No 14696, Wednesday 21 Jan 2026, Arden

Solution to 22D 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

9   Crucify people in the wrong (7) TORMENT {TOR{MEN}T}

10 Empty vessel interrupting a game (7) PARKOUR {P{ARK}OUR}

11 Part of steel bonnet to reclaim honour (7) ENNOBLE [T<=]

12 Protected circle giving the glad eye (7) LEERING {LEE}{RING}

13 The devil gets credit - is he looking after the church affairs? (9) SACRISTAN {SA{CR}{IS}TAN}

15 Game on a flat dry ground (5) PLAYA {PLAY}{A}

16 First of all, can you prevent the commotion over a Greek dialect? (7) CYPRIOT {Can}{You}{Pr...t}{RIOT} What's the role of OVER?

19 Serious listener's abode (7) EARNEST {EAR}{NEST}

20 Ridicule the occasional calumny in Times (5) TAUNT {T}{cAlUmNy}{T}

21 Overwhelmed as association lets us in (9) AWESTRUCK {AS}{TRUCK} over {WE}

25 Containers for clubs' bearers, perhaps (7) CADDIES [DD]

26 Is he against work? That's the question (7) OPPOSER {OP}{POSER}

28 Blimp goes abroad - Paris gets a greeting (7) AIRSHIP {AIRS{HI}P*}

29 Advance permits arranged (7) IMPREST*

DOWN

1   Afterwards put in a small capital (6) ATHENS {A}{THEN}{S}

2   Satirical contents - bird song, nice? (6) IRONIC {bIRd}{sONg}{nICe}

3   "Press one for superb"- at the end of it all, one is European (4) SERB Tail Acrostic

4   Declare it's time to stop a match (6) ATTEST {T} in {A}{TEST}

5   Cry in the past about grandeur (8) OPULENCE {O{PULE}NCE}

6   Booze on the house for a Bohemian (4,6) FREE SPIRIT [DD]

7   Mention about accepting a label (8) NOMINATE {NOMIN{A}TE*}

8   Show off lifted dress label right inside (8) BRAGGART {GARB<=}{T{R}AG<=} Reversal indicator in the wrong place

14 Visual alarm - activate it and I hit gold! (5,5) IDIOT LIGHT  {IT+I+HIT+GOLD}* 

16 A whale perhaps can protect an alien one (8) CETACEAN {C{ET}{ACE}AN}

17 Rifles - please store below (8) PLUNDERS {PL{UNDER}S} 

18 Patterns used in the arm of a church (8) TRANSEPT* 

22 Foreign state having eat set up (6) E?O?I? 

23 Bad result from Northern Ireland (6) ULSTER*

24 Take care to disrobe - fancy sport? (6) KARATE {TAKE+cARe}* 

27 Story teller's keeping quiet about the bishop of Rome (4) POPE {PO{P}E}

Reference List

Wrong = TORT, Protected = LEE, Credit = CR, Time = T, Association = TRUCK, Work = OP, Small = S, Right = R, Alien = ET, Please = PL, Quiet = P

No 14695, Tuesday 21 Jan 2026, Arden

Solution to 14D 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   Old revolutionary had plenty to provide cover (6) CLOTHE {C{LOT}HE}

4   Going over the top alone is tough, boss (2,6) AL CAPONE {AL{CAP}ONE}

9   A good essay about a port (6) ODESSA [T]

10 Title restricted to those who are not too old, perhaps (8) BARONAGE {BAR ON AGE}

12 Ending the last four months on a luxury ship — a capital chap (8) BERLINER {BER}{LINER}

13 Discontented judge takes a month to find one innocent (6) JEJUNE {JudgE}{JUNE}

15 State the law to be heard at the racing venue (12) INDIANAPOLIS {INDIANA}{(~police)POLIS)

18 After may be brief call, net working — capable of double refraction (12) BIREFRINGENT {BRIEF*}{RING}{NET*} New word for me

