No 14834, Wednesday 01 Jul 2026, Gridzilla

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   They need to be taught a lesson about failure (6) PUPILS SLIP-UP<=

4   One's c-cross to bear? (6) AFFORD {A}{F-FORD}

8   One street goes around Italian city (7) TRIESTE {1+STREET}*

9   Man! With this braggart, I get most annoyed (7) EGOTIST {EGOTIST+M}*=I+GET+MOST [CA]

11 Estimation of a tax shown to the auditor (10) ASSESSMENT (~ a cess meant)

12 Go to lake and strip (4) PEEL {PEE}{L}

13 Husband is excitedly eating American dish (5) SUSHI {H+IS}* over {US}

14 OMG! It's a new change, designed to reduce pollution (8) ANTISMOG {OMG+ITS+A+N}*

16 A dashing personality? (8) SPRINTER [CD]

18 Sailing east, around Australia (2,3) AT SEA {EAST}*{A}

20 Nitwit knocked back rum bottles only (4) DODO {ODD<=} over {O}

21 According to Spooner, many excelled in swimming event (10) BACKSTROKE (~stack broke to backstroke)

23 One suspect reportedly gets betrayed (4,3) ?O?D ?U? (Addendum - SOLD OUT (~sole doubt to sold out) - See comments)

24 Reason one can't travel abroad to Germany, or a city in Serbia? (4,3) NOVI SAD {NO VISA}{D}

25 Part of cliff or a fjord receding in the distance (3,3) FAR OFF [T]

26 Heard Frank finally got a revolver (6) PLANET {(~plain)PLANE}{goT} Incorrect homophone See comments

DOWN

1   First to finish remaining prunes? (5) PARES (-s)PARE(+s)S

2   Wants to guide chaps playing soccer primarily (7) PREFERS {Pl...g}{REFER}{So...r}

3   That's life, working for a 2 pm -10 pm job perhaps (4,5) LATE SHIFT*

5   Fellow takes time out in tough contest (5) FIGHT {F}{tIGHT}

6   Commanding officer turned up to discharge one of the marines? (7) OCTOPUS {CO<=}{TO}{PUS}

7   Dame, one who's murdered ultimately in play? (9) DESDEMONA {DAME+ONE+whoS+m...eD}* &lit

10 Amateur gets inspired by fantastic career in a team sport (5,4) RELAY RACE {LAY} in {CAREER}*

13 Gradually steal in shop? (6,3) SIPHON OFF {IN+SHOP}* [RA]

15 Brown can on the counter has a bit of dill and mushroom (9) TOADSTOOL {TOA{Dill}ST}{LOO<=}

17 Sample from skin or dermis is ok (2,5) IN ORDER [T]

19 European dancing in bar - extremely seductive (7) SERBIAN {IN+BAR+Se...vE}*

21 Downright lie! (5) BLUFF [DD]

22 Snake kept rattling and intimidated trespassers at the outset (5) KRAIT Acrostic

Reference List

Man = M, Lake = L, New = N, Australia = A, Only = O, Germany = D, Fellow = F, Can = LOO 

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

No 14777, Saturday 25 Apr 2026, Gridzilla

 ACROSS
1 Heavenly body starts to revolve around sun and ultimately quits revolving (6) QUASAR [Acrostic<]

4 Tooth decay can affect roots in elderly subjects primarily (6) CARIES [Acrostic]
8 Go over the daily grind, taking drugs for a bit of amusement (7) RETRACE {R(-a+E)ETRACE}
9 Girl and boy enthralled by wild bison and apes (7) GIBBONS {G}{B in BISON*}

11 Peek and go on (4,6) KEEP MOVING {PEEK}* [RA]
12 Avoiding pressure, lift part of foot (4) INCH {pINCH}
13 Car manufacturer's latest model is out perhaps (5) TESLA {LATESt}*
14 What a job applicant might do to// develop? (4,4) TAKE FORM [DD]
16 On the way out, daughter stops to pick up prize (4,4) HOLD DEAR {OLD}{D} in {HEAR}
18 Uncivilized gestures to describe creeps? (5) EDGES [T]
20 Oddly, slug hit after ricocheting, like so (4) THUS { SlUg HiT<}
21 Lots of soot spoils furniture (10) FOOTSTOOLS*

