No 14804, Wednesday 27 May 2026, Vidwan

 Solution to 1D 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   No loud part for someone like Tom Hanks (5) ACTOR fACTOR

4   One's school shift interrupted by female parent (4,5) ALMA MATER {AL{MAMA}TER}

9   Fitting a specialist job? Nearly! (7) APROPOS {A}{PRO}{POSt}

10 Plants explosive in a small car (7) ARNICAS {IN+A+S+CAR}*

11 Tree found in backward sacred lands (5) ALDER [T<=]

13 Like having slightly bulky core muscles (3) ABS {A{Bu..y}S}

15 Regularly flying in an order (5) ALIGN {A{fLyInG}N}

16 They banned English for you in the past (3) THY THeY

17 Tense, nervous youngsters (5) TEENS*

18 Volcanic rock, almost elementary (5) BASAL BASALt 

20 Shift to desired position and sleep around centre of bed (5) RESET {RES{bEd}T}

22 Greek deity of tear-jerking love (5) ERATO {TEAR*}{O}

23 Unhappy leader sent back for promotions (3) ADS (-s)AD(+s)S

24 Palindromic rule (5) TENET <=>

25 Hundred not out! (3) TON*

26 King looked set in harmony (5) KEYED {K}{EYED}

27 Star in race, nearly creating cataclysmic waves (7) TSUNAMI {T{SUN}AMIl}

29 Part of shower linen at Spooner's science club (4,3) BATH MAT (~math bat to bath mat)

31 Little less difficult clue! (9) MINUSCULE {MINUS}{CLUE*}

32 Issue with rebel children (5) BELCH [T]

DOWN

1   Whitish flower having lean bean (9) A?A?A?T?R ()

2   Wearily emend, perhaps determinedly! (7) TIREDLY {TIREDLY+EMEND}*=DETERMINEDLY [CA]

3   Almost spellbound by kind of underground music (3) RAP RAPt

4   Like playing games tune for solace (11) ASSUAGEMENT {AS}{GAMES+TUNE}*

5   Objective: Getting back untraceable soldiers (3) MIA<=

6   Lament about black press causing freezing of thought process (6,5) MENTAL BLOCK {LAMENT*}{B}{LOCK}

7   Diplomacy is about cold machinations (7) TACTICS {TACT}{I{C}S}

8   Sinner suffers without new chemical (5) RESIN SInNER*

12 Knock on the door! New start at Tata! (3-1-3-4) RAT-A-TAT-TATS*

14 Liable for legal action over stigma lasting for long (11) SUSTAINABLE {SUABLE} over {STAIN} 

19 Desperate, small time policeman getting into bar (4-5) LAST-DITCH {LA{S}{T}{DI}TCH}

21 Jain nuances perhaps from nice city (3,4) SAN JUAN {SAN+JUAN+NICE}*=JAIN+NUANCES [CA] 

23 A heartless lad, most petty and appalling (7) ABYSMAL {A}{BoY}{SMALl}

24 Symbol of child seems to be regularly ignored (5) TOTEM {TOT}{sEeMs}

28 Barely righteous acknowledgement of debt (3) IOU pIOUs

30 Deep vessel but overturned (3) TUB<=

Reference List

Loud = F, Small = S, English = E, King = K, Black = B, Cold = C, New = N, Time = T, Policeman = DI(Detective Inspector)

No 14803, Tuesday 26 May 2026, Pixie Dust

Solution to 17D 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  Spooner exclaims:"I fall flat for lady!" (6) FEMALE (~me fail to female)