21 First breakthrough — a gate crash will land one in hot water (3,3) TEA BAG {Br...h+A+GATE}*

22 Work can be cultivated all around — lovely! (8) ADORABLE {A{DO}RABLE}

24 Destined for gold — patience oddly missing during days outside... (8) ORDAINED {OR}{D}{pAtIeNcE}{D}

25 ...or during service imbroglio (6) MORASS {M{OR}ASS}

26 Cover for 60 seconds stopping dead (8) LAMINATE {L{A MIN}ATE}

27 Harry asks to include a name of state (6) KANSAS {K{A}{N}SAS*}

DOWN

1   Boast a bit about a worn-out horse (4-4) CROW-BAIT {CROW}{A+BIT}*

2   I've order to refuse bypass (8) OVERRIDE*

3   Correct path is isolation to get medical care (15) HOSPITALISATION*

5   Conduct in front (4) LEAD [DD]

6   The malady that ensures people are on a six-an-over disposition (8,7) ANOREXIA NERVOSA* Semi&lit? For a word like this the definition could have been a bit more precise than just Malady

7   Work on a what, in Spain? Not clear at all (6) OPAQUE {OP}{A}{QUE}

8   Every essential equipment empties into a hole (6) EYELET {EverY}{Es...aL}{Eq...nT}

11 Song indeed is late (7) DELAYED {DE{LAY}ED}

14 Hand over in-laws to a fellow traveller (7) ?O?R?D? (Addendum - COMRADE {CO{ARM<=}DE} - See comments) 

16 Is able to switch partners with tribades (8) LESBIANS {IS+ABLE}*{N}{S}

17 Like to restrict work — it's the doubting Thomases (8) ATHEISTS {AS} over {ITS+THE}*

19 Walk-way on top of list (6) STROLL {ST}{ROLL}

20 Timed naturally while some of them rise together (6) TANDEM [T<=]

23 Festivity said to be for an achievement (4) FEAT (~fete) US and British pronunciations of FETE are totally different

Reference List

Work = DO, Gold = OR, Day = D, Name = N, Work = OP, What in Spanish = QUE, Song = LAY, Partners = N(orth),S(outh) in Card game Bridge, Way = ST, List = ROLL

No 14694, Monday 19 Jan 2026, 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

