No 14674, Thursday 25 Dec 2025, KrisKross

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 13A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Allow champion to drink cold port (6) ACCEPT {AC{C}E}{PT}

4   Prayer that is chanted in drama's beginning and ending recurrently (5,3) AGNUS DEI {IE}{Dra{SUNG}mA}<=

10 Road is bad - lover happily carries you at last (9) BOULEVARD {BAD+LOVER}* over {yoU}

11 Point in both directions (5) LEVEL <=>

12 Gentleman rejected fish croquette (7) RISSOLE {SIR<=}{SOLE}

13 Dropping resistance and current certainly changes time between stimulus and response (7) L?T?N?Y (Addendum LATENCY CErTAiNLY* - See comments)

14 Passage setter will shortly read aloud (5) AISLE {~i'll)

15 Close to D-day, heart is shaking in panic (8) HYSTERIA {d.aY+HEART+IS}*

18 Saint and Emperor hiding together (2,6) IN TANDEM [T]

20 Cycle catches one moving slowly (5) SNAIL (+s)SNAIL(-s)

23 Clue's oddly hard - "Elevated rocks" (7) LURCHES {CLUES+HaRd}*

25 Principal left student in tears sadly (7) STELLAR {L}{L} in TEARS}*

26 Indian state leader leaves for time in prison (5) TIHAR (-b+t)TIHAR

27 Orphan child dirtying clothes and hiding face (9) FOUNDLING {FOU{aND}LING}

28 Kids essentially engrossed in "Sholay", relaxing in free time (8) HOLIDAYS {kIDs} in }SHOLAY}*

29 Check using a couple of rooks after removing bishop - excellent! (6) ARREST {A}{RR}{bEST}

DOWN

1   Living in trees, boa snakes choking raccoon's head - true! (8) ARBOREAL {A{Ra...s}BO*}{REAL}

2   After college, feels bad about one's pleasure trips (7) CRUISES {C}{RU{1'S}ES}

3   "Mobile phone with reduced list of options?" - one wonders (9) PHENOMENA {PHONE}*{MENu}{A}

5   Expression of surprise as new gym doubles loss (3,5,2,4) GOD BLESS MY SOUL*

6   Dark section without trace of light (5) UNLIT {UN{Li..t}IT}

7   Italian on vacation, about to go through Michelangelo's unfinished masterpiece - he was a genius (2,5) DA VINCI {It...aN}{C} in {DAVId}

8   Fills batting positions (6) INLAYS {IN}{LAYS}

9   What a bad vacuum cleaner might do? Work energetically! (4,3,4,3) MAKE THE DUST FLY [C&DD]

16 Cockney most comfortable with nurse (4-5) EAST-ENDER {EASe}{TENDER}

17 Get down holding hands, okay? (3,5) ALL RIGHT {AL{L}{R}IGHT}

19 Coppers sped back capturing loch's last aquatic mammal (7) NARWHAL {LAW}{RAN}<= over {locH}

21 Unsurpassed, amazing Tamil language initially ahead of English (3-4) ALL-TIME {TAMIL+La...e}*{E}

22 Seize eggs (6) CLUTCH [DD]

24 Some adore hymns about Biblical king (5) HEROD [T<=]

Reference List

Cold = C, Port = PT, Resistance = R, Current = I, Left = L, Student = L, Time = T, Rook = R, Bishop = B, College = C, About = C, Batting = IN, Hands = L,R, English = E

No 14673, Wednesday 24 Dec 2025, Incognito

Solution to 25D A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   It can prevent you from firing a scatty chef at sea (6,5) SAFETY CATCH*

9 & 12 What Adam and Eve do to kick up a fuss? (5,4) RAISE CAIN [DD]