23 Armed marine? (7) OCTOPUS [CD]
24 Failing tests regularly, police detective is forced to leave (7) EVICTED {DetECTIVE}*
25 Improves a couple of measures at day school (6) EMENDS {EM+EN}{D}{S}
26 Roll soy or figs basically for desserts (6) FROYOS {SOY OR Figs}<

DOWN

1 What starts quarrels, reportedly, in a waiting line? (5) QUEUE {~Quarrells}
2 Liquid soap or drop of paraffin is suitable (7) APROPOS {SOAP OR Paraffin}*
3 Sarpanch or agent controls city (9) ANCHORAGE [T]
5 Getting angry right away and mellowing (5) AGING {rAGING}
6 Precisely where to see a lawyer's defence strategy? (2,5) IN BRIEF {IN BRIEF}
7 Smart chaps get small cushy jobs (9) SINECURES {S{IN}ECURE}{S}
10 According to Spooner, cold smoked salmon is something a cat owner might buy (6,3) LITTER BOX {Spoonerism of BITTER LOX}

13 Hot chocolate - not cold, mostly, could produce a problem (9) TOOTHACHE {HOT CHOcolATE}*
15 Sleek founders? (5,4) KEELS OVER {SLEEK<}
17 So, bride's desperate to take clothes off? (7) DISROBE*
19 Love, for one, made rich guy irritable (7) GROUCHY {R(-i+O)OCH GUY}*
21 Regained ground (5) FOUND [DD]
22 City will be safe and prosperous ultimately (5) LEEDS [Tail Acrostic]

Reference List

Drugs=E (Ecstasy), Girl=G, Boy=B, Pressure=P, Model=T ( Ford's Model T), Daughter=D, Measures= EM and EN (measures in printing), Day=D, School=S, Right=R, Small=S, Love=0=O, One=1=I.

No 14748, Monday 23 Mar 2026, Gridzilla

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   Think about Rose these days? (6) W?N?E? (Addendum - WONDER {RED}{NOW}<= - See comments)

4   Place to drink wine is off limits (6) BARRED {BAR}{RED}

8   Couple in difficulty abandons daughter (7) HARNESS HARdNESS

9   Part of legend is not a lie perhaps (7) TOENAIL*

11 Great in Rock? (3,7) RED GRANITE {GREAT+IN}* [RA]

12 Othello's greatest antagonist is basically twisted (4) IAGO Acrostic<= &lit

13 Means of communication that's out of reach in Dindigul (5) HINDI [T]

14 Part of club is super cool according to the Reverend (8) HANDGRIP (grand hip to handgrip)

16 One regularly wetting the bed? (8) GARDENER [CD]

18 Break eggs from one end to the other (5) SURGE (+s)SURGE(-s)

20 First of all, bro, men want sexy cars (1,1,1,1) B M W S Acrostic

21 Negotiates with members involved in insurance (6,4) CLIMBS OVER {C{LIMBS}OVER}

23 Anybody could be putting tight noose around me (7) SOMEONE {SO{ME}ONE*}

24 Develop an American company, say (7) GESTATE {GE}{STATE}

25 Explosive report mainly implicates judge (6) TETRYL {TE{TRY}Ll}

26 Order a fancy big fan (6) ADORER*

DOWN

1   Heard you and I have to make up (5) WEAVE {WE'VE}

2   Figure of dragon on a gong (7) NONAGON [T]

3   Perhaps Korean man wanting anaesthesia is treated (4,5) EAST ASIAN ANAESTheSIA*

5   Pay when you eat lunch (5) ATONE {AT ONE}

6   Washing hair in Singapore sucks! (7) RINSING [T]

7   Timid one initially gets beaten in prison (5,4) DOING TIME {TIMID+ONE+Gets}*

10 A thin girl injured in a minor fall (5,4) LIGHT RAIN*

13 Ahem...er... I can explain! (4,2,3) HEAR ME OUT {AHEM+ER}* [RA]

15 Spooner's fans want the effect of a good punch perhaps (9) NOSEBLEED (blows need to nosebleed)

17 Locked up Napoleon in America perhaps (7) DESSERT<=

19 One is naturally alarming (7) ROOSTER [CD]

21 What makes the coating of confectionery sweet? (5) CANDY {Co...rY(C and Y)} Semi&lit

22 This might keep you warm in East End's diner (5) EATER (~heater)

Reference List

Daughter = D

No 14720, Wednesday 18 Feb 2026, Gridzilla

Solution to 7D 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   Study starts to trace ancestral lineage of canines (6) DENTAL {DEN}{Tr..e}{An...l}{Li...e} 

