Friday, 13 February 2026

No 14716, Friday 13 Feb 2026, Pixie Dust

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
7   Middle letters from birdbrains I'd eliminate (6) INSIDE [T]
8   Returning last minute, accepting present? It's fine (8) ETHEREAL {LATE<=} over {HERE}
9   Rated settlement? (8) TRADEOFF {RATED}* [RA]
10 Lewd flier cycling around a liberal (6) RIBALD {(+d)DBIR(-d)<=} over {A}{L} Around on double duty?
11 So, this state broadcast rubs police? (8) REPUBLIC {REPUBLIC+SO}*=RUBS POLICE [CA]
12 Maxim and Carol circling a yard (6) SAYING {S{A}{Y}ING}
13 Beyond doubt, I register popular name at first (11) INDUBITABLE {I}{TABLE}<={IN}{DUB}
18 Every now and then they answer to China (3,3) TEA SET {ThEy+AnSwEr+To}
20 Assist old boyfriend with exercise and fluid diet (8) EXPEDITE {EX}{PE}{DIET*}
22 Steer clear of unlimited mess, aches? Eww! (6) ESCHEW{mESs}{aCHEs}{eWw}
23 Keep pace with components in vintage Qualis engines (8) EQUALISE [T]
24 Skin inflammations from contaminated buns and pots (8) SUNBURNS {BUNS*}{URNS}
25 Rodents returned in house I vacated (6) CAVIES [T<=]

DOWN
1   Hide! Harsh breathing sound's smothering king Lear at first (7) SNORKEL {SNOR{K}E}{Lear} Snorkel/Hide?
2   Catch daughter with boy? Can lead to this irritating condition (8) WINDBURN {WIN}{D}{B}{URN}
3   Move back from extremely repulsive snake (6) RECOIL {Re...vE}{COIL}
4   Is parent over maid's allure? (8) CHARISMA {IS}{MA}<=>{CHAR}
5   German massage, extremely bawdy and seedy (6) GRUBBY {G}{RUB}{BawdY}
6   Sailor brought up bar's ladder (7) RATLINE {TAR<=}{LINE}
8   Evict fans, exploited repeatedly for success? Use unconventional festive fences (13) EFFECTIVENESS*
14 Chewed up raw donut? Unfortunate (8) UNTOWARD*
15 Lovely ad about honey (8) LADYLOVE*
16 Spooner exclaims: "Look at waste matter in nourishing food!" (3,4) PEA SOUP (~ see poop to pea soup)
17 Stores scarves without original tags (7) STASHES {S{Tags}ASHES}
19 Persons of authority in New Delhi basically swaggering and haughty, intolerant, bossy, supercilious (6) SAHIBS Acrostic
21 Bob covering head, follows Prince in attack (6) POUNCE {bOUNCE}<=>{P}

Reference List
Yard = Y, Old boyfriend = EX, Exercise = PE, King = K, Daughter = D, Boy = B, German = G, Prince = P

Posted by at
Labels: ,

65 comments:

  1. Ananda Rao Keerty13 February 2026 at 08:23

    10.ac. Ribald. Bird(flier) + a + l(iberal)
    22.ac. Eschew. M( es)s +a(che)s + e(w)w
    23.ac. Equalise. (Vintag)e + qualis+ e(ngines)
    24.ac. Sunburns. Buns+ urns(pots)
    14.dn. Untoward. Rearranging letters from 'raw donut'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col_Gopinath13 February 2026 at 10:39

      10A as per you will be BIRDAL?

      Delete
    2. Padmanabhan13 February 2026 at 11:20

      Positioning of letters is very critical in a cryptic CW. It has ti be (Bird)* around AL. You must explain why 'Lewd'- anind.

      Delete
    3. Deepak Gopinath13 February 2026 at 16:02

      That becomes an indirect anagram

      Delete
  2. Brajesh13 February 2026 at 08:36

    23a equalise from vintagEQUALISEngines

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brajesh13 February 2026 at 08:38

    24 a sun burns from anagram of buns urns-pots

    ReplyDelete
  4. Brajesh13 February 2026 at 08:51

    25a cavies - rodents from houSE I VACated in reverse

    ReplyDelete
  5. Murali13 February 2026 at 09:04

    19D SAHIBS = persons of authority
    Acrostic from Staggering ..... Supercillious
    15D LADYLOVE = honey (Lovely ad)*

    ReplyDelete
  6. jeyanth713 February 2026 at 09:08

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Murali13 February 2026 at 09:19

    7A INSIDE = middle -->Telescopic birdbra(ins I'd e)liminate

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mandagondi Naresh13 February 2026 at 09:24

    7A. INSIDE ( birdbraINS I'D Eliminate)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Murali13 February 2026 at 09:29

    11 REPUBLIC (CA) (so+republic)* = (rubs police)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mandagondi Naresh13 February 2026 at 09:31

    8A Tradeoff
    This is typically a letterbank clue of (trade). This would refer to even settlement.
    Although Settlement doesn't exactly mean trade off, since it is not compromise but a sort of completion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kiran13 February 2026 at 09:44

      It is 9A, not 8A. Also, this is not a letterbank clue. But the answer is right.

