No 14937, Saturday 31 October 2026, Dr. X

 ACROSS
1 Stuttering? We got heartily drunk - it's difficult to articulate (6,7) TONGUE TWISTER {STUTTERING WE gOt}*
8 Wife enthralled by knocking back European beverages (5) BREWS {S{W}ERB}<
9 Transports ecstasy across Spain by a stretch of water ( 6,3) BERING SEA {B{E}RINGS}{E}{A}

11 Instruct crew to move closer to check railway accident (5,5) TRAIN WRECK {TRAIN}{CREW*}{checK}
12 Come up against fine champion (4) FACE {F}{ACE}
14 Baron, touch irritated by prince's bungle (5,2) BOTCH UP {B}{TOUCH*}{P}
16 A bag containing note with extremely unusual ring (7) ANNULET {A}{N{N}{UnusuaL}ET}

17 Detached portion of old, broken tile in ancient city (7) OUTLIER {O}{U{TILE*}R}
19 Cher is zesty at opening, playing lively compositions (7) SCHERZI {CHER IS Zesty}*
21 King survives, grabs queen's Malayan dagger (4) KRIS {K}{R}{IS}

22 Lacking width - saw's not working (3,2,5) OUT OF WHACK {OUT OF}{W}{HACK}
25 Slow-cooked cut of beef and drink for a soprano and tenor (4,5) RUMP ROAST {RUM}{PRO}{A}{S}{T}
26 Beginning to tipple in the middle of the day? That's unacceptable (3,2) NOT ON {NO{Tipple}ON}
27 Cheetahs ran berserk outside oriental college? It's likely (3,7,3) THE CHANCES ARE {CHEETAHS RAN}* around {E}{C}

DOWN
2 Soft drug in full moon rave is producing effects (7) OPERANT {P}{E} in {O}{RANT}
3 Cured his dengue on time - bless you! (10) GESUNDHEIT {HIS DENGUE}*{T}
4 Stop in English pub across motorway (5) EMBAR {E}{M}{BAR}
5 Line deleted from outstanding part of speech (4,5) WORD CLASS {WORlD}{CLASS
6 Shoot second goal (4) SEND {S}{END}
7 Tangle with nobleman protecting extremely notorious nationalist (7) ENSNARL {E{NotoriouS}{N}ARL} 
8 One treating cardiovascular problem caused by drink outside club's retro bar (4,7) BETA BLOCKER {BEER} outside {BAT<}{LOCK}
10 Stunned by associate spreading news about fraud by head of establishment (11) AWESTRICKEN {A}{NEWS*} about {TRICK}{Establishment}
13 Where airplane's fuel is // readily available (2,3,5) IN THE WINGS [DD]
15 Reckless ultra caught by policeman around atomic plant (9) PORTULACA {ULTRA*} inside {COP<}+A

18 Conquest by US president to seize island near northern side of Hormuz (7) TRIUMPH {TR{I}UMP}{Hormuz}
20 Cooking appliance in a resort malfunctioned (7) ROASTER*
23 Work on twitch relating to the eye (5) OPTIC {OP}{TIC}
24 Reptile amongst metamorphic rocks (4) CROC [T]

REFERENCE LIST

Wife=W, Ecstasy=E, Spain=E, Fine=F, Baron=B, Prince=P, Note=N, Old=O, Ancient City=Ur, King=K, Queen=R (Regina), Width=W, Soprano=S, Tenor=T, Oriental=E (Eastern), College=C, Soft=P (Piano), Drug=E, Full Moon=O, Time=T, English=E, Motorway=M, Line=L, Second=S, Nationalist=N, Associate=A, Atomic=A, Island=I, Work=Op(us).

