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