10 People getting net profits? (9) FISHERMEN [CD]

11 Where one may see see-saw and slide? (10) PLAYGROUND [CD]

12 See 9

13 Royal Academician with sports equipment in city (5) RABAT {RA}{BAT}

15 I defame insular person (8) ISLANDER {I}{SLANDER}

17 Wrongly fire European after 10 in largest Canary Island (8) TENERIFE {FIRE+E}*<=>{TEN}

19 Daily exercise in ancient kingdom (5) LYDIA*

22 See a fellow producing a chunk of bread (4) LOAF {LO}{A}{F}

23 Damaged by floating seaplane (6,4) FLYING BOAT*

26 Popping the question, "In favour of sitting for a portrait?" (9) PROPOSING {PRO}{POSING}

27 One who might be happy to find oneself in a cast (5) ACTOR [CD]

28 Female staring excitedly after commencement of night shows Venus, perhaps (7,4) EVENING STAR {EVE} and {STARING}<=>{Ni..t}

DOWN

1   Star from small picture in South Africa (5) SPICA {S{PIC}A}

2   Cargo ship's fighter is bewildered in front of queen (9) FREIGHTER {FIGHTER}*{ER}

3   Often confused about molar latent heat to produce PTFE (6) TEFLON {TEF{L}ON*}

4   Vice in California at large gambling venues (7) CASINOS {SIN} in {CA}{OS}

5   Those people from Perth emporium (4) THEM [T]

6   What the clumsy butcher sometimes was? (3-6) HAM-HANDED [CD]

7   Cloth dealer's daughter runs around simian (6) DRAPER {D}{R}{APE}{R}

8   China nervous? To some extent, that's more silly (6) INANER [T]

14 A new girl appears in torn robe in city (9) BANGALORE {A}{N}{GAL} in {ROBE}*

16 Loyalist soldier following legal arrangement at 1 (9) ALLEGIANT {ANT}<=>{LEGAL}*{1}

17 Erroneously list up flowers (6) TULIPS*

18 Film director dropped in Italy in the beginning (7) FELLINI {FELL}{IN}{It..y}

20 Dress a couple of models with anger (6) ATTIRE {A}{TT}{IRE}

21 Formerly independent zitherist initially gets live performance. Turns out to be a damp squib (6) FIZGIG {Fo...y}{In...t}{Zi...t}{GIG}

24 Animal from Rotterdam (5) OTTER [HIPS]

25 Spy landing place (4) ?O?E (Addendum - MOLE [DD] - See comments)

Reference List

Royal Academician = RA, European = E, Fellow = F, Queen = ER, Large = OS, Daughter = D, Run = R, New = N, Model = T

No 14672, Tuesday 23 Dec 2025, Incognito

Solution to 12A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Travel permit is possessed by Virginia (4) VISA {V{IS}A} 

9   Boy with disability of leg produced airship (5) BLIMP {B}{LIMP}

10 Club held by senorita on return (4) IRON [T<=]

11 Church primate and student in small place of prayer (6) CHAPEL {CH}{APE}{L}

12 Taking care of food fish (8) T?C?L?N?  (Addendum - TACKLING {TACK}{LING} - See comments)

13 Start paying former European currency for stamp on mail (8) POSTMARK {Pa...g}{OST}{MARK}

15 Optical illusion arising from processing image around end of summer (6) MIRAGE {MI{s...eR}AGE*}

17 Sheds a son let by mistake (4-3) LEAN-TOS*

19 Liar not confused... is being prosecuted (2,5) ON TRIAL*

22 Problems from sons and daughters, for example (6) ISSUES [DD]

24 What a darner can do to improve relationships? (4,4) MEND TIES [DD]

26 Criminal lawman and magician (8) CONJUROR {CON}{JUROR}

28 Saint surrounded by snakes brags (6) BOASTS {BOA{ST}S}

30 Clues "Bonus payments" (4) TIPS [DD]

31 In absence of haste, sneak thief produces weapon (5) KNIFE {sNeaK+thIEF}*

32 Sailors and co-stars giving up cabbage (4) TARS cosTARS

DOWN

1   Desire wife's hot (4) WISH {W}{IS}{H}

2   President's following god and small Russian monk (8) RASPUTIN {PUTIN}<=>{RA}{S}

3   Lincoln takes some liability for flowering plant (6) ABELIA {ABE}{LIAb...y}

4   See 16 Down 

5   Astronaut's name is wrongly written... throw caps first (8) SPACEMAN {NAME}*<=>{CAPS}*

6   German leader may be lithe, right? (6) HITLER {LITHE+R}*

7   Girl with personal dress (4) GOWN {G}{OWN}

14 Follows orders from old Ottoman governor and head of state (5) OBEYS {O}{BEY}{St..e}

16 & 4 Serious error... like burying someone alive! (5,7) GRAVE MISTAKE [DD]