1   The average Joe somehow entertains them (3,2,3,6) MAN IN THE STREET*

10 He owns stock like in the middle of the sea, mostly (5) MASAI {M{AS}AIn}

11 SOS once briefly for getting amorous here at the centre (9) KISSINGER {KISSING}{hERe}

12 Long to get into coach, not in one of the airways (7) TRACHEA {TR{ACHE}Ain}

13 Harry liaises to get some lining material (7) SILESIA*

14 Money is repatriated from Iran, I'd say (5) DINAR [T<=]

16 Instrument protected in the middle of winter is undamaged (9) INVIOLATE {wIN{VIOLA}TEr}

19 Strangely I'm told, even beards become grey for these people (3,6) OLD TIMERS {IM+TOLD}*{bEaRdS} Semi&lit

20 French Nobel laureate backed Bush (5) SUMAC<=

22 Japanese hostesses sent out - sent out of housing estates, perhaps (7) GEISHAS {HousInG+EStAteS}*

25 Snake becomes Greek lover as adjoining characters swap first place (7) MEANDER (-l+m)MEANDER

27 Thing to change before midnight - have some cover for retirement (9) NIGHTGOWN {THING*}{niGht}{OWN}

28 Some of the original image reflected in the fashion capital (5) MILAN [T<=]

29 Fancy coat originates from classification (14) CATEGORISATION* 

DOWN

2   Sat on the fence on a plot filled with soil (9) A?S?A?N?D (Addendum - ABSTAINED {A}{B{STAIN}ED} - See comments)

3   Subject of a cycling holy man in India (5) IRISH (+i)IRISH(-i)

4   Accept a raise and go away (4,1,4) TAKE A HIKE [DD]

5   Reduces like in rear view (5) EASES {AS} in {SEE<=}

6   Twitter is overactive - that amounts to a lot (9) TRILLIONS {TRILL}{I{ON}S}

7   Regularly held - agrees on margins (5) EDGES {hElD+aGrEeS}

8   Stoop shows mistake in time card (7) TERRACE {T}{ERR}{ACE}

9   Displayed emotion over book and encouraged both sides (6) EMOTED {TOME<=}{En...eD}

15 Get chairs arranged for a parliamentary building (9) REICHSTAG*

17 Checks the way people get into habits (9) VESTMENTS {VE{ST}{MEN}TS}

18 Moving drama on sick, old animal... (9) ARMADILLO {DRAMA*}{ILL}{O}

19 ...only about caring for the living (7) ORGANIC {O}{CARING}*

21 My leaders only need another crown (6) CORONA {COR}{Only}{Need}{An...r}

23 Block ready to be rolled - informing others (5) INGOT [T]

24 Small dog has nothing to eat, needs a scrub (5) SCOUR {S}{C{0}UR}

26 Own admission in verbatim - daily reviewed (5) ADMIT [T<=]

Reference List

Time = T, Way = ST(street), Old = O, Only = OMy = COR, Small = S

Special, Sunday 18 Jan 2026, Veeyares

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)

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 39, Sunday 18 Jan 2026, Vidwan

ACROSS

1   Keep an eye on space around metal wheels (7) MONITOR {RO{TIN}OM}<=

5   Shaman loses head, chasing large reptile (6) LIZARD {wIZARD}{<=>{L}

10 Democrat breaking new ground, initially covered Australia and New Zealand (4,5) DOWN UNDER {D}{NEW+gROUND}*

11 Almost contain exposed rock damage (5) HAVOC {HAVe}{rOCk}

12 Officer mostly wears good perfume (7) COLOGNE {COLO{G}ONEl}

13 A comrade male MLA for instance (7) ACRONYM {A}{CRONY}{M} [DBE]

14 One whose conviction lasts the longest (5) LIFER [CD]

16 Suffering consumption every single game! (9) PAINTBALL {PAIN}{TB}{ALL} Anno for TB not clear See comments 

18 How may a feline suspect a trick? (5,1,3) SMELL A RAT [C&DD]

20 He replaces easel in never-ending board game (5) CHESS C(-easel+he)HESS

22 State of fashionable princess (7) INDIANA {IN}{DIANA}

24 Strips to make fun of a snooty fellow from the east (7) RIBBONS {RIB}{SNOB<=}

26 Union Point (5) NORTH [DD] Union/North(USA during Civil War) needs  to be specified further

27 Fellow dumped beautiful bride checking good way to catch flight! (3,6) AIR BRIDGE {fAIR}{BRID{G}E}

28 English 'crossword' for every setting essentially (6) EXPERT {E}{X}{PER}{setTing} Definition?

29 Breaking News! Sit and watch! (7) WITNESS*

DOWN

1   Degree doctor claimed (7) MEDICAL* Semi&lit

2   Jack buried treasure south of Norway's post (5) NEWEL {jEWEL}<=>{N}

3   Eeriness - tramp turning into registered nurse! (7) TRUDGER {TRUDGE}{ER} Definition seems incorrect. Why turning into? Plus there is an extra E (Correction -  (TRUDGER+EERINESS}*=REGISTERED NURSE [CA] - See comments) 

4   Salad symbolising communist spirit for everyone (3,6) RED PEPPER {RED}{PEP}{PER}

6   Receive from predecessors in their shifts (7) INHERIT {IN}{THEIR*}

7   Use lead (9) ADVANTAGE [DD]

8   Based on ten medical works (7) DECIMAL*

9   Plant food from our earth (4) UREA [T]

15 I felt endless pride, flying for expedition (5,4) FIELD TRIP {I+FELT+PRIDe}(*

17 Wring toe possibly to thrive on each other (9) INTERGROW {WRING+TOE}* Second R from?

18 Discipline based on logic, not against sense of morality (7) SCIENCE [CD] (Correction - conSCIENCE - See comments)

19 Manufacturing the real suede (7) LEATHER*

20 Club occasionally admits having a bar! (7) CABARET {C}{ET} over {A}{BAR} ET from? Where's the definition? (Correction - {aCcEpT} over {A}{BAR} - See comments)

