Special, Tuesday 15 Sep 2026, NICE 26 South Zone Finals, On-Stage Round, Extra-C

TWO answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN TWO ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Grid will be updated with solutions after 6 PM.

Enjoy.

Special, Tuesday 15 Sep 2026, NICE 26 South Zone Finals Prelim, Extra-C

TWO answers per commenter till 1 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN TWO ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Grid will be updated with solutions after 1 PM.

Enjoy.

N0 14898, Monday 14 Sep 2026, KrisKross

GANESH CHATHURTHI GREETINGS

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 5A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only 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   After retirement, I could be surrounded by busy, cross, mean folks (8) SCROOGES {EGO<=} in {CROSS}*

5   Blame one catching dogs right away (6) ?C?U?E (Addendum - ACCUSE {AC{CUrS}E} - See comments)

9   Entertain soldiers active in part of Greece (8) RECREATE {RE}{CRE{A}TE}

10 Breathe hot and strong (6) INHALE {IN}{HALE}

12 Young reporter going around on beat exposed very ruthless robber (9) BUCCANEER {CUB<=}{CANE}{vERy}

13 Expression of pain from New Agra hospital (5) AARGH {AGRA}*{H}

14 Most ethical housing - let it stand (4) STET ]T]

16 Thrashing out new IIT coaching (7) TUITION {OUT+N+IIT}*

19 In the end, consuming drug minimally (2,5) AT LEAST {AT L{E}AST}

21 What many eateries never update primarily? (4) MENU Acrostic &lit

24 Perhaps Jerry's inspiration to win Tom's heart (5) MOUSE {M{tOm}USE}

25 Cunning tailors basically amending rates of dresses (9) SARTORIAL {TAILORS+Am...g+Ra..s}*

27 Counter the Muslim pilgrim and the French prophet (6) ELIJAH {HAJI}{LE}<=

28 Play with liberal approach in the auditorium (8) LATITUDE {L}{(~attitude)ATITUDE)

29 Lakhs struggling to grasp old Sanskrit verse (6) SHLOKA {SHL{O}KA*}

30 KrisKross is enthralled by mysterious saints - they believe in spirits (8) ANIMISTS {AN{I'M}ISTS*}

DOWN

1   Copy boarded by extremely secretive writer (6) SCRIBE {S{CRIB}E}

2   Mythical bird about to crack a couple of eggs in a flamboyant style (6) ROCOCO {ROC}{O{C}O}

3   Turn a precious stone over in conclusion (5) OMEGA {A}{GEM}{O}<=

4   Request to come in, remove shoe, finally have food (7) ENTREAT {ENTeR}{EAT}

6   Government and WHO ultimately contain spreading disease (9) CONTAGION {G+whO+CONATIN}*

7   Brave lover, a bit upset, back to attack (8) UNAFRAID {FAN}{Up..t}<={RAID}

8   Treat this animal appallingly to get patent leather (8) ELEPHANT {ELEPHANT+TREAT}*=PATENT LEATHER [CA]

11 Bug in part of instrument (4) FRET [DD]

15 Name two forms of transport around Delaware (9) TRADEMARK {TRA{DE}M}{ARK}

17 Safe house initially missing a member? (8) HARMLESS {Ho..e}{ARMLESS}

18 Washed up mud essentially picked up by everyone with container (8) ALLUVIAL {mUd} in {ALL}{VIAL}

20 Difficult job to eat last bit of murukku, lacking a tooth (4) TUSK {T(-a+u)USK}

21 Plague is awful … starting to ravage millions … absolute ruin! (7) MURRAIN {Ra...e+M+A+RUIN}*

22 Kindles with tips on reading (6) PIQUES (~peaks)

23 Columns broken by large tools (6) PLIERS {P{L}IERS} I don't think PLIERS has a plural

26 Priest leaves stand in disgrace (5) ODIUM pODIUM

Reference List

Soldiers = RE(Royal Engineers), Active = A, Hot = IN, Hospital = H, New = N, Drug = E, The in French = LE, Liberal = L, Old = O, About = C, Over = O, Government = G, Millions = M, Absolute = A, Large = L, Priest = P