8   Legendary skill? (8) FOOTWORK [CD]

9   What's behind sacrifice? Fatherhood - laying aside past forever! (8) ETERNITY {s...cE}{paTERNITY} PA/Past?

10 Honey producers controlling half a dozen groups (6) BEVIES {BE{VI}ES}

11 Saurashtra's captain, fast bowler's an astronaut (8) SPACEMAN {Sa...a}{PACEMAN}

12 Factor in Archetypal Lord's ashen hue (6) PALLOR [T]

13 A net is used several times in murder? (11) ASSASSINATE {A+NET+IS}* [Letter Bank]

18 Snake swallowed sandwiches, bit of liver and pieces of ears and arms (6) HALDEA {HA{Li..r}D}{Ears}{Arms}

20 Global organisation to drawback? Unfortunate! (8) UNTOWARD {UN}{TO}{DRAW<=}

22 That is Sue's wrapping paper (6) TISSUE [T]

23 Angelic Emma pays Riemann from time to time (8) EMPYREAN {EmMa+PaYs+RiRmAnN}

24 Off guard, Doctor Anu swears, endlessly (8) UNAWARES {ANU+SWEARs}*

25 William for one, cycling around trendy framework (6) LINTEL {(+l)LTEL(-l)} over {IN}

DOWN

1   So, Pat's egocentricity to some extent kept back secret police (7) GESTAPO [T<=]

2   Disallow stands in camps (8) BARRACKS {BAR}{RACKS} Camp would be more of a temporary nature unlike Barracks

3   Close to retirement, mean master escaped monotony (6) TEDIUM {r...nT}{mEDIUM}

4   Cop and Private Investigator with new fix for locks (5,3) BOBBY PIN {BOBBY}{PI}{N}

5   Desperate wives beginning to love swinging around (6) SWIVEL {WIVES}*{Love} Swing or Swinging?

6   Can this impunity hurt Modern Cafe? (7) FREEDOM {FREEDOM+CAN}*=MODERN CAFE [CA]

8   UFOs scare us? (6,7) FLYING SAUCERS {SCARE+US}* [RA]

14 Dilettantes Raman, Stew & Bursa scratching heads and bottoms (8) AMATEURS {rAMAn}{sTEw}{bURSa}

15 Tall model unpaid without embarrassment and remorse at first (8) TOWERING {T}{OW{Em...t}{Re...e}ING}

16 Invalid is not complaining (7) PATIENT [DD]

17 Tumbler acknowledging king's wave (7) ?R?A?E?  (Addendum - BREAKER {B{R}EAKER} - See comments)  

19 Insult criminal now and repudiate (6) DISOWN {DIS}{NOW*}

21 Take in drink for starters - throw-up in party, perhaps losing equilibrium (6) TIPPLE Acrostic

Reference List

Trendy = IN, Master = M, Private Investigator = PI, New = N, Model = T, King = R, Insult = DIS

No 14802, Monday 25 May 2026, Pixie Dust

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   Just qualify brave Joseph from time to time (6) ?F?E?H (Addendum - AFRESH {quAliFy+bRavE+joSepH} - See comments)