No 14936, Friday 30 Oct 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   Screams hysterically about a murder (8) MASSACRE {M{A}SSACRE*}

5   Associate works out after gaining weight every time (6) ALWAYS {A}{LAYS} over {W}

10 Cavort with European after consuming cocaine (5) DANCE {DAN{C}E}

11 Marshal protects a witness (9) SPECTATOR*

12 Crazy men entering a dangerous Indian city (9) MORADABAD {M{OR}AD}{A}{BAD}

13 US-Canada defence org. destroyed a drone leaving base (5) NORAD {DRONe}*

14 Rubbish heap outside fine flat at entrance (6) PIFFLE {PI{F}{Flat}LE}

15 Recital at opening with medley of flutes is soothing (7) RESTFUL {Re...l}{FLUTES*}

18 One way or another, escort entertains old male on vacation (7) SOMEHOW {S{O}{MalE}HOW}

20 Former US president's overture to Epstein in tabloid article (6) REAGAN {R{E}AG}{AN}

22 Starts to holler about vile oppressor causing mayhem (5) HAVOC Acrostic

24 The best thing on menu - our rolls (6,3) NUMERO UNO* 

25 One captivated by perfect maiden (9) UNMARRIED {UNMARR{1}ED}

26 Nervous novice lacks confidence, primarily sheepish (5) OVINE NOVIcE*

27 Robust model eating special pork meatloaf (6) HASLET {HA{S}LE}{T}

28 Come to rest after hosting large shindig at centre from dusk till dawn (3-5) ALL-NIGHT {AL{L}{shiNdig}IGHT}

DOWN

1   Monsieur's wife is nuts about me (6) MADAME {MAD}{A}{ME}

2   Fantastic singers receiving close to twenty million for working together (9) SYNERGISM {S{t...tY}NERGIS*}{M}

3   Where paunchy person's belt buckle might be better than average (5,2,3,5) AHEAD OF THE CURVE [DD]

4   Upset about blood relation being ridiculous (7) RISIBLE {RI{SIB}LE}

6   Start to dance in the raw, loosen up! (3,4,4,4) LET ONES HAIR DOWN {Dance+IN+THE+RAW+LOOSEN}* Semi&lit

7   Concerning some daft errors (5) AFTER [T]

8   Sit astride seat, holding sides of tusker (8) STRADDLE {S{Tu..eR}ADDLE}

9   Ogle after drinking whiskey on date, becoming more lascivious (6) LEWDER {LE{W}{D}ER}

16 Presenting extremely fine American code-breaker (9) FEATURING {FinE}{A}{TURING}

17 Like a small hotel acquired by firm (2,6) AS THOUGH {A}{S}{T{H}OUGH}

19 Improvise with cleverness to enthral stylish girl (4,2) WING IT {W{IN}{G}IT}

20 Modify social media clip about member's retro party (7) REMODEL {RE{M}{DO<=}EL}

21 Secret desire to have a little romp (6) COVERT {COVE{Romp}ET}

23 Repairs anatomical vessel to save military policeman (5) VAMPS {VA{MP}S}

Reference List

Associate = A, Weight = W, Cocaine = C, Men = OR, Base = E, Fine = F, Old = O, Special = S, Large = L, Million = M, Whiskey = W, Date = D, American = A, Small = S, Hotel = H, Stylish = IN, Girl = G, Member = M, Military policeman = MP

No 14935, Thursday 29 Oct 2026, Afterdark

Solution to 16D 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   Roadwork Company clerk at the outskirts to get a valve, say (8) STOPCOCK {ST}{OP}{CO}{ClerK}

5   At the same time as wife, husband is crossing line on time (6) WHILST {W}{H}{IS}{L}{T}

10 Rowdy's cover at slums exposed (7) HOODLUM {HOOD}{sLUMs}

11 A plane curve can be seen at eclipse, after initial cover disappears left (7) ELLIPSE {E(-c+l)LLIPSE}

12 A play in rugby looks odd after second choke-tackle in the front (5) SCRUM {RUM}<=>{S}{Ch...e}

13 Old boy's toxic and disgusting (9) OBNOXIOUS {OB}{NOXIOUS}

14 Doctor reins her fear with an aerosol spray, perhaps (3,9) AIR FRESHENER*

18 Happiness at party after Sita's mingling (12) SATISFACTION {FACTION}<=>{SITAS}* 

21 Box kept near gate has arrack, essentially for the band (9) ORCHESTRA {CHEST}<=>{OR} and {arRAck}

23 Neighbour at NorthEast has friend (5) NEPAL {NE}{PAL}

24 To that article, two leading reporters toiled one-third (7) THERETO {THE}{REp...s}{TOiled}

25 In release, Tom said - process of the temporal bone (7) MASTOID*

26 Break off with blonde, sister relayed (6) DESIST [T]

27 Deadly deli, i.e barmen at both ends menacing (8) INEDIBLE {DELI+IE+Ba..eN}

DOWN

1   Rift in school is mushrooming primarily (6) SCHISM {SCH}{IS}{Mu...g}

2   Aromas are forbidding in old society (6) ODOURS {O}{DOUR}{S}

3   Disconcerted masculine insults (9) CALUMNIES*

4   Quotient of two integers derived from standard operation using Faraday's rule (6,8) COMMON FRACTION {COMMON}{F}{R}{ACTION}