The Sunday Crossword No 73, Sunday 13 Sep 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   Reducing trimming of feathers (7,4) CUTTING DOWN [C&DD]

9   Extra-terrestrial and Neil Armstrong initially returned (5) ALIEN {NEIL}{Ar...g}<=

10 Safe after Truman releases an elephant (9) TRUMPETER {PETER}<=>{TRUMan}

11 Plot criminal’s crime (10) CONSPIRACY {CONS}{PIRACY}

12 I’m leaving Tim with old female at youth centre to get food (4) TOFU {Tim}{O}{F}{yoUth}

13 Claw found in hospital once (5) TALON [T]

15 Woo with song and dance, perhaps, Ms. Williams, accompanied by musical notes (8) SERENADE {SERENA}{D}{E}

17 Organisation of brat and punk becomes insolvent (8) BANKRUPT*

19 Violently step on small cockroaches, for example (5) PESTS {STEP}*{S}

22 Destructive flier from Cambridge destroyed in absence of Edgar (4) ICBM  CaMBrIdge*

23 Sam returned with criminal carrying recipe for cheese (10) MASCARPONE {SAM<=}{CA{R}PONE}

26 What Adam was to Eve? One of the ship’s crew! (5,4) FIRST MATE [DD] Did she have a second one?

27 Insertion from Indiana group (5) INSET {IN}{SET}

28 Some savage tribals may be recruiters (4-7) HEAD-HUNTERS [DD]

DOWN

1   Before noon, vehicle goes around one pile of stones (5) CAIRN {N}<=>{CA{1}R}

2   Pet in Reno produces device to cut into can (3,6) TIN OPENER*

3   Trainee flier follows Indian Navy (6) INTERN {TERN}<=>{IN}

4   University in Indian State with revolutionary water colour painting (7) GOUACHE {GO{U}A}{CHE}

5   Loves Pastor’s expression of dismay (4) OOPS {OO}{P'S]

6   Loans ain’t arranged for citizens (9) NATIONALS*

7   Lucky emblem from master with highlander (6) MASCOT {M}{A SCOT}

8   Greek river bird (6) GROUSE {GR}{OUSE}

14 Boy held ring manufactured for famous flier (9) LINDBERGH {B+HELD+RING}*

16 Skill displayed by old Peter is extraordinary (9) EXPERTISE {EX}{PETER+IS}*

17 What the lawyer was hoping to get in the clothing department? (6) BRIEFS [DD]

18 A harp designed with love by husband for ruler (7) PHARAOH {A+HARP}*{O}{H}

20 Yes... In Spain, seat is modified for afternoon nap (6) SIESTA {SI}{SEAT}*

21 Show and hide? (6) SCREEN [DD]

24 I leave oasis and import model kilns (5) OASTS OAS(-i+t)TS

25 Mountain insect returned after end of June (4) ETNA {ANT<=}<=>{junE}

Reference List

Old = O, Female = F, Musical notes = D,E, Small = S, Recipe = R, University = U, Revolutionary = CHE, Pastor = P, Master = M, Greek = GR, Boy = B, Old = EX, Husband = H, Yes in Spanish = SI, Model = T

No 14897, Saturday 12 Sep 2026, Bruno

 ACROSS
1 Farmer often plays around lake in a cheery way (10) PLEASANTLY {P{L}EASANT}{pLaYs}
6 Catch no-good groups of criminals, relapsing (4) SNAG {GANgS<}
9 Most VIPs were wearing hot green for advanced showing (10) PREVIEWING {VIPs WERE}*{G} around {IN}
10 Fish enthusiast reeling second catch (4) TUNA {NUT<}{cAtch}

12 Plain curiosity, when curtailed, can become showy (12) MERETRICIOUS {MERE}{CURIOSITy}*
15 Homeless person's fine eventually, after overcoming bit of overdose (7) FLOATER {F}{LATER} around {Overdose}
16 Modern financial institution - one flirting with disqualification over 1000 dollars! (7) NEOBANK {ONE*}{BAN}{K}
17 Whip bit of egg-white into foam (7) LEATHER {L{Egg-white}ATHER}
19 Element's addition while recovering takes edge off pain (7) SULPHUR {PLUS<}{HURt}