5   Millions notice conduit around Universal Psychopathic Hospital (8) MADHOUSE {M}{AD}{HO{U}SE}

9   Is this state of stupor possibly a crisis, son? (8) NARCOSIS {NARCOSIS+IS}*=A CRISIS SON [CA]

10 Bird panting briefly (6) PUFFIN PUFFINg

11 Can pet when repeatedly used find recognition? (10) ACCEPTANCE {CAN+PET}* [Letter Bank]

12 Work is restricted by that man's ambition (4) HOPE {H{OP}E}

13 Forcefully edited story about Naira, (girl on vacation) (8) STRONGLY {STORY}* over {N}{GirL}

16 Observed criminal is deep (6) ESPIED*

17 From the beginning government rejected allotment to independent suppliers for free (6) GRATIS Acrostic

19 Rowdy sipping hot tea, say and beginning to spout opinions (8) THOUGHTS {T{H}OUGH}{(~tea)T}{Sp..t}

21 Leader in Myanmar (as televised) backtracking (4) TSAR [T<=]

22 Indiscriminately eat mince pie endlessly in frustration (10) IMPATIENCE  {EAT+MINCE+PIe}*

25 Fraud alert when time is right (3,3) RIP OFF (-t+r)RIP OFF

26 Impractical Fellow (8) ACADEMIC [DD]

27 Encounters meekest lions (Gasp!) every now and then (8) MEETINGS {MeEkEsT+lIoNs+GaSp}

28 Torn piece hanging loose from post at terminal (6) TATTER [T]

DOWN

2   Currency is unrestricted as per auditor (5) FRANC (~frank)

3   Pixie Dust's upset with extremely contemptible European host (5) EMCEE {ME<=}{Co...lE}{E}

4   #Henry's terribly aghast! (7) HASHTAG {H}{AGHAST*} 

5   Queen of England getting hold of boy's handiwork (7) MASONRY {MA{SON}RY}

6   Bankrupt? Cancel entertaining Penny (7) DEPLETE {DE{P}LETE}

7   Ready-made for one who has stopped drinking? (3-3-3) OFF-THE-PEG [DD]

8   Most inadequate, I kiss temp awkwardly (9) SKIMPIEST*

14 Trust Neil building a mechanical gate (9) TURNSTILE*

15 Hardy cycling around more haphazardly, furthest from the center (9) OUTERMOST {(-st)OUT(+st)ST} over {MORE}*

18 Small argument and workers lost head in set (7) STIFFEN {S}{TIFF}{mEN}

19 Spooner says, " Skip tasteless articles for formal headwear!" (3,4) TOP HATS (~hop tats to top hats)

20 Banished cats? (7) OUTCAST {CATS}* [RA]

23 Deny right away and deport (5) EJECT rEJECT

24 Crossing borders of America illegally is felony (5) CRIME aMERICa* Semi&lit

Reference List

Millions = M, Notice = AD, Universal = U, Naira = N, Hot = H, Time = T, Right = R, European = E, Henry = H, Penny = P, Small = S

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 57, Sunday 24 May 2026, Incognito

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)

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Friend confirms as true and talks (8) PALAVERS {PAL}{AVERS}

5   Churchman tense, perhaps, taking gold (6) PASTOR {PAST}{OR}

10 Eva is chaperoned to some extent (5) PERON [HIPS]

11 Toy Papa put down before nightshift (9) PLAYTHING {P}{LAY}{NIGHT*}

12 Poetry collection includes old names (6) SONNET {S{O}{N}{N}ET}

13 Legendary land at end of tunnel is giving shelter to soldier (8) ATLANTIS {AT}{t...eL}{IS} over {ANT}

15 President's joke about sex appeal backfired (5) PUTIN {PU{IT<=}N}

17 Equine sounds by boy, our next door resident (9) NEIGHBOUR {NEIGH}{B}{OUR}

19 Something said to wish luck to an actor, but perhaps not to a dancer (5,1,3) BREAK A LEG [CD]

20 Lowest point for king (5) NADIR [DD]

21 Mom's diet can be bold (8) IMMODEST*

23 Cutting loafs and putting in a bit of fresh variety meats (6) OFFALS {OF{Fr..h}ALS*}

27 Making speed, consumes gin cocktail around 10 (9) HASTENING {HAS}{GIN*} over {TEN}

28 Afterwards, large rat having energy jumped (5) LATER {L}{RAT+E}*

29 Most coy literary moneylender loses security device near estate (6) SHYEST {SHYlock}{EST}

30 Right drain remodelled by Ohio physicist at first to get a bit of liquid precipitation? (8) RAINDROP {R}{DRAIN*}{Ohio}{Ph...t}

DOWN

1   Things Sherlock Holmes had used by plumbers (5) PIPES [DD]

2   Gentler to adjust eyeglasses (9) LORGNETTE* 

3   VP's vehicle is in front of church (5) VANCE {VAN}{CE}

4   Some peri-peri peppers may be ready to eat (4) RIPE [T]

6   Confusing a star, Khan produces lambskin with curled wool (9) ASTRAKHAN {A+STAR}*{KHAN}

7   What Oliver may do with someone's arm? (5) TWIST [C&DD]

8   Hospital employee? May be a government officer... (9) REGISTRAR [DD]

9   Separate long and narrow elevation for bird (9) PARTRIDGE {PART}{RIDGE}

14 A client is strangely rigid (9) INELASTIC*

15 Proclaims: "Bar that lady in large part of isle" (9) PUBLISHES {PUB}{L}{I{SHE}Sle}

16 Sends Ken a design showing nudity (9) NAKEDNESS*

18 Skilled painter of yore turned almost red (3,6) OLD MASTER*

22 Cluttered eating place at yard (5) MESSY {MESS}{Y}

24 Fighter joins Musk to manufacture Su-57 for NATO (5) FELON {F}{ELON}

25 Belt parts recycled (5) STRAP*

26 Alcoholics Anonymous covers Greek city (4) AGRA {A{GR}A}

Reference List

Gold = OR, Papa = P, Old = O, Name = N, Boy = B, Large = L, Energy = E, Right = R, Church = CE, Yard = Y, Fighter = F