6   Curse over 50 individuals makes them a genus of snail (5) HELIX {HE{L}{1}X}

7   A connector in friend's back's jagged at the tip, points to erosion at both ends (3,5) LAP JOINT {PAL<=}{Ja...d}{pOINTs}

8   Exchequer at Surrey vandalised (8) TREASURY*

9   Our primitive ancestor learnt, had men adopt one development (11,3) NEANDERTHAL MAN {LEARNT+HAD+MEN}* over {AN} As per the clue AN is also part of anagram fodder, making it indirect!

15 Caught son turning inside on the description of a facial feature (4-5) HOOK-NOSED {HOOK{SON<=}ED}

16 Different fool retweeted without no end (8) ?S?O?T?D (Addendum - ASSORTED {ASS}{nO}{RT'ED} - See comments)

17 Holders assemble rocket in ship (8) STOCKERS {S{ROCKET*}S}

19 One pill at the beginning and end by doctor's order advances calmness (6) APLOMB {A}{PilL} and {MB}<=>{O}

20 Vehicle found in a small ridge (6) SLEDGE {S}{LEDGE}

22 Time lost in matches for betting odds (5) EVENS EVENtS

 

Reference List

Road = ST, Work = OP, Company = CO, Wife = W, Husband = H, Line = L, Time = T, Left = L, Second = S, Old boy = OB, Gate = OR, North east = NE, School = SCH, Old = O, Society = S, Faraday = F, Rule = R, 50 = L, Individuals = I, Retweeted = RT'ED, Ship = SS, Order = O, Small = S

No 14934, Wednesday 28 Oct 2026, Afterdark

Solution to 23A 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   Taxes a member at East Germany (6) IMPOST {1}{MP}{OST} POS issue

4   Dispense ORT after a serious shortage at the front (6) ASSORT {ORT}<=>{A}{Se...s}{Sh...e}

8   Matador in Guatemala's somewhat affectionate (7) ADORING [T]

9   Desperately needs intervention of medical examiner in the estate (7) DEMESNE {DE{ME}SNE*}

11 Side rattled with maiden, bowler finishes early by gut (10) DISEMBOWEL {SIDE*}{M}{BOWLEr*} Anind missing

12 Expression of displeasure as purse is picked at the front (4) OUCH pOUCH

13 An apparatus for breathing given to learner in South Africa (5) SCUBA {S{CUB}A}

14 A diversion in team performance (8) SIDESHOW {SIDE}{SHOW}

16 A runner has society's peripheral, perhaps (8) SPRINTER {S}{PRINTER}

18 Pandemonium at church, one obliges to vacate (5) CHAOS {CH}{A}{Ob...eS}

20 Teak, Rowan, Elm, Elders roots make a big plant (4) TREE Acrostic

21 Consensus is strong, without leader its rarity (10) SOLIDARITY {SOLID}{rARITY}

23 Joined in board, rainy in the flanks but has no trace of moisture (4-3) ?O?E-?R? (Addendum - BONE-DRY {ONE} in {BoarD}{RainY} - See comments) 

