No 14735, Saturday 07 Mar 2026, Dr. X

 ACROSS
1 Left overwhelmed by drink, fell in compound (8) SULPHIDE {SU{L}P}{HIDE}
5 Tells the truth about ensnaring women with drink (4,2) OWNS UP {O{W}N}{SUP}
10 Scot on outing, touring city in Benin (7) COTONOU [T]
11 Old retired group managed to save bird (7)  ORTOLAN {O}{R{LOT<}AN}

12 Ogles lady on date in retreat? About right (5) LEERS {S{R}EE}{L}<

13 Couple welcoming expert with energy drink (5,4) TABLE WINE {T{ABLE}WIN}{E}
14 Rogue lazed, luring essentially hot, idle socialite (6,6) LOUNGE LIZARD {LAZED LURING}* around {hOt}
18 Perfect moment with century by ace (6,2,4) SECOND TO NONE {SECOND}{TON}{ONE}
21 Heavy burden of married character having problems (9) MILLSTONE {M}{TONE} around {ILLS}
23 Start to empty a can to have a meal at home (3,2) EAT IN {Empty}{A}{TIN}
24 Star in rave consuming ecstasy and Greek wine (7) RETSINA {STAR IN}* around {E}

25 Corrupt president in extremely disreputable party (7) DEPRAVE {P} in {DisreputablE}{RAVE}
26 Sultan's ladies going around large neighbourhood of New York (6) HARLEM {HAR{L}EM} 
27 Attempt to control associate enthralled by drink and grass (8) BETRAYER {TR{A}Y} in {BEER}

DOWN
1 Ailing in Italian island, taking potassium for illness primarily (6) SICKLY {SIC(-i+K)KLY}
2 Agitation after drinking a little hooch (6) LATHER {LAT{Hooch}ER}
3 Bequeaths easily (5,4) HANDS DOWN [DD]
4 Sadhu in tomb got up! He won't believe it (8,6) DOUBTING THOMAS*
6 Flexible twig of willow is off-white (5) WITHE*
7 American television host's fancy villa acquired by star (8) SULLIVAN {VILLA}* in {SUN}

8 Foolish people crave to consume heroin - awfully sad (8) PINHEADS {PIN{H}E}{SAD}*
9 Outraged blonde teen with rude, suggestive remark (6,8) DOUBLE ENTENDRE*
15 Hotelier turning to peep in secret (9) INNKEEPER {PEEK<} in {INNER}
16 Dilapidated room in abandoned ship - it is exactly similar in form as another (8) ISOMORPH {ROOM}* in {SHIP}*
17 Artist in drunken stupor, beginning to lurch outside club (8) SCULPTOR {STUPOR Lurch}* around {C} C for club? BRB gives C for Clubs. See Comments.
19 Disreputable model entering is hot (6) STEAMY {S{T}EAMY}
20 Training earnestly to keep working effectively (2,4) IN GEAR [T]
22 Polish husband involved in immorality on base (5) SHINE {S{H}IN}{E}

REFERENCE LIST

Left=L, About=On, W=Women, Lady=L, Right=R, Energy=E, Married=M, Ecstasy=E, President=P, Large=L, Associate=A, Potassium=K, Heroin=H, Club=C(?), Model=T, Husband=H, Base=E( logarithmic base)

Sunday 08 Mar 2026, IIT (M) WGC, IIT (M) Crossie Open, KrisKross

Announcing the Crossie Open 2026 - Cryptic Crossword competition conducted by the Word Games Club of IIT Madras. It is on March 8th, 2026 at the IIT Madras campus, and I will be hosting it this year.

