No 14705, Saturday 31 Jan 2026, Dr. X

 ACROSS

1 & 24 What sports inventor might create is a completely different situation (1,5,3,4,4) A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME [DD]

8 Weaken in club, overwhelmed by a drug (5) ABATE {A}{BAT}{E}

9 After having grass, one perhaps gets most ravenous (9) GREEDIEST {REED}{I} in {GETS}*
11 Stoned on dope outside room, associate shows tongue in a European country (4,6) HIGH GERMAN {HIGH} {GE{RM}{{A}N}
12 Knocked back a drink in Italian city (4) PISA { A SIP <}

14 One found in a canoe floating in Pacific region (7) OCEANIA {I} in {A CANOE}*
16 Apprehension of popular model carrying a little ganja and heroin (7) INSIGHT {IN}{SI{Ganja}{H}T}
17 Needs answer - is truant unhappy under guardianship? (2,5) IN TRUST {IS TRUaNT}*
19 Not at all! University fellows accepted entities in Kantian philosophy (7) NOUMENA {NO}{U}{MEN}{A}
21 South Indian food in retreat, eaten by child instantly (4) IDLI [T<]
22 Act of plundering by one in platoon is abominable (10) SPOLIATION {I} in {PLATOON IS}*
25 Dead bodies in vehicles transporting cocaine, dope and ecstasy (9) CARCASSES {CAR{C}{ASS}{E}S}
26 Provide more tacos, sandwiches, rolls (5) CATER [T<]
27 Bespoke dress, extremely minuscule, aroused mate (4-2-7) MADE-TO-MEASURE {MinisculE AROUSED MATE}*

DOWN
2 Row and manoeuvre across river (7) WRANGLE {W{R}ANGLE}
3 Start to observe gasoline spilled outside university - it's oily (10) OLEAGINOUS {Observe}{GASOLINE}* around {U}
4 On the contrary, rave about liberal English composer (5) ELGAR {RAGE<} about {L}

5 Rise with joy, securing victory after struggle finally (9) ELEVATION {V}<=>{strugglE} in {ELATION}
6 Start to diet, inspired by lad's physique (4) BODY {BO{Diet}Y}
7 Eyeing the French group touring Spain (7) LEERING {LE}{E}{RING}
8 Delirious chap outside bar is essentially using a stimulant (11) APHRODISIAC {CHAP}* around {ROD}{IS}{usIng}{A}
10 Device that collects leaves from ground in curiosity-inducing ad (3-8) TEA-STRAINER {TRAIN} in {TEASER}
13 Curse an ass breaking promises (10) ASSURANCES*
15 Correct! Tapa is not an Italian appetiser (9) ANTIPASTO*

18 Brief discussion on a broadcast about winged sandals (7) TALARIA {TALk}{A}{AIR<}

20 One sending out English member and model going topless (7) EMITTER {E}{M}{sITTER}
23 Cotton thread in spool is lengthy (5) LISLE [T]
24 See 1 Across

REFERENCE LIST

Drug=E, One=I, Room=RM, Associate=A, Model=T, Answer=A, University=U, Accepted=A, Cocaine=C, Ecstasy=E, River=R, Liberal=L, The French=Le, Spain=E, English=E, Member=M.

No 14704, Friday 30 Jan 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   Star's rebellious boy does meth at premiere (8) SOMEBODY {BOY+DOES+Meth}*

5   Article about unionist becoming insolvent (6) PAUPER {PA{U}PER}

10 Succeeded, made a comeback after good fortune in Indian city (7) LUCKNOW {NOW<=}<=>{LUCK}

11 Most attractive presenter entertaining models on base (7) HOTTEST {HO{T}{T}{E}ST}

12 Coach in academy inspires mate (5) CHINA [T] Rhyming Slang

13 Liaison with hot rogue when husband's away leads to separation (9) ISOLATION {LIAISON+hOT}*

14 Groan about working for lout, extremely rude and bossy type of person (7,5) CONTROL FREAK {CREAK} over {ON}{FOR+LouT}*