21 Extremely tenuous, messy, unstable structures (7) SYSTEMS {Te...uS+MESSY}*

23 Nadal goes back a long distance (4) AFAR<=

25 Elder is awkward to idolise (5) OLDIE {OLDIE+IS}*=IDOLISE

Reference List

Large = L, Democrat = D, Good = G, Male = M, Fashionable = IN, Fellow = F, English = E, Jack = J, Norway = N, 

No 14693, Saturday 17 Jan 2026, VMA Nair

ACROSS

1   Employee breaks case of salty drink made of beer and lemonade (6) SHANDY {Sal{HAND}tY}

4   Attendant's husband and new child introduced to retired celebrity (8) HENCHMAN {H} and {N}{CH} in {NAME<=}

9   South-eastern state backing small organizations (6) SETUPS {SE}{PUT<=}{S}

10 Suspend professional villain (8) PROROGUE {PRO}{ROGUE}

12 Complain to Saint John about arrangements between automobile owners (3,5) CAR POOLS {CARP} with {S}{LOO}<=

13 Ancestral home bordered by grassland close to capital (6) LINEAL {L{IN}EA}{c...aL}

15 Cafe owner and others retrospectively regret limiting quality time (12) RESTAURATEUR {REST}{RUE<=} over  {AURA}{T}

18 Delivery director is selflessly training kid inside (12) DISTRIBUTION {D}{IS}{T{RIB}UiTION}

21 Grab a brood of chickens (6) CLUTCH [DD]

22 City girl gave faulty plugs (3,5) LAS VEGAS {LAS{GAVE*}S}

24 After an exclamation of disbelief, setter cracks exam in class (8) TUTORIAL {TUT}{OR{I}AL}

25 Some famous Tanzanian verse (6) STANZA [T]

26 Old post office gets positive publicity (8) EXPOSURE {EX}{PO}{SURE}

27 Covered vacant Vietnamese food shop counter (6) VEILED {Vi...sE}{DELI<=}

DOWN

1   Part of window crashed so badly after striking base (4,4) SASH CORD {CRASHeD+SO}*

2   Spymaster is knowingly concealing star shaped mark (8) ASTERISK [T]

3   Trump ultimately sharing funny old comic strip featuring American embassy staff (10,5) DIPLOMATIC  CORPS {t..mP} in {OLD+COMIC+STRIP}* over {A}

5   Make betatron regularly (4) EARN bEtAtRoN

6   Personal account? (10,5) CURRICULUM VITAE [CD]

7   Lure Mossad's top agent somehow (6) MAGNET {Mo...d}{AGENT}*

8   Want endless support for pointer (6) NEEDLE {NEED}{LEg}

11 Plainness of Tripoli, for example, overwhelming Libya (7) CLARITY {C{LAR}ITY}

14 Just fasten hinges around this almost entirely (7) ETHICAL {LACE}<= over {THIs}

16 Cross second round target without trace of nervousness (8) DIAGONAL {AID<=}{GO{Ne...s}AL}

17 Aunt's kid excitedly leaving university after getting a little narrow tray for holding pens (8) INKSTAND {AuNTS+KID}* over {Na...w}

19 Tool for cutting piece of some extremely costly article (6) SCYTHE {Some}{Co..lY}{THE}

20 Brawl in elevated place near subway (4-2) BUST-UP {PUT}{SUB}<=

23 Reasonable price, so it's said (4) FAIR (~fare)

Reference List

Husband = H, New = N, Child = CH, Small = S, Saint = S, John = LOO, Time = T, Director = D, Base = E, American = A, University = U