20 Firm and strong bottoms seen on skilled sportsmen basically - you could place cups on them (6,6) COFFEE TABLES {CO}{F}{FEET}{ABLE}{Sportsmen} 

23 Word for stuff announced internally (4) NOUN [HIPS]
24 Slip into neglect that requires less energy (5,5) STRIP LIGHT {TRIP} in {SLIGHT}

25 Tech overlords hiding answer (4) ECHO [T]
26 Place beyond reality where The Lord somehow accepts without resistance (10)  OTHER WORLD {THE LORD}* around {WO R}

DOWN
1 Tube of Epipen unwrapped (4) PIPE ePIPEn
2 Uninterrupted function finished early (4) EVEN {EVENt}
3 Love letter composed with this very often gets thrown out for sharp item (8,4) STILETTO HEEL {LOvE+LETTEr+THIS}*

4 We return to family finally, visiting, around this occasion (3,4) NEW YEAR  {WE<}{familY} in {NEAR} Semi &Lit
5 Avoiding AI, I created unoriginal exercise (4,3) LONG RUN {UNORiGiNaL}*
7 Foreign currency's course blocked by New York? That can make your nerves weak... (10) NEUROPATHY {EURO}{PATH} in NY
8 Artist at Russia's interior took risk, composed within limits of glasnost - that could leave one somewhat exposed (5,5) GRASS SKIRT {RA}{ruSSia}{RISK*}in {GlassnosT}

11 Possible friend's distant after husband interrupted and dropped in - very weird, to begin with (12) SCHOOLFELLOW {C{H}OOL}{FELL}in {SO}+Weird
13 Lady joining workplace next to new church and liquor store (3-7) OFF-LICENCE {L}in {OFFICE}+{N}{CE}
14 Attack overwhelming beleaguered ally of King's one of five in a row (5,5) ROYAL FLUSH {RUSH} around {ALLY OF}*

18 Errant cast can't often make noise (3-1-3) RAT-A-TAT {eRrAnT cAsT cAnT} 
19 Posh boy wearing slender cap from Europe's grand (7) SUBLIME {S{U}{B}LIM}{Europe}
21 Area magazine boosted culture (4) AGAR {A}{RAG<}

22 Boss' investigation was cut short (4) STUD {STUDy}

Reference List

Lake=L, Good=G, Hot=In, Green=G, Fine=F, 1000 dollars=K, Firm=Co (Company), Strong=F (Fortissmo), Without=WO, Resistance=R, Love=O, Husband=H, Lady=L, Posh=U, Boy=B, Area=A.

No 14896, Friday 11 Sep 2026, Crossant

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   Begin with a bit of Turkish coffee (hot, not cold) (3,3) TEE OFF {Tu...h}{cOFFEE}*

4   Short stories about love - new collection withdrawn (6) CONTES {C}{O}{N}{SET<=}

9   SRH's opening attack is superior (4) SMUG {Srh}{MUG}

10 Felt sceptical initially about anything learnt without formal training (4-6) SELF-TAUGHT {FELT+Sc...l}*{AUGHT}

11 Office in Middle East country? Trouble all around (6) BUREAU {UAE}{RUB}<=

12 Hardik and Krunal maybe in trouble without runs at the start of season (8) BROTHERS {B{R}OTHER}{Se...n}

13 Fundamentally a programming language everyone gets easily in the end (9) BASICALLY {BASIC}{ALL}{e...lY}

15 Criminals not professionals (4) CONS [CD]

16 The Spanish sailor going around Italian island (4) ELBA {EL}{AB<=}

17 Awfully pleased about a walk along the seaside (9) ESPLANADE {ESPL{AN}ADE*}

21 "Tidy" - a praise Dhoni got often, perhaps (4-4) WELL-KEPT [DD]