No 14801, Saturday 23 May 2026, Saral

 ACROSS
7 Coach crossing borders of Ecuador landscape (7) TERRAIN {T{EcuadoR}RAIN}
8 Land for cultivation almost lay bare, abandoned (6) ARABLE {LAy BARE}*
9 Pound meat, mostly simple (6) HAMMER {HAM}{MERe}
10 Enthusiastic joker, say is an unexpected entrant (8) WILDCARD {WILD}{CARD}
11 Think new ad stunned producer in the end (10) UNDERSTAND {AD STUNNED produceR}*
13 Vent in yard somewhat small (4) TINY [T]
14 Originally artistic, perfectly styled ecclesiastical (4) APSE [Acrostic] & Lit

16 Bill controlling instrument's opening sound (5) NOISE {NO{Instrument}SE}
18 Wine in plastic (4) ASTI [HIPS]

19 Traces of shimmering mist outside garage pollution (4) SMOG [Acrostic]
21 Improve finally female, male ratio somehow (10) AMELIORATE {femalE MALE RATIO}*
23 Quiet again possibly outside hotel in city (8) SHANGHAI {SH}+{AGAIN}* outside {H}
25 Escape from leader leaving retreat (6) EGRESS {rEGRESS}
26 Finish shift around noon online (6) VENEER {VEER} around {N}{E}
27 Devilish convict suppressing leaders of undertrial cellmates (7) LUCIFER {LIFER} around {Undertrial}{Cellmates}

DOWN

1 To begin with play two notes before debut (8) PREMIERE {Play}{RE}{MI}{ERE}
2 Ford, perhaps covering head, tailing German troops (8) GARRISON {hARRISON}<=>{G}
3 Blizzard? Initially shovel right away (4) SNOW {Shovel}{NOW}
4 A daughter following dance and song (6) BALLAD {A}{D}<=>{BALL}
5 Post describing company symbol (6) MASCOT {MAS{CO}T}

6 Drink consuming smart music maker (8) CLARINET {CLAR{IN}ET}

7 Mark, say in wagon behind bar (5) TWAIN {WAIN}<=>{T}

12 Amateur moaned aloud? Secretly! (5) ASIDE {A}{SIDE}(~SIGHED)
15 Maybe help a politician with essentially voter notice (8) PAMPHLET {HELP A MP}*{voTer}
17 Proof from new church supporting first lady having papers (8) EVIDENCE {N}{CE}<=>{EV{ID}E}
18 Flier in A-one barge carrying empty car (8) AIRCRAFT {A1}{RAFT} around {CaR}
20 Friend in gang occasionally wheeling goose (6) GANDER {fRiEnD iN gAnG}<
21 Join a discussion from the beginning in this place (6) ADHERE {A}{Discussion}{HERE}
22 Spot a sergeant holding weapon (5) TASER [T]

24 Jobless International director left capital of Europe (4) IDLE {I}{D}{L}{Europe}

REFERENCE LIST

Quiet=Sh, Hotel=H, Noon=N, Online=E, Notes=RE and MI, German=G, Daughter=D, Company=CO, Smart=In, Amateur=A, Politician=MP, New=N, Church=CE, Papers=ID, International=I, Director=D, Left=L.