18 What the batsman was when he refused to bat? (2,6) ON STRIKE [DD] 

20 Takes back on pieces of land (8) RETRACTS {RE}{TRACTS}

21 Implicate male in boiler explosion (7) EMBROIL {E{M}BROIL*}

23 United Nations only? Not fair! (6) UNJUST {UN}{JUST}

25 Caught retired dean hugging a couple of boys (6) NABBED {DE{BB}AN<=}

27 Romanov ideally shelters poet (4) OVID [T]

29 Biting pastry (4) TART [DD]

Reference List

Boy = B, Church = CH, Student = L, Saint = ST, Cabbage = COS, Wife = W, Hot = H, Small = S, Right = R, Girl = G, Old = O, On = RE, Male = M, Boy = B

No 14671, Monday 22 Dec 2025, Incognito

Solution to 10A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

7   Cry at sea (4) AHOY [CD]

8   Explain, "It's intricate" (9) ELABORATE [DD]

10 Foreigners having right in Assam (6) ?L?E?S (Addendum - ALIENS {A{LIEN}S} - See comments)

11 New iPod lost in MIT centre (8) MIDPOINT {MI{N+IPOD}*T}

12 Go back and sketch (8) WITHDRAW {WITH}{DRAW}

14 Reveal evil changes by United Nations (6) UNVEIL {EVIL}*<=>{UN}

16 Poster about meandering river came (7) ARRIVED {A{RIVER}*D}

18 Insects behind tea-cup (7) CHALICE {LICE}<=>{CHA}

21 Saint, with tears, removes clothes (6) STRIPS {ST}{RIPS}

23 Filming a sort of star (8) SHOOTING [DD]

25 Mother takes vehicle on island to get some pasta (8) MACARONI {MA}{CAR}{ON}{I}

27 Small stones starting to litter behind burial site (6) GRAVEL {Li...r}<=>{GRAVE}

29 Clearly inform: "Place" with this type of clue (3,6) PUT ACROSS {PUT}{ACROSS}

30 Suspend in Changanassery (4) HANG [T] What a coincidence. I am blogging on the train and it is just crossing Changanaserry

DOWN 

1   Colder hill has rice transplanted around it (8) CHILLIER {HILL} in {RICE}*

2   Park in London for literary doctor (4) HYDE [DD]

3   I'm leaving Emirates to make promotional trailer (6) TEASER EmiRATES*

4   Why moa dances on small ricks of dried grass? (7) HAYMOWS {WHY+MOA}*{S}

5   Abe leaving shoulder bag when travelling for migration with motive of mining precious metal (4,4) GOLD RUSH {SHOULDeR+baG}*

6   Mexican food available in Delta, Colorado (4) TACO [T]

9   What nine playing around university experienced? (5) ENNUI {ENN{U}I*}

13 Model leaving Tahiti... making for Caribbean country (5) HAITI tAHITI*

15 Virginia permitted manservant (5) VALET {VA}{LET}

17 Displace cones at northern church lodge (8) ENSCONCE {CONES}*{N}{CE}

19 Pertains to business firms (8) CONCERNS [DD]

20 Actor Justin overacting partially (7) USTINOV [T]

22 Vagrant's tense on sloping road (5) TRAMP {T}{RAMP}

24 Endlessly more gas producing intense pleasure? (6) ORGASM {MORe+GAS}*

26 Wager in Canterbury (4) ANTE [T]

28 To some extent, brash yachter is pale (4) ASHY [T]

Reference List

Saint = ST, Small = S, University = U, Model = T, Northern = N, Church = CE,  Tense = T

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 35, Sunday 21 Dec 2025, Incognito

ACROSS

8   Elevated part of Philly (4) HILL [T]

9   Cold rodent starting to explore box (5) CRATE {C}{RAT}{Ex...e}

10 City in almanac reference (4) ACRE [T]

11 A public representative follows Supreme Court instruction initially to produce seafood preparation (6) SCAMPI {A}{MP}<=> {SC} a {In...n}