18 See head of elite club terribly overwhelmed by anxiety in notorious controversy (5,7) CAUSE CELEBRE {SEE+El..e+CLUB} in {CARE}

21 Feeling excited, turned on by drug (9) UNDERTONE {TURNED+ON}*{E}

23 Escort inviting prince for orgy (5) SPREE {S{PR}EE}

24 See 9 Down

25 Charged with loud exclamation of disgust to interrupt scoundrel (7) FRAUGHT {F}{RA{UGH}T}

26 University girl catches ultimately vile pervert (6) MISUSE {MIS{U}S}{vilE}

27 Short joke playing in reel's funny (3-5) ONE-LINER {ON}{IN+REEL}*

DOWN

1   Marry girl finally, overwhelmed by excitement (6) SPLICE {SP{girL}ICE}

2   Help out emcee entertaining posh relatives (4,2) MUCK IN {M{U}C}{KIN}

3   Bars almost everywhere in old Indian city (9) BANGALORE {BANs}{GALORE}*

4   Unhappy with the modus operandi in new whodunnit (4,2,3,5) DOWN IN THE MOUTH {THE+MO} in {WHODUNNIT}*

6   Cavities in infant, rampant (5) ANTRA [T]

7   Arguments in building (8) PREMISES [DD]

8   Rodent-eating serpent in a tanker abandoned outside society (3,5) RAT SNAKE {A+TANKER}* over {S}

9 & 24 Inadvertently harm one's own interests, leaving one with a limp perhaps? (5,7,2,3,4) SHOOT ONESELF IN THE FOOT [C&DD]

15 Stop in jungle with everyone (9) FORESTALL {FOREST}{ALL}

16 No Bumrah ultimately! Somehow, coach must adapt (8) ACCUSTOM {COACh+MUST}*

17 Start to seductively take off summer garment (8) SUNDRESS {Se...y}{UNDRESS}

19 Men drink outside island's base (6) ORIGIN {OR}{GIN} over {I}

20 Decay in strong organic compound (6) FESTER {F}{ESTER}

22 Rebels in revolutionary activity around southern border of Mexico (5) RIOTS {ST{m...cO}IR<=}

Reference List

Unionist = U, Model = T, Base = E, Husband = H, Drug = E, Prince = PR, Loud = F, University = U, Posh = U, Modus operandi = MO, Society = S, Men = OR, Strong = F

No 14703, Thursday 29 Jan 2026, Afterdark

Solution to 8D 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   Part of eleven? 50% replaced by adults with bat ultimately (7) ELEMENT {ELEven}{MEN}{baT}

