Satyen Nabar's Sun Spl analysed

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

No 14833, Tuesday 30 Jun 2026, Pixie Dust

Solution to 6D 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
7   Protagonist nicked addictive substance (6) HEROIN {HEROINe}
8   To begin with wonderful, obviously original display - warm, opulently rich Kashmiri-style carpentry (8) WOODWORK Acrostic
9   Bill breaking free of compulsive behaviours and expressions (8) DICTIONS adDICTIONS
10 Declares: "Pixie Dust dividing shell money!" (6) CLAIMS {CLA{I}MS}
11 Fictional miser losing love for a French bum (8) SCROUNGE SCRO(-o+un)UNGE
12 To a certain extent felt sensually repelled in snuggle (6) NESTLE [T<=]
13 The 'MACS' repeatedly played tournaments? (4,7) TEST MATCHES {THE+MACS}* Letter Bank
18 Fictional detective's biographer, as per reports questioned boy (6) WATSON (~what son)
20 Vision I quote in conversation (8) EYESIGHT {I}{(~cite)SIGHT}
22 Some misread her enchantment for Bond (6) ADHERE [T]
23 Can this masquerader redesign a crimson top? (8) IMPOSTOR {IMPOSTOR+CAN}*=A CRIMSON TOP [CA]
24 Authentic, clear garlic soup without traces of olives and parsley (8) SURGICAL {GARLIC+SoUp}*
25 Blue-collar worker from Colombo will binge every now and then (6) COOLIE {ColOmbO+wiLl+bIngE}

DOWN
1   Spooner says: "The rest and I talk behind their back entrance!" (7) BEWITCH (~we bitch to bewitch)
2   Open spot? Perhaps take a rain check! (8) POSTPONE*
3   Native of Banjarmasin, Borneo (6) INBORN [T]
4   Stuck-up Dominic in a clover, exposed and dangerous (8) VOLCANIC [T<=]
5   Hits outside net essentially and panics (6) SWEATS {SW{nEt}ATS}
6   Member cycling around strange black object (7) ?R?M?L? (Addendum - GRUMBLE {(+g)GLE(-g)} over {RUM}{B} - See comments)
8   Let Maria refuse! (5,8) WASTE MATERIAL {MARIA+LET}* [RA]
14 Drive nurse to Easthampton on vacation with Charlie Yen (8) TENDENCY {TEND}{Ea...oN}{C}{Y}
15 Release young girl endlessly overwhelmed by mounting racket (8) EMISSION {MISs} in {NOISE<=}
16 Honesty from John Grim (7) CANDOUR {CAN}{DOUR}
17 Deranged gossip about Oscar I see in texting (7) CHAOTIC {CHA{O}T}{I}{(~see)C}
19 Delivered butcher's toboggan (6) SLEIGH (~slay)
21 Imagine master having no right adopting canine (6) EXPECT EXPE(-r+c)CT

Reference List
Bill = AD, A in French = UN, Strange = RUM, Black = B, Charlie = C, Yen = Y, John = CAN, Oscar = O, Right = R, Canine = C

23 comments:

  1. 10A is it {CLA{I}M}{S}. The S as in $ for money

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually dollar was called claim sometime back.
      Shell money or claim shells were native american exchange media.

      Delete
  2. More than my expectations!!!
    Started with a Protagonist and weaved some magic.
    Absorbing time. Thank you.
    Letter bank- for some reason, I initially put in team matches and got stuck for a while until I passed the 'Test'!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can imagine the setter saying, " Elementary my dear Watson!"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Is " Bewitched" the word I am looking for? ( by this good CW)

    ReplyDelete
  5. 10A- Is S from money- dollar?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_money

      Check the above link for Shell money

      Delete
    2. Thank you Col. New to me. Interesting.

      Delete
  6. 6D - Good clue and an excellent choice for Solver'sclue.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 6D GRUMBLE-object; member {LEG} cycling {GLE}, around strange {RUM}, {B}lack

    ReplyDelete
  8. Super clues. Enjoyed solving every one of them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. 2 doubts
    - 4dn what is the role of exposed?
    - 24ac - authentic is SURGICAL? couldn't find that meaning.

    My Cod -
    CANDOUR. (Loved it)
    Other nice ones are
    GRUMBLE, EMISSION, BEWITCH.
    Thanx Mona!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exposed is the TELESCOPIC indicator - Stuck Up is the reversal indicator


      I found the synonym for surgical is authentic in collins -

      Thanks Gowri

      Delete

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