Registrations are now open - please use this link (google form) to register.

https://forms.gle/eZivoahrNcwt3pTdA

No 14734, Friday 06 Mar 2026, Dr. X

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   Truth about life-changing cosmetic procedure (8) FACELIFT {FAC{LIFE*}T}

5   Father welcoming women with fruit (6) PAWPAW {PA{W}PA}{W}

10 Special venture to host grand parade (7) SWAGGER {S}{WAG{G}ER}

11 See 18

12 Sexually explicit commercial with posh Latin model (5) ADULT {AD}{U}{L}{T}

13 Infernal rogue's back - extremes of tension around neighbourhood (9) TARTAREAN {RAT<=}{Tens{AREA}ioN}

14 Minister is upset about suspension (12) INTERMISSION {MINISTER+IS}*{ON}

18 & 11 Instruction by census taker to not take things lying down? Make one's views known! (5,2,3,2,7) STAND UP AND BE COUNTED [DD]

21 Sway and twirl, drinking Old Monk primarily at home (9) DOMINANCE {D{Old}{Monk}{IN}ANCE}

23 Rested in academy during period of fasting (5) LEANT {LE{A}NT}

24 Start to oppose extremely vile scheme for excessive utilisation (7) OVERUSE {Op...e}{VilE}{RUSE}

25 Lacking energy entirely, moving in a sluggish manner (7) INERTLY eNTIRELY*

26 Have a meal in a restaurant in English market around afternoon (3,3) EAT OUT {E}{TOUT} over {A}

27 Worried about wild dingoes (8) AGONISED {A}{DINGOES*}

DOWN

1   Thief is calmly stealing money (6) FISCAL [T]

2  Hint about a queen's group of hired applauders (6) CLAQUE {CL{A}{Q}UE}

3   Delhi gent exercised and became less heavy (9) LIGHTENED*

4   Emergency specialist is strong in spirit, beginning to swiftly examine (5,9) FIRST RESPONDER {FIR{STR}E}{Sw...y}{PONDER}

6   Relaxed at centre after a massage in island country (5) ARUBA {relAxed}<=>{A}{RUB}

7   Way jerk dominates wife - ultimately deplorable (8) PATHETIC {PATH}{TIC} over {wifE}

8   Expanding section outside island retreat (8) WIDENING {W{I}{DEN}ING}

9   Boy having anxiety with master, say, backing group spreading ominous rumours (14) SCAREMONGERING {S{CARE}{M}ON}{EG<=}{RING}

15 Junior British officer in passenger vehicle, back on shift by noon (9) SUBALTERN {BUS<=}{ALTER}{N}

16 Was once cruelly ousted by Baron and Earl (4,2,2) USED TO BE {OUSTED*}{B}{E}

17 Most crazy star tackles member insolently at premiere (8) BARMIEST {B{ARM}{In...y}EST} 

19 Go to drink up Italian liqueur (6) PASTIS {PAS{IT<=}S}

20 Remained rock-steady (6) STAYED*

22 Article about uranium and ruthenium in island nation (5) NAURU  {AN<=}{U}{RU}

Reference List

Women = W, With = W, Special = S, Commercial = AD, Posh = U, Latin = L, Model = T, About = ON, Academy = A, Energy = E, English = E, Afternoon = A, About = A, Queen = QU, Island = I, Master = M, Noon = N, Baron = B, Earl = E, Italian = IT

No 14733, Thursday 05 Mar 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 16D 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   Humorist and married assistant in retreat, cheating around (8) COMEDIAN {CO{M}{AIDE<=}N}