10 One worried about American University's duplicate (7) IMITATE {1}{MIT}{ATE}

11 Cancelled a very old identity carried by journo (7) AVOIDED {A}{V}{O}{ID}{ED}

12 PTA cancelled, operations reworked on attrition (7) EROSION {OpERatIONS}*

13 Outcomes from last month? Failed mission losing millions (9) DECISIONS {DEC}{mISSION}*

15 Orangeman out of Oman's reach (5) RANGE oRANGEman

16 Optical phenomenon created by AI in brown splash (7) RAINBOW {R{AI}NBOW*}

19 Taster had enough in special rave in the beginning (7) SAMPLER {AMPLE} in {S}{Rave}

20 Specialist chasing silver vehicle (5) AGENT {ENT}<=>{AG}

21 Ignored North-east girl with the French journo caught in between (9) NEGLECTED {NE}{G}{LE}{ED} over {CT}

25 Sharp at home with present perhaps (7) INTENSE {IN}{TENSE}

26 Say, mother's younger sister is the smallest (7) MINIMUM {MINI MUM}

28 Great text, remember the contents (7) EXTREME [T]

29 Flying sea bird is oriental (7) EASTERN {SEA*}{TERN}

DOWN

1   Believe Royal Engineers have drawback (6) REGARD {RE}{DRAG<=}

2   Undaunted head constable relieves engineer off drug (6) HEROIC HEROI(+c-n)C N/Engineer?

3   Almost 7 days daughter had marijuana (4) WEED {WEEk}{D}

4   Workshop boss's binary (6) STUDIO {STUD}{1 0}

5   Complaints on seaside renovations on Sunday (8) DISEASES {SEASIDE*}{S}

6   Unit of Mike running to control record crowd (10) KILOGRAMME {MIKE}* over {LOG}{RAM}

7   Designation allows to arrest citizen (8) NATIONAL [T]

8   Hold, hold over footless animal (8) ?E?N?E?R (Addendum - REINDEER {REIN}{DEfER} - See comments)

14 Substitute stands with drugs, perhaps (10) SUBSTANCES {SUB}{STANCES}

16 Fulfilled kinky desire by kidnapping a lady (8) REALISED {RE{A}{L}ISED*}

17 Name of a shelter keeping a bird's unknown (8) IDENTITY {1}{DEN}{TIT}{Y}

18 Roamed with staff before day's beginning (8) WANDERED {WAND}{ERE}{Day}

22 Covered gem with mud extraordinarily (6) GUMMED*

23 Victim Bernard held with wood (6) TIMBER [T]

24 Urge daughter to keep in custody disregarding rule (6) DEMAND {D}{rEMAND}

27 Organ in new orchestra's score's excellent as per sources (4) NOSE Acrostic

Reference List

Very = V, Old = O, Journo = ED, Millions = M, Special = S, Specialist= ENT, Girl = G, The in French = LE, Caght = CT, At home = IN, Royal Engineers = RE, Daughter = D, Sunday = S, Foot = F, Lady = L, Unknown = Y, Before = ERE, Rule = R

No 14702, Wednesday 28 Jan 2026, Afterdark

Solution to 19D 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   Thrissur taxicab carrying extra liability (6) SURTAX [T]

4   Second coffee's early essentially (6) LATTER {LATTE}{eaRly}

8   Two characters swap places in military wedding (7) MARTIAL {MAR(I<=>T}AL} Definition in the middle. Clue leads to MARITAL

9   Show bearcat's movement (7) CABARET*

11 From Paris; free to consult (10) DELIBERATE {DE}{LIBERATE}

12 Tree's leaves given to Kelvin (4) TEAK {TEA}{K}

13 Situation worries public, people beaten, rise in the end (5) SCENE [Tail Acrostic]

14 Without monitors, last period was arranged on celestial object (8) ASTEROID {lAST+pERIOD}*

16 Fancy composition by fine worker at East perhaps (8) FANTASIA {F}{ANT}{ASIA}

18 Topless model is substantial (5) AMPLE sAMPLE

20 Grow back (4) REAR [DD}

21 Trouble on joint for dressmaker (10) SEAMSTRESS {STRESS}<=>{SEAM}

23 Arranged medical units of ten (7) DECIMAL*

24 Native extremist (7) RADICAL [DD]

25 View map (6) SURVEY [DD]

26 Tease in X backed by timeline with energy (6) NETTLE {TEN<=}{T}{L}{E}

DOWN

1   Disgrace for impostor having ecstasy (5) SHAME {SHAM}{E}

2   Rope used in ship's latrine is frayed (7) RATLINE*

3   Intrusion of spies from the east, seen as trouble on understanding (9) AWARENESS {RAW<=} in {SEEN+AS}*

5   Monkey goes over current fast (5) APACE {AP{AC}E}

6   Art director leaves Cred, ill-treated as deserter (7)  TRAITOR {ART+dIrecTOR}*

7   Soldiers' old lover's a source to question again (2-7) RE-EXAMINE {RE}{EX}{A}{MINE}

10 Indian king to open meat counter across a highway corner (9) MAHARAJAH {AJAR}{HAM}<= over {A} and [Hi...y}

13 Irregular sleep has troubled son (9) SHAPELESS {SLEEP+HAS}*{S}

15 Sexually ambiguous person deceased in shift (9) TRANSLATE {TRANS}{LATE}

17 After leaving electric vehicle, retriever ran to another dog (7) TERRIER RETRIevER*

19 Last exercise with policeman's on street (7) P?R?I?T (Addendum - PERSIST {PE}{RSI}{ST} - See comments)

21 Order cold beer after some starter (5) SCALE {C}{ALE}<=>{Some}

22 Carve up small rabbit (5) SHARE {S}{HARE}

Reference List

From in French = DE, Kelvin = K, Fine = F, Time = T, Line = L, Energy = E, Ecstasy = E, Current = AC, Soldier = RE(Royal Engineers), Old lover = EX, Son = S, Exercise = PE, Cold = C, Small = S