      Delete
    2. Mandagondi Naresh13 February 2026 at 09:47

      Ok, typo (9A) is this then anagram?

      Delete
    3. Padmanabhan13 February 2026 at 11:23

      It is Reverse Anagram- RA.
      Trade off- anagram of Trade and Trade off us settlement

      Delete
    4. Mandagondi Naresh13 February 2026 at 13:25

      Ok

      Delete
  11. Mandagondi Naresh13 February 2026 at 09:46

    4D. Charisma ( charm, meaning attraction) from allure ( def)
    Is+ parent (Ma and also Maid (m)
    Parent over maid's ( Ma = mother, over means -m , and so 'a' remains)
    Thus, is+charm+a= charisma
    Is this possible annotation?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anil Kumar J13 February 2026 at 10:05

      {CHAR}{IS}{MA} = CHARISHMA (allure). Char = maid (informal, as in charwoman)

      Delete
    2. Anil Kumar J13 February 2026 at 10:06

      CHARISMA (Pl excuse the typo)

      Delete
    3. Mandagondi Naresh13 February 2026 at 10:46

      Yes, char is a maid. It didn't come to mind at first.

      Delete
    4. Padmanabhan13 February 2026 at 11:26

      "Is ma" seems to be under and not over char.

      Delete
  12. Mandagondi Naresh13 February 2026 at 09:52

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col_Gopinath13 February 2026 at 10:42

      Incorrect annotation

      Delete
    2. Gemini13 February 2026 at 10:43

      I struggled to fit snorkel as a synonym for hide. BTW, is hide the definition? What does the ! Convey.

      Delete
    3. Mandagondi Naresh13 February 2026 at 10:57

      King Lear (KL); Now, harsh breathing sound ( Snore)
      Snore+KL=snorkel

      Delete
    4. Gemini13 February 2026 at 13:00

      But what is the role of Hide?

      Delete
    5. Mandagondi Naresh13 February 2026 at 17:57

      Snorkel, a tube used by swimmers.
      So, hide indicates that they are in water.
      Snorkel (Def)

      Delete
  13. Anil Kumar J13 February 2026 at 09:52

    18A [T]H[E]Y [A]N[S]W[E]R [T]O = TEA SET (China)
    20A {EX}{PE}{DITE}* = EXPEDITE (Assist)
    21D {P}{BOUNCE -B} = POUNCE (Attack)
    8D EFFECTIVENESS ? Letter Bank {EVICTFANS}* (Success?)
    16D PEA SOUP - Spooners SEE POOP for Look at Waste matter (nourishing food)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mandagondi Naresh13 February 2026 at 09:57

    2D Windburn ( irritating condition)
    Catch (win), Daughter (D) , Boy (b), irritating ( burn )
    Windburn is inflammation of the skin

    ReplyDelete
  15. Chandrasekaran Swaminathan13 February 2026 at 10:02

    12 A
    Maxim = Saying
    Carol = Sing
    A Yard = AY
    Circling = Containment Indicator
    ஃ
    Maxim = S ( AY ) ING = SAYING

    ReplyDelete
  16. Chandrasekaran Swaminathan13 February 2026 at 10:06

    18 A
    China = Tea Set
    Every now and then = ( Alternate ) Letter Elimination Indicator
    ஃ
    ThEy AnSwEr To = TEA SET

    ReplyDelete
  17. Chandrasekaran Swaminathan13 February 2026 at 10:12

    Assist = Expedite
    Old Boyfriend = EX
    Exercise = PE
    Fluid = Anagram Indicator for " DIET "
    So , Diet = DITE
    ஃ
    Assist = EX PE DITE = EXPEDITE

    ReplyDelete
  18. Chandrasekaran Swaminathan13 February 2026 at 10:17

    5 D
    Seedy = GRUBBY
    German = G
    Massage = RUB
    EXTREMELY = The 2 Extreme letters Selection Indicator for the Fodder " BawdY "
    So , Bawdy = B awd Y
    therefore
    Seedy = G RUB BY = GRUBBY

    ReplyDelete
  19. Mona Sogal13 February 2026 at 10:18

    Good morning! There is a serious errors in 8d - letter bank clue... Am trying to see if I can redeem it in someway...my sincere apologies

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suresh13 February 2026 at 10:38

      I did not notice it till I saw your message. Maybe change one letter in the second word. But it will spoil the surface.