22 Thinking about it in advance (6) MOTIVE {MO{IT<=}VE}

24 What NY's not perhaps?! (10) SHANTYTOWN* &lit

25 Occasionally feel sorry about part played in event (4) ROLE {fEeL+sOrRy}<=

26 She believes that person is among the earliest of telecom technicians (6) THEIST {HE}{IS} in {Te...m}{Te...s}

27 Mature party welcoming women (4,2) GROW UP {GRO{W}UP}

DOWN

1   It seems Paul Ryan regularly makes Japanese dish (7) TEMPURA {iT+sEeMs+PaUl+RyAn}

2   Dog with head covered is bald perhaps (5) EAGLE bEAGLE

3   Narrow passage in new flat is unusable to begin with (7) FISTULA {FLAT+IS+Un...e}*

5   Work to get money, having ultimately no alternative (6) OPTION {OP}{TI{nO}N}

6   Landing in Spooner's urban community in Netherlands (5,4) TOUCH DOWN (~dutch town to touch down)

7   Power now controlled by extremely sententious figures (7) SPHERES {P}{HERE} in {Se...uS}

8   Obligations about accepting American laws primarily for international expansion of trade (13) GLOBALISATION {OBLIGATIONS}* over {A}{Laws|

14 Bias of Indian doctor getting a cut? (9) IMBALANCE {I}{MB}{A}{LANCE}

16 View of European - definitely powerful (7) EYESHOT {E}{YES}{HOT}

18 Kind of flow seen in rising wild river (7) LAMINAR {ANIMAL<=}{R}

19 What photographer may do to film progress? (7) DEVELOP [DD] No longer done in this digital age!

20 Love "Emotional Rescue" sung originally by Rolling Stones (6) BERYLS {Love+Em...l+Re...e+Sung+BY+}*

23 Worth fighting for project (5) THROW*

Reference List

Cold = C, About = C, New = N, Runs = R, The in Spanish = EL, Sailor = AB, Women = W, Money = TIN, Power = P, American = A, Indian = I, European = E, River = R

No 14895, Thursday 10 Sep 2026, Gridzilla

Solution to 7D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only 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   By noon, man having bit of dehydration collapsed (4,4) FELL DOWN {N}<=>{FELL{De...n}OW}

9   Old American chap drinking away on vacation (5) MAYAN {M{AwaY}AN}

10 Senior periodically dropped wife's winter coat (4) SNOW {SeNiOr}{W}

11 One using cutting edge technology? (10) GUILLOTINE [CD]

12 'Twas unsettling, around nightfall (6) SUNSET [T]

14 They say entire verse heartily (8) UTTERERS {UTTER}{vERSe}

15 Associate orders awfully huge fans (7) ADORERS {A}{ORDERS*}

17 Articles on entertainment from one end to the other (7) REPORTS {RE}{(-s)PORT(+s)S}

20 Rose died in a place close to Ireland (8) ASCENDED {A}{SCEN{D}E}{i...nD}

22 Bullied boy, becoming tense, didn't sleep well (6) TOSSED (-b+t)TOSSED

23 Site for putting links? (4,6) GOLF COURSE [CD] [C&DD] - See comments

24 Lure one to get into club (4) BAIT {BA{1}T}

25 Regularly wish couple with wishful words? (1,4) I HOPE {wIsH+cOuPlE}

26 For starters, scanty hair causes worries (8) STRESSES {Sc...y}{TRESSES}

DOWN

1   Spooner's eager...swift, perhaps, to get something to eat (4,4) BEAN CURD (~keen bird to bean curd)

2   Sounded sad on the phone (4) BLEW (~blue)

3   Fail to make it ultimately? (6) FORGET {FORGE}{iT}

4   Old equation's tweaked. Nothing's left out (7) ANTIQUE EQUATIoN*

5   Motel has everything needed to make item for breakfast (8) OMELETTE {MOTEL}* [Letter Bank]

6   Enigmatic author's grave, visited by tourists primarily (10) MYSTERIOUS {MY}{S{To...s}ERIOUS}

7   Where a doctor might be making less sense? (6) ?N?N?R (Addendum - INANER {IN AN ER} - See comments))

13 Shops essentially tested for contaminated bhel puri perhaps (6,4) STREET FOOD {shOps+TESTED+FOR}*

16 Signal-receiving device or aid? (5,3) RADIO SET {OR+AID}* [RA]

18 Topics about sex rising daily? (3,5) THE TIMES {THE{IT<=}MES}

19 Daughter wears a frock for a sermon (7) ADDRESS {A}{D{D}RESS}

21 & 22D Lift more than this, possibly (4,2,3,3) SHOT IN THE ARM*

22 See 21 

24 Low key? (4) BASE [DD]

Reference List

Noon = N, Wife = W, Associate = A, On = RE, Died = D, Boy = B, Tense = T, Daughter = D