No 14701, Tuesday 27 Jan 2026, KrisKross

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

1   Auditor's date with artificial silk - new material (8) SEALSKIN {(~see)SEA}{SILK*}{N}

5   Sharp detectives on island about to withdraw (6) ACIDIC {CID}{I} in {CA<=}

9   Sweeping done holding centre of broom (8) THOROUGH {THOR{brOom}UGH}

10 Whimper from KrisKross going through small story, missing love (6) SNIVEL {S}{No{I}VEL}

12 Trained poodle regularly acting as helper of the force (6,3) POLICE DOG {POODLE+aCtInG}*}

13 Mathematician from Spain designed rule (5) EULER {E}{RULE*}

14 See 7 Down

16 Live with a friend touring Northern Italy (7) ANIMATE {A}{N}{I}{MATE}

19 Stylish spy killing a swimmer (7) GENTEEL {aGENT}{EEL}

21 Stupid debate - "Trading money for diamonds" (4) DULL (-m+d)DULL

24 See 4 Down

25 Spooner says "Beat up sailors - they have lot of moolah!" (4,5) CASH BOXES {~bash coxes to cash boxes)

27 Idol standing with foot loose on edge of table (6) STATUE {STATUtE} (Correction - {STATUs}{t..lE} - See comments)

28 Bone initially broken in prison game (8) CRIBBAGE {C{RIB}{Br...n}AGE}

29 Cuts posts reportedly (6) STEAKS (~stakes)

30 Judges free mysterious sage from the East (8) REFEREES {FREE}*{SEER<=}

DOWN

1   Sibling has place in retreat for exercises (3-3) SIT-UPS {SI{PUT<=}S}

2   Handsome man left during a game (6) APOLLO {A}{PO{L}LO}

3   One overwhelmed by high cost becomes philosophical (5) STOIC {STO{1}C*}

4   & 24 American saw rudest drunk consuming whiskey in bar (2,3,2,5) IN GOD WE TRUST {RUDEST}* over {W} in {INGOT}

6   Relaxing at home, about to cut cake (9) CONGENIAL {CONGE{IN<=}AL}

7 &14 Reckless wicked maiden breaking into nursery (5-3-4) DEVIL-MAY-CARE  {EVIL}{M} in {DAYCARE}

8   Dieter's concern about sign - "Contains traces of linseed oil" (8) CALORIES {C}{A{Li...d}{Oil}RIES}

11 Part of India - grand city (4) AGRA [T]

15 You and I stopping for business, filled with respect (9) AWESTRUCK {A{WE}S}{TRUCK}

17 Braggarts bought sites, built houses (8) EGOTISTS {E{GOT}ISTS*}

18 Most inappropriate to touch dead snake (8) UNDULATE {UNDUe}{LATE}

20 Hair mesh (4) LOCK [DD]

21 Daughter dismissing first book's merit (7) DESERVE {D}{rESERVE}

22 Breathe once with sound (6) ?X?A?E (Addendum - EXHALE {EX}{HALE} - See comments)

23 Idiots struggled from the beginning in test (6) ASSESS {ASSES}{St...d}

26 Anger over British sacred text (5) BIBLE {BI{B}LE}

Reference List

New = N, Island = I, About = CA, Small = S, Spain = E, Northern = N, Italy = I, Money = M, Diamonds = D, Left = L, Whiskey = W, Maiden = M, About = C, Daughter = D, British = B

No 14700, Monday 26 Jan 2026, Incognito

REPUBLIC DAY GREETINGS

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

 Solution to 15A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered by a non-regular/novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Alight in Jalandhar (4) LAND [T]