12 Bait chum prepared can be somewhat excessive (1,3,4) A BIT MUCH*

13 Odd to include part of lever and choke (8) STRANGLE {STRANG{Le..r}E}

15 Very good employee in the bottling department (6) CORKER [DD}

17 Old question for naturist (7) EXPOSER {EX}{POSER}

19 Drink with actor's tutor (7) TEACHER {TEA}{CHER}

22 Fly flying tests at beginning of examination (6) TSETSE {TESTS*}{Ex...n}

24 Essentially firm attire may irk (8) IRRITATE {fIRm}{ATTIRE*}

26 Rat spreading ale around salver (8) BETRAYER {BE{TRAY}ER}

28 Doves flying around setter in reels (6) VIDEOS {V{I}DEOS*}

30 Therefore, District Attorney gets a drink (4) SODA {SO}{DA}

31 Capital captured by Sam Manekshaw? (5) AMMAN [T]

32 Raise from 51 feet (4) LIFT {LI}{FT}

DOWN

1   Metal from Zulu incorporated (4) ZINC {Z}{INC}

2   Graphite sphere placed behind fruit container (8) PLUMBAGO {O}<=>{PLUM}{BAG}

3   Pretending giant is dancing around college (6) ACTING {A{C}TING*}

4   Bear and cat dance in show (7) CABARET {BEAR+CAT}*

5   Medico is confused about pedestrian (8) MEDIOCRE {MEDICO*}{RE}

6   Ruler's Maruti is driven around (6) TAIMUR*

7   Reptile after losing considerable length from its full form when Odile leaves (4) CROC CROCodile

14 Model lines on graph depicts government revenue (5) TAXES {T}{AXES}

16 Put effort and remove bolt when redesigning letter box (5) EXERT {lETtER+boX}*

18 Usual sort of light appearing in a dye being spread (8) EVERYDAY {VERY} in {A+DYE}*

20 Excitedly it scaled forts (8) CITADELS*

21 Perhaps, television set and radio tuned by a mother (7) DIORAMA {RADIO*}{MA}

23 Stitching material used in cloth ready (6) THREAD [T]

25 Vanara irritated Lankan king (6) RAVANA*

27 Cupid crushed ores (4) EROS*

29 Popular aquarium fish having goldfish head is with European (4) ORFE {OR}{Fish}{E}

Reference List

Cold = C, Public representative = MP, Old = EX, 51 = LI, Zulu = Z, College = C, About = RE, Model = T, Gold = OR

No 14670, Saturday 20 Dec 2025, Incognito

 ACROSS
8 Animal gets large covering for head (4) COWL {COW}{L}

9 Female eats horribly in celebratory meal (5) FEAST {F}{EATS*}
10 On retirement, Oprah loses love for instrument (4) HARP {oPRAH<}

11 Ram's//cooking medium? (6) BUTTER [DD]
12 Animal after Virginia and daughter ran away (8) VAMOOSED {MOOSE}<=>{VA}+D
13 Loads wood in ship and sleeps (8) SLUMBERS {S{LUMBER}S}
15 Disinter old ornithologist who founded a political party (6) EXHUME {EX}{HUME}
17 Stiff curved structure in pig-pen (7) STARCHY {ST{ARCH}Y}
19 Eastern Lake Street's most spooky point (7) EERIEST {E}{ERIE}{ST}
22 Boy with aged queen is more brave (6) BOLDER {B}{OLD}{ER}
24 In novel, Romeo is followed by tailless cat in New York neighbourhood (8) BROOKLYN {B{R}OOK}{LYNx}

26 Lends posters covering American vice-president (8) ADVANCES {AD{VANCE}S}
28 Model and charming lady's tic (6) TWITCH {T}{WITCH}
30 Prohibit new building in farm (4) BARN {BAR}{N}

31 Don's// deception (3-2) PUT-ON [DD]
32 Valley in jungle notified (4) GLEN [T]

DOWN
1 Protein rich food made out of mixture without using egg (4) TOFU {oUT OF}*

