No 14808, Monday 01 Jun 2026, Gridzilla

Solution to 11A 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   Cream is a baker's need, we hear (6) FLOWER (~flour)

4   Chapter out of Africa's wild expedition (6) SAFARI AFRIcAS*

8   Taxes: they actually regulate imports from foreign soil, for starters (7) TARIFFS Acrostic

9   Body builder banned from all contests? (7) STEROID [CD]

11 Worst place underground is mentioned in the Bible perhaps (10) ?E?T?E?L?R (Addendum - BESTSELLER {BEST}{(~cellar)SELLER} - See comments)

12 Cheese is arranged on the counter (4) EDAM<=

13 Upon reflection, will US omit invading city in Iraq? (5) MOSUL [T<=]

14 That's enough of kinky photos on sex (2,4,2) OH STOP IT {PHOTOS}*{IT}

16 Plant a kiss oddly on the mobile (8) STOKESIA {A+KISS+On+ThE}*

18 Small fish primarily found in river from the east (5) ELFIN {NI{Fish}LE}<=

20 Mount Washington's captivating! (4) SHIN [HIPS]

21 How to make the man say "We are the champions"? (4,6) ROCK ANTHEM {THE+MAN}* [RA]

23 Study 'Introduction to Therapeutics' first, to become a doctor (7) DENTIST {DEN}{Th...s}{1ST}

24 Let go and hire again (7) RELEASE RE-LEASE

25 Singular case, partly reviewed, is of lower back (6) SACRAL [T<=]

26 Fancy saree with a little red slip remover (6) ERASER {SAREE}*{Red}

DOWN

1   Case of butter placed in empty fridge (5) FRAME {Fri{RAM}dgE}

2   Without hesitation, runs to snort a bit of illicit drugs (7) OPIATES OPerATES over {Il...t}

3   Reduces cost for American permits (9) ENFEEBLES EN(+fee-a)FEEBLES

5   Shift is a key at the far ends of the typewriter (5) ALTER {ALT}{thE}{t...eR}

6   Ogre ate bananas? Okay! (5,2) AGREE TO*

7   Man-made reservation has no lake (9) IMITATION lIMITATION

10 A weapon having little benefit? (9) ALLOWANCE {A}{L{LOW}ANCE}

13 According to Spooner, to lock the dining room would be perfect (9) MATCHLESS (~latch mess to matchless)

15 Cry with hatred, as emotions initially go haywire (4,1,4) SHED A TEAR {HATRED+AS+Em...s}*

17 Tight necktie almost chokes one on the move (7) KINETIC {NECKTIe}* over {1}

19 Pops down after scoring ecstasy (7) FATHERS FeATHERS

21 Some fear a stalker...a dreaded one (5) RASTA [T]

22 Belgian artist got high consuming narcotics primarily in retreat (5) ENSOR {ROS{Na...s}E}<=

Reference List

Chapter = C, Sex = IT, Hesitation = ER, American = A, Lake = L, Ecstasy = E

Special, Sunday 31 May 2026, K Koteswar Rao

Three answers per commenter till 6 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)

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 58, Sunday 31 May 2026, Gussalufz

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)

2 X 16

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

9   Herb tea with spies breaking double agent (9) CHAMOMILE {CHA}{MO{MI}LE}

10 In the morning, milk please (5) AMUSE {AM}{USE}

11 They chop legs, go berserk arresting—right? (7) LOGGERS {LEGS+GO}* over {R}

12 Nothing about finest American army character? (7) OCTOPUS {O}{C}{TOP}{US} 

13 Trunk calls finally going through to Romania (5) TORSO {callS} in {TO}{RO}

14 Batter's strategy: turn hand, deftly clipping one (3-3-3) HIT-AND-RUN {TURN+HAND}* over {1}

16 Artist going ahead sans wife (post-retirement party), boarding shortly, departing from Ivory Coast (8,2,5) LEONARDO DA VINCI {ONwARD}{DO<=} in {LEAVINg}{CI}