5   Quarrel about American beginning to raise tax (6) TARIFF {T{A}{Ra..e}IFF}

10 Shoot gangsta finally behind pub in Caribbean island (7) BARBUDA {BUD}{g...tA}<=>{BAR}

11 Arrive in market to get hold of vase (4,3) TURN OUT {T{URN}OUT}

12 Member, upset after trustee's last electronic message (1-4) E-MAIL {M}{AIL}<=>{t...eE}

13 Developing nice grin perhaps to capture hearts (9) ENRICHING {NICE+GRIN}* over {H}

14 One seen at racecourse painting popular horse during ceremony (8,4) STARTING GATE {ST{ART}{IN}{GG}ATE}

18 What person might do in cold weather to show keen satisfaction (3,4,5) RUB ONES HANDS [DD]

21 Immorality of English rogue enthralled by joint and cocaine on vacation (9) DECADENCE {D{E}{CAD}EN}{Co...nE}

23 Obstructive problem in part of small intestine, nearly ending in peritonitis (5) ILEUS {ILEUm}{p...iS} Semi&lit

24 Crowd heartily entertained by genius playing type of rock (7) IGNEOUS {IGNE{crOwd}US*}

25 Crack cocaine - extremely repulsive bad habit (7) CREVICE {C}{Re...vE}{VICE}

26 Gemstone in store, mostly a little topaz (6) GARNET {GARNEr}{To..z}

27 Despise rogue having love affairs (8) EPISODES {EPIS{O}DES*}

DOWN

1   Australian pal caught thief right away (6) COBBER {C}{rOBBER}

2   Being ethical, admits fault finally (6) MORTAL {MOR{f..lT}AL}

3   Misleads essentially in uncertainty, playing only two cards of a suit (9) DOUBLETON {DOUB{misLEads}T}{ON}

4   Incompetence of masseur in the spa, extremely clumsy (14) AMATEURISHNESS {MASSEUR+IN+THE+SpA}*

6   A posh valuable, mostly of gold (5) AURIC {A}{U}{RICh}

7   Comic in Cairo, ultimately satirical and wry (8) IRONICAL {IN+CAIRO}*{s...aL}

8   Overweight guide, terribly exhausted (8) FATIGUED {FAT}{GUIDE*}

9   Trump is beginning to argue at once, making fuss about trivial matter (5,2,1,6) STORM IN A TEACUP {TRUMP+IS+Ar..e+AT+ONCE}*

15 Singles romping, having party in retreat? Goodness! (9) GODLINESS {G{DO<=}LINESS*}

16 Resenting misuse of drug and drink by girl (8) ?R?D?I?G (Addendum - GRUDGING {DRUG*}{GIN}{G} - See comments)

17 Old boy on screen, turning more indecent (8) OBSECNER {OB}{SCREEN*}

19 Crew in department checking VCR button (6) REWIND [T]

20 They question fool grabbing king and queen (6) ASKERS {AS{K}{ER}S}

22 Decided to acquire manufacturer's latest unmanned aerial vehicle (5) DRONE {D{m...eR}ONE}

Reference List

Married = M, Member = M, Hearts = H, Popular = IN, Horse = GG, English = E, Cocaine = C, Caught = C, Posh = U, Party = DO, Girl = G, Old Boy = OB, King = K, Queen = ER

No 14732, Wednesday 04 Mar 2026, Afterdark

 HAPPY HOLI

Rangoli by Gowri

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 27A 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   He's back to intelligence bureau at Iowa's capital (7) NAMIBIA {MAN<=}{IB}{IA} Where is the definition? Last A from?

5   Scot, essentially has obsession to live together (7) COHABIT {sCOt}{HABIT}

9   Animal police arrests rowdy ultimately at university (5) COYPU {CO{r..dY}P{U}

10 Type of printer head's black (9) BUBBLEJET {BUBBLE}{JET} Bubble/Head from Beer?

11 Shows in idiot box left Miles squirming (9) TELEFILMS* 

12 Time to be sorry, right and more honourable (5) TRUER {T}{RUE}{R}

13 Name of boy could be Edward or Winston or both (5) EDWIN {ED}{WIN}

15 Strange guards and volunteers regularly seen nude at booth (9) NEWSSTAND {NEW}{SS}{TA}{NuDe}

18 Nasser met Harry in a confused situation (5,4) MARES NEST*

19 Typeface launches withdrawn (5) SERIF<= 

21 Nothing behind toilet sponge (5) LOOFA {FA}<=>{LOO}

23 Annoyed with internal rate of return and income tax, director worried earlier (9) IRRITATED {IRR}{IT} and {D}<=>{ATE}

25 Hector has a new girl, heaven perhaps (7-2) SHANGRI-LA {HAS+A+N+GIRL}*

26 Satisfaction having zero to be dead leading to award (5) PRIZE PRI(+z-d)ZE

27 Recant crazy suggestion to circumvent rule, it could be gallows in the ship (7) Y?R?A?M  (Addendum - YARDARM {M{R}AD}{RAY}<= - See comments)