24 In part, husband at India interferes to constrain (7) INHIBIT {IN}{BIT} over {H}{I}

25 Fires drunk outside general hospital on Sunday (6) LIGHTS {LI{GH}T}{S}

26 Tucker Nelson's heart is at centre (6) KERNEL [tucKER+NELson]

DOWN

1   Primate is seen behind ridge, hiding (5) INDRI [T]

2   Upstart's standard very elementary, to begin with no clues essentially (7) PARVENU {PAR}{V}{El...y}{N}{clUes}

3   Son and first brother persist to clean a hard surface, say (9) SANDBLAST {S}{AND}{Br...r}{LAST}

5   That lady will attack (5) SHELL SHE'LL

6   Coroner ousts a section that is demanding (7) ONEROUS [T]

7   Dogged cousin ate rolls (9) TENACIOUS*

10 Sponge cake made by small women is featuring on special list (5,4) SWISS ROLL {S}{W}{IS}{S}{ROLL}

13 Magnificent bird sighted at the biggest NFL game (5,4) SUPER BOWL {SUPERB}{OWL}

15 Reportedly clergy recruited a rogue at church leading to corruption (9) DECADENCE {(~dean)DE{CAD}EN}{CE}

17 A cold person's in charge at electricity board above work unit (7) ICEBERG {IC}{EB}{ERG}

19 Fusion in raga overcoming resistance leads to charge (7) ARRAIGN {IN+RAGA}* over {R}

21 Pothole on street at the parade (5) STRUT {RUT}<=>{ST}

22 Getting money at Qatar on time is testing (5) TRIAL {RIAL}<=>{T}

Reference List

Member = MP, East in German = OST, Medical examiner = ME, Maiden = M, Society = S, Church = CH, Husband = H, India = I, General Hospital = GH, Sunday = S, Standard = PAR, Very = V, No = N, Son = S, Small = S, Women = W, Special = S, Church = CE, In charge = IC, Electricity Board = EB, Resistance = R, Time = T

No 14933, Tuesday 27 Oct 2026, KrisKross

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

1   Assign setter's place at end of table (6) IMPUTE {I'M}{PUT}{t..lE}

4   Venerable members of crusade meet secretly in retreat (8) ESTEEMED [T<=]

10 Healthy boxer is against bananas (9) ALIMENTAL {ALI}{MENTAL}

11 Worm's stroke of luck (5) FLUKE [DD]

12 Crowd laments over losing last of matches and rubber (7) MASSEUR {MASS}{RUEs<=}

13 Team's turn to play in pub and sing drunkenly (7) INNINGS {INN}{SING*}

14 In America, son of immigrants rejected? That's wrong (5) NISEI {IE}{SIN}<=

15 Takes possession of international banks, having power (8) IMPOUNDS {I}{M{P}OUNDS}

18 One Malayali winning preliminary race, cycling all around One Malayali leaving America wins preliminary race, cycling all around(2,3,3) IN THE AIR {1}{NaIR} over {(+t)THEA(-t)} Clue being edited by KrisKross