9   Model leaves bathroom fitting for new president at one time (5) BIDEN BIDE(-t+n)N

10 State: Everyone can see hat spinning (4) UTAH {U}{HAT*}

11 Deer milling about church go back (6) RECEDE {RE{CE}DE*}

12 Military officer's issue? (4,4) ARMY BRAT [CD/GK]

13 Article with editor expressed opposition (8) OBJECTED {OBJECT}{ED}

15 Bone in possession of leaders of the ancient lawmen of the tribe (6) T?I?A? (Addendum - TRIBAL {The}{RIB}{An...t}{La...n} - See comments)

17 Alternatively, wrongly detains (7) INSTEAD*

19 Go ahead with poster on American vice-president (7) ADVANCE {AD}{VANCE}

22 Demand American forks are destroyed (3,3) ASK FOR {A}{FORKS*}

24 State: Ship with an elite special force (8) ARKANSAS {ARK}{AN}{SAS}

26 Boast about friend Hector (8) BALLYRAG {B{ALLY}RAG}

28 Scared artificial intelligence is spreading across French Academy and starting to dominate (6) AFRAID {A{FR}{A}I}{Do...e}

30 Prohibit going around mid-afternoon to produce husk (4) BRAN {B{a..eRn..n}AN}

31 Dance for actor playing Hans Lada (5) WALTZ [GK] Landa and not Lada

32 Old silver with senior journalist (4) AGED {AG}{ED}

DOWN

1   Garden implement from Thrippunithura, Kerala (4) RAKE [T]

2   At this time at this place with book's follower (8) ADHERENT {AD}{HERE}{NT}

3   A hollow boast about the French becoming most fit (6) ABLEST {A}{Bo{LES}asT}

4   Wrongly discard identification documents (2,5) ID CARDS*

5   Excited tailless creature with Theodore (8) ANIMATED {ANIMAl}{TED}

6   Silent bachelor at one city (6) MUMBAI {MUM}{BA}{1}

7   Beat a monk (4) LAMA {LAM}{A}

14 Wedding announcement from bachelor fixed on northern poles (5) BANNS {BA}{N}{N}{S}

16 Air conditioned car crashed in city (5) ACCRA {AC}{CAR*}

18 Employees in planes giving extraordinary war cries (8) AIRCREWS*

20 Unusual moral ban, perhaps (8) ABNORMAL*

21 Called up ex Nepalese PM for getting floor decoration (7) RANGOLI {RANG}{OLI}

23 Musk, perhaps, is hidden in outskirts of Faraday... That's a crime! (6) FELONY {Fa..{ELON}.aY} 

25 Pale Zulu in Karnataka gets currency (6) KWANZA {K{WAN}{Z}A}

27 City in Anantnag ravine (4) AGRA [T]

29 Cold dice rolled (4) ICED*

Reference List

Model = T, New = N, Everyone can see = U, Church = CE, Editor = ED, Poster = AD, American = A, French = FR, Academy = A, This time = AD, Book = NT(New Testament), The in French = LES, Bachelor = BA, Northern = N, Poles = N,S

Special, Sunday 25 Jan 2026, The Hindu Crossword No 1

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.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 40, Sunday 25 Jan 2026, Incognito