No 14894, Wednesday 09 Sep 2026, Vidwan

Solution to 3D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only 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   Good and right judgement about a royal associate in ambit of ambiguity (4,4) GREY AREA {G}{R}{EY{A}{R}E}{A}

9   Deadlines set essentially for sleep! (6) DROWSE {D}{ROWS}{sEt}

10 Rest of singing group could be orchestral (6) CHORAL {CHORAL+SET}*=ORCHESTRAL [CA]

11 Crown consumed a restricted drug with uncontrolled rage (8) HEADGEAR {H{E}AD}{RAGE*}

12 At home, heartless Spooner revels in the flesh (2-6) IN-PERSON {IN}{SPOoNER}*

13 Eskimo has time to sense! (6) INTUIT {IN{T}UIT}

14 Adams must intuit going with due adjustments being made (7,8) MUTATIS MUTANDIS*

18 Life for English! It's oddly about public relations! (6) ESPRIT {E}{S{PR}IT*}

20 Trick associated with common guilt (8) CONTRITE {CON}{TRITE}

23 One escaping from prison, most open to fly endlessly for a spicy curry (8) JALFREZI {JAiL}{FREe}{ZIp}

24 Sesame seed paste in Thai cooking (6) TAHINI*

25 Lady's in hijab regularly for a medical condition (6) HERNIA {HER}{iN+hIjAb}

26 English vote for instance sees different interpretations (8) EXEGESES {E}{X}{EG}{SEES*}

DOWN

1   At heart, poor Phantom's an abandoned child! (6) ORPHAN [T]

2   Oddly many bowed, without hint of courtesy before a gift by Patanjali (8) AYURVEDA {mAnY}{cURVED}{A}

3   He cures diseases and practices (6) ?R?L?S (Addendum - DRILLS {DR}{ILLS} - See comments)

4   Saw changes in him around laundromat units (7,8) WASHING MACHINES*

5   Visionary one on US Narcs file (8) IDEALIST {1}{DEA}{LIST}

6   Knight battled, sacrificed head for love (6) NOUGHT {N}{fOUGHT}

7   It is a new transformed state (8) ESWATINI*

15 Impassive United Nations has distorted judgement (8) UNSHAKEN {UN}{HAS*}{KEN}

16 Thin disreputable women are back as God intended (2,3,3) IN THE RAW {THIN*}{W+ARE<=}

17 Half of this is in Scandinavian fringe of Atlantic (5,3) NORTH SEA [GK] (Addendum - {NOR{THis}SE}{At...c} &lit - See comments)

19 Burden if error carries backward process (6) REFINE [T<=]

21 Devotee with jewel from the east and a spice (6) NUTMEG {NUT}{GEM<=}

22 Kind of bicycle bars forged for bandmaster (6) TANDEM {TANDEM+BARS}*=BANDMASTER [CA]

Reference List

Good = G, Right = R, Royal = R, Associate = A, Dead = D, Drug = E, Time = T, English = E, Vote = X, Knight = N, Women = W

No 14893, Tuesday 08 Sep 2026, Vidwan

Solution to 25D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only 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   Open channel on record, as conflict leads to death (15) STRAIGHTFORWARD {(~strait)STRAIGHT}{FOR}{WAR}{De..h}

9   Dictator with a bold non-working solution and vacuous statecraft (10) ABSOLUTIST {A}{B}{SOLUTIon}{St...fT}

10 Kind of blue oil (4) LUBE*

11 Cover royal fast (8) SPANKING {SPAN}{KING}

14 Carry around good German drifter (6) BEGGAR {BE{G}{G}AR}

15 Entire bravest fighting class of spineless ones! (13) INVERTEBRATES*

18 Abused the French during invasion (6) RAILED {RAI{LE}D}

19 Ideal society ignored copulation by faceless, crusading Knight (8) EXEMPLAR {sEX}{tEMPLAR}

22 Amorous communication is part of his extroversion (4) SEXT [T]

23 I reportedly deceive with diplomacy and direct visual communication (3,7) EYE CONTACT {(~i)EYE}{CON}{TACT}

26 Escaping from trap, purchase smack or cocaine and crow somehow! (2,4,2,2,5) BY HOOK OR BY CROOK {BY}{HOOK}ORBY}{C}{ROOK} Anno not clear (Addendum - {(~buy)BY}{HOOK}{OR}{(~buy)BY}{C}{ROOK} - See comments)