20 Work in short-sleeved shirt and lightweight hat (5) TOPEE {T{OP}EE}

23 Muscles love running free! (7) ABSOLVE {ABS}{LOVE*} 

25 Cooked nan - neat dish perhaps (7) ANTENNA*

26 Rebellious soldiers welcomed by the old adversary (5) ENEMY {Y{MEN}E}<=

27 Creature often contaminating kitchens, running over appliances, creating havoc primarily (9) COCKROACH Acrostic &lit

28 Beast with tip of ear cut, caught in a net, writhing (8) ANTELOPE {Ear}{LOP} in {A}{NET*}

29 I essentially check and fix - do it right! (6) EDITOR {chEck}{DO+IT}*{R} Semi&lit

DOWN

1   Following onset of insomina, old queen gets tablet (4,4) IPAD MINI {In...a}{PADMINI}

2   Churchmen in US state surrounded by troublemakers (7) PRIESTS {P{RI}ESTS}

3   Cutting piece of cloth, start to wrap present afterwards (9) T?E?E?I?H (Addendum - THEREWITH {TWITcH} over {HERE}) 

5   Egotism of man going through elaborate profile in Outook (4-10) SELF-IMPORTANCE {M} through {PROFILE*} in {STANCE}

6   Delicate fellow bathed in Northbound river (5) ELFIN {NI{F}LE<=}

7   Evil demon controlling ancient city felt sad (7) MOURNED {MO{UR}NED*}

8   Elegant English ship stops, having no water (6) DRESSY {DR{E}{SS}Y}

9   How to create acute pain, worry about something trivial? (5,2,1,6) STORM IN A TEACUP {ACUTE+PAIN}* [RA]

16 Fan turned out to be ignorant (9) UNTUTORED*

17 Tech giant announced "Warning!" symbol (8) METAPHOR {META}{(~fore)PHOR}

19 Developing space agency mostly with American money (7) NASCENT {NASa}{CENT}

21 Aim to cut long ornament (7) PENDANT {P{END}ANT}

22 Beware! Machinery has rotating device (6) CAMERA [T<=]

24 Expression of amusement describing unknown American firm (5) LOYAL {LOL} over {Y}{A}

Reference List

Muscles = ABS, The old = YE, Right = R, Man = M, Fellow = F, Ancient city = UR, English = E, Ship = SS, Unknown = Y, American = A

No 14932, Monday 26 Oct 2026, Incognito

Solution to 12A 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   Meet, by accident, vagrant with piebald horse (Continued in 10 Across) (4,4)  BUMP INTO {BUM}{PINTO}

9   One shaping lawn is a relative by marriage (2-3) IN-LAW {1}{LAWN}*

10 See 8 (4)

11 Excited pooch carrying new garment (6) PONCHO {PO{N}CHO*}

12 Musical composition, that to some extent, is fake (8) S?M?H?N? (Addendum - SYMPHONY SYM{PHONY} - SYM from? See comments)

13 Mark goes around one premier tech institute and produces sword (8) SCIMITAR {SC{1}{MIT}AR}

15 Come out, European, and join (6) EMERGE {E}{MERGE}

17 Movement from trains running on time (7) TRANSIT {TRAINS*}{T}

19 Sinatra danced... He is skilled at his work... (7) ARTISAN*

22 German father's wish (6) DESIRE {DE}{SIRE}

24 Shake... shake own beaky facial feature (4,4) HAWK NOSE*

26 Spring-loaded hatch, perhaps, made from rotor pad (4,4) TRAP DOOR*

28 Well known Hun expelling nob in battalion restructuring (6) ATTILA {bATTALIon}* 

30 Honey... it's expensive! (4) DEAR [DD]

31 Girl with anchor is a spectral creature (5) GHOST {G}{HOST}

32 Robs drinking vessels (4) MUGS [DD]

DOWN

1   Small vehicle from Australia starts to teeter oddly (4) AUTO {AU}{Te...r}{Od..y}

2   Menaces horribly, capturing initially pacific astronauts (8) SPACEMEN {MENACES}* over {Pa...c}

3   Abstain from drink having iodine (3,3) SIT OUT {S{I}TOUT}

4   Erratic source around lake results in shutdown (7) CLOSURE {C{L}OSURE*}

5   West, with armies, destroyed Bikini, for example (8) SWIMWEAR {W+W+ARMIES}*

6   Fruit from Chile, perhaps, with energy (6) LICHEE {CHILE*}{E}

7   Hastening, carrying a gun (4) STEN [HIPS]

14 Swear, "Dog's excited initially" (5) CURSE {CUR'S}{Ex...d}

16 Girl chased by running ants and other insects (5) GNATS {G}{ANTS*}

18 "Rock" handling equipment in bar (3,5) ICE TONGS [CD]

20 Excitedly, I mention, "Immediately" (2,2,4) IN NO TIME*

21 Company possesses musical instrument and lightweight Indian bed (7) CHARPOY {C{HARP}OY} 

23 Meaning get from another country (6) IMPORT [DD]

25 Anger about one spirit (6) WRAITH {WRA{1}TH}

27 Bird from Jaipur he aided (4) RHEA [T]

29 Bingo's 11 pairs of supporters (4) LEGS [GK/DD]

Reference List

New = N, European = E, Time = T, German = DE, Girl = G, Australia = AU, Drink = STOUT, Iodine = I, Lake = L, West = W, With = W, Energy = E

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 79, Sunday 25 Oct 2026, Afterdark