No 14800, Friday 22 May 2026, Karaoke

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   Scene at the end maybe premature end? (5,8) DEATH SENTENCE*

9   Life in Beirut occasionally could be without issue (9) INFERTILE {LIFE+IN+bEiRuT}*

10 Reportedly he brings charges against channel (5) SEWER (~suer)

11 Lady supervisor cooking roti and naans mainly in dining hall (9) MONITRESS {ROTI+Naans}* in {MESS}

12 A plant originally camouflaged insect (5) APHID {A}{Pl..t}{HID}

13 Act fine, finishing off, get the weapon used by police (5) LATHI {LAw}{THIn}

14 Bury husband inside with a woman especially wearing nothing (2,3,3) IN THE RAW {INT{H}ER}{A}{W}

18 Heartily takes panties off in a mental hospital (8) SNAKEPIT {taKes+PANTIES}* Enu should be (5-3) as per Chambers

19 Struggle to clear elementary school? Take test again (5) RESIT RESIsT

21 Goes steady with fruits (5) DATES [DD]

23 He cashes in on old vehicle essentially in problem with petrol (9) EXPLOITER {EX} and {vehIcle} in {PETROL}*

24 Watch fire, let off steam inside for cured meat (5) BACON {BeACON} Watch fire? Signal fire I have heard

25 Nicotine usage keeps health ultimately at risk (2,4,3) ON THIN ICE {NICOTINE}* over {h...tH}

26 Shopping bag weighs a ton and moves impressively (4,4,1,4) GOES WITH A BANG*

DOWN

1   Maybe the Latin rectified modern English (8,7) DEFINITE ARTICLE {LATIN+RECTIFIED}*{E}

2   Voice box for blitzkrieg (3,6) AIR STRIKE {AIR}{STRIKE}

3   Author of Hotel upset with Emily on vacation (6) HAILEY {Ho..l}{AIL}{EmilY}

4   Church service is all the same, no good (8) EVENSONG {EVEN}{SO}{N}{G}

5   Inventor's writing tablet recycled (5) TESLA {(+te)TESLA(-te)} 

6   When ghost train with passenger in the middle crashes that surprises me (3,6,1,5) NOW THERES A THING* {WHEN+GHOST+TRAIN+p..sEn..r}*

7   Dear friend regularly dropped and made a booboo (5) ERRED {dEaR+fRiEnD}

8   Frequent flyers earn them while travelling to exotic Israel with family essentially (3,5) AIR MILES {ISRAEL+faMIly}*

15 Mohican dancing around Arabic music maker (9) HARMONICA {MOHICAN}*{AR}

16 Bird with weather-beaten neck mainly (8) WATERHEN {WEATHER}*{Neck}

17 Bite loaf at sea, It may be your source of survival (8) LIFEBOAT*

20 Photograph that revealed a small ulcer (6) APHTHA [T]

21 Maiden appearance, good for model, correct? (5) DEBUG DEBU(-t+g)G

22 Wines brewed for stamina (5) SINEW*

Reference List

Husband = H, Woman = W, English = E, No = N, Good = G, Arabic = AR, Model = T

No 14799, Thursday 21 May 2026, Gussalufz

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.

BY GEORGE!

ACROSS

1   European in hurry, cycling for show (5) USHER {E} in {(-r)USH(+r)R}

4   Supported revolutionary Polish pacifist, right? (5,4) TIDED OVER {EDIT<=}{DOVE}{R}

9   West Indian player's style: play flamboyantly well, chasing century (7) CALYPSO {PLAY*}{SO}<=>{C}

10 Chest scratched on both sides? Characteristic of fretfulness (7) COFFRET [T]

11 Man, perhaps I'm boring, overly fussy (6) ANIMAL {AN{IM}AL}

12 Stick slice of orange in bread—pastry! (8) NAPOLEON {NA{POLE}{Or...e}N

14 Gluttons slurp revoltingly, guzzling gallons (4) PIGS {S{G}IP<=}

15 Worried if flu U-turn is something not likely to yield (10) UNFRUITFUL*

18 With constraints dropped, Agent-I lessened courteous behaviour (10) GENTILESSE [T] Not exactly constraints that are dropped?