28 Medical attendant Rosy is heartless in greenhouse, say (7) NURSERY {NURSE}{RosY}

DOWN

1   Confused niece holding knot of an dressing accessory (7) NECKTIE {NEC{KT}IE*}

2   Say, Theresa's outpouring is expressing hesitation about a plant (9) MAYFLOWER {MAY}{FLOW}{ER}

3   Deceive Cliff (5) BLUFF [DD]

4   Name a club redesigning a vehicle (9) AMBULANCE*

5   Blocks suggestion to consume vitamin supplement primarily (5) CUBES {CU{B}E}{Su...t}

6   Spoilt thali with egg given to sister causing bad breath (9) HALITOSIS {THALI*}{0}{SIS}

7   Sexually ambiguous Jack's spouse's essentially small and elegant (5) BIJOU {BI}{J}{spOUse}

8   Educated Suketu tore dossier for contents inside (7) TUTORED [T]

14 Maybe lost again with homesickness (9) NOSTALGIA*

16 Time to use AI in network for principal system of pipes (5,4) WATER MAIN {TERM}{AI} in {WAN}

17 Attack look on skirt, exposing top obscenely (3,6) AIR STRIKE {AIR}{SKIRT+Ex...g}*

18 My meals are sour and sweet (7) MALMSEY*

20 Restless female's primal instincts get nutty ultimately (7) FIDGETY {F}{ID}{GET}{n..tY}

22 Old Malayalee, say, is very happy (2,3) ON AIR {O}{NAIR}

23 Expression in dialect is overly melodramatic for starters (5) IDIOM Acrostic

24 Animal hit by a hunter in the rear (5) TAPIR {TAP}{1}{h...eR}

Reference List

Intelligence Bureau = IB, University = U, Time = T, Right = R, Nothing = FA(Fanny Adams), Director = D, Worried = ATE, New = N, Zero = Z, Dead = D, Rule = R, Knot = KT, Jack = J, Female = F, Old = O

No 14731, Tuesday 03 Mar 2026, Afterdark

Solution to 4D 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   One's annoyed with article on commission being inclusive (6-3-5) ACROSS-THE-BOARD {A}{CROSS}{THE}{BOARD}

10 Transport for English behind schedule (5) ELATE {E}{LATE}

11 So, bit of onion in soup makes it deadly (9) POISONOUS {SO+On..n+IN+SOUP}* 

12 Animal's range? Respected reportedly (3,4) ROE DEER {(~row dear)ROE DEER}

13 Institute keeps examiner out, being more impatient (7) TESTIER {TEST{I}ER}

14 Instructions to get primarily strong muscles (5) SPECS {St...g}{PECS}

16 Holmium put in beakers to boil and make a car part (5,4) BRAKE SHOE {HO} in {BEAKERS}*

19 Deceptive food, one tends to retire hungry (9) DISHONEST {DISH}{ONE}{TendS<=} 

20 Discussion is favouring Trump essentially (5) FORUM {FOR}{trUMp}

22 Once, quote right for a small generator (7) EXCITER {EX}{CITE}{R}

25 Perhaps, physiotherapist's service collects money for the most part (7) MASSEUR {MASS}{EURo}

27 Henry is in race, (tip) to make to final contenders (9) SHORTLIST {S{H}ORT}{LIST}

28 Deceive, bring out daughter and escape (5) ELUDE dELUDE

29 Detective Inspector's date becomes a disaster (14) DISAPPOINTMENT {DI'S}{APPOINTMENT}

DOWN

2   Persistent second defendant in trial contacted the French solicitor initially (9) CEASELESS {C{dEf...t}ASE}{{LES}{So...r}

