The Sunday Crossword No 3278, Sunday 29 Oct 2023

ACROSS

1   Dealt with spade: ditch reconstructed (10) DISPATCHED*

6   Ninnies kicked back in pampering places (4) SPAS<=

9   Musicians given some potent rum Peter supplied (10) TRUMPETERS [T]

10 Cuts of wagyu steak, at the outset? (4) COWS Acrostic &lit

11 I came clean: Hi, implausibly, I'm in movies (7,5) MICHAEL CAINE*

15 Tennis champ against footballers (7) EVERTON {EVERT}{ON}

16 Moderates fits of rage (7) TEMPERS [DD]

17 Starts to eat, taking in starters of assorted seeds and nuts (7) CASHEWS {C{As...d}{Se..s}HEWS}

19 Less bronzed: only short time in Italian resort (7) PALERMO {PALER}{MO}

20 Jazz singer's support: vain, not half forgetful type (12) SCATTERBRAIN {SCATTER}{BRA}{vaIN}

23 Advance slowly (steal, but not quietly) (4) INCH pINCH

24 Queen tucked in to drink, becoming free (10) LIBERATION {LIB{ER}ATION}

25 Message in school sent round (4) NOTE<=

26 Highly amused, as you may be following an accident (2,8) IN STITCHES [DD]

DOWN

1   Meeting poet with no name (4) DATE DAnTE

2   Ignore rampaging Huns (4) SHUN*

3   Choosing a time to meet (11) APPOINTMENT [DD]

4   Become fashionable, understand? (5,2) CATCH ON [DD]

5   Attention on home: it's serious (7) EARNEST {EAR}{NEST}

7   Free port is arranged for ruthless investors (10) PROFITEERS*

8   Awfully supine sons, 'hanging' (10) SUSPENSION*

12 One with grievance reverses direction, becoming agreeable (11) COMPLAISANT COMPLAI(-n+s)SANT

13 Section of band performing Supersonic (10) PERCUSSION*

14 Pet tapir's acne treated (7,3) PERSIAN CAT*

18 National loser biannually taking part (7) SERBIAN [T]

19 Faultless – and kind of tense? (7) PERFECT [DD]

21 Announced search for person of faith (4) SIKH (~seek)

22 Everyman's banknotes no longer valid (4) ONES [DD]

Reference List

Short time = MO, Quietly = P, Queen = ER, Name = N

No 13696, Friday 28 Oct 2022, Karaoke

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ACROSS

1   Sacking first officer, chiefs came out regrettably to take the responsibility (4,3,5) FACE THE MUSIC {CHIEFS+CAME+oUT}* 

9   Kettledrum sounds like mother-of-pearl (5) NACRE (~knocker??) (Correction (~naker) - See comments)

10 Yukky to look at dilapidated homes (9) LOATHSOME {LO}{AT}{HOMES*}

11 Some get a luxurious car as allowance (7) ALIMONY {A{LIMO}NY}

12 Recruits stupid sentinels ignoring employment norms initially (7) ENLISTS SenTINELS*

13 Topless garment worn by youth in this place (8) THIRTEEN {T{sHIRT}EEN}

14 Guide at Universal Studios highlights entertaining rides primarily (5) USHER Acrostic

18 Japanese art contest about to conclude (5) KENDO {K{END}O}

20 Doctor dining at cocktail (3,3,2) GIN AND IT*

24 Corpse found at last between two states! (7) CADAVER {CA}{f..nD{AVER}

26 It's believed to be harmful to watch explosive backfiring (4,3) EVIL EYE {EYE}{LIVE}<= 

27 Thinkers - They believe in God wearing every second Holy Cross (8) THEORISTS {THE{hOly cRoss}ISTS} I feel this letter pick indicator is not correct