DOWN

1   Try small bill (4) STAB {S}{TAB}

2   Love working after girl returns to pool (6) LAGOON {O}{ON}<=>{GAL<=}

3   Rodent with a painful inflammation on island (6) AGOUTI {A}{GOUT}{I}

4   Case in perpetuity (4) ETUI [HIPS]

5   Second person on train, runs to become content developer (8) YOUTUBER {YOU}{TUBE}{R}

6   Desire mostly set in difficult zone between darkness and luminosity (8) TWILIGHT {T{WILl}IGHT}

7   Area covering a windy basin where monsoon winds originate (7,3) ARABIAN SEA {AREA} over {A}{BASIN}*

12 A peg in secret with English sleuth (7,3) PRIVATE EYE {PRIV{A}{TEE}Y}{E}

13 Some young rebellious flyer (5) GREBE [T]

16 Will very old and bright one go on regularly? (8) VOLITION {V}{O}{LIT}{1}{gO+oN}

17 Communist pets for Caucasian countrymen (8) REDNECKS {RED}{NECKS}

20 Derived name from money power, perhaps (6) EPONYM {MONEY+P}*

21 Head Egyptian god, Greek circular dish (6) PATERA {PATE}{RA}

24 Rameez Raja hosting a famous rabbi (4) EZRA [T]

25 Old fool runs away naked (4)  C?O? {Addendum - COOT sCOOTs - See comments)

Reference List

Bold = B, Good = G, German = G, The in French = LE, Society = S, Cocaine = C, Small = S, Island = I, Runs = R, Peg = TEE, English = E, Very = V, Old = O, Power = P

NICE 26, 09 Sep 2026, IIT Chennai

No 14892, Monday 07 Sep 2026, Vidwan

Solution to 7D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only 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   Give me solicitor accepting Euros (4,3) METE OUT {ME}{T{E}OUT}

5   First to finish, Italian gentleman passes over (7) IGNORES (-s)IGNORE(+s)S

9   Transformers communicate with this drunk Chilean man? Find out! (7,8) MACHINE LANGUAGE {CHILEAN+MAN}*{GUAGE}

10 Guess working after retirement is hell! (7)  INFERNO {INFER}{ON<=}

11 A seed, it magically conceives (7) IDEATES*

12 Fish out millions for parlour (5) SALON SALmON

13 King's quality time wasted for a snake (5) KRAIT {K}{tRAIT}

14 Go bankrupt without one (3) RUN RUiN

15 Plant scents, ignored at times (3) SET ScEnTs

17 Generous anchor going back to Sony at last! (5) ROOMY {MOOR<=}{sonY}

18 Fellow with second-hand joint (5) FUSED {F}{USED}

21 Married Buddhist monk returns, enshrining eleven of the greatest values (7) MAXIMAL {M}{LAMA<=} over {XI}

22 Some hoodlum brag evokes resentment (7) UMBRAGE [T]

23 Every bull and noble died foolishly in front of small golden-haired gals (8,7) PEROXIDE BLONDES {PER}{OX}}{NOBLE+DIED}*{S}

24 Paramour loses head and fight's cut short! (7) OVERDUE {lOVER}{DUEl}

25 Managed palace without slightest of tension or bitterness (7) RANCOUR {RAN}{COURt}

DOWN

1   Silent dumb shows killing men and women with babies (7) MUMMIES {MUM}{MImES}

2   Time to move with most comprehensive understanding (7)  TACTFUL {T}{ACT}{FULl}

3   Working around extremely small letter (7) OMICRON {O{MICRO}N}

4   New Greek foe told about source of wisdom (4,2,9) TREE OF KNOWLEDGE*

5   Murg biryani name spreads - one's root! (9,6) IMAGINARY NUMBER*

6   No! No American eagle at court to disregard! (7) NEGLECT {N}{EaGLE}{CT}

7   It generates power for player (7) R?A?T?R (Addendum - REACTOR {RE}{ACTOR} - See comments)

8   Tramples kid of spouse from earlier marriage (7) STEPSON {STEPS ON}

15 Part-time expert's broken promise (7) SEMIPRO*

16 Spooner's copy of document sent over net to a big plant without charge (3-4) TAX-FREE (~fax tree to tax free) What is a 'Fax Tree'?