19 Spray fizzy blue sticky stuff around and around (9) NEBULISER {BLUE*} in {RESIN<=}

22 Giant beast regularly seen in tourist destinations (5) GATES {GiAnT+bEaSt}

24 Mug delivered comfort (7) SUCCOUR (~sucker)

26 Champion bandages strained back to get going (7) ACTUATE {AC{TAUT<=}E}

27 Almost without question, ultimately primitive (5) EARLY nEARLY

28 Talk fondly about politician—nationalist steeped in revolutionary X factor (9) COMPONENT {CO{MP}O}{T{N}EN<=}

DOWN

1   Model clad at the top in extra revolting shirt (6) SCULPT {PLU{Clad}S<=}{T}

2   Joey's mum cooked Goan okra (8) KANGAROO*

3   "Busy?" "Negative; routine overtime pain" (4,2,4) NOSE TO TAIL {NO}{SET}{OT}{AIL}

4   Some think it's cheap art (6) KITSCH [T]

5   Returning to chaps beaten in love (8) BESOTTED {BES{TO<=}TED}

6   Terminal transformation that converts a male into a mate? (4) LAST {L as T} 

7   Extremely bored by quiet meal (6) SUPPER {SU{P}PER}

8   A lot of brothels in Kiev city (8) HELSINKI [T]

15 Winning title, terrible tsar rejected guidance (10) NAVIGATION {NO 1}{TAG}{IVAN}<=}

16 After digestion, meaningless to avoid blasting gas: court judges (8) LINESMEN {MEaNINgLEsS}*

17 Underworld's grand rivalry creating scandal (8) DISGRACE {DIS}{G}{RACE}

18 Admitting shell shock over weirdos (8) NUTCASES {CASE} in {STUN<=}

20 Rhombic or noodle-shaped boxing headgear (6) BICORN [T]

21 Charity supporting religious education zones (6) REALMS {ALMS}<=>{RE}

23 Yes, women at dances like your gym body (6) SWEATY {YES+W+AT}*

25 After shedding pounds, just ten stone (4) ONYX {ONlY}{X}

 

Reference List

Spies = MI, Double agent = MOLE, Right = R, About = C, Wife = W, Nationalist = N, Shirt = T, Overtime = OT, Quiet = P, Underworld = DIS, Grand = G, Religious education = RE, Womwn = W, Pounds = L

No 14807, Saturday 30 May 2026, Mythical

 ACROSS
5 Big lizard in car stolen from Nicaragua possibly (6) IGUANA {NIcarAGUA}*

7 Teasing graduate joining a company suppressing noise (8) BADINAGE {BA}{DIN}{A}{GE}
9 Kelvin getting casual winter attire, primarily woollens (8) KNITWEAR {K}{WINTER Attire}*
10 Chief broadcast German songs (6) LIEDER {~LEADER}
11 Quietly envy a model making a comeback, leading show (12) PRESENTATION {P}{RESENT}{A}{T}{NO 1<}
13 Office // furniture (6) BUREAU [DD]
15 Stands and comforts student going inside (6) EASELS {EASE{L}S}

18 Readers dressed in South American headgear in a very hot place (6,6) SAHARA DESERT {READERS}* in{SA}{HAT}
21 Aquatic bird protecting a fledgling ultimately in shallow lake (6) LAGOON {L{A}{fledglinG}OON}

22 Abstract work by sibling reportedly to offend in the beginning (8) SYNOPSIS {OP}{SIS}<=>{SYN}(~SIN)
23 Spooner's at liberty to change plant (4-4) TREE-FERN {Spoonerism of FREE TURN}