ACROSS

1   Note: Second steak minced results in errors (8) MISTAKES {MI}{S}{STEAK*}

5   One boy accepts counterfeit dime in the same place (6) IBIDEM {1}{B}{DIME*}

10 Goan travels around English city (5) GENOA {G{E}NOA*}

11 Baked deer slaughtered for popular travel guides (9) BAEDEKERS* Error in fodder. extra D and S less 

12 Locates small amounts (6) TRACES [DD]

13 Blake has changed and is capable of being unnerved (8) SHAKABLE*

15 Cook having one boss (5) CHIEF {CH{1}EF}

17 Thorny fruit pie pen pal produced (9) PINEAPPLE*

19 Badly groan during journey by vehicle in American river (3,6) RIO GRANDE {RI{GROAN*}DE}

20 Judge ill treats terrier docked twice! (5) TRIER TERRIer*

21 Use timer wrongly to get honorary title of retired person (8) EMERITUS*

23 Announces, "Karnataka, Kerala and Telangana, for example" (6) STATES [DD]

27 Baked item consumed during tests in judicial forums (9) TRIBUNALS {TRI{BUN}ALS}

28 Offensive poster found in petrol licence (5) TROLL [T]

29 Head of state in country gets steadfast supporters (3-3) YES-MEN {YE{St..e}MEN}

30 Philosopher's distress call about container (8) SOCRATES {SO{CRATE}S}

DOWN

1   Aircraft gains height and power (5) MIGHT {MIG}{HT}

2   Country inside Italy constructing no marinas (3,6) SAN MARINO*

3   Conscious American starting to exercise after battle (5) AWARE {A} and {Ex...e}<=>{WAR}

4   Flower from Sentinel Beach (4) ELBE [T]

6   Staff endlessly get morning meal (9) BREAKFAST {STAFf}* [RA]

7   Daughter with small boy is a nerd (5) DWEEB {D}{WEE}{B}

8   Alien follows business magnate with Eastern queen and soldier armed with a light gun (9) MUSKETEER {ET}<=>{MUSK} with {E}{ER}

9   How the paint robber was caught? (3-6) RED-HANDED [C&DD]

14 "Thicker version of cotton candy", snaps guru irritatedly (4,5) SPUN SUGAR*

15 Fish resting on Gate's woodwork (9) CARPENTRY {CARP}{ENTRY}

16 In times to come, beginnings of revolutionary new ideas to make tables, for example (9) FURNITURE {FU{Re...y}{New}{Id..s}TURE}

18 Indicates options without using egg (6,3) POINTS OUT {oPTIONS}* [RA]

22 Egyptian president starting to take seat leaves (5) EXITS {E}{XI}{Take}{Seat}

24 Teach trout swimming (5) TUTOR*

25 Processed oil carried in ship's storage towers (5) SILOS {S{OIL*}S}

26 Capital from Barbados locality (4) OSLO [T]

Reference List

Note = MI, Boy = B, English = E, Aircraft = MIG, Height = HT, American = A, Daughter = D, Alien = ET, Eastern = E, Queen = ER, Egyptian = E, Ship = SS

No 14699, Saturday 24 Jan 2026, Incognito

 ACROSS
8 In absence of wife, owner goes bonkers in city (4) RENO {OwNER}*
9 Lady dancing with new singer (5) DYLAN {LADY+N}*

10 Runs around vessels to keep the Ashes? (4) URNS*
11 Little dogs going around India in attractive posters (3-3) PIN-UPS {P{IN}UPS}
12 Spillage from intoxicated lover of women (8) OVERFLOW {LOVER OF W}*
13 Gets irritated about period at end of voyage in cheap accommodation (8) STEERAGE {GETS}* around {ERA}+voyagE
15 Some delay included in a kind of test results in harrowing situation (6) ORDEAL {DElay} in {ORAL}
17 Cricketer starting to take terrific interest in criminal group (7) GATTING {Take}{Terrific}{Interest} in {GANG}

19 Vole is running in part of garden, dear (7) BELOVED {VOLE}* in {BED}
22 Type of letter hidden in hospital icepacks (6) ITALIC [T]
24 They may have pipe dreams... (8) PLUMBERS [CD]
26 Broken knee lost in bony structure (8) SKELETON*
28 Goes in// and puts in cell (6) ENTERS [DD]
30 Animal from Kamareddy (4) MARE [HIPS]
31 Where birds may reside in cleanest surroundings (5) NESTS [T]
32 Sisters sauntering around without gaiters endlessly (4) NUNS {SAUNTERING}*