      Delete
    2. Mona Sogal13 February 2026 at 10:45

      The clue has been changed online to
      Use unconventional festive fences (13)

      Sincere apologies

      Delete
  20. Chandrasekaran Swaminathan13 February 2026 at 10:22

    16 D
    Nourishing Food = PEA SOUP
    Look = SEE
    Waste Matter = POOP
    Sooner Exclaims = SPOONERISM of " See Poop "
    So , See Poop ~ PEA SOUP
    ஃ
    Nourishing Food = PEA SOUP

    ReplyDelete
  21. Chandrasekaran Swaminathan13 February 2026 at 10:24

    My Quota of 5 is over
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  22. Chandrasekaran Swaminathan13 February 2026 at 10:35

    In Lieu of 20 A , 16 D

    17 D
    Stores = STASHES
    Scarves = SASSHES
    Without = Containment Indicator
    Original = First letter indicator for the fodder " T ags "
    So , T ags = T
    ஃ
    S ( T ) ASHES = STASHES

    ReplyDelete
  23. Dr Hareendranath13 February 2026 at 10:36

    8a ETHEREAL=fine
    last minute=LATE<, returning.
    accepting, (present =HERE)
    ET(HERE)AL

    ReplyDelete
  24. Chandrasekaran Swaminathan13 February 2026 at 10:39

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chandrasekaran Swaminathan13 February 2026 at 12:30

      It would be helpful if the Admin gives the reason for removal in such instances

      Delete
    2. Deepak Gopinath13 February 2026 at 14:39

      You have exceeded your quota which you yourself have accepted at 10:24

      Delete
    3. Chandrasekaran Swaminathan13 February 2026 at 15:17

      Thank You for ur clarification
      But after publishing my 5 solutions , and informing that my quota has been completed , I found on browsing earlier posts that Mr Anil Kumar had published solutions at 09: 52 AM wherein including 2 of my solutions
      So in lieu of these 2 , as I had shown at the top of the the 2 added posts, I posted 2 more at 10 : 35
      I trust this is acceptable
      If not pl advise me so that I would not resort to it in future
      This is just to set the record straight and for getting clarifications , guidance for future
      Thanks

      Delete
    4. Deepak Gopinath13 February 2026 at 16:03

      Your comment which was deleted did not mention that it is a compensation for a repeat

      Delete
    5. Chandrasekaran Swaminathan14 February 2026 at 12:35

      In my post at 10 : 35 I mentioned in lieu of 16 D & 20 A
      I think i should have shown them separately at the beginning of each in lieu post

      Delete
  25. Dr Hareendranath13 February 2026 at 10:43

    6d RATLINE=ladder
    TAR<(mariner brought up)=RAT
    +LINE=bar

    ReplyDelete
  26. D N M Rao13 February 2026 at 11:00

    13Ac INDUBITABLE - {I}{TABLE} after {IN}{DUB}

    ReplyDelete
  27. Devi Prasad13 February 2026 at 11:00

    13A:indubitable=beyond doubt
    (I) register(table), {popular(in) name(dub)} at first
    {(in)(dub)((i)(table)}

    ReplyDelete
  28. Devi Prasad13 February 2026 at 11:02

    3D:recoil=move back
    extremely repulsive(re), snake(coil)
    {(re)(coil)}
    ILO 13A.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Padmanabhan13 February 2026 at 11:31

    Pixie Dust lives up to her name.
    Enjoyed solving. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mona Sogal13 February 2026 at 12:02

      Thank you.. although I am vastly embarrassed about the 8d debacle :(

      Delete
    2. Padmanabhan13 February 2026 at 12:44

      It does happen at times, in spite of all checks.
      Enjoyable CW.

      Delete
    3. Mona Sogal13 February 2026 at 13:05

      Thanks for your kindness

      Delete
  30. Mandagondi Naresh13 February 2026 at 12:14

    Enjoyed solving it, really

    ReplyDelete
  31. Gowri13 February 2026 at 23:08

    Snorkel threw me off. Is Hide the definition?
    Then 8d also. I use print edition.
    So sorry! It was not as enjoyable as yday.

    Having said that - my fav today -
    STASHES, WINDBURN, CHARISMA.
    Thanx Mona!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Mona Sogal14 February 2026 at 13:22

    My sincere apologies Gowri

    ReplyDelete

deepakgita@gmail.com

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)