24 Idle daughter vacates cabin for one from France (6) LOUNGE {LO{-d+UN}UNGE}

DOWN
1 State showing tackiness (3,5) BAD TASTE {STATE}* [RA]
2 Local model say, introduces nationalist (6) TAVERN {T}{AVER}{N}
3 Working out deal with adviser somewhere Down Under (8) ADELAIDE {DEAL}*{AIDE}
4 Trainee // put in jail! (6) INTERN [DD]
6 Liberal surgeon collapsed after consuming ecstasy (8) GENEROUS {SURGEON}* around {E}
7 One serving drinks and nuts mostly to a partner (6) BARMAN {BARMy}{A}{N}
8 Dull guests really exasperate you initially (4) GREY [Acrostic]
12 Leading on, lift ring casually (8) FLIRTING*
14 This crazy patrol's actively hunting leopards (8) UNHINGED {PATROL'S + UNHINGED}*=HUNTING LEOPARDS [CA]
16 They say weakling upset legendary Greek king (8) SISYPHUS {~SISSY FUSS}

17 Extremely poor lad possesses one cooler (6) PRISON {PooR}{I}{SON}
18 Tool for digging in small shack (6) SHOVEL {S}{HOVEL}

19 Hang leader of dacoits alongside crook (6) DANGLE {Dacoits}{ANGLE}
20 Frequently, software is free or reasonable (4) FAIR {soFtwAre Is fRee}

Reference List

Graduate=BA, Company=GE (General Electric), Kelvin=K, Quietly=P, Model=T, Student=L, South American= SA, Work=Op, Daughter=D, One from France=Un, Nationalist=N, Ecstasy=E, Partner=N ( any of the partners in Bridge N, S, E, W), One=1=I, Small=S.

No 14806, Friday 29 May 2026, Vidwan

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

8   Flying target caught by common hog, hairy one! (4,6) CLAY PIGEON {C}{LAY}{PIG}{ONE*}

9   Host may harm you internally (4) ARMY [T]

10 Temporary slips if bettering home (3,3,4,5) FOR THE TIME BEING*

11 Life of fairy back to forefront (6) ESPRIT (+e)ESPRIT(-e)

12 Leave your land as part of loan reimbursement at good value (8) EMIGRATE {EMI}{G}{RATE} 

15 America going in to violently overthrow ones in power (4) OUST {US} in {TO*}

17 Glorify timeless writing, most ancient (5) EXTOL {tEXT}{OLd}

18 Ram runs out for money (4) CASH CrASH

19 Almost earn twice, brewing common cold drink (3,5) ICE WATER {EARn+TWICE}*

20 Percussion instrument on fire, could be Afro-American (6) MARACA {MARACA+ON+FIRE}=AFRO-AMERICAN [CA] 

22 Deny Cornish sign about keeping different times for different things (15) DESYNCHRONISING*

25 One cutting pain, closer to sting (4) PANG {PAiN}{s..nG} Sting on double duty?

26 EC had extra hiccups with authority (2,8) EX CATHEDRA*

DOWN

1   Opens second grade weaving apparatuses (6) BLOOMS {B}{LOOMS}

2   Sweet story about a seafood dish (6,4) OYSTER STEW*

3   Jumps ahead of time, intended avoiding a company holdings sale (10) DIVESTMENT {DIVES}{T}{MEaNT}

4   Condition or track mind's eye to find coal or shale, say (11,4) SEDIMENTARY ROCK*

5   Investment in Vietnam from the east (4) ANTE [HIPS<=]

6   Most enormous English vessel (4) VASE {VASt}{E}

7   Eastern worker consumed by small issues (8) EMANATES {E}{MAN}{ATE}{S}

13 Evil Persian poet, beheaded by anti-reforms Christian sect (10) ILLUMINATI  {ILL}{rUMI}{ANTI*}

14 Rest and enrich, perhaps to give second term (10) RECHRISTEN {REST+ENRICH}*

16 At intervals, funny caller exposed Bin Laden and America (5,3) UNCLE SAM {fUnNy+CaLlEr}{oSAMa}

21 State of Trudeau, mostly after adopting Romeo's deception (6) CANARD {CANA{R}Da}

23 Years earlier retreats developed these meditative physical exercises (4) YOGA {Y}{AGO<=}

24 Heartless head cook (4) CHEF CHiEF

Reference List

Caught = C, Good = G, Time = T, Runs = R, Second grade = B, English = E, Eastern = E, Small = S, Romeo = R, Years = Y