DOWN
1 Place to sleep with one bowler (4) BEDI {BED}{I}

2 Deed produced by guide covering university monument in the beginning (8) DOCUMENT {DOC{U}{Monument}ENT}
3 Port does as arranged (6) ODESSA*
4 Permitted flying owl to be caged in crooked deal (7) ALLOWED {OWL}* in {DEAL}*
5 Cover endless envy and run away to marry (8) ENVELOPE {ENVy}{ELOPE}
6 Polished editor chasing fan (6) BUFFED {ED}<=>{BUFF}
7 Short general leaving dungeon may reverse action (4) UNDO {DUNgeOn}*
14 Endless taste, including egg and roasted bread (5) TOAST {T{O}ASTe}
16 In absence of host, cook horse meat for ruler (5) AMEER {hoRsE MEAt}*
18 Notice wrongly displayed covering a new chemical (8) NICOTINE {NOTICE}* around {I}{N}
20 Small part inside O ring is going around (8) ORBITING {O R{BIT}ING}
21 Bridge is hot from Spain (7) SPANISH {SPAN}{IS}{H}
23 Flowers from lake on one extraordinary isle (6) LILIES {L}{I}{ISLE*}
25 Discomfort from wild sea in university navigation expedition, for starters (6) UNEASE {SEA}* in {U}{Navigation}{Expedition}
27 Katy counterfeited our neighbour's currency (4) KYAT*

29 Used a bell in Srirangam (4) RANG [HIPS]

REFERENCE LIST

Wife=W, New=N, India=IN, Women=W, One=I, University=U, Editor=Ed, Egg=O, New=N, Hot=H.

No 14698, Friday 23 Jan 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

1   Unpaid? Super! (11) OUTSTANDING [DD]

9   Swears on affidavit typed hastily, for starters, and signs finally (5) OATHS {On}{Af...t}{Ty..d}{Ha...y}{s..nS}

10 Prudent to go around country with Romeo and Lothario (9) WOMANISER {W{OMAN}ISE}{R}

11 Misleading clue for "Sacred ornament worn by her after removing pouch" (3,7) RED HERRING {sacRED}{RING} over {HER}

12 Wiki wrongly spelt bird (4) KIWI*

13 Fine cotton thread from large island (5) LISLE {L}{ISLE}

15 Excitedly petting around end of arm and seducing (8) TEMPTING {TE{arM}PTING*}

17 Talking without a bandage (8) DRESSING adDRESSING Deletion indicator for D missing

19 Boy leaves river submerging girl's animal (5) TIGER {TI(-b}ER} over {G}

22 Uncovered part of menu deleted (4) NUDE [T]

23 No place to die inside the house (6-4) LIVING-ROOM [C&DD]

26 Savage baron is in front of funny Arabian carrying redhead (9) BARBARIAN {B}{A{Re...d}BARIAN*}

27 Prod guardsmen giving up arms and running (5) NUDGE {GUarDsmEN}*

28 Little dog with European mother's mother consumed fruit (11) POMEGRANATE {POM}{E}{GRAN}{ATE}

DOWN

1   Chose operation to explore deep initially (5) OPTED {OP}{To}{Ex...e}{Deep}

2   Seattle preparation on ship is insipid (9) TASTELESS {SEATTLE}*{SS}

3   Worst construction around eastern skyscrapers (6) TOWERS {TOW{E}RS*}

4   Named person... one jumping around pit (7) NOMINEE {NO{MINE}E*}

5   Charged particles found in onion skin (4) IONS [T]

6   Going, consuming small sip, and indulging in idle talk (9) GOSSIPING {GO{S}{SIP}ING}

7   Rolls Royce is parked in fuel enclosure (6) CORRAL {CO{RR}AL}

8   Is making a mistake placing ornament behind queen (6) ERRING {RING}<=>{ER}

14 Policeman's stake-out near road wrongly taped person... Not on! (5,4) SPEED TRAP {TAPED+PERSon}*

16 A label fixed in piano built in South American region (9) PATAGONIA {A}{TAG} in {PIANO}*

17 European carrying university boy's flower (6) DANUBE {DAN{U}{B}E}

18 Perhaps, transfixing top class fish behind end of barn (7) NAILING {A1}{LING}<=>{barN}

20 The Desert Fox starting to march in capital with trainee (6) ROMMEL {RO{Ma..h}ME}{L}

21 Flower from Zulu hostelry is available in the beginning (6) ZINNIA {Z}{INN}{Is}{Av...e}

24 Historically popular song, perhaps, in soldier's heart (5) OLDIE [HIPS}

25 Moderately hot conflict with maiden (4) WARM {WAR}{M}

Reference List

Romeo = R, Large = L, Boy = B, Girl = G, Baron = B, Ship = SS, Eastern = E, Small = S, Rolls Royce = RR, Queen = ER, University = U, Trainee = L, Zulu = Z, Maiden = M