19 Till supply ends / first of February (4) FARM {ARM}<=>{Fe...y}

22 Unethical lab won; safeguards partially retracted? Swell! (8) SNOWBALL [T<=]

24 Popcorn ABC? (6) CARBON {CORN+AB}*

26 Firm absurdly leaden, time to intervene (2,5) AL DENTE {LEADEN}* over {T}

27 Exciting undergarment and new shirt, after six (7) VIBRANT {BRA}{N}{T}<=>{VI}

28 Deodorise extravagantly around centre of navel, conceding, "I used too much" (9) OVERDOSED {DEODORiSE}* over {naVel}

29 Dog//fighter? (5) BOXER [DD]

DOWN

1   Release snake under bulk of relative (7) UNCLASP {ASP}<=>{UNCLe}

2   Continuing with unfinished holy dip? No, god no! (7,2) HOLDING ON {HOLy}{DIp}{No}{GOd}{No}

3   Withdraw and go authentic, says Rev. Spooner (6) REPEAL (~pee real to repeal)

4   Excessively large organ (4) TOOL {TOO}{L}

5   A tense detective from the south: "Lock this tyrant!" (10) DICTATRESS {A}{T}{CID}<={TRESS}

6   Flower's top decomposed one day after coming up (8) DAFFODIL {LID}{OFF}{A}{D}<=

7   Very complete bar, special spirit (5) V?R?E (Addendum - VERVE {V}{sERVE} - See comments)

8   It's about parts of kidneys, about part of eye (7) RETINAL {RE{IT<=}NAL}

13 Being not OK with news—sullen, distressed (10) UNWELLNESS*

16 Female hit lovers with torches (9) FLAMBEAUX {F}{LAM}{BEAUX}

17 Stripped and dressed bird, including part of skeleton (8) RIBBONED {RIB{BONE}D*}

18 Bad cops with backing? Nothing touches, say! (7) GESTAPO {O}{PATS}{EG}<=

20 Brute force unleashed by Mrs., often randomly (7) MONSTER {MRS+OfTEN}*

21 Tree regularly seen by a tomb, maybe (6) BAOBAB {By+A+tOmB+mAyBe}

23 Love left to wither, that's nothing new (5) OLDIE {O}{L}{DIE}

25 A film that's intense (4) AVID {A}{VID}

Reference List

European = E, Right = R, Well = SO, Century = C, Gallons = G, Time = T, New = N, Shirt = T, Large = L, Tense = T, Lock = TRESS, Day = D, Very = V, Special = S, Female = F, Force = F, Left = L

No 14798, Wednesday 20 May 2026, Gussalufz

Solution to 28A 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.

FIVE FIRSTS

ACROSS

1   I.A.S.-mess-rejected paneer is cooked for groom (5) PREEN {PaNEER+is}*

4   Think, essentially during rehabilitating, dad's peer lost hope (9) DESPAIRED {thInk}* in {DADS+PEER}*

9   Therefore, time to get into fried roti and rice dish (7) RISOTTO {SO}{T} in {ROTI}*

10 I caught hint of lightheartedness in tear-jerking piece (7) ARTICLE {ART{I}{C}{Li...s}E*}

11 "Am like this" statement of kinky person's sex life (4-10) SELF-EXPRESSION {PERSONS+SEX+LIFE}* {PERSONS+SEX+LIFE}*