No 14805, Thursday 28 May 2026, Vidwan

Eid Mubarak

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 22A 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

7   Perverted pest being exposed as world's biggest paedophile ringmaster (7) EPSTEIN {PEST*}{bEINg} 

8   Modest about press berth (7) CHARPOY {C{HARP}OY}

10 American cola cup supply for a Mexican resort (8) ACAPULCO {A}{COLA+CUP}*

11 Planet without active atmosphere, goes around our star (6) URANUS {aURA}{SUN<=}

12 Unhinged pure, endless joy, left suspended, held and put out again! (11) REPUBLISHED {PURE*}{BLISs}{HElD}

15 One going into club to lure (4) BAIT {BA{1}T}

17 German justice, occasionally hard for their neighbours (5) DUTCH {D}{jUsTiCe}{H}

18 Bar unopened always (4) EVER lEVER

19 A victory for new system? Bad in retrospect for a famous Italian Statesman! (11) MACHIAVELLI {MACHI(-n+av)AVE{ILL<=}

22 Zero grams lost at the end of it! (6) ?R?A?M (Addendum - ORGASM {0}{GRAMS*} - See comments)

23 Needs air conditioning for what is left for driver on Indian roads! (8) NEARSIDE*

25 Fabricators quoted 50% for a collection of spirits (7) LIQUORS {LI(-a+QUOted}RS}

26 Plain term describing creativity (7) SPARTAN {SP{ART}AN}

DOWN

1   Great animal feed for new foodie (9) EPICUREAN {EPIC}{UREA}{N}

2   Raise pets! (4-2) STEP-UP {PETS}<=

3   Evil follows with purpose (4) WILL {ILL}<=>{W}

4   King's Hospital urgency! Cuban revolutionary versus Soviet leader! (10) KHRUSHCHEV {K}{H}{RUSH}{CHE}{V}

5   Love reading about fabric (8) ORGANDIE {O}{READING*}

6   Can America fake? (5) BOGUS {BOG}{US}

9   No Christian converted in an ancient Greek City (11) CORINTHIANS*

13 It shoots by capturing ordinary day America, one missed originally (4,6) BODY CAMERA {B{O}{D}Y}{AMERiCA}*

14 I'd a dinner organised for someone like Pinarayi Vijayan? (3,6) RED INDIAN* DBE

16 Party MP! A numbskull! Stuffs eardrum! (8) TYMPANUM [T]

20 Rubbish result? (6) LUSTRE* What's the definition?

21 Bold search for binding (5) BRAID {B}{RAID}

24 Friends quietly moving down two places to a mountain range (4) ALPS (-p)AL(+p)PS

Reference List

American = A, Active = A, Left = L, German = D, Hard = H, Victory = V, New = N, With = W, King = K, Hospital = H, Versus = V, Ordinary = O, Day = D, Bold = B, Quietly = P

No 14804, Wednesday 27 May 2026, Vidwan

 Solution to 1D 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   No loud part for someone like Tom Hanks (5) ACTOR fACTOR