28 Initially Soviet charged Ukraine dropping surface-to-air missiles (4) SCUDS Acrostic

29 Thematic story produced live on-street (4,8)  LOVE INTEREST* 

DOWN

1   Copy document containing crooked international scam (9) FACSIMILE {F{I+SCAM}*ILE}

2   Cigar of revolutionary origin (7) CHEROOT {CHE}{ROOT}

3   Cycling in the mind, they sell goods on credit (8) TALLYMEN (-men)TALLY(+men)MEN

4   Euphoric journalist follows unusual tale (6) ELATED {ED}<=>{TALE*}

5   Advocates should have power to review (7) UPHOLDS {SHOULD+P}*

6   Admirable persons' reported power of seeing tricks (4) ICONS {(~eye)I}{CONS}

7   Moderately slow movement at an end perhaps (7) ANDANTE*

8   Support from bottom to top for charter (5) LEASE (+l)LEASE(-l)

15 Resists heartlessly and takes bullets occasionally in consequence (3,6) END RESULT {ENDuRES}{bUlLeTs}

16 Filmmaker shot action scene without dupe (8) CINEASTE {AcTIon+SCENE}*

17 Freethinker is extremely adamant about the dissertation without scientific base (7) ATHEIST {Ad...nT} over {THEsIS}

19 It may happen after wedding - Vedic or otherwise (7) DIVORCE*

21 X-rated content on children under discussion (2,5) AT ISSUE {xrATed}{ISSUE}

22 Highlanders rollaway in vessel (5) SCOTS {S{COT}S}

23 Rip-off child for porridge (6) PRISON {RIP*}{SON}

25 As a result of small fight, religious books returned (3,2) DUE TO {DUEt}{OT<=}

Reference List

Look = LO, Luxurious car = LIMO, International = I, Journalist = ED, Power = P, Rollaway = COT, Vessel = SS, Religious books = OT(Old Testament)

No 13695, Thursday 27 Oct 2022, Gussalufz

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.

ACROSS

1   But holding a long stick, she tries to stay stable (8) BALANCER {BA{LANCE}R}

6   Revolutionary tombstone inscription in place for soul (6) SPIRIT {S{RIP<=}IT}

9   Judge starts to upbraid defence over defence strategy (4) JUDO {J}{Up...d}{De...e}{Over}

10 According to reactionary: have sex without protections, heartily, to fill a place with people again (10) REPOPULATE {PER<=}{cOPULATe}E E from? What's the role of heartily? {Addendum - {PER}{cOPU:ATE}* - See comments)

11 Positive spin applied to the disputed clip (6) UPSIDE [T<=]

12 As discussed, issue suggests systematic studies (8) S?I?N?E? (Addendum - SCIENCES (~scion says)

13 One full of oneself somehow insists upon taking control of narrative (10) NARCISSIST {N{ARC}ISSIST*}

15 Notice the heads up display terminals! (4) ESPY [Tail acrostic)

17 After retirement, secretly date zombie character (4) ZETA [T<=]

18 Bradman set to be replaced as players' leader (10) BANDMASTER*

20 Regularly does so at each end — turns late! (8) DECEASED {DoEs+So+At+EaCh+EnD}<=

22 Dr. exchanged worn-out knife (6) DAGGER Anno pending (-r+d)DAGGE(-d+r)R - See comments)

24 Unrestricted exchange of gold stopping rapid slump (4-3-3) FREE-FOR-ALL {FREE F{OR}ALL}

26 On vacation, right to bump one off? (4) AWRY AW(-a+r)RY

27 These animals? They're on cars every now and then! (6) HYENAS {tHeYrE+oN+cArS}

28 Acquired a welcoming, fancy, nice, large estate (8) HACIENDA {HA{NICE*}D}{A}

DOWN

2   Patiala's queen set to lose spectacular site and lose control of automobile (9) AQUAPLANE {PAtiALAs+QUeEN}*

3   Amino fluid oddly used as sauce? (5) AIOLI {AmInO+fLuId}

4   These Olympians — they may be seen in hair salons! (7) CURLERS [DD]

5   Cutting from liquor, I paid rent (3) RIP [T]

6   Bribe's breaking new ground at 50%, one argues (7) SOPHIST {SOP}HIST Anno pending (Addendum -{SOP}{HISToric} - See comments)

7   Perhaps sand is primarily littered all around their terrain, essentially? (9) ISLANDERS {SAND+IS+Li...d} over {thEir+terRain} &lit

8   Ripped textile, discovered fibre (5) IXTLE tEXTILe* Not sure of Anno See comments

12 Exposed innards of the menace rising to smother monarch (7) SKINNED {DENNI{K}S<=}

14 Christmas is back — came earlier, around the end of March (it changes frequently) (9) CHAMELEON {NOEL<=}<=>{C{marcH}AME}

16 Pet of Spooner's not on leash, expressed satisfaction (9) PREFERRED Anno pending (Addendum ~ free purred to preferred - See comments)

18 Works on vacation, chasing top Oscar awards (7) BESTOWS {WorkS}<=>{BEST}{O}

19 Note: before 100, toy with a sex change (6,1) MIDDLE C {C}<=>{(-f+m)MIDDLE}

21 Getting rid of husband? Pay attention to discontented lady ahead of her time ... (5) EARLY {hEAR}{LadY}

23 ... Good republican husband killed in own churchyard plot (5) GRAVE {G}{R}{hAVE}

25 ... Burnt remains of second husband found under a tree (3) ASH {S}{H}<=>{A} Two definitions?

