police team? (3,3) ICE TEA [T]

21 Boy in Berlin manufactured small cutting tools (8) NIBBLERS {B| in {BERLIN}*{S}

23 It contains public representative on undulating dune! It's fresh! (8) IMPUDENT {I{MP}{DUNE*}T}

26 Permits Greek insects (6) GRANTS {GR}{ANTS}

27 French author follows Medusa, for example, to get cheese (10) GORGONZOLA {ZOLA}<=>{GORGON}

28 Only 7 returned (4) LONE<= 

DOWN

1   Funnily, I select cop for kind of sight a sniper probably needs (10) TELESCOPIC* 

2   Conceded Matt died horribly (8) ADMITTED* 

3   Noel composition about new name for one of The Beatles (6) LENNON {LE{N}{N}ON*}

4   Silly sage gets old (4) AGES*

5   Some Africans and Angus danced (8) UGANDANS*

6   Prepare rum pie for person watching cricket match near the crease (6) UMPIRE* 

7   Intermediate Elon manufactured (4) ENOL* 

13 See 8 Across (5)

15 Contorted nude Romeo on easel, for example. Get it? (10) UNDERSTAND {NUDE*}{R}{STAND}

17 Mistakenly insert ad for goods taken in exchange as part payment for goods sold (5-3) TRADE-INS* 

18 Large buildings housing aged gets old pieces of luggage (8) HOLDALLS {H{OLD}ALLS}

20 Model wrongly urged to walk with slow and heavy steps (6) TRUDGE {T}{URGED*}

22 Drinks counter stores breakfast food for panhandler (6) BEGGAR {B{EGG}AR}

24 Women dancing without pole gets cat-call (4) MEOW WOMEn*

25 Fifth oracle's god (4) THOR [T]

Reference List

Right = R, Director = D, Special = SP, Edition = ED, Boy = B, Small = S, Public representative = MP, Greek = GR, New = N, Name = N, Romeo = R, Model = T, Pole = N 

No 14586, Thursday 11 Sep 2025, Incognito

Solution to 1D 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   Mimicry artist in diapers (4) APER [T]

9   Smell some blood ourselves (5) ODOUR [T]

10 Small island? Fabricated lies! (4) ISLE* 

11 Test tutor wandering around university terminus (3,3) TRY OUT {TR{u...tY}OUT*}

12 Mythical creatures have love for cavalrymen (8) DRAGOONS {DRAG{O}ONS}

13 French leader's Spanish exclamation after small snooze on first of October and November (8) NAPOLEON {OLE}<=>{NAP} and {Oc...r}{No...r}

15 & 17 Actor protects river near of end of bridge initially (6,7) BROOKE SHIELDS {SHIELDS}<=>{BROOK}{b...gE}

17 See 15 Across

19 Boredom may be ridiculous in this place (7) BEDROOM*

22 Inventor's horrible noise around commencement of dinner (6) EDISON {E{Di...r}ISON*}

24 A small volume it spread around lair results in mishap (8) ACCIDENT {A}{CC}{I{DEN}T}

26 Its milk may help you go... (8) MAGNESIA [CD]

28 Reply, "American news is incorrect, right?" (6) ANSWER {A}{NEWS*}{R}

30 Prison agitation (4) STIR [DD]

31 Take away weapons from peacekeeper having a registered musket initially (5) UNARM {UN}{A}{R}{Mu...t}

32 Bone bits missing in Istanbul crash (4) ULNA {istANbUL}*

DOWN

1   Yes, I hear 3 consecutive letters carried on Roman standards (1,1,1,1) ?P?R (Addendum - S P Q R - {(~yes)S){P}{Q}{R} - See comments) 

2   Crees too manufactured coal tar product (8) CREOSOTE*

3   At first, greatest of all times gets East European beard (6) GOATEE {Gr...t}{Of}{All}{Ti..s}{E}{E}

4   Having no daughters, taking gin cocktail for a kind of acquaintance (7) NODDING {NO}{D}{D}{GIN*}

5   Wrongly blame rep for foreword (8) PREAMBLE* 

6   Lennon's wife follows Kipling character to get oriental dress (6) KIMONO {ONO}<=>{KIM}

7   Dash and change lane (4) ELAN*

14 Insect found in photograph identified (5) APHID [T]

16 Recognised king at present, no? (5) KNOWN {K}{NOW}{N}

18 Arranging raid on US for producing extinct reptile (8) DINOSAUR*

20 Dries leaves on a horse, perhaps (5,3) RIDES OUT [RA]

21 California's legendary king at last gives up a mobile home (7) CARAVAN {CA}{RAVANa}

23 Guard from southern gate designated for going in (6) SENTRY {S}{ENTRY}

25 Alleges setter is surrounded by many shellfish (6) CLAIMS {CLA{I}MS}

27 Drink sourced from Samastipur (4) ASTI [T] 

29 Mountain having alien name setter ignored (4) ETNA {ET}{NAme}

Reference List

Small volume = CC, American = A, Right = R, East = E, European = E, Daughter = D, King = K, No = N, Southern = S, Alien = ET