2 Veteran's// grand-father clock, for example (3-5) OLD-TIMER [DD]
3 Girl in favour of church's mass-specific strength (1-5) G-FORCE {G}{FOR}{CE}
4 Horribly starve husband first and collect produce (7) HARVEST {STARVE}*<=>{H}
5 A public representative follows saint with extraordinarily diverse entourage at first resulting in mad rush (8) STAMPEDE {A MP}<=>{ST}+{Extraordinarily}{Diverse}{Entourage}
6 Sound of wind from show organised covers head office (6) WHOOSH {SHOW}* around {HO}
7 Large woody plant in street (4) TREE [T]
14 Plenty to put together... Bingo! (5) LOTTO {LOT}{TO}
16 I hear sportsman is unorganised (5) MESSY {~MESSI}
18 Hardy cop produces printout (4,4) HARD COPY*
20 Slinking around? Results in suspicions... (8) INKLINGS*
21 Crazy boy consuming eggs sautéed in tallow for starters results in extreme stoutness (7) OBESITY {BOY*} around {Eggs}{Sauted}{In}{Tallow}
23 Channels for carrying water from precipitation in key streets at last (6) DRAINS {RAIN} in {D}{streetS}
25 Making a choice and operating without time (6) OPTING {OPeraTING}
27 Sketch// tie (4) DRAW [DD]
29 Cook some lunch effortlessly (4) CHEF [T]

REFERENCE LIST

Large=L, Female=F, Love=0=o, Virginia=VA, Daughter=D, Ship=SS (Steamer Ship), Old=Ex, Eastern=E, Street=St., Boy=B, Queen=ER (Elizabeth Regina), Romeo=R, Model=T, New=N, Egg=0=O, Girl=G, Church=CE, Husband=H, Public Representative=MP, Saint=St., Head Office=HO, Key=D ( one of the musical keys).

No 14669, Friday 19 Dec 2025, Arden

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   Wild cat back-biting workers from company, say (8) REGIMENT {TIGER<=} over {MEN}

5   Start with Buenos Aires randomly in this country (6) SERBIA {Bu...s+AIRES}*

10 Red mark allowed (7) SCARLET {SCAR}{LET}

11 Watch two tennis shots - first missing top line (7) OBSERVE {lOB}{SERVE}

12 Fish eating - Yankee is making it up (5) LYING {L{Y}ING}

13 Silence over hidden past - it's coined for a single occasion (5,4) NONCE WORD {DROWN<=} over {ONCE}

14 Work undone, setter under attack (12) DENOUNCEMENT {UNDONE*}{CEMENT}

18 Unearths true form of a game (8,4) TREASURE HUNT*

21 Follow a genetic code - otherwise amuse to a sickening degree (2,7) AD NAUSEAM {A}{DNA}{AMUSE*}

23 Two points within a point - go back to country (5) BENIN {E}{N} in {NIB<=}

24 A mineral recovered with sun spray... (7) AEROSOL {A}{ORE<=}{SOL}

25 ...brings them together provided that is during sunset (7) UNIFIES {IF}{IE}* in {SUN}*

26 Meets as one finally escapes (6) EVENTS {onE}{VENTS}

27 Borders of cloth, strangely no sign of knots (8) CHIGNONS {ClotH}{NO+SIGNS}*

DOWN

1   Take stock stealthily, find way to break law (6) RUSTLE {RU{ST}LE}

2   Last string on musical instrument strung up for free (6) GRATIS {s...nG}{SITAR<=}

3   Poor Germans accept half lies from those who slander (9) MALIGNERS {MA{LIes}GNERS*}

4   New route, only twice changed? No way! (3,2,4,5) NOT ON YOUR NELLY {N+ROUTE+ONLY+ONLY}*

6   Even extremities, girl will follow (5) ENSUE {EveN}{SUE}

7   Reveals fish inside parallel lines (3,5) BAR CODES {BAR{COD}ES}

8   Account of stake holding, criminal code (8) ANECDOTE {AN{CODE*}TE}

9   Use noun with method - not happy? (4,2,3,5) DOWN IN THE MOUTH*

15 Dignifying good French upbringing, it's evergreen (9) ENNOBLING {BONNE<=}{LING}

16 A salt say grabbing attention (8) STEARATE {ST{EAR}ATE}

17 She feeds babies that are very small, taking turns somehow (3-5) WET-NURSE {WE{TURNS*}E}

19 Could be doing after I get a dye (6) INDIGO {DOING}*<=>{I}

20 Lay up is for awareness (6) GNOSIS {SONG<=}{IS}

22 To end it all, you keep this one, don't be angry (5) UPSET Tail Acrostic

Reference List

Yankee = Y, Points = E,N, New = N, Stake = ANTE, Lay = SONG

No 14668, Thursday 18 Dec 2025, Arden

Solution to 21D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Revise possible action leading to clash (11) ALTERCATION {ALTER}{ACTION*}