3   Overweight CM becomes hostile (5) OBESE {OBESE+CM}*=BECOMES [CA]

4   Distinct story by Stokes on 5th wicket (9) S?P?R?B?E (Addendum - SEPARABLE {PARABLE}<=>{S}{w..kEt}- See comments)

5   One in army gets raise (5) HOIST {HO{1}ST}

6   Look, she along with BF assembles a piece of furniture (9) BOOKSHELF {LOOK+SHE+BF}*

7   Sauce is first class with oil floating (5) AIOLI {A1}{OIL*}

8   Some grade servers to justify (7) DESERVE [T]

9   Retired school teacher's cot in the front is in pieces (6) DEBRIS {SIR}{BED}<=

15 Say, baseball player is in small bar (5-4) SHORT-STOP {SHORT}{STOP}

17 Relative nearly outside plant to get a robot (9) AUTOMATON {AU{TOMATO}Nt}

18 Buffoon cooks quail, hen and some ribs (9) HARLEQUIN {QUAIL+HEN+Ribs}*

19 Decorated police officer absent; strayed (7) DRESSED DigRESSED

21 Felt-tipped pen located on book by Henry regularly (6) MARKER {MARK}{hEnRy}

23 Hacks skip poking into chronicles lacking substance (5) CHOPS {Ch...{HOP}...eS}

24 Greek character traps smart animal (5) RHINO {RH{IN}O}

26 Son leading side with enthusiasm (5) STEAM {S}{TEAM}

Reference List

English = E, Institute = I, Once = EX, Right = R, Henry = H, Daughter = D, The in French = LES, Son = S

No 14730, Monday 02 Mar 2026, KrisKross

Solution to 4D 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   European rule about controlling disorder (8) ROMANIAN {R}{O{MANIA}N}

5   Make bile go away (6) OBLIGE* 

9   Think of subordinate - one tense and worried (8) COGITATE {COG}{1}{T}{ATE}

10 Most safe to consume English drink (6) COFFEE {COFFEr} over {E}

12 Fully renovated hotel hit by onset of tempest (2,3,4) TO THE HILT {HOTEL+HIT}*{Te...t}

13 Feel sorry for killing river bird (5) EGRET rEGRET

14 Infection from dust? Yes (4) STYE [T]

16 Drive around short mountain to reach green light (2-5) GO-AHEAD {GOA{HEAp}D}

19 Ponder about complex part of maths equation (7) OPERAND {PONDER+A}*

21 Box daughter lost in hut (4) LOGE LOdGE

24 Joseph's eldest son, universe's saviour primarily! (5) JESUS Acrostic &lit

25 General requests drop of alcohol to be avoided in ship, tossing and turning (9) SLEEPLESS {S{LEE}{PLEaS}S}

27 Screen in the auditorium is an electronic device (6) SENSOR (~censor)

28 Duke dies sadly, having personal problem (8) DOWNSIDE {D}{DIES*} over {OWN}

29 Lives with bigoted people, shunning society (6) EXISTS sEXISTS

30 So hot... under fan for cover (8) ENSHROUD {SO+H+UNDER}*

DOWN

1   Say aloud: "Replace power with time in formula" (6) RECITE RECI(-p+t)TE

2   Powerful man scores four - cutting square finally (6) MIGHTY {M}{eIGHTY}

3   Salt damaged retina, mostly (5) NITRE RETINa*

4   On both sides of compound, raise deciduous trees initially (7) A?T?I?E (Addendum - ASTRIDE {RAISE+De...s+Tr..s}* - See comments)

6   Report describing old, more explosive missile (9) BOOMERANG {B{O}{MORE*}ANG}

7   Popular one-time singer? (8) INFORMER {IN}{FORMER}

8   Following program, party leader leaving at 6 p.m. say (8) EVENTIDE {EVENT}{sIDE} 

11 Men only raise guns (4) STAG<=

15 Coach losing one football, say, in ship (9) TRANSPORT {TRAiN}{SPORT}

17 Son's boring project - going through tome, struggling to get the perfect word (3,5) MOT JUSTE {JU{S}T} in {TOME*}

18 After endless suffering, collapse near India's capital (8) HELSINKI {HELl}{SINK}{I}

20 Run a little (4) DASH [DD]

21 Rest of German song now remixed (3-4) LIE-DOWN {LIED}{NOW*}

22 Come running to welcome team in country (6) MEXICO {ME{XI}CO*}

23 Section of most endearing city (6) OSTEND [T]

26 Energy drink made from fruit (5) PUNCH [DD]

Reference List

Rule = R, About = ON, Tense = T, English = E, River = R, About A, Daughter = D, Ship = SS, Duke = D, Society = S, Hot = H, Power = P, Time = T, Man = M, Four scores = EIGHTY, Old = O, Popular = IN, Son = S, India = I