4   One's school shift interrupted by female parent (4,5) ALMA MATER {AL{MAMA}TER}

9   Fitting a specialist job? Nearly! (7) APROPOS {A}{PRO}{POSt}

10 Plants explosive in a small car (7) ARNICAS {IN+A+S+CAR}*

11 Tree found in backward sacred lands (5) ALDER [T<=]

13 Like having slightly bulky core muscles (3) ABS {A{Bu..y}S}

15 Regularly flying in an order (5) ALIGN {A{fLyInG}N}

16 They banned English for you in the past (3) THY THeY

17 Tense, nervous youngsters (5) TEENS*

18 Volcanic rock, almost elementary (5) BASAL BASALt 

20 Shift to desired position and sleep around centre of bed (5) RESET {RES{bEd}T}

22 Greek deity of tear-jerking love (5) ERATO {TEAR*}{O}

23 Unhappy leader sent back for promotions (3) ADS (-s)AD(+s)S

24 Palindromic rule (5) TENET <=>

25 Hundred not out! (3) TON*

26 King looked set in harmony (5) KEYED {K}{EYED}

27 Star in race, nearly creating cataclysmic waves (7) TSUNAMI {T{SUN}AMIl}

29 Part of shower linen at Spooner's science club (4,3) BATH MAT (~math bat to bath mat)

31 Little less difficult clue! (9) MINUSCULE {MINUS}{CLUE*}

32 Issue with rebel children (5) BELCH [T]

DOWN

1   Whitish flower having lean bean (9) A?A?A?T?R (Addendum - ALABASTER {ASTER} over {LeAn}{BeAn} - See comments) Letter pick indicator missing

2   Wearily emend, perhaps determinedly! (7) TIREDLY {TIREDLY+EMEND}*=DETERMINEDLY [CA]

3   Almost spellbound by kind of underground music (3) RAP RAPt

4   Like playing games tune for solace (11) ASSUAGEMENT {AS}{GAMES+TUNE}*

5   Objective: Getting back untraceable soldiers (3) MIA<=

6   Lament about black press causing freezing of thought process (6,5) MENTAL BLOCK {LAMENT*}{B}{LOCK}

7   Diplomacy is about cold machinations (7) TACTICS {TACT}{I{C}S}

8   Sinner suffers without new chemical (5) RESIN SInNER*

12 Knock on the door! New start at Tata! (3-1-3-4) RAT-A-TAT-TATS*

14 Liable for legal action over stigma lasting for long (11) SUSTAINABLE {SUABLE} over {STAIN} 

19 Desperate, small time policeman getting into bar (4-5) LAST-DITCH {LA{S}{T}{DI}TCH}

21 Jain nuances perhaps from nice city (3,4) SAN JUAN {SAN+JUAN+NICE}*=JAIN+NUANCES [CA] 

23 A heartless lad, most petty and appalling (7) ABYSMAL {A}{BoY}{SMALl}

24 Symbol of child seems to be regularly ignored (5) TOTEM {TOT}{sEeMs}

28 Barely righteous acknowledgement of debt (3) IOU pIOUs

30 Deep vessel but overturned (3) TUB<=

Reference List

Loud = F, Small = S, English = E, King = K, Black = B, Cold = C, New = N, Time = T, Policeman = DI(Detective Inspector)