4   Sun not seen in part of Russia and part of Europe (6) IBERIA sIBERIA

8   Someone on a terrace is having a baby! (7) NEONATE [T]

9   Avoid draw? (4,3) WARD OFF {DRAW}* [RA]

11 About to ask loners all over the place to stand together? (5,5) CLOSE RANKS {C}{ASK+LONERS}*

12 Cut some sweet cherries (4) ETCH [T]

13 Physicist originally from Europe researched muons intensively (5) FERMI Acrostic &lit

14 Quickly starts snapping its photo (4,2,2) HOPS TO IT* 

16 Plan is right from start to finish and logical to begin with (8) PROPOSAL {(-a)PROPOS(+a)A}{Lo...l}

18 Old Peruvian beer may be found here (5) INCAN {IN CAN} [DBE]

20 God of war essentially! (4) ARES [T] Semi&lit

21 Spooner's unreasonable standards - they could be frowned upon! (3,7) BAD MANNERS (~mad banners to bad manners)

23 Risk is great, but not absolute (7) IMPERIL IMPERIaL

24 These discriminators are on board? (7) SEXISTS {S{EXIST}S}

25 Had spent time, to take wife out (6) TASTED (+t-w)TASTED

26 Enter with extremely tipsy author around lunchtime (4,2) TYPE IN {TipsY}{PE{1}N}

DOWN

1   People get on when love is expressed (5) DWELL {Do WELL}

2   Abstainer's turned on by hot nurse (3-4) NON-USER {ON<=}{NURSE*}

3   Members of a rock band? (9) ASTEROIDS [CD/GK]

5   At last, scrub your butt cheek (5) BRASS {s..uB}{youR}{ASS}

6   Say, buffalo and bear finally teamed up (3,4) RED MEAT {beaR+TEAMED}*

7   A time to avoid pretentiousness, and care (9) A?F?C?I?N (Addendum - AFFECTION AFFECtaTION} - See comments)

10 Hotel in Iceland served a Mexican dish (9) ENCHILADA {H} in {ICELAND}*{A}

13 On the contrary, some monks might live like this? (3,4,2) FAR FROM IT [DD]

15 A pill they popped for pastime (9) PHILATELY* 

17 Have mixed up pesos with shillings (7) POSSESS {PESOS*}{SS}

19 Intimate clip from biopic on Fidel (7) CONFIDE [T]

21 In Bangalore on vacation, kid gets reward (5) BRIBE {Ba...rE} over {RIB}

22 I unloaded supplies in shop (3,2) RAT ON RATiON

Reference List

Sun = S, About = C, Absolute = A, Time = T, Wife = W, Hotel = H, Shilling = S

No 14690, Tuesday 13 Jan 2026, Gridzilla

Solution to 10D 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   High in just one drink? (6) STONED [T]