No 14693, Saturday 17 Jan 2026, VMA Nair

 ACROSS
1 Employee breaks case of salty drink made of beer and lemonade (6) SHANDY {HAND} in {SaltY}

4 Attendant's husband and new child introduced to retired celebrity (8) HENCHMAN {H}{E{N}{CH}MAN<}
9 South-eastern state backing small organizations (6) SETUPS {SE}{PUT<}{S}
10 Suspend professional villain (8) PROROGUE {PRO}{ROGUE}
12 Complain to Saint John about arrangements between automobile owners (3,5) CAR POOLS {CARP}{S LOO<}
13 Ancestral home bordered by grassland close to capital (6) LINEAL {L{IN}EA}{capitaL}
15 Cafe owner and others retrospectively regret limiting quality time (12) RESTAURATEUR {REST}{RUE<} over {AURA +T}
18 Delivery director is selflessly training kid inside (12) DISTRIBUTION {D}{IS}{T{RIB}UiTION}
21 Grab// a brood of chickens (6) CLUTCH [DD]
22 City girl gave faulty plugs (3,5) LAS VEGAS {LASS} around {GAVE}*

24 After an exclamation of disbelief, setter cracks exam in class (8) TUTORIAL {TUT}{OR{I}AL}
25 Some famous Tanzanian verse (6) STANZA [T]

26 Old post office gets positive publicity (8) EXPOSURE {EX}{PO}{SURE}
27 Covered vacant Vietnamese food shop counter (6) VEILED {VietnamesE}{DELI<}

DOWN
1 Part of window crashed so badly after striking base (4,4) SASH CORD {CRASHeD SO}*
2 Spymaster is knowingly concealing star shaped mark (8) ASTERISK [T]
3 Trump ultimately sharing funny old comic strip featuring American embassy staff (10,5) DIPLOMATIC CORPS {trumP} inside {OLD COMIC STRIP}* around {A}
5 Make betatron regularly (4) EARN {bEtAtRoN}
6 Personal account? (10,5)   CURRICULUM VITAE [CD]
7 Lure Mossad's top agent somehow (6) MAGNET {Mossad}{AGENT}*
8 Want endless support for pointer (6) NEEDLE {NEED}{LEg}
11 Plainness of Tripoli, for example, overwhelming Libya (7) CLARITY {C}{LAR}ITY} LAR=Libyan Arab Republic
14 Just fasten hinges around this almost entirely (7) ETHICAL {LACE<} around {THIs}
16 Cross second round target without trace of nervousness (8) DIAGONAL {AID<}{GO{Nervousness}AL}
17 Aunt's kid excitedly leaving university after getting a little narrow tray for holding pens (8) INKSTAND {AuNT'S KID}* around {Narrow}

19 Tool for cutting piece of some extremely costly article (6) SCYTHE {Some}{CostlY}{THE}

20 Brawl in elevated place near subway (4-2) BUST-UP {PUT}{SUB}<
23 Reasonable price, so it's said (4) FAIR {~FARE}

REFERENCE LIST

Husband=H, New=N, Child=Ch, South=S, Eastern=E, Small=S, Professional=Pro, Saint=S, Time=T, Director=D, Self=I, Setter=I, Post Office=PO, Base=e, American=A, University=U

Special, Friday 16 Jan 2026, Dr Satyen Nabar

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)

Solutions will be available in the grid after 1 PM.

Enjoy.

No 14692, Thursday 15 Jan 2026, Crossant

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 1A 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   Father cycling in race - it's not hard (6) F?O?P? (Addendum FLOPPY {(-p)OP(+p)P} in {FLY} - See comments)

4   University boys arrested by centre, causing uproar (6) HUBBUB {H{U}{BB}UB}

8   Coffee maker is behind counter, try Americano to start with (7) BARISTA {IS}<=>{BAR} with {Try}{Am...o}

9   Generally American partner controls resources centrally (7) USUALLY {US}{ALLY} over {r..oUr..s}

11 Picked up writing material at the same place (10) STATIONARY (~stationery)

12 Slowly move part of foot (4) INCH [DD]

13 "It's dangerous", he sums up (5) ADDER [DD]