No 14803, Tuesday 26 May 2026, Pixie Dust

Solution to 17D 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

7  Spooner exclaims:"I fall flat for lady!" (6) FEMALE (~me fail to female)

8   Legendary skill? (8) FOOTWORK [CD]

9   What's behind sacrifice? Fatherhood - laying aside past forever! (8) ETERNITY {s...cE}{paTERNITY} PA/Past?

10 Honey producers controlling half a dozen groups (6) BEVIES {BE{VI}ES}

11 Saurashtra's captain, fast bowler's an astronaut (8) SPACEMAN {Sa...a}{PACEMAN}

12 Factor in Archetypal Lord's ashen hue (6) PALLOR [T]

13 A net is used several times in murder? (11) ASSASSINATE {A+NET+IS}* [Letter Bank]

18 Snake swallowed sandwiches, bit of liver and pieces of ears and arms (6) HALDEA {HA{Li..r}D}{Ears}{Arms}

20 Global organisation to drawback? Unfortunate! (8) UNTOWARD {UN}{TO}{DRAW<=}

22 That is Sue's wrapping paper (6) TISSUE [T]

23 Angelic Emma pays Riemann from time to time (8) EMPYREAN {EmMa+PaYs+RiRmAnN}

24 Off guard, Doctor Anu swears, endlessly (8) UNAWARES {ANU+SWEARs}*

25 William for one, cycling around trendy framework (6) LINTEL {(+l)LTEL(-l)} over {IN}

DOWN

1   So, Pat's egocentricity to some extent kept back secret police (7) GESTAPO [T<=]

2   Disallow stands in camps (8) BARRACKS {BAR}{RACKS} Camp would be more of a temporary nature unlike Barracks

3   Close to retirement, mean master escaped monotony (6) TEDIUM {r...nT}{mEDIUM}

4   Cop and Private Investigator with new fix for locks (5,3) BOBBY PIN {BOBBY}{PI}{N}

5   Desperate wives beginning to love swinging around (6) SWIVEL {WIVES}*{Love} Swing or Swinging?

6   Can this impunity hurt Modern Cafe? (7) FREEDOM {FREEDOM+CAN}*=MODERN CAFE [CA]

8   UFOs scare us? (6,7) FLYING SAUCERS {SCARE+US}* [RA]

14 Dilettantes Raman, Stew & Bursa scratching heads and bottoms (8) AMATEURS {rAMAn}{sTEw}{bURSa}

15 Tall model unpaid without embarrassment and remorse at first (8) TOWERING {T}{OW{Em...t}{Re...e}ING}

16 Invalid is not complaining (7) PATIENT [DD]

17 Tumbler acknowledging king's wave (7) ?R?A?E?  (Addendum - BREAKER {B{R}EAKER} - See comments)  

19 Insult criminal now and repudiate (6) DISOWN {DIS}{NOW*}

21 Take in drink for starters - throw-up in party, perhaps losing equilibrium (6) TIPPLE Acrostic

Reference List

Trendy = IN, Master = M, Private Investigator = PI, New = N, Model = T, King = R, Insult = DIS

No 14802, Monday 25 May 2026, Pixie Dust

Solution to 1A 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   Just qualify brave Joseph from time to time (6) ?F?E?H (Addendum - AFRESH {quAliFy+bRavE+joSepH} - See comments)