4   In retrospect, some can't set a limit with it (6) LATEST [T<=]

8   Put off by boring title song (7) DELAYED {DE{LAY}ED}

9   If nothing else, eat salt at sea (2,5) AT LEAST*

11 After sex change, became more cheerful or panicky? (10) FRIGHTENED (-b+f)FRIGHTENED 

12 Always strong at heart (4) EVER sEVERe

13 Fun subject describing how to get off a mailing list, briefly (5) UNSUB [T]

14 Got on board an old vessel to fix nets (8) EMBARKED {EMB{ARK}ED}

16 Agreed with ladies at base (3,1,4) ITS A DEAL*

18 Teaching remains unchanged, written in English or Arabic (5) TENET <=>

20 Went back a long way (4) DEEP<=

21 How to make tension permanent? (3,2,5) SET IN STONE {TENSION}* [RA]

23 One is involved in stocks and accounts (7) STORIES {STOR{1}ES}

24 Noteworthy island capital - one situated in Asia, basically (7) NICOSIA Acrostic &lit

25 Mountain in Germany having one way to go over (6) DENALI {D}{LANE<=}{1} ( Correction {D}{1+ LANE<=} - See comments)

26 Mother dear set out to save daughter (6) TERESA {dEAR+SET}*

DOWN

1   Steep cut announced (5) SHEER (~shear)

2   Fruit obtained from fields near ocean (7) ORANGES {RANGES}<=>{O} O/Ocean?

3   Charming Democrat's running and likely to be voted in (9) ELECTABLE dELECTABLE

5   After cycling, poet fed the kitty (5) ANTED (-d)ANTE(+d)D

6   Reportedly, writer's most uninterested in contacts, etc (7) EYEWEAR {(~i)EYE}{WEARy}

7   A type of foodie challenge with eats you can bank on? (5,4) TASTE TEST {EATS}* [Letter Bank]

10 Where can you possibly see Ali, as a matter of fact? (2,7) ?N ?E?L?T? 

13 Turned up to have lunch - That's natural (9) UNTREATED {UNTER{EAT}ED*}

15 Bane of one tribe at war with enemy essentially (4,5) BETE NOIRE {ONE+TRIBE+enEmy}*

17 Endless craving for drug (7) ASPIRIN ASPIRINg

19 Spooner's point? Nothing is taboo! (3,4) NOT DONE (dot none to not done)

21 Man in market supplies perfume (5) SMELL {S{M}ELL}

22 Currency of Iran collapsed, followed by agitations primarily (5) NAIRA {IRAN}*{Ag...s}

Reference List

Song = LAY, Sex = B(oy), F(emale), Germany = D, Daughter = D, Democrat = D, Man = M

No 14665, Monday 15 Dec 2025, Gridzilla

Solution to 5D 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   Feeling a bit satisfied after extremely short flight (6) STAIRS {AIR}{Sa...d}<=>{ShorT}

4   A short time to have lunch out (4,2) BEAT IT {B{EAT}IT}

8   Taking spoiled salami, one ultimately gets some discomfort (7) MALAISE {SALAMI}*{E}

9   Henry delivered hash or heroin in metal container? (4,3) IRON ORE {OR+hEROIN}*

11 Visiting hot adult site, Mark gets aroused (10) STIMULATED {ADULT+SITE+M}*

12 Small drink, say, for skipper (4) SAIL {S}{(~ale)AIL}

13 Worm on top of sunflower plant (5) SEDGE {EDGE}<=>{Su...r}

14 "Australia: The best place" - A Netflix feature (8) AUTOPLAY {AU}{TOP}{LAY}

16 John sat playing on account of these sets of cards (8) CANASTAS {CAN}{SAT*}{AS}

18 Cryptic clue about primarily nice relative (5) UNCLE {U{Nice}CLE*}

20 Went in haste, covering head (4) PEED sPEED

21 Radiohead's first hit single's unusually creepy (10) SLITHERING {Ra...d+HIT+SINGLE}*

23 Order servant to check room (7) CHAMBER {CHA{MBE}R}

24 Right away, rations drinks (7) POTIONS POrTIONS

25 Portion of crab soup in ceramic cups (6) PINCER [T]

26 Catches fish with outdated lures? (6) ANGLES dANGLES

DOWN

1   Taking public transport around is clever (5) SMART<=

2   Feared gangster's carrying a gun (7) ALARMED {AL}{ARMED}

3   New 'Listerine Strong' (9) RESILIENT*

5   In the East End, the masses misbehaved (5) E?R?D (Addendum - ERRED (~herd) - See comments)

6   No set exercises? (5,2) TONES UP {NO+SET}* [RA]

7   Result: After losing opener, entire team's out! (9) TERMINATE {eNTIRE+TEAM}*

10 Vessel with crew on board starts to head into port (9) STEAMSHIP {S{TEAM}S}{Head}{Into}{Port}

13 A UFO with small steps? Cool! (9) SPACESHIP {S}{PACES}{HIP}

15 Land in Amsterdam perhaps, says Spooner (5,4) TOUCH DOWN (~dutch town to touchdown)

17 A sign board above shows where to find a six-pack (7) ABDOMEN {A}{OMEN}<=>{BD}

19 Cheerful guy is always laughing basically (7) CORDIAL {CORD}{Is}{Al...s}{La...g}

21 Incident is investigated, as per report (5) SCENE (~seen)

22 Near-perfect ratings possibly worsening after partial review? (5) NINES [HIPS<=]

Reference List

Henry = H, Mark = M, Small = S, Australia = AU, Order = MBE, Servant = CHAR, Right = R, Date = D, Gangster = AL, Cool = HIP, Board = BD, Guy = CORD