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 45, Sunday 01 Mar 2026, Vidwan

Three answers per commenter till 4 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)

ACROSS

7   Fit and resize loose clothing/uniform (7) SEIZURE {SEIZ{U}RE*}

8   Lead planet with incomplete ring of light (7) MARSHAL {MARS}{HALo}

10 High heel tilts toe unfortunately (8) STILETTO*

11 Flower had around 51 beads at the centre (6) DAHLIA {HAD}*{LI}{beAds}

12 He's treading unsteadily being myopic! (11) NEARSIGHTED*

15 Grouse meat (4) BEEF [DD]

17 Musical hosted by Billy Rich (5) LYRIC [T]

18 Heavy Metal guitarist, who plays solos and riffs (4) LEAD [DD]

19 Buy a steeple, perhaps for rest of grace (6-5) BEAUTY-SLEEP*

22 In situ valuation for a small state (6) TUVALU [T]

23 Scraps of shells covering a button on keyboard (8) RESCINDS {R{ESC}INDS}

25 Team adopts uniform, one about topping oneself (7) SUICIDE {S{U}{1}{C}IDE}

26 Dream about one acquiring large car company (7) DAIMLER {DA{1}M{L}ER*}

DOWN

1   Despatched purchased stolen goods, fellow escapes getting punished (9) SENTENCED {SENT}{fENCED}

2   Plant a feverish zeal with hint of anarchism (6) AZALEA {A}{ZEAL*}{An...m}

3   To run or to basically jog (4) TROT Acrostic

4   Gauges small horse cart returning with parasites (10) YARDSTICKS {S+DRAY}<={TICKS}

5   Old shape, perhaps of a flowering plant (8) ASPHODEL*

6   Fellow on island, cold and feverish! (5) MANIC {MAN}{I}{C}

9   Spooner's mistake spotters or lyricists (11) SONGWRITERS (~wrong sighters to songwriters)

13 Gauls in mad rush for an English salad (10) SALMAGUNDI*

14 Epic dream about living in the present (5,4) CARPE DIEM*

16 Following old bunch carrying wife's time piece (8) FOBWATCH {F}{O}{B{W}ATCH}

20 Mystery topaz, unravelled for top magazine (6) ENIGMA {ENIGMA+TOPAZ}*=TOP MAGAZINE [CA]

21 Peaty soil like Arabian dish, millions consumed (5) HUMUS {HUMmUS}

24 No European servant for a European (4) SLAV SLAVe

Reference List

Uniform = U, 51 = LI, About = C, Large = L, Fellow = F, Small = S, Horse cart = DRAY, Island = I, Cold = C, Following = F, Old = O, Wife = W, Millions = M, European = E

No 14729, Saturday 28 Feb 2026, Incognito

 ACROSS
1 Hold under restraint in vehicle, with energy and speed, consuming carbon (11) INCARCERATE {IN}{CAR}{C}{E}{RATE}
9 Tender by alien for toilet fitting (5) BIDET {BID}{ET}
10 Slate tile manufactured in orbiter (9) SATELLITE*
11 & 15 Marketing staff's maleness (10,8) TRAVELLING SALESMEN {MALENESS}* [RA]
12 Gas outlet in Coventry (4) VENT [HIPS]
13 Vice? Top class in peninsula! (5) SINAI {SIN}{AI}
15 See 11
17 In long time, young lady has one release of gas for example (8) EMISSION {E{MISS}{I}ON}
19 Call on six and take seat (5) VISIT {VI}{SIT}
22 Remove gum from homburg made for scientist (4) BOHR {HOmBuRg}*

23 Fierce apes scrambled for exit from inferno (4,6) FIRE ESCAPE*
26 Mammal consumes minced sole in large quantities (9) WHOLESALE {WHALE} around {SOLE}*
27 Swallows and gulls leaving second lake for Portugal (5) GULPS {GUL(-l+P)PS}
28 Person displaying dextrality bending third hanger (5-6) RIGHT-HANDER*