5   Millions notice conduit around Universal Psychopathic Hospital (8) MADHOUSE {M}{AD}{HO{U}SE}

9   Is this state of stupor possibly a crisis, son? (8) NARCOSIS {NARCOSIS+IS}*=A CRISIS SON [CA]

10 Bird panting briefly (6) PUFFIN PUFFINg

11 Can pet when repeatedly used find recognition? (10) ACCEPTANCE {CAN+PET}* [Letter Bank]

12 Work is restricted by that man's ambition (4) HOPE {H{OP}E}

13 Forcefully edited story about Naira, (girl on vacation) (8) STRONGLY {STORY}* over {N}{GirL}

16 Observed criminal is deep (6) ESPIED*

17 From the beginning government rejected allotment to independent suppliers for free (6) GRATIS Acrostic

19 Rowdy sipping hot tea, say and beginning to spout opinions (8) THOUGHTS {T{H}OUGH}{(~tea)T}{Sp..t}

21 Leader in Myanmar (as televised) backtracking (4) TSAR [T<=]

22 Indiscriminately eat mince pie endlessly in frustration (10) IMPATIENCE  {EAT+MINCE+PIe}*

25 Fraud alert when time is right (3,3) RIP OFF (-t+r)RIP OFF

26 Impractical Fellow (8) ACADEMIC [DD]

27 Encounters meekest lions (Gasp!) every now and then (8) MEETINGS {MeEkEsT+lIoNs+GaSp}

28 Torn piece hanging loose from post at terminal (6) TATTER [T]

DOWN

2   Currency is unrestricted as per auditor (5) FRANC (~frank)

3   Pixie Dust's upset with extremely contemptible European host (5) EMCEE {ME<=}{Co...lE}{E}

4   #Henry's terribly aghast! (7) HASHTAG {H}{AGHAST*} 

5   Queen of England getting hold of boy's handiwork (7) MASONRY {MA{SON}RY}

6   Bankrupt? Cancel entertaining Penny (7) DEPLETE {DE{P}LETE}

7   Ready-made for one who has stopped drinking? (3-3-3) OFF-THE-PEG [DD]

8   Most inadequate, I kiss temp awkwardly (9) SKIMPIEST*

14 Trust Neil building a mechanical gate (9) TURNSTILE*

15 Hardy cycling around more haphazardly, furthest from the center (9) OUTERMOST {(-st)OUT(+st)ST} over {MORE}*

18 Small argument and workers lost head in set (7) STIFFEN {S}{TIFF}{mEN}

19 Spooner says, " Skip tasteless articles for formal headwear!" (3,4) TOP HATS (~hop tats to top hats)

20 Banished cats? (7) OUTCAST {CATS}* [RA]

23 Deny right away and deport (5) EJECT rEJECT

24 Crossing borders of America illegally is felony (5) CRIME aMERICa* Semi&lit

Reference List

Millions = M, Notice = AD, Universal = U, Naira = N, Hot = H, Time = T, Right = R, European = E, Henry = H, Penny = P, Small = S

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 57, Sunday 24 May 2026, Incognito

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

1   Friend confirms as true and talks (8) PALAVERS {PAL}{AVERS}

5   Churchman tense, perhaps, taking gold (6) PASTOR {PAST}{OR}

10 Eva is chaperoned to some extent (5) PERON [HIPS]

11 Toy Papa put down before nightshift (9) PLAYTHING {P}{LAY}{NIGHT*}

12 Poetry collection includes old names (6) SONNET {S{O}{N}{N}ET}

13 Legendary land at end of tunnel is giving shelter to soldier (8) ATLANTIS {AT}{t...eL}{IS} over {ANT}

15 President's joke about sex appeal backfired (5) PUTIN {PU{IT<=}N}

17 Equine sounds by boy, our next door resident (9) NEIGHBOUR {NEIGH}{B}{OUR}

19 Something said to wish luck to an actor, but perhaps not to a dancer (5,1,3) BREAK A LEG [CD]

20 Lowest point for king (5) NADIR [DD]

21 Mom's diet can be bold (8) IMMODEST*

23 Cutting loafs and putting in a bit of fresh variety meats (6) OFFALS {OF{Fr..h}ALS*}

27 Making speed, consumes gin cocktail around 10 (9) HASTENING {HAS}{GIN*} over {TEN}

28 Afterwards, large rat having energy jumped (5) LATER {L}{RAT+E}*

29 Most coy literary moneylender loses security device near estate (6) SHYEST {SHYlock}{EST}

30 Right drain remodelled by Ohio physicist at first to get a bit of liquid precipitation? (8) RAINDROP {R}{DRAIN*}{Ohio}{Ph...t}