7   Woman starts speaking of women (3) SOW Acrostic

9   So long for a gold plated cube (5) ADIEU {A{DIE}U}

10 Move to permit one in ten, perhaps (2,7) EN PASSANT {PASS}{AN} in {TEN}*

11 Psychological baggage of one pound - like accepting separate review (9) ALBATROSS {A}{LB}{A{SORT<=}S}

12 Senseless when an invitation is rejected partly (5) INANE [T<=]

13 A pitch to remove nail polish (7) ACETONE {ACE}{TONE}

15 Here and there - again they all end in paradise (4) EDEN Tail Acrostic

18 Crazy over knock out (4) STUN<=

20 Indian army during regular patrols hides weapons (7) ARSENAL {pAtRo{SENA}L}

23 Subject revised within a month (5) OMANI [T<=]

24 Flyer's Irish, wearing old hat (9) PASSERINE {PASS{ERIN}E}

26 Changed mind to take part in club game (9) BADMINTON {BA{MIND*}TON}

27 Small part of golf course in New York (5) TEENY {TEE}{NY}

28 Noise from God dispensing love (3) DIN oDIN

29 Free to recall name - police department retains head (11) EMANCIPATED {NAME<=}{CI{PATE}D}

DOWN

1   Indian politician repeatedly picks up Chinese grass (4-4) AGAR-AGAR {RAGA}{RAGA}<=

2   Strives to save one pound as they go over people's heads (8) TRILBIES {TR{1}{LB}IES}

3   French writer had no power to force people off their slumber (5) ROUST {pROUST} 

4   One on either side - allowing me to raise a plant (7) ANEMONE {AN}{ME<=}{ONE}

5   Stop self confession of an old-fashioned person (7) IMPASSE {I'M}{PASSE}

6   New wine overhead shows bad quality (9) NASTINESS {N}{ASTI}{NESS}

7   Healer is a fake one (6) SHAMAN {SHAM}{AN}

8   Disappear after accompanying the Queen (6) WITHER {WITH}{ER}

14 Nothing good about slight intrusion - it's a precarious situation (2,4,3) ON THIN ICE {O}{N{THIN}ICE}

16 It comes to grip with tragic ending of the poor and destitute (8) INDIGENT {I{ENDING*}T}

17 Favourite looked sad to begin with (4-4) BLUE-EYED {EYED}<=>{BLUE}

19 It's highly inflammable - sleep over with hard hat, perhaps (7) NAPHTHA {NAP}{H}{HAT*}

20 As nice as fantastic run through (7) ARSENIC {NICE+AS}* over {R}

21 Can swing both ways in bar - stop it (6) ?O?B?D (Addendum - FORBID {FOR{BI}D} - See comments)

22 Agree music is uplifting - come again? (6) PARDON {NOD}{RAP}<=

25 Best opening line inside bar (5) ESTOP [T]

Reference List

Cube = DIE, Head = PATE, Power = P, New = N, Head = NESS, Queen = ER, Hard = H, Run = R