DOWN
1 "My country and I" on radio! (5) INDIA [DD] I is the NATO ( Radio) alphabet for India

2 Charlie and boy leaving energy storage units in feline care institutions (9) CATTERIES {C}{bATTERIES}
3 Consequence of lustre being spoilt? (6) RESULT*
4 Is a note rewritten in country? (7) ESTONIA*

5 Fit a bell like emblem for starters (4) ABLE [ACROSTIC]
6 Part of skin from European spider running across highway (9) EPIDERMIS {E}{SPIDER}* around {MI}
7 Sailor eats in a disorderly manner and reduces (6) ABATES {AB}{EATS*}
8 Wife, accompanied by nurse having container, entered (4,2) WENT IN {W}{EN}{TIN}
14 Make a sound like a horse, boy, with our next door resident (9) NEIGHBOUR {NEIGH}{B}{OUR}
16 Anticipated face appearing in final (9) ENVISAGED {EN{VISAGE}D}
17 Bends damaged bowlers after removing rim initially (6) ELBOWS {BOWLErS}*
18 Animal DNA mutated in it, a chemical like sulphuric acid (7) OXIDANT {OX}{I{DNA*}T}
20 Tiny adolescent, perhaps, with sexy exterior (6) TEENSY {TEEN}{SexY}
21 General accompanying Ms Braun to city (6) GENEVA {GEN}{EVA}
24 Read wrongly about first lady character appearing in Sherlock Holmes story (5) ADLER {READ}* around {Lady}

25 Barge crashed in absence of a floating mass of ice (4) BERG {BaRGE}*

REFERENCE LIST

Energy=E, Carbon=C, Alien=ET( Extra-Terrestrial), Top Class= A1=AI, Six=VI (Roman numeral), Lake=L, Portugal=P, Charlie=C, Boy=B, European=E, Sailor=AB (Able-Bodied Seaman), Wife=W, Nurse=EN (Enrolled Nurse), General=Gen.

No 14728, Friday 27 Feb 2026, 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   After fighting, start to prod and twist (4) WARP {WAR}{Prod}