DOWN

1   Things Sherlock Holmes had used by plumbers (5) PIPES [DD]

2   Gentler to adjust eyeglasses (9) LORGNETTE* 

3   VP's vehicle is in front of church (5) VANCE {VAN}{CE}

4   Some peri-peri peppers may be ready to eat (4) RIPE [T]

6   Confusing a star, Khan produces lambskin with curled wool (9) ASTRAKHAN {A+STAR}*{KHAN}

7   What Oliver may do with someone's arm? (5) TWIST [C&DD]

8   Hospital employee? May be a government officer... (9) REGISTRAR [DD]

9   Separate long and narrow elevation for bird (9) PARTRIDGE {PART}{RIDGE}

14 A client is strangely rigid (9) INELASTIC*

15 Proclaims: "Bar that lady in large part of isle" (9) PUBLISHES {PUB}{L}{I{SHE}Sle}

16 Sends Ken a design showing nudity (9) NAKEDNESS*

18 Skilled painter of yore turned almost red (3,6) OLD MASTER*

22 Cluttered eating place at yard (5) MESSY {MESS}{Y}

24 Fighter joins Musk to manufacture Su-57 for NATO (5) FELON {F}{ELON}

25 Belt parts recycled (5) STRAP*

26 Alcoholics Anonymous covers Greek city (4) AGRA {A{GR}A}

Reference List

Gold = OR, Papa = P, Old = O, Name = N, Boy = B, Large = L, Energy = E, Right = R, Church = CE, Yard = Y, Fighter = F

No 14801, Saturday 23 May 2026, Saral

 ACROSS
7 Coach crossing borders of Ecuador landscape (7) TERRAIN {T{EcuadoR}RAIN}
8 Land for cultivation almost lay bare, abandoned (6) ARABLE {LAy BARE}*
9 Pound meat, mostly simple (6) HAMMER {HAM}{MERe}
10 Enthusiastic joker, say is an unexpected entrant (8) WILDCARD {WILD}{CARD}
11 Think new ad stunned producer in the end (10) UNDERSTAND {AD STUNNED produceR}*
13 Vent in yard somewhat small (4) TINY [T]
14 Originally artistic, perfectly styled ecclesiastical (4) APSE [Acrostic] & Lit

16 Bill controlling instrument's opening sound (5) NOISE {NO{Instrument}SE}
18 Wine in plastic (4) ASTI [HIPS]

19 Traces of shimmering mist outside garage pollution (4) SMOG [Acrostic]
21 Improve finally female, male ratio somehow (10) AMELIORATE {femalE MALE RATIO}*
23 Quiet again possibly outside hotel in city (8) SHANGHAI {SH}+{AGAIN}* outside {H}
25 Escape from leader leaving retreat (6) EGRESS {rEGRESS}
26 Finish shift around noon online (6) VENEER {VEER} around {N}{E}
27 Devilish convict suppressing leaders of undertrial cellmates (7) LUCIFER {LIFER} around {Undertrial}{Cellmates}

DOWN

1 To begin with play two notes before debut (8) PREMIERE {Play}{RE}{MI}{ERE}
2 Ford, perhaps covering head, tailing German troops (8) GARRISON {hARRISON}<=>{G}
3 Blizzard? Initially shovel right away (4) SNOW {Shovel}{NOW}
4 A daughter following dance and song (6) BALLAD {A}{D}<=>{BALL}
5 Post describing company symbol (6) MASCOT {MAS{CO}T}

6 Drink consuming smart music maker (8) CLARINET {CLAR{IN}ET}

7 Mark, say in wagon behind bar (5) TWAIN {WAIN}<=>{T}

12 Amateur moaned aloud? Secretly! (5) ASIDE {A}{SIDE}(~SIGHED)
15 Maybe help a politician with essentially voter notice (8) PAMPHLET {HELP A MP}*{voTer}
17 Proof from new church supporting first lady having papers (8) EVIDENCE {N}{CE}<=>{EV{ID}E}
18 Flier in A-one barge carrying empty car (8) AIRCRAFT {A1}{RAFT} around {CaR}
20 Friend in gang occasionally wheeling goose (6) GANDER {fRiEnD iN gAnG}<
21 Join a discussion from the beginning in this place (6) ADHERE {A}{Discussion}{HERE}
22 Spot a sergeant holding weapon (5) TASER [T]

24 Jobless International director left capital of Europe (4) IDLE {I}{D}{L}{Europe}

REFERENCE LIST

Quiet=Sh, Hotel=H, Noon=N, Online=E, Notes=RE and MI, German=G, Daughter=D, Company=CO, Smart=In, Amateur=A, Politician=MP, New=N, Church=CE, Papers=ID, International=I, Director=D, Left=L.