No 14756, Wednesday 01 Apr 2026, Incognito

HAPPY ALL FOOLS DAY

Solution to 23D 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   Dress got from storage space after escapers left (4) TOGA {sTOraGe+spAce}*

9   Silly ass protects military officer and sailors (5) SALTS {SA{LT}S*}

10 Present location in the region (4) HERE [T]

11 Drink with drunken pop in Middle Eastern city (6) ALEPPO {ALE}{POP*}

12 It helps doctor look at sound organ (8) OTOSCOPE [CD]

13 Utter, "Entire" (8) COMPLETE [DD]

15 Pong from 10 in southern church (6) STENCH {S}{TEN}{CH}

17 Type of cooking that might agitate actor Stephen (4,3) STIR FRY {STIR}{FRY}

19 Returned gold possessed by idiotic lass going around university regularly (2,5) AS USUAL {AU<=} in {LASS}* over {U}

22 Lama leaving wriggling salamander is trapped (6) SNARED {SAlamaNDER}*

24 Rob Morse, perhaps, to get a hat (8) SOMBRERO*

26 Interrogate leader of outlaws in botched up inquest (8) QUESTION {Ou...s} in {INQUEST}*

28 One using a boat is a gambler (6) PUNTER [DD]

30 Conditionally release cricketing equipment (4) BAIL [DD}

31 Central Asian nomad gets an area in China (5) HUNAN {HUN}{AN}

32 Challenge from Hyderabad area (4) DARE [T]

DOWN

1   Implement also before end of trial (4) TOOL {TOO}{t..aL}

2   Philip Pirrip in barge wreck is a highland musician (8) BAGPIPER {PIP} in {BARGE}*

3   A horse runs on land near sea (6) ASHORE {A}{HORSE}*

4   Fully complete everywhere (3,4) ALL OVER {ALL}{OVER}

5   Supports European husbands and wives (8) ESPOUSES {E}{SPOUSES}

6   Something to chew got from Pollachi clerk (6) CHICLE [T]

7   "Hold tightly," from girl with tear (4) GRIP {G}{RIP}

14 Frequently one travels around covering small distance (5) OFTEN {O{FT}EN*}

16 Piece of furniture having cold head covering (5) CHAIR {C}{HAIR}

18 Right LED designed to give stop signal (3,5) RED LIGHT*

20 Peaceful times included in song sung to beloved (8) SERENADE {SEREN{AD}E}

21 Archaeological Survey of India followed by Xi on retirement? Silly! (7) ASININE {ASI}{NINE} {XI<= = IX=NINE}

23 Sure limit may give effect (6) R?S?L? ()

25 After losing car, comparing wrongly and feeling dejected (6) MOPING {cOMParING}*

27 Mountain range seen in Tumkur album (4) URAL [T]

29 Lug first lady and lord (4) EARL {EAR}{Lady}

Reference List

Military officer = LT(Lieutenant), Southern = S, Church = CH, University = U, European = E, Girl = G, Small distance = FT(Foot), Cold = C, Times = AD