No 14636, Tuesday 11 November 2025, Gridzilla

Solution to 4A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM

ACROSS

1 Most attractive officer is trim (3,3) CUT OFF {CUTe}{OFF}

4 Address of number one boarding school (6) ?P?E?H SPEECH{PEE} in {SCH} See comments

8 Public unlikely to avoid bars in general? (7) OVERALL {OVERt}{tALL}

9 Winning's delightful, and in general, inspiring! (7) LANDING [T]

11 Start process to check source of income tax (10) ACTIVATION {ACTION} over {Income}{VAT}

12 Only person in the auditorium? (4) SOLE {~SOUL}

13 & 25 One in a suit is in assistant's room, according to Spooner (3,2,6) ACE OF SPADES Spoonerism of Space of Aide's

14 Write in school about kid topping in exams (8) INSCRIBE {{IN}{S}{C}{RIB}{Exams}

16 Attacks a sailor verbally, on board (8) ASSAULTS {A}+{~SALT}{SAULT} in SS

18 Time to stop marketing this gizmo? (5) PAGER {P{AGE}R}

20 Against America's new tariff increase primarily (4) ANTI Acrostic

21 Is water often served by them? (10) WAITRESSES Letter Bank of {IS WATER}* Semi &Lit

23 Conditions were extremely heart-wrenching (7) WEATHER {WerE}{HEART}*

24 Most rude lout, having something sweet (7) STRUDEL [T]

25 See 13 Across

26 Border security's checking families (6) ORDERS [T]

DOWN

1 Either way, it's local (5) CIVIC <=> Palindrome

2 One wearing headgear drops a European engine driver (7) TURBINE {I} inside {TURBaN}{E}

3 Was full of guilt, and left? (4,5) FELT AWFUL {LEFT}* [RA]

5 Sounds like flat is ordinary (5) PLAIN {~Plane}

6 Right away supply American parts for consumer (3,4) END USER {rENDER} over {US}

7 What an innkeeper may do, to get this type of moustache? (9) HANDLEBAR {HANDLE BAR}

10 With this case, one's turning silent and vicious (5,4) CIVIL SUIT {ONES+CIVIL SUIT}*=SILENT VICIOUS [CA]

13 Police see lead from Norman Bates, to find people who are missing (9) ABSENTEES {SEE+Norman+BATES}*

15 Mohanlal, for one, taking meals without a bit of pepper and salt (9) SUPERSTAR {SUPpERS}{TAR}

17 A little song and a treat arranged around lunchtime (7) ARIETTA {A TREAT}* around {I}

19 General Electric decided to accept Tesla's point (7) GESTURE {GE}{SURE} over {T}

21 Earlier, husband and wife turned up - at which place? (5) WHERE {{ERE}{H}{W}}<

22 Vessels were destroyed by torpedoes ultimately (5) EWERS {WERE}*{torpedoeS}

Reference List

Officer=Off, Bar=T, School=SCH, S, C=About (Circa), On board= in SS(steamer ship) Marketing=PR, European=E, Right=R, American=US, Lunch time=1=I, General Electric=GE, Tesla=T, Husband=H, Wife=W.

No 14612, Monday 13 Oct 2025, Gridzilla

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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Having roses perhaps of all forms, essentially all over the place (6) FLORAL {OF+ALL+foRms}*