12 Has secretly grown stronger (4) OWNS [T]

13 Internal communication terminals? Never send shocking letters (5,4) NERVE ENDS*

17 Brought balance to English squad? Lie, unfortunately (9) EQUALISED {E}{SQUAD+LIE}*

19 So savage, revolting! (4) ERGO<=

22 Typical daily routine, retired father's habit (14) CHARACTERISTIC {CHAR}{ACT}{SIRE<=}{TIC}

25 Muslim League Dr. regularly rejected separation theory? (7) DUALISM {MuSlIm+LeAgUe+Dr}<=

26 Call mum, son's misbehaving (7) SUMMONS*

27 Thought Tendulkar initially did umpiring all around (9) MEDITATED {MEDI{Te...r}ATED}

28 Jam? Badgers not sure (5) P?E?S (Addendum - PRESS PRESsureS - See comments)

DOWN

1   Whisper: "Is cop ethically carrying navy instrument?" (9) PERISCOPE [T]

2   Greek character cycled solo, drinking sip after exercising (7) EPSILON {(+e)ELON(-e)} over {SIP}*

3   Tune cocktail, adding minute bit of ground spice (6) NUTMEG {TUNE}* over {M} and {Gr...d}

4   Dung drips, pong spreads (9) DROPPINGS*

5   Film mount (5) SCALE [DD]

6   Cadet, set target somewhat westward; confirmed? (8) ATTESTED [T<=]

7   Nocturnal creature gallivanting on a croc (7) RACCOON*

8   Outstanding tenor song (4) DUET {DUE}{T}

14 Put right colour on unfinished sweet after flipping (9) REDRESSED {RED}{DESSERt<=}

15 Arrays of small pipes constraining toilet area (9) SHOWCASES {S}{HO{WC}{A}SES}

16 Philanthrope, gangster, one inspired by faith (8) ALTRUIST {AL}{TRU{1}ST}

18 Never listened to you (reportedly) and her frolicking (7) UNHEARD {(~you)U)(AND+HER}*

20 Fury wife unleashed on staff, blowing top for dirty room (7) RATHOLE {wRATH}{pOLE}

21 Stabilise tree stump, cutting 40% off (4,2) FIRM UP {FIR}{stUMP}*

23 Around peak of Olympus, encountered heavenly sight (5) COMET {C}{Ol...s}{MET}

24 Feature gains depth deleting tense reference entry (4) IDEM I(+d-t)DEM

Reference List

Time = T, English = E, Minute = M, Tenor = T, Small = S, Toilet = WC, Area = A, Gangster = AL(Capone), Wife = W, Around = C, Depth = D, Tense = T

No 14797, Tuesday 19 May 2026, Avtaar

Solution to 1D 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   Almost relaxed about conducting children's drill (6) SCHOOL {LOOSe<=} over {CH}

4   Recurrent mistake inhibiting No.1 in Open American championship (8) ESPOUSAL {LAPSE<=} over {Open}{US}

9   Delivery of the French whiskeys reduced by 50% (6) LABOUR {LA}{BOURbons}

10 Non-combatant John defending criminal vilified after disappearance of female editor (8) CIVILIAN {CAN} over {VILIfIed}