14 Play favourite track entertaining everybody right in the beginning (5,3) PETER PAN {PET}{PAN} over {Ev...y}{Ri..t}

16 Entertaining cricket from both sides, one over to go (8) FUNCTION {FUN}{Cr...eT}{1{ON}

18 Doctor, tea or coffee? (5) MOCHA {MO}{CHA}

20 Fellow with topless model seeking excitement (4) FAST {F}{cAST}

21 Captivated by overtures from unknown, pretty looking blondes perhaps (10) SPELLBOUND{Un...n+Pr...y+Lo...g}+BLONDES}*}

23 Is fit after suspicion of damaged hamstring (7) DISABLE {IS}{ABLE}<=>{Da...d}

24 Romantic morning at Gold Valley finally (7) AMATORY {AM}{AT}{OR}{v...eY}

25 Miss Hermoine will eventually back Harry (6) NEEDLE {NEED} with {h...nE}{wilL}<=

26 Associate member of embassy lacking etiquette from the beginning (6) ATTACH ATTACHe

DOWN

1   Spread quickly, spread by influencers essentially (5) FEAST {F{i...uEn...s}AST}

2   Trial version put up covers one technical topic initially missed (7) OMITTED {DEMO<=} over {1}{Te...l}{To..c}

3   Vessel to serve bit of rice with Indian stew (9) POTPOURRI {POT}{POUR}{Rice}{I}

5   Retract comment supporting French article (5) UNSAY {SAY}<=>{UN}

6   Bizarre plastic container for coals (7) BRAZIER*

7   Accountant from the East enters party with a very American hat (9) BALACLAVA {BAL{CA<=}L}{A}{V}{A}

10 Saw what he used ?! (9) CARPENTER [CD/GK]

13 A time to switch sides to get praise (9) ADULATION {A}{DU(-r+l)LATION}

15 It's up to management executives basically to check period for completion of task (4,5) TIME LIMIT {{IT<=}{Ma...t}{Ex...s}{LIMIT}

17 Bedtime? Time for cheese perhaps (7) COTTAGE {COT}{T}{AGE}

19 Leaving extremely scenic Costa Rica - fantastic country (7) CROATIA {COsTA+RIcA}*

21 Shrub in Dallas with top pruned badly (5) SALAL dALLAS*

22 Neither partner conceding at that point (5) NORTH {NOR}{THat}

Reference List

University = U, Boy = B, Fellow = F, Gold = OR, Indian = I, French article = UN,  Very = V, Time = T, AGE

No 14691, Wednesday 14 Jan 2026, Mythical

HAPPY PONGAL

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 26A 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   Members of Parliament sent back message online (5) EMAIL<=

7   Ordered tunics, extremely chic and short (8) SUCCINCT {TUNICS+ChiC}*

10 Naughty kid falling off dickey seat somehow finds precious stone (4,3) CATS EYE {diCkEY+SEAT}*

11 Knight abandoning folk and a lady? That's right! (7) ETHICAL {ETHnIC}{A}{L}

12 Greek character charges plagiarists (7) PIRATES {PI}{RATES}

13 Welcome revolutionary writer joined by supporter at church (7) EMBRACE {ME<=}{BRA}{CE}

14 Admired Rose (11) APPRECIATED [DD]

19 Some diplomat! He is truly a rationalist (7) ATHEIST [T]

21 Dismiss a small-time cheater essentially in card game (7) CANASTA {CAN}{A}{S}{T}{cheAter}

23 This could endanger perhaps when pin's finally removed (7) GRENADE {ENDAnGER}* &lit

25 Bank branch faced with strike (7) RAMPART {PART}<=>{RAM}

26 The blue ocean set frequently shown on TV (8) ?E?E?A?T (Addendum - TELECAST ThE+bLuE+oCeAn+SeT - See comments))

27 Secures loose openings, checks kitchen shutters primarily (5) LOCKS Acrostic

DOWN

1   Basmati rice cooked without soaking it methodically at first - that could be the source of digestive problems (8) BACTERIA {BAsmATi+RICE}*