17 Poets freshly rendered, possibly extemporised (7) REMIXED {REMIXED+POETS}*=EXTEMPORISED [CA]

18 When upset, Robin synthesises Spiderman's protein? (7) FIBROIN {IF<=}{ROBIN*}

19 Love going into beach to shop every so often for devil (2-3-2) SO-AND-SO {S{0}AND}{ShOp}

20 Doctor left out lower chest (7) DRESSER {DR}{lESSER}

Reference List

Euros = E, Millions = M, King = K, Time = T, Fellow = F, Married = M, Small = S, Men = M, No = N, Court = CT, Left = L

Special, Sunday 06 Sep 2026, K Koteswar Rao

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

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Grid will be updated with solutions after 8 PM.

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 72, Sunday 06 Sep 2026, Arden

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   Arrival at home — predator's back! (6) INFLOW {IN}{WOLF<=}

4   Viewed separately, aloo therefore is a plant (8) ACANTHUS {A}{CAN}{THUS}

10 Return some of the oil of tropical palm holding (9) PORTFOLIO [T<=]

11 Loud — loud not even free (5) LURID {LoUd}{RID}

12 Half of congress is back — mostly in an Italian dumpling (7) GNOCCHI {CONGress<=}{CHIc}

13 The noise vanishes with these Australian natives (7) DINGOES {DIN}{GOES}

14 Encourage for a long time to corral the horse (3,2)  EGG ON {E{GG}ON}

15 Silly old man clutched the gold and fell (8) MOORLAND {OLD+MAN}* over {OR}

18 Trick to complete size of paper (8) FOOLSCAP {FOOLS}{CAP} Trick or Tricks?

20 Refuse to eat a child snack (5) NACHO {N{A}{CH}O}

23 Fresh air brings an Australian back in this state (7) ARIZONA {AIR}* with {AN}{OZ}<=

25 Brown man not allowed inside circle (7) TANGENT {TAN}{GENT}

26 Monkey captures flower seller's heart (5) LORIS {fLORISt} They are not Monkeys!

27 Not knowing whether in church organ playing is permitted (9) IGNORANCE {I{ORGAN*}N}{CE}

28 Turn girl into a piece of shipboard machinery (8) WINDLASS {WIND}{LASS}

29 Approves initially after department of personnel training's submission (6) ADOPTS Acrostic

DOWN

1   Disputed case of dog wearing fancy denim (8) IMPUGNED {PUG} in {DENIM}*

2   Pile on pine for some distance (7) FURLONG {FUR}{LONG}

3   Formal inclusion of new plants and herbs used in medicinal preparations (9) OFFICINAL {OFFICI{N}AL}

5   Part of the IT revolution could perhaps be working out (5,9) CLOUD COMPUTING {COULD}* {COMPUTING}

6   Ultimately, cotton may feel too common like synthetic material (5) NYLON Tail Acrostic

7   Complain about old missile (7) HARPOON {HARP ON} over {O}

8   A savage said to go off on the way (6) SADIST {SAID*}{ST}

9   Subject of running machines freely without copyright (5,9) FLUID MECHANICS {FLUID}{MACHINES}* over {C}

16 Glad about inner working in the city (9) LENINGRAD {GLAD+INNER}*

17 Fastness not opposing hair at the bottom (8) FORTRESS {FOR}{TRESS}

19 Moronic interpretation of an alien character (7) OMICRON* Why alien?

21 Straighten out prize list inside (7) CLEANUP {C{LEAN}UP}

22 Fine on permit for undeveloped land (6) FALLOW {F}{ALLOW}

24 One billed inhouse, later (5) OUSEL [T]

Reference List

At home = IN, Loo = CAN, Horse = GG, Child = CH, Australian = OZ, Church = CE, New = N, Old = O, Way = ST, Copyright = C, Fine = F