No 14697, Thursday 22 Jan 2026, Incognito

Solution to 29D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered by a non-regular/novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Actress Lucille's boy gets everything (4) BALL {B}{ALL}

9   Fowl transported by mid-morning... carried by air (5) FLOWN {FOWL*}{morNing}

10 Suspend Chinese girl (4) HANG {HAN}{G}

11 Bachelor throwing corn, with love, for wild horse (6) BRONCO {B}{CORN}{0}

12 Buried one with book and made a mistake (8) INTERRED {1}{NT}{ERRED} 

13 Before middle of operation, California doctor covers the bishop's seat (8) CATHEDRA {o..rAt..n}<=>{CA}{DR} over {THE}

15 Violently slay, er, in sanctuary (6) ASYLUM {SLAY*}{UM} 

17 Waste fried eatables (7) FRITTER [DD]

19 Hopelessness from touring Paris after Germany (7) DESPAIR {PARIS*}<=>{DE}

22 Colour repaired sliding door when lords go away (6) INDIGO {slIDING+doOr}*

24 Fascinating method of attaching metal sheets (8) RIVETING [DD]

26 Gnu runs with fruit on starting to hear terrible shoot-out (8) GUNFIGHT {GNU*}{FIG}{Hear}{Te...e}

28 Discuss a type of tree I left (6) CONFER CONiFER

30 Prohibit nitrogen in shed (4) BARN {BAR}{N}

31 American statesman getting 10 in 10, including an 'A' (5) TEXAN {TE{X}{A}N}

32 Direction right on the map? (4) EAST [CD/GK]

DOWN

1   So left sailor in confusion in den (4) LAIR sAILoR*

2   Chinese alien follows scheme to make coin blank (8) PLANCHET {CH}{ET}<=>{PLAN}

3   Have enough money for a fine car (6) AFFORD {A}{F}{FORD}

4   Coal placed around highway from London to Leeds by Charlie? It's funny! (7) COMICAL {CO{M1}{C}AL}

5   Start and excitedly eat in it after one (8) INITIATE {EAT+IN+IT}*<=>{1}

6   Shout about that lady's fruit (6) CHERRY {C{HER}RY}

7   Keen to break joint? (4) KNEE*

14 Public Relations Officer wearing a new pinny (5) APRON {A}{PRO}{N}

16 University inn arranged to cover ring for marriage (5) UNION {U}{NI{O}N*}

18 Extend Musk's portal (8) ELONGATE {ELON}{GATE}

20 Secured IP rights for portable accommodation possessed by father and editor (8) PATENTED {PA}{TENT}{ED}

21 Exert erroneously in physical training and excuse (7) PRETEXT {P{EXERT*}T}

23 Horribly faint after taking in a bit of noxious tot (6) INFANT {FAINT}* over {No...s}

25 Empty tin in vessel (6) VACANT {VA{CAN}T}

27 Them flying around North Pole results in snafu, perhaps (4) USAF {USAF+N}*=SNAFU

29 Simple Yankee follows nearly 32 (4) E?S? (Addendum - EASY {Y}<=>{EASt} - See comments)

Reference List

Boy = B, Girl = G, Bachelor = B, Book = NT(New Testament), ER = UM, Germany = DE, Chinese = CH, Alien = ET, Fine = F, Charlie = C, New = N, University = U, Editor = ED, North Pole = N, Yankee = Y

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? {Addendum - EXOTIC {CIT{OX}E<=} See comments) Should have been NEAT and not EAT

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