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  

8   AI introduced in Vietnam is worthless (4) VAIN {V{AI}N}

9   Forced the crowd (5) DROVE [DD]

10 Employs American warship around central Nigeria (4) USES {US{nigEria}S}

11 Regional Engineering Colleges uses intellectual property to expose system (6) RECIPE {REC}{IP}E Efrom?

12 Described dog? Indeed (8) DETAILED {DE{TAIL}ED}

13 Engineer may bless convention (8) ASSEMBLY*

15 Clears tracks (6) STRIPS [DD] 

17 Temporarily uses first bus at golden lines (7) BORROWS {Bus}{OR}{ROWS}

19 Understands that time is redundant for these people (7) ?S?I?O?  Error in the clue

22 Energetic Kazakhstanis discard khakis and produce a poem, say (6) STANZA {kAZakhSTANis}*

24 Criminal Ellis hid in brae (8) HILLSIDE*

26 Precious stones kept in suit (8) DIAMONDS [DD]

28 Having uninterrupted power supply in Delhi East initially is an advantageous aspect (6) UPSIDE {UPS}{In}{De..i}{East}

30 Boy with golden spoon ultimately was brought to life by birth (4) BORN {B}{OR}{s..oN}

31 Indicate time (5) SPELL [DD]

32 Send son to guard borders (4) ENDS [T]

DOWN

1   Cook bass and koi first adding spice at the end (4) BAKE {Bass}{And}{Koi}{s..cE}

2   Technician in England shakes and has beer after removing lid (8) ENGINEER {IN+ENG}*{bEER}

3   Say, quickly debar first voter that's fraud (6) ADVERB {DEBAR+Vo..r}*

4   Farewell to leave with first daughter, boy, 4th wife on tour (7) GOODBYE {GO}{Da...r+BOY+wifE}* 

5   Doctors for depression? First session in the beginning (8) DENTISTS {DENT}{1ST}{Se...n}

6   Coach on line, beginning to go as it is more occupied (6) BUSIER {BUS}{tIER}

7   Female, stranger at England seen at fair (4) FETE {F}{ET}{E}

14 Fire bolt (5) SHOOT [DD]

16 To encourage to stay outside University is noble (5) PROUD {PRO{U}D}

18 Infirmity comes from fitful wakefulness, having flu (8) WEAKNESS {WAKEfulNESS}*

20 Demanded sibling shortened visit to India (8) INSISTED {IN{SISTEr}D}

21 How his personality is helping to make a rumour (7) WHISPER [T]

23 Baptizing Amin inside's not good (6) NAMING {N}{AMIN}{G}

25 Dolly sauntered around university noisily (6) LOUDLY {LO{U}DLY*}

27 Metal found in the environment (4) IRON [HIPS]

29 For fathers, daughters are darlings surely, from the beginning (4) DADS Acrostic

Reference List

Golden = OR, Boy = B, Female = F, Stranger = ET, England = E, University = U, India = IND, Not good = NG

No 14932, Saturday 24 October 2026, Incognito

ACROSS
8 Juliet is in front of sick girl tumbling after Jack (4) JILL {J}{ILL}

9 Kind of taste satsuma might possess (5) UMAMI [T]
10 Before 9, United Nations gets operating system (4) UNIX {IX}<=>{UN}
11 Cheese maker's tenner returned (6) RENNET<
12 Exaggerated usage, perhaps, about slaughter (8) OVERKILL {OVER}{KILL}
13 Where one may find figure eights left by sportspersons... (3,5) ICE RINKS [CD]
15 Distress call from vessel after vessel (3,3) PAN PAN {PAN}x2
17 Frank, a singer playing sitar around North America (7) SINATRA {SITAR*} around NA

19 In absence of a coach, diced and covered with gin cocktail to make pasta-like dumplings (7) GNOCCHI {COaCH*} in GIN*

22 Name child under guardian after editor (6) EDWARD {WARD}<=>{{ED}
24 Wrongly indicate a series of elements (8) ACTINIDE*
26 Disfigured Thane cop's memorial (8) CENOTAPH*
28 John and Theodore plundered (6) LOOTED {LOO}{TED}
30 Put it in big enchilada initially and sink teeth in (4) BITE {Big}{IT}{Enchilada}
31 With love, new elm may produce citrus fruit (5) LEMON {O+N+ELM}*
32 Give out loan instalment before time (4) EMIT {EMI}{T}

DOWN
1 Pest is in custody of policeman (4) LICE [HIPS]
2 Horrible rain near plot results in flatworms (8) PLANARIA {RAIN*}<=>{PLAN} anagram fodder amiss
3 Boy leaves dustbin for Hoffman (6) DUSTIN DUSTbIN