No 14667, Wednesday 17 Dec 2025, Arden

Solution to 2D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

6   A short distance to a new capital (5) AMMAN {A}{MM}{A}{N}

7   West averts calamity with change in leadership (8) OCCIDENT (-a+o)OCCIDENT

10 Nobility's bid to acquire jewelry occasionally (7) PEERAGE {P{jEwElRy}AGE}

11 Discharge private detective finally (7) SECRETE {SECRET}{d...vE}

12 Almost in hostile region of central Tuscany (7) CHIANTI {CHIc}{ANTI}

13 College study, within one metre (7) CADENCE {C}{A{DEN}CE}

14 Source, in other words for a rapid, intense training (5,6) CRASH COURSE {SOURCE}* [RA]

19 Team refused, sorry to reject a novice (7) AMATEUR {TEAM}*{RUE<=} Error in fodder

21 Choose to block river? One follows (7) DEVOTEE {DE{VOTE}E}

23 Fail to incorporate law on milk product (7) LACTOSE {L{ACT}OSE}

25 Take it and you would be upset (7) UMBRAGE [CD]

26 Proceed before one finally leaves - they make you laugh (8) COMEDIES {COME}{DIES}

27 Deadly, not able to sustain (5) INCUR INCURable

DOWN

1   One doesn't remember the middle name, in case lost (8) AMNESIAC {nAMe}{IN+CASE}*

2   Harry relocates to skip national service, to no avail (2,4) ?N ?A?N (Addendum - IN VAIN {IN+VAIN+RELOCATES}* = NATIONAL SERVICE - See comments)

3   Invitation to success - she is flirtatious (4-6) COME-HITHER {COME}{HIT}{HER}

4   Book on laws (4) ACTS [DD]

5   Hotel accommodating not even their trainee (6) INTERN {IN{ThEiR}N}

6   For a cap, lady came up with some wool (6) ALPACA [T<=]

8   He makes sense of animal eating fish (7) DECODER {DE{COD}ER}

9   It's safe to taper off (5) PETER [DD]

13 Could be a sudden downpour (10) CLOUDBURST {COULD}* [RA]

15 One came up like a needle (7) ACEROSE {ACE}{ROSE}

16 Transport at the door (8) ENTRANCE [DD]

17 Bird bit off dog's head (5) EAGLE bEAGLE

18 Space traveller's remote adjustment (6) METEOR*

20 Discontented with Anglican Church, our host (6) ANCHOR {An...aN}{Ch..cH}{OuR}

22 Infection causing bacteria gets energy after six (6) VIBRIO {BRIO}<=>{VI}

24 Not good to stay up (4) EVIL<=

Reference List

Short distance = MM< New = N, College = C

No 14666, Tuesday 16 Dec 2025, Crossant

Solution to 5D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   City's popular event primarily for Chinese martial art (6) TAIPEI TAI(-ch+PE}PEI

9   Novel about a girl in love (8) ORIGINAL {A+GIRL+IN+O}*

10 Tailender finally dismissed, that's a comprehensive defeat (4) ROUT {t...eR}{OUT}

11 Behind bars post essentially nasty criminal activities (6,4) INSIDE JOBS {INSIDE}{JOB}{naSty}

12 Outline of America's stupid tariff (9) ADUMBRATE {A}{DUMB}{RATE}

14 Restless in Seattle perhaps, about to leave without child (5) ITCHY {cIT{CH}Y}

16 Resource for training module? (9,6) REFRESHER COURSE [CD]

19 Not a method of flushing out unknown adversary (5) ENEMY {ENEMa}{Y}

21 Notes about technocrats needing finances from the centre (9) CROTCHETS TECHnOCRaTS*

24 Careful - online criminals ensnaring old men in cybercrime basically (10) ECONOMICAL {E}{CON}{AL} over {Old}{Men}{In}{Cy...e}AL 