4   Got ruined, reportedly (6) RAISED (~razed)

8   Ronaldo played in this city (7) ORLANDO*

9   Pick up posh car for new drivers? That's right (7) CORRECT CO(-ll+rr)RRECT

11 Plot in musical about to become interesting (10) ATTRACTIVE {TRACT} in {EVITA<=}

12 Activities requiring tremendous skill basically (4) ARTS Acrostic &lit

13 Place in America wanting more spicy curry? (5) BALTI BALTImore

14 She is angry and a little taken aback, getting booed (6,2) HISSED AT {SHE+IS}*{TAD<=}

16 The old man's happy to spend 500 for alcohol (8) METHANOL {THE+OLd+MAN}*

18 President once recalled banning radical paper (5) ESSAY YASSEr <=

20 Some painstakingly reviewed dyeing technique (4) IKAT [T<=]

21 Square of seventeen could be divided by five (4-6) EVEN-STEVEN {SEVENTEEN}* over {V}

23 Cut and fixed (7) CLIPPED [DD]

24 Points where campers can be found (7) INTENTS {IN TENTS}

25 Henry leaves run-down part of town carrying a little smack and arrives (4,2) GETS TO {GhETTO} over {Sm..k}

26 Keep late hours with Insta? Not cool, right? (4,2) STAY UP {inSTA}{YUP}

DOWN

1 & 2 A day to play harmless pranks? (5,2,5) FIRST OF APRIL {April}

2 See 1 Down

3   Supplement featuring Charlie's obsession (9) ADDICTION {ADDI{C}TION}

5   Love passing through Palakkad or Ernakulam (5) ADORE [T]

6   Leaving island nation for Washington, say (7) S?R?A?E (Addendum SURNAME SURiNAME - See comments) 

7   A tricky cryptic definition, primarily about a private eye (4,5) DICK TRACY {A+TRICKY+Cr...c +De...n}*

10 The Reverend says "Rise to greater heights, ambitious one" (4-5) HIGH-FLIER (fly higher to high flier)

13 All the best, Gale! (5,1,3) BREAK A LEG {GALE}* [RA]

15 Relative I tolerated initially, gets going (5,2,2) STEPS ON IT {STEPSON}{I}{To...d}

17 Stops to have drinks around a night club perhaps (3,4) HOT SPOT [T<=]

19 A society with this outlook may be necessary (7) SCENERY {SCENERY+A+S}*=NECESSARY [CA]

21 Game is tied by end of set (5) EVENT {EVEN}{seT}

22 Placed a starter of eggplant on the counter to consume (3,2) EAT UP {PUT}{A}{Eg...t}<=

Reference List

Posh car = RR{Rolls Royce}, New = N, 500 = D, Radical = R, Five = V, Henry = H, Cool = IN, Charlie = C, Society = S

No 14595, Monday 22 Sep 2025, Gridzilla

Artwork by Prasanna	Artwork by Prasanna
Artwork by Prasanna	Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 5D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   One barely seen in public? (6) NUDIST [CD]