4 Oddly move Amos, after dropping Mike, and go away (7) VAMOOSE {mOVE AMOS}*
5 Tailless feline goes around mineral spring resort for period from birth till death (8) LIFESPAN {FELINe*} around SPA
6 Hide behind Russian, Mr Bond (6) RUSKIN {SKIN}<=>{RU}

7 Advertisement may be seen on board behind him (4) BILL [DD}
14 Spoiled rice before commencement of dinner and sobbed (5) CRIED {RICE*}{Dinner}
16 Pest from Andhra Pradesh covered (5) APHID {AP}{HID}
18 Shattered emerald strewn around front of pine tree (3,5) RED MAPLE {EMERALD*} around {Pine}

20 Means from criminal with pieces of paper currency (8) CONNOTES {CON}{NOTES}
21 Amish is cooking Japanese delicacy (7) SASHIMI*

23 Animal having crushed ego in climax (6) APOGEE APE around EGO*
25 Story book is a gift (6) TALENT {TALE}{NT}
27 Lake in Madikeri estate (4) ERIE [T]
29 Ruler's firearm is damaged after throwing far away (4) EMIR {fIREarM}*

REFERENCE LIST

Juliet=J, United Nations=UN, North America=NA, Editor=Ed, Love=0=O, New=N, Boy=B, Mike=M, Russian=RU, Andhra Pradesh=AP, Book=NT (New Testament).

No 14930, Friday 23 Oct 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.

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ACROSS

8   Husband with a large ring; a ring of light (4) HALO {H}{A}{L}{O}

9   Examine boss with lady at last (5) STUDY {STUD}{ladY}

10 Some offering for Ireland (4) ERIN [HIPS]

11 Inventor is done? Is in trouble? (6) EDISON*

12 Dreamt aiding me wrongly (8) IMAGINED*

13 Wrongly typed a key need for unaided vision (5,3) NAKED EYE*

15 Maximum sum tot may produce (6) UTMOST*

17 Well liked tree planted around university (7) POPULAR {POP{U}LAR}

19 Retain mother and stay silent (4,3) KEEP MUM {KEEP}{MUM}

22 Single thin length of thread is maroon (6) STRAND [DD]

24 Lebanon organisation shelters male aristocrat (8) NOBLEMAN {NOBLE{M}AN*}

26 Damaged CD containing incorrect visa at state team event in men's tennis (5,3) DAVIS CUP {CD}* over {VISA*} and {UP}

28 Girl in Salem building shines (6) GLEAMS {G}{SALEM*}

30 Curved structure in Munnar church (4) ARCH [T]

31 Letter found in home garage (5) OMEGA [T]

32 Place for temporary stay in penitentiary (4) TENT [HIPS]

DOWN

1   Part of body found in Khandwa (4) HAND [HIPS]

2   Excitedly arouse US author (8) ROUSSEAU*

3   Time for payment of bill from American church? Around 1st of November... (6) USANCE {USA}{CE} over {No...r}

4   Planet having pit at centre (7) JUPITER {JU{PIT}ER} Yesterday's crate is today's pit , with JUER still unresolved :-)

5   City says cure is arranged (8) SYRACUSE*

6   Average clairvoyant (6) MEDIUM [DD]

7   Man's relative by marriage? (4) WIFE [CD]

14 Pertaining to a part of a boxing match (5) ABOUT {A}{BOUT}

16 Method of diving from small island (5) SCUBA {S}{CUBA}

18 Loveless doctor goes around university following sailor and kidnapper (8) ABDUCTOR {Do{U}CTOR}<=>{AB}

20 Stops serpent coiling around top of vine (8) PREVENTS {PRE{Vine}ENTS*}

21 Fish photographer (7) SNAPPER [DD]

23 Get off! It's burning... (6) ALIGHT [DD]

25 Prohibit carrying breakfast food for mendicant (6) BEGGAR {B{EGG}AR}

27 Changing sari... showing attitude (4) AIRS*

29 Repair front of mower at last (4) MEND {Mo..r}{END}

Reference List

Husband = H, Large = L, University = U, Male = M, Girl = G, Church = CE, Small = S, Sailor = AB