Reference List

Gold = OR, Right = R, Monarch = K, Christmas = NOEL, 100 =C, Husband = H, Good = G, Republican = R, Second = S

No 13636, Tuesday 16 Aug 2022, Afterdark

Solution to 29A 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.

ACROSS

9   Yes, if he can make wide-angle lens (7) FISHEYE*

10 Secured 3 points — United embarrassed (7) ENSURED {E}{N}{S}{U}{RED}

11 Closed after serving some tequila, first lover in that place spilled (7) SLOPPED {S(-t+l)LOPPED}

12 Violent crime in fellowship? What a country! (7) AMERICA {A{CRIME*}A}

13 Combined? Isolated possibly after tea as discussed (9) TOTALISED {ISOLATED}*<=>{(~tea)T}

15 An excellent doctor in residence for feet (5) IAMBI {1}{A{MB}1}

16 Maybe Brit's worry is fish (7) POMFRET {POM}{FRET}

19 Maybe a cover on head in pouring rain, worn by man on time (7) HAIRNET {H{RAIN*}E}{T}

20 Strange dismissal, takes run edging first (5) OUTRE {OUT}{R}{Ed...g}

21 Most oily? Not good. Instead about to get the most wrinkled (9) CREASIEST (-g+c)CREASIEST

25 Gave one try on spot (7) LENTIGO {LENT}{1}{GO}

26 Rene shortly visiting prophet to get calmer (7) SERENER v{SE{RENe}ER}

28 Experts on east involved in Market Research on India (7) MAESTRI {M{EAST*}R}{I} 

29 Upright reason, rational (7) E?D?I?E (Addendum - ENDWISE {END}{WISE} - See comments)

DOWN

1   Off-site assembly. I am leaving to get make up (6) OFFSET {OFF+SiTE}*

2   Distribute to guards in vessel endlessly (6) ASSORT {A{SS}ORTa}

3   Spy in retreat or castle (4) KEEP<=

4   Slave trade conducted in grasslands area (6) VELDTS {VELDTS+AREA=SLAVE TRADE} [CA]

5   Oliver and Ahaana hiding in terrace (8) VERANDAH [T]

6   According to a connection, primarily Surya has rough tempers (10) ASPERITIES {AS PER}{1}{TIE}{Su..a}

7   Doctor Martin's one of railway crew (8) TRAINMAN {MARTIN*}{AN}

8   Traffic at Chennai time after 1? You should be one who dreams (8) IDEALIST {DEAL}{IST}<=>{1}

14 Crane damaged in slope? Criminal (10) LARCENISTS {L{CRANE*}ISTS}

16 Sums for bachelor student, easy to begin with, Mathematics can be heartless (8) PROBLEMS {PRO}{B}{L}{Easy}{{Ma...cS}

17 Manchester United initially had money that is spent on opening, facing protests (8) MUTINIES {Ma...r}{Un...d}{TIN}{IE}{Spent}

18 Of building model, as per report, easy to steal mostly (8) TECTONIC {TEC(~tech)}{TO}{NICk} (Addendum - {T}{EC(~easy)}{TO}{NICk} - See comments)

22 Simpler for each school to get a heartless educator (6) EASIER {EA}{S}{1}{Ed...oR}

23 Reunions? Missing old redheads partying — they are boredoms (6) ENNUIS rEUNIoNS*

24 First to express romantic concern, emotions try a poetry (6) TERCET Acrostic

27 Free England trip (4) RIDE {RID}{E}

Reference List

Points = E,N,S, United = U, Fellowship = AA(Alcoholics Anonymous), Time = T, Run = R, Good = G, About = C, India = I, Guards = SS, Chennai time = IST, For = PRO, Bachelor = B, Student = L, Money = TIN, Each = EA, School = S, Old = O, England = E