26 Nothing is obvious in the beginning perhaps (4) ZERO Anno not clear (Addendum - 0b...s - See comments)

27 Accept role and participate (4,4) TAKE PART {TAKE}{PART}

28 Country's right to occupy? Certainly not. (6) NORWAY {R} in {NO WAY}

DOWN

1   Boat transporting old injured pet (8) CANOODLE {CANO{OLD*}E}

2   Something expressed orally? (6) SPUTUM [CD]

3   Confusion about one new, fancy, red outfit (9) MINIDRESS {M{1}{N}I{RED*}SS} Wordplay doesn't work. See comments.

4   Chuck Norris agrees to act, at last making a comeback (4) TOSS [Tail acrostic<=]

5   Nervous in a city like Chicago perhaps (5) ?I?D? (Addendum - WINDY [DD] - See comments)

6   One female leaving Fuji entertained by just extravagant martial art (3-5) JIU-JITSU {1}{fUJI} in {JUST}*

7   Money to get boy a castle in North Africa (6) CASBAH {CAS{B}{A}H}

13 What belonged to them finally went to the next in line (5) THEIR {wenT}{HEIR}

15 Expert tensely working to disconnect lead from strapped explosive material (9) ACETYLENE {ACE}{TENsELY}*

17 Note - America is exiting. What's left? (8) REMINDER REMaINDER

18 Weekend stay duration cut by half unfortunately (8) SATURDAY {STAY+DURAtion}*

20 Money mostly kept back by sailor for drink (6) NECTAR {CENt<=}{TAR}

22 Difficult to control an unknown danger (6)  HAZARD {H{A}{Z}ARD}{

23 Mark's wearing brown coat (5) SMEAR {S{M}EAR}

25 Name of place is mentioned (4) CITE (~site)

Reference List

Chinese = CH, Child = CH, Unknown = Y, Online = E, Criminals = CON,AL, Right = R, New = N, Female = F, Boy = B, America = A, Sailor = TAR, Unknown = Z, Mark = M

No 14665, Monday 15 Dec 2025, Gridzilla

Solution to 5D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM

ACROSS

1   Feeling a bit satisfied after extremely short flight (6) STAIRS {AIR}{Sa...d}<=>{ShorT}

4   A short time to have lunch out (4,2) BEAT IT {B{EAT}IT}

8   Taking spoiled salami, one ultimately gets some discomfort (7) MALAISE {SALAMI}*{E}

9   Henry delivered hash or heroin in metal container? (4,3) IRON ORE {OR+hEROIN}*

11 Visiting hot adult site, Mark gets aroused (10) STIMULATED {ADULT+SITE+M}*

12 Small drink, say, for skipper (4) SAIL {S}{(~ale)AIL}

13 Worm on top of sunflower plant (5) SEDGE {EDGE}<=>{Su...r}

14 "Australia: The best place" - A Netflix feature (8) AUTOPLAY {AU}{TOP}{LAY}

16 John sat playing on account of these sets of cards (8) CANASTAS {CAN}{SAT*}{AS}

18 Cryptic clue about primarily nice relative (5) UNCLE {U{Nice}CLE*}

20 Went in haste, covering head (4) PEED sPEED

21 Radiohead's first hit single's unusually creepy (10) SLITHERING {Ra...d+HIT+SINGLE}*

23 Order servant to check room (7) CHAMBER {CHA{MBE}R}

24 Right away, rations drinks (7) POTIONS POrTIONS

25 Portion of crab soup in ceramic cups (6) PINCER [T]

26 Catches fish with outdated lures? (6) ANGLES dANGLES

DOWN

1   Taking public transport around is clever (5) SMART<=

2   Feared gangster's carrying a gun (7) ALARMED {AL}{ARMED}

3   New 'Listerine Strong' (9) RESILIENT*

5   In the East End, the masses misbehaved (5) E?R?D (Addendum - ERRED (~herd) - See comments)

6   No set exercises? (5,2) TONES UP {NO+SET}* [RA]

7   Result: After losing opener, entire team's out! (9) TERMINATE {eNTIRE+TEAM}*

10 Vessel with crew on board starts to head into port (9) STEAMSHIP {S{TEAM}S}{Head}{Into}{Port}

13 A UFO with small steps? Cool! (9) SPACESHIP {S}{PACES}{HIP}

15 Land in Amsterdam perhaps, says Spooner (5,4) TOUCH DOWN (~dutch town to touchdown)

17 A sign board above shows where to find a six-pack (7) ABDOMEN {A}{OMEN}<=>{BD}

19 Cheerful guy is always laughing basically (7) CORDIAL {CORD}{Is}{Al...s}{La...g}

21 Incident is investigated, as per report (5) SCENE (~seen)

22 Near-perfect ratings possibly worsening after partial review? (5) NINES [HIPS<=]

Reference List

Henry = H, Mark = M, Small = S, Australia = AU, Order = MBE, Servant = CHAR, Right = R, Date = D, Gangster = AL, Cool = HIP, Board = BD, Guy = CORD

Special, Sunday 14 Dec 2025, Neyartha (R)

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)

Starred clues have a common theme.

Enjoy.