11 Following mushy, thick paella Avtaar will calm down (4,1,5,4) TAKE A CHILL PILL {THICK+PAELLA}*{I'LL}

13 Savoury can be chosen after starter for dinner (10) DELECTABLE {ELECTABLE}<=>{Di...r}

14 Ebbing river that is close to Warsaw Embankment (4) WEIR {R}{IE}{w...aW}<=

16 Show rear end of catheter removed from ass (4) MOON MOrON

18 Menacing coach upset by stragglers, finally isolated places for late-comers? (10) GRAVEYARDS {GRAVE}{DRAY<=}{s...rS}

21 Chemical from mobile charging distorted resolution (14) NITROCELLULOSE {NITRO{CELL}ULOSE*}

23 Male model exposed retrograde tendency to play favourites (8) NEPOTISM {M}{SIT}{OPEN}<=

24 Round table made flat on both sides (6) OBLATE {O}{TABLE}*

25 Confirming result briefly on phone (8) ENSURING {ENSUe}{RING}

26 Afternoon school's principal visiting faculty nowhere to be seen (6) ABSENT {A}{B{Sc...l}ENT}

DOWN

1   Deposit left in knife dropped down (4) S?L? (Addendum - SILT S(-l)I(+l)LT - See comments)

2   Spike in upwardly mobile Mongolian Bohemians (7) HOBNAIL [T<=]

3   Old coins from Britain embodying earliest signs of unusually lavish luxury (8) OPULENCE {O}{P{Un...y}{La...h}ENCE}

5   Bent lever is lit to control pressure in instrument (6,5) SPIRIT LEVEL {LEVER+IS+LIT}* over {P}

6   Flyer to Rio leaving borders (6) ORIOLE [T]

7   Party embracing the essence of quick unaided execution (7) SUICIDE {S{qUICk}IDE}

8   Hosts in stadium having come cycling (9) LANDLORDS {L{(-l)AND(+l)L}ORDS}

12 President Brown visited by leader in Idaho introducing a boy (11) CHAIRPERSON {CHA{Id..o}R}{PER}{SON}

13 Work out ending in Korean cinema about absolute authority (9) DOMINANCE {DO}{k...aN+CINEMA}*

15 Shortened course before spot of baked dessert (8) SYLLABUB {SYLLABUs}{Ba..d}

17 Amidst work, actor uncovered organisation with extensive network (7) OCTOPUS {O{aCTOr}PUS}

19 Model again exercising. perhaps with energy, letting pressure off (7) RESHAPE {pERHAPS}*{E}

20 Siren's topless photograph linked to her missing husband (6) HOOTER {sHOOT}{hER}

22 Do without cocaine for semifinal run, say (4) HEAT cHEAT

Reference List

Children = CH, The in French = LA, John = CAN, Female = F, Editor = ED, River = R, Male = M, Afternoon = A, Old = O, Coins from Britain = PENCE, Pressure = P, Energy = E, Husband = H, Cocaine = C

No 14796, Monday 18 May 2026, Bruno

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

1   Special ceremony for fairy (6) SPRITE {SP}{RITE}

4   Documents show public school circumventing copyright? (6) PAPERS {P}{APE}{R}{S}

8   Sear easily on burning range (7) EARSHOT {SEAR}*{HOT}

9   They're gutted when taken in by nurse provider (7) CATERER {CA{Th..rE}RER}

11 Try putting it back on head for warmth (10) HEARTINESS {HEAR}{IT<=}{NESS}

12 Card so far held back shows clover, in the end (4) T?E? (Addendum - TREY {YE{c...eR}T<=} - See comments)

13 Often suppressing secret need for drama (5) SCENE {SeCrEt+NeEd}

14 North African King, starting to convulse, is returned to infirmary (8) SICKROOM {MOOR}{K}{Co...e}{IS}<=

16 Musical composition of devotee starting to thrill continent (8) FANTASIA {FAN}{Th...l}{ASIA}

18 Antarctica's western end: area surrounded by water, you could walk down one (5) AISLE {a...cA}{ISLE}

20 Green part of body that's got teeth (4) GEAR {G}{EAR}

21 Make defensive walls of credit European banks and the Spanish get behind (10) CRENELLATE {CR}{Eu...aN}{EL}{LATE}

23 Injured in the back, hobbling around intensive care, returning often? (7) DECIMAL {LAM{IC}ED}<=

24 One that argues to forbid boxing then intermittently leaving (7) DEBATER {DEBA{ThEn}R}

25 Tension as IT tried regularly to get SAAS contents released (6) STRESS {aS+iT+tRiEd}{SaaS}

26 Avenues not very new, causing anxiety (6) UNEASE AvEnUES*

DOWN

1   Source of oil is old, getting hard as time passes (5) SHALE S(-t+h)HALE

2   Book on verse's translated (7) RESERVE {RE}{VERSE*}

3   Rats without front teeth in shed shooting up empty rafters (3-6) TWO-TIMERS {WO}{Te..h} in {EMIT<=}{Ra...rS}

5   Group from North-Eastern state cycling (5) AMASS (+am)AMASS(-am)

6   Citizen peeled carrot, celery on the counter (7) ELECTOR [T<=]

7   Dock worker's girl walked in, strode out (9) STEVEDORE {EVE} in {STRODE}*

10 Perhaps when hot husband's out traveling, it can become a daily issue (9) NEWSPAPER {PERhAPS+WhEN<=}

13 Quiet amateur at gym - smaller and lacking form (9) SHAPELESS {SH}{A}{PE}{LESS}

15 Drink and fruit containing seeds essentially for lizard (9) CHAMELEON {CHA}{MEL{seEds}ON}

17 Dog's not very energetic at first retriever, maybe? (7) TERRIER RETRIEveR*

19 Noblewoman from America's uppity articles about Lithuania (7) SULTANA {US<=}{AN}{A} over {LT}

21 Boorish and angry orator's starting to be kicked out by head of administration (5) CRASS CR(-o+a)ASS

22 Setter supports article's topic (5) THEME {ME}<=>{THE}

Reference List

Special = SP, Public = P, School = S, Copy = APE, Right = R, King = K, Green = G, Credit = CR, The in Spanish = EL, Intensive care = IC, Very = V, New = N, Hard= H, Time = T, On = RE, Without = WO, Girl = EVE, Hot = H, Husband = H, Quiet = SH