2   Consumer court checks legal claim (6) CLIENT {C{LIEN}T}

3   Fools supported by school, auditor's suggested review (10) ASSESSMENT {ASSES}{S}{(~meant)MENT}

4   An extremely common issue - ultimately a problem for teenagers (4) ACNE {A}{Co..oN}{i..uE}

5   Bill joins American secret service - it has several branches? (6) ACACIA {AC}{A}{CIA}

6   Goes cycling around California to get away (6) ESCAPE {(+es)ESPE(-es)} over {CA}

8   People discourage one going out for a little alcohol (7) INHABIT INH(-i+a)ABIT

9   Fast-moving ships (5) FLEET [DD]

13 Remove vital parts from tea-service needing repair (10) EVISCERATE*

15 Most strait-laced companion for Archbishop (7) PRIMATE {PRIm}{MATE}

16 Kill injured asp seen in trench (8) DISPATCH {DI{ASP*}TCH}

17 Occasionally visited Coal Region for consignment (5) CARGO {CoAl_ReGiOn}

18 Accountant cuts up plant (6) CACTUS {CA{CUTS*}

20 Reportedly mended shoes like stilettos (6) HEELED (~healed)

22 Smart doctor gets into line deviously (6) NIMBLE {NI{MB}LE*}

24 Prepared Arabic cheese (4) EDAM<=

Reference List

Knight = N, Lady = L, Supporter = BRA, Church = CE, Small = S, Time = T, Court = CT, School = S, Bill = AC, American = A, California = CA, Accountant = CA, Doctor = MB

No 14690, Tuesday 13 Jan 2026, Gridzilla

Solution to 10D 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   High in just one drink? (6) STONED [T]