9   Mahmood, a singer found in Agartala, Tripura (5) TALAT [T]

10 After dropping girl, villager minced calf flesh (4) VEAL VilLAgEr*

11 Spot something on the bulletin board (6) NOTICE [DD}

12 Remain motionless! Buck in front of a net is agitated! (8) STAGNATE {STAG}{A+NET}*

13 Current church man is absolutely correct (8) ACCURATE {AC}{CURATE}

15 Melted ghee covering egg spread around top of toast for German polymath (6) GOETHE {GHEE}* over {O} and {To..t}

17 Non-believer, perhaps, at robbery (7) ATHEIST {AT}{HEIST} Why perhaps?

19 Say "I do" again? (7) REMARRY [CD]

22 Do well in Klamath river (6) THRIVE [T]

24 Strong desire to achieve limit with charged particle (8) AMBITION {AMBIT}{ION}

26 Collie going around duke died, hit when moving (8) COLLIDED {COLLI{D}E}{D}

28 Passion to posses silver plant (6) LOVAGE {LOV{AG}E}

30 Chess piece one may leave with uncle (4) PAWN [DD]

31 Disney at Zulu dance (5) WALTZ {WALT}{Z}

32 Throw sots around (4) TOSS*

DOWN

1   Before commencement of October, May produces sauce (4) MAYO {Oc...r}<=>{MAY}

2   Update it erroneously showing lack of this (8) APTITUDE*

3   Greek goddess, then, is in custody of Australian Army (6) ATHENA {A{THEN}A}

4   In sleeping place, heavy drinker went red (7) BLUSHED {B{LUSH}ED}

5  Choke stern gal at sea (8) STRANGLE*

6   Show niece running around 5 (6) EVINCE {E{V}INCE*}

7   Philosopher from Banaskantha (4) KANT [HIPS]

14 Nab animal with child (5) CATCH {CAT}{CH}

16 Oprah returns for one of the Marx brothers (5) HARPO<=

18 Worried POW tends to give up one's job (4-4) STEP-DOWN*

20 Vacate it by mistake and energise (8) ACTIVATE*

21 Distributes a medal without North African leader (7) MANDELA {A+MEDAL}* over {N}

23 After one, sand covers large cay (6) ISLAND {1}{S{L}AND}

25 Central American country where six footer consumes half of lizard (6) BELIZE {BE{LIZard}E}

27 Path for consuming some medicine or a lozenge initially (4) ORAL {OR}{A}{Lo...e}

29 Having flatulence, husband gets large cut (4) GASH {GAS}{H}

Reference List

Current = AC, Duke = D, Died = D, Zulu = Z, Australian = A, Army = A, Child = CH, North = N, Large = L, Husband = H

No 14277, Thursday 26 Feb 2026, Incognito

Solution to 5A 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   Approach new radar under construction (4,4) DRAW NEAR*

5   German submarines moving about stealthily at first (1-5) ?-B?A?S (Addendum - U-BOATS {ABOUT}*{St...y}- See comments)

10 Toxic substance possessed by aggressive nominee (5) VENOM [T]

11 Tricycle going around Bali on tour's a vehicle for rough terrain (5,4) TRAIL BIKE {TR{BALI*}IKE}

12 Diary corrected by husband in Arabian city (6) RIYADH {DIARY}*{H}

13 I tutted agitatedly after American's uncooperative behaviour (8) ATTITUDE {I+TUTTED}*<=>{A}

15 Tin not available in plant (5) CANNA {CAN}{NA}

17 Previous partner creates by mistake and swears (9) EXECRATES {EX}{CREATES*}

19 Wrongly greet Arab for stellar arrangement (5,4) GREAT BEAR*

20 Reject rider's aid with a bit of negativity (5) SPURN {SPUR}{Ne...y}

21 In America, British soldiers or cadets transferred around (8) REDCOATS*

23 Lascar could be a scamp (6) RASCAL*

27 Container after container on European ship displays rotundity (9) TUBBINESS {TUB}{BIN}{E}{SS}

28 Dined at home, breaking a tine (3,2) ATE IN* 

29 Tries starting to examine statements and speaks (6) ESSAYS {Ex...e}{St...s}{SAYS}

30 25 capturing mafia chief, an English capitalist! (8) LONDONER {LON{DON}ER}

DOWN

1   Bird starting to roost in port (5) DOVER {DOVE}{Ro..t}

2   In any case, no broken cane results in irritation (9) ANNOYANCE {AN{NO}Y}{CANE*}

3   Mando composed for migrant (5) NOMAD*

4   Insects found in elephant shed (4) ANTS [T]

6   Game poets giving shelter to sick ace (9) BILLIARDS {B{ILL}{1}ARDS}

7   Goodbye from aide getting transferred by university (5) ADIEU {AIDE}*{U}

8   Kidnapped author's progeny covering events organised (9) STEVENSON {S{EVENTS*}ON}

9 Sailor Peter sails to get ammonium nitrate (9) SALTPETRE {SALT}{PETER*}

14 Observed covering occasion getting three less than a score (9) SEVENTEEN {S{EVENT}EEN}

15 Fag breaks ice target (9) CIGARETTE*

16 Gold with god? It, certainly, at last, gives power (9) AUTHORITY {AU}{THOR}{IT}{c...lY}

18 Cosh Hector and nun badly (9) TRUNCHEON {HECTOR+NUN}*

22 Bad bets after end of round result in amounts to be paid (5) DEBTS {BETS}*<=>{r..nD}

24 Poster about conflict gets prize (5) AWARD {A{WAR}D}

25 Perhaps, an introvert left one, right? (5) LONER {L}{ONE}{R}

26 Capital obtained from Barbados lodge (4) OSLO [T]

Reference List

Husband = H, American = A, Previous partner = EX, European = E, Ship = SS, University = U, Sailor = SALT, Poster = AD, Left = L, Right = R