4   Most insignificant strike in Indian state (6) PUNJAB {PUNy}{JAB}

8   Build new YMCA or YWCA perhaps (7) ACRONYM {N+YMCA+OR}* [DBE]

9   Small transmitting device catches signal finally (7) SLENDER {S{s...aL}ENDER}

11 Complaint involved torso and heart (4,6) SORE THROAT {TORSO+HEART}*

12 Nobleman from Germany touring another European country (4) DUKE {D{UK}E}

13 A drama watched in the auditorium (5) SCENE (~seen)

14 Cakes and tarts, perhaps, highlighted on the counter (8) DESSERTS<=

16 Case is established by counsel (3,5) TEA CHEST {EST}<=>{TEACH}

18 Agent about to go in for review (5) RECAP {RE{CA}P}

20 Starts to fly low and circles around a little lower? (4) CALF {Fly}{Low}{And}{Ci...s}<=

21 Hustler gets wind about another hustler (10) HOODWINKER {HOO{WIND*}KER}

23 Wife removed unusually large new blanket (7) GENERAL {LARGE+NEw}*

24 President once said "I am incredibly inspiring" (3,4) IDI AMIN [T]

25 Fight racism, end sexism in society totally, for starters (6) RESIST Acrostic

26 Couples returning from Somerset in UK (6) UNITES [T<=]

DOWN

1   Stopping for snack, she got some Mexican fare (5) NACHO {sNACk}{sHe}{gOt}

2   See full episode in which priest goes for exorcisms essentially (7) DIOCESE {E{-p+c)CISODES}* Full as Anind?

3   A command given before shooting? (3,6) SAY CHEESE [CD]

5   Sombre or sober? (5) U?L?T (Addendum - UNLIT [DD] - See comments)

6   Spooner's European sweetheart is a mystery woman (4,3) JANE DOE (dane jo to jane doe)

7   An order to stop fighting from Tipu? (5,2,2) BREAK IT UP {TIPU}* [RA]

10 Penny breaks brown eggs on a slice of lox and a mushroom (9) TOADSTOOL {TOA{D}ST}{OO}{Lox}

13 Harry sat here disheartened and cried (4,1,4) SHED A TEAR {SAT+HERE+AnD}*

15 Tightened loose wire's end around the centre of circuit (7,2) SCREWED IN {WIRES+END}* over {cirCuit}

17 We are told they hack into safes (7) COFFERS (~coughers)

19 Regina lost engagement ring (7) CONTACT CONTrACT

21 Treats early signs of hepatitis and Lou Gehrig's disease (5) HEALS {He...s}{E}{ALS} E from?

22 Withdraws money for unknown issues (5) EMITS E(+m-x)MITS

Reference List

New = N, From in German = DE, About = CA, Wife = W, Priest = P, Sweetheart = JO, Penny = D, Regina = R, Money = M, Unknown = X

No 14557, Thursday 07 Aug 2025, Gridzilla

Welcome to the new THC setter Gridzilla. Bouquets and brickbats welcome.

Solution to 2D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Facts twisted a bit? (4) DATA {A}{TAD}<=

9   Order lunch perhaps, including starter of dumplings (5) MEDAL {ME{Du...s}AL}

10 Grass is basically recreational - enjoy every drag (4) REED Acrostic

11 Part of mixed fraction having one number missing? (6) FACTOR FRACTiOn* 

12 Discovered best hotel - pricy, and private (8) ESOTERIC {bESt}{hOTEl}{pRICy}

13 They have hopes of getting peace initially, in rocky sierras (8) ASPIRERS {AS{Pe..e}IRERS*}

15 Nymphs love to look at butt of Adonis (6) OREADS {0}{READ}{a...iS}

17 Manipulation of American company by Indian state, is over (7) MASSAGE {GE}<=>{ASSAM<=}

19 Boss went out with wife and apprentice (7) STUDENT {STUD}{wENT}

22 Remove wrapping of fuse & cables to get current (6) USABLE {fUSe}{cABLEs}

24 Like canines in Manhattan need - meals mostly cooked (8) ENAMELED {NEED+MEALs}* What's the role of Manhattan? Ok, Manhattan is indicator for US Spelling

26 Bar owner is drunk all day and not active (8) LANDLADY {ALL+DAY+aND}

28 Plan of cycling team: winning competition ultimately (6) DESIGN {(+de)DESI(-de)}{w...nG}{c...oN}

30 First of all, men actually like erotic sex (4) MALE Acrostic

31 Big lake? Sounds scary (5) EERIE (~erie)

32 Report is from Sweden possibly - not Germany (4) NEWS SWEdeN*

DOWN

1   Hot stuff turning up in Lonavala (4) LAVA [T<=]

2   "Mark goes," says Spooner, "to get some baked goodies" (8) ?A?T?I?S (Addendum PASTRIES (~trace pees to pastries - See comments))

3   Fine cream whipped with a little egg (6) AMERCE {CREAM*}{Egg}

4   Marketing jingle is bad (6) (7) ADVERSE {AD}{VERSE} See comments regarding Enu

5   Remove from below? (5,3) ELBOW OUT {BELOW}* [RA]

6   Country has oil, reportedly (6) GREECE (~grease)

7   Cheese seller made Limburger sandwiches (4) DELI [T]

14 Cracks seen after reviewing bridges (5) SNAPS<=

16 What starts in discos and night clubs everywhere? (5) DANCE Acrostic Semi&lit

18 Renegades managed to deliver ecstasy and explosives (8) GRENADES ReNEGADES*

20 & 29 A robe Gwen & Doris used repeatedly (8,4) DRESSING GOWN {GWEN+DORIS}* Letter Bank

21 From work, Roy went around the city (3,4) NEW YORK [T<=]

23 Huge debt is hurting this economy, eh? (6) BUDGET {BUDGET+EH}* = {HUGE DEBT} [CA]

25 Pulled top off, getting confused (6) ADDLED pADDLED

27 Horse in fair maybe overlooked periodically (4) ARAB {fAiR+mAyBe}

29 See 20D

Reference List

Number = N, Wife = W, Active = A, Germany = DE, Marketing = AD, Ecstasy = E