4   In retrospect, some can't set a limit with it (6) LATEST [T<=]

8   Put off by boring title song (7) DELAYED {DE{LAY}ED}

9   If nothing else, eat salt at sea (2,5) AT LEAST*

11 After sex change, became more cheerful or panicky? (10) FRIGHTENED (-b+f)FRIGHTENED 

12 Always strong at heart (4) EVER sEVERe

13 Fun subject describing how to get off a mailing list, briefly (5) UNSUB [T]

14 Got on board an old vessel to fix nets (8) EMBARKED {EMB{ARK}ED}

16 Agreed with ladies at base (3,1,4) ITS A DEAL*

18 Teaching remains unchanged, written in English or Arabic (5) TENET <=>

20 Went back a long way (4) DEEP<=

21 How to make tension permanent? (3,2,5) SET IN STONE {TENSION}* [RA]

23 One is involved in stocks and accounts (7) STORIES {STOR{1}ES}

24 Noteworthy island capital - one situated in Asia, basically (7) NICOSIA Acrostic &lit

25 Mountain in Germany having one way to go over (6) DENALI {D}{LANE<=}{1} ( Correction {D}{1+ LANE<=} - See comments)

26 Mother dear set out to save daughter (6) TERESA {dEAR+SET}*

DOWN

1   Steep cut announced (5) SHEER (~shear)

2   Fruit obtained from fields near ocean (7) ORANGES {RANGES}<=>{O} O/Ocean?

3   Charming Democrat's running and likely to be voted in (9) ELECTABLE dELECTABLE

5   After cycling, poet fed the kitty (5) ANTED (-d)ANTE(+d)D

6   Reportedly, writer's most uninterested in contacts, etc (7) EYEWEAR {(~i)EYE}{WEARy}

7   A type of foodie challenge with eats you can bank on? (5,4) TASTE TEST {EATS}* [Letter Bank]

10 Where can you possibly see Ali, as a matter of fact? (2,7) ?N ?E?L?T? 

13 Turned up to have lunch - That's natural (9) UNTREATED {UNTER{EAT}ED*}

15 Bane of one tribe at war with enemy essentially (4,5) BETE NOIRE {ONE+TRIBE+enEmy}*

17 Endless craving for drug (7) ASPIRIN ASPIRINg

19 Spooner's point? Nothing is taboo! (3,4) NOT DONE (dot none to not done)

21 Man in market supplies perfume (5) SMELL {S{M}ELL}

22 Currency of Iran collapsed, followed by agitations primarily (5) NAIRA {IRAN}*{Ag...s}

Reference List

Song = LAY, Sex = B(oy), F(emale), Germany = D, Daughter = D, Democrat = D, Man = M

No 14689, Monday 12 Jan 2026, Vidwan

Solution to 7D 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

9   One who reproves sozzled pub attacker (9) UPBRAIDER {PUB*}{RAIDER}

10 Under new form of hate (5) NEATH {N}{HATE*}

11 Universal good and a new person like Idi Amin (7) UGANDAN {U}{G}{AND}{A}{N}

12 Almost induce twitch and burning (7) CAUSTIC {CAUSe}{TIC}

13 Not ok! Taunting love! It is wrong, cold and bigoted! (10) JINGOISTIC {JokING}{O}{IT+IS}*{C}

14 First class backward place (4) TOPS<=

16 Lady there perhaps with sadness (15) BROKENHEARTEDLY {LADY+THERE}* [RA]

20 Flair in Semite languages (4) ELAN [T]

21 Climbing and thieving one art club rag, perhaps (3,7) CAT BURGLAR* 

25 Medieval dynasty welcomed English royal, a deadly killer of yore (7) CHOLERA {CHOL{E}{R}A}

26 A timeline followed by Santa, leaving small city in USA (7) ATLANTA {A}{T}{L}{sANTA}

27 Maharishi Vashishta's a yogi! (5) SHIVA [T]

28 Honours contract mostly and millions rain! (9) HAILSTORM {HAILS}{TORn}{M}

DOWN

1   Dishing out PJ in bar is a plan to deceive (3-2,3) PUT-UP JOB {OUT+PJ}* in {PUB}

2   Get old British coach right away! (6) OBTAIN {O}{B}{TrAIN}

3   Large and royal, complete car (9) LANDROVER {L}{AND}{R}{OVER}

4   American professor is a handsome young man (6) ADONIS {A}{DON}{IS}

5   Parasite! Star kid regularly ignored friend! (8) TRICHINA {sTaR+kId}{CHINA}

6   Trunk made of tin on sale (5) SNOUT {SN}{OUT} On sale = OUT?

7   Choke vehicular capacity, perhaps for dark chocolate! (8) ?A?T?O?D (Addendum - CARTLOAD {CARTLOAD+CHOKE}*=DARK CHOCLATE [CA] - See comments))

8   Sips drinks hot bearing a disappointing expression (6) SHUCKS {S{H}UCKS}

15 Clean lid, possibly for distilleries (9) STERILISE {STERILISE+LID}*=DISTILLERIES

17 Talk for the most part on love, endless turmoil and a piece of religious music (8) ORATORIO {ORATe}{O}{RIOt}

18 Ambassador, a backsliding scoundrel, he's a typical pain! (8) HEADACHE {HE}{A}{CAD<=}{HE}

19 Overturned horse cart with hands and parts of a sail (8) YARDARMS {DRAY<=}{ARMS}

20 Starts to exploit new chartered accountant, someone hedging to make money (6) ENCASH Acrostic

22 Black reptile returns, covering distance of an Amazonian state (6) BRAZIL {B}{LIZARd} D/Distance?

23 Tongues caught in roiling osculation (6) LINGOS [T]

24 One who runs back to run through again (5) RECAP<=

Reference List

New = N, Universal = U, Good = G, Cold = C, English = E, Royal = R, Time = T, Line = L, Small = S, Millions = M, Old = O, British = B, Right = R, Large = L, Hot = H, Ambassador = HE, Black = B