No 14886, Monday 31 Aug 2026, Hypatia

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

7   Legal nationalist forces fighting to secure independence (8) FORENSIC {N+FORCES}* over {I}

9   Model saving time for second sibling (6) SISTER SI(-t+s)STER

10 Defeat armoured vehicle (4) TANK [DD]

11 Communicate with men hiring registered vendor (10) CONTRACTOR {CONT{R}ACT}{OR}

12 Doctor separating wounded and serious (6) SOMBRE {SO{MB}RE}

14 Protect Sinner - He's lost (8)  ENSHRINE {SINNER+HE}*

15 A scene from Tom & Jerry, possibly in a temporary rally? (4,3,6) DEAD CAT BOUNCE [DD]

18 Shot group of journalists per Spooner (8) BACKHAND (hack band to backhand)

20 Local icon's clothing fabric (6) CALICO [T]

21 Setter in main marketplace (4,6) HIGH STREET {SETTER}* [RA]

22 Field manager regularly clearing sink (4) FLAG {FieLd+mAnaGer}

23 Keep checking elephants on vacation in jungle (6) FOREST {FOR{El...tS}T}

24 Win back in random plan (8) STRATEGY {STRA{GET<=}Y}

DOWN

1   Decline screening said overs set up in camera (8) POLAROID {DI{ORAL}{O}P}<=

2   Eat bananas closer to thick tree (4) TEAK {EAT}*{t..cK}

3   Tipsy chemist bottling spirit (6) PSYCHE [T]

4   European crowd introduced to very strong coffee (8) ESPRESSO {E}{S{PRESS}O}

5   Rich saloon exercises happening at identical intervals (10) ISOCHRONAL*

6   Pity engineer spoiling Onam (6) BEMOAN {BE}{ONAM*}

8   Vanity firm is sentenced wrongly (13) CONCEITEDNESS {CO}{IS+SENTENCED}*

13 Initially bride needs husband: revolting to go becomes a disgrace to family (5,5) BLACK SHEEP {Br..e}{LACKS}{H}{PEE<=}

16 Virtue of unwinding by a trip to spa which is taken frequently (8) C?A?T?T? {Addendum - CHASTITY {bY+a+TrIp+To+SpA+sHiCh}<=  See comments)

17 Trade banter (8) EXCHANGE [DD]

19 Yes, this author made say, movies (6) ASIMOV {ASIMOV+YES}*=SAY MOVIES [CA]

20 Provides automobiles without deflated tyre (6) CATERS {CA{TyrE}RS}

22 Originally France exported tuna and cheese (4) FETA Acrostic

Reference List

Nationalsit = N, Independence = I, Time = T, Second = S, Registered = R, Men = OR, Overs = O, European = E, Firm = CO, Husband = H, To go = PEE

No 14885, Saturday 29 Aug 2026, Hypatia

 ACROSS
1 Anguished cry about president joining American country (6) CYPRUS {CRY*} about{P} +US

4 Complied with rule in charge of measurement system (6) METRIC {MET}{R}{IC}
9 Teacher giving us recognition, chiefly at University (4) GURU {Giving}{Us}{Recognition}{U}
10 Sympathetic hospital section working with debt obligations (10) HARMONIOUS {H}{ARM}{ON}{IOUS}
11 Novel has article about fine emperor (6) ASHOKA {HAS*}{OK}{A}
12 Play game with turn in row (8) ARGUMENT*
13 Hypatia had set clue earlier and had to explain (9) ELUCIDATE {I'D}<=>{CLUE*}+ATE
15 Approve lying about animal close to zoo (4) OKAY {YAK<}<=>{zoO}
16 Prize art regularly gathering support (4) PIER {PrIzE aRt}
17 Spooner's gambler secures mail collector (6,3) LETTER BOX Spoonerism of BETTER LOCKS
21 Advocate flipping cronies in friendly gesture (8) BACKSLAP {BACK}{PALS<}
22 Port city (6) MUSCAT [DD]
24 A wine almost subduing angry, sick and prickly animals (10) ARMADILLOS {A}{ROSe} around {MAD}{ILL}

25 Can't steal? (4) LOOT {LOO}{T} Can't to be separated as CAN+T
26 He believes that he is truthful to some extent (6) THEIST [T]
27 Caught monkeys earning rupees in stunts (6) CAPERS {C}{APE{R}S}

DOWN
1 Crazy old uncle nicking second brief (7) COUNSEL {O+UNCLE}* around {S}
2 Philosopher taking tips from practices learnt usually through observations (5) PLUTO [Acrostic] Pluto or Plato?

3 Ignored in dark ages, Hindus revolted every now and then (7) UNHEARD {DaRk AgEs HiNdUs}<
5 Hug one in trouble? It's all you need (6) ENOUGH*
6 Managed to take one month to recruit oddly keen miracle worker (9) RAINMAKER {RA{I}N}+{MAR}around {KeEn}
7 Relish slice filled by husband with rising desire (7) CHUTNEY {C{H}UT}{YEN<}

 

8 Get help. Let's stop the curse! (5,3,5) BREAK THE SPELL {HELP LET'S*} [RA]
14 What one can do in dating sites to outwit someone? (9) CHECKMATE {CHECK MATE}
16 Pick up hint about artist and kings in language (7) PRAKRIT {TIP<} around {RA}{K}{R}
18 Yet am ashamedly concealing fuss (7) TAMASHA [T]
19 Speakers occasionally sort out patriot from the South (7) ORATORS {SoRt OuT pAtRiOt<}
20 Cash limit unfortunately hit these entitlements (6) CLAIMS {CLAIMS+HIT}*=CASH LIMIT [CA]
23 Loves nuts to crack (5) SOLVE*

REFERENCE LIST

President=P, American=US, Rule=R, In Charge=IC, University=U, Hospital=H, Debt Obligations=IOUs, Article=A, Fine=OK, Caught=C, Rupees=R, Old=O, Second=S, One=1=I, Month=MAR(ch), Husband=H, Artist=RA (Royal Academician), King=K/R.

No 14855, Saturday 25 July 2026, Hypatia

 ACROSS
8 Martial art in UK, from East spreading good fun (4,2) KUNG FU {UK<}{G FUN}*

9 Tickets in Universal cover O. Henry's plays (not old) (8) VOUCHERS {U CoVER O H'S}*
10 Censor sports during nice bull fights (4-6) BLUE-PENCIL PE in {NICE BULL}*
11 Couple in noisy clip (4) PAIR {~PARE}
12 Fine priest caught in romantic outing (8) DELICATE {ELI}{C} in DATE
14 Mother's sister lacking a day free (6) UNTIED {aUNTIE}{D} 
15 Animals having five enzymes originally in stomachs (7) BEAVERS BEARS around {V+Enzymes}

17 City in America choked by modern progress (7) CHICAGO {CHIC}{A}{GO}
20 About laymen saving expenses (6) OUTLAY [T]
22 Excuse for party (8) OCCASION [DD]
24 Extremely grateful and cheerful (4) GLAD {GratefuL}{AnD}
25 Brown girl stealing diamonds after greeting's unreliable (3-3-4) HIT-AND-MISS {TAN}{D}{MISS}<=>{HI}
27 Camel train meandering behind Persian taxi (8) BACTRIAN {CAB<}{TRAIN*} Persian=from right to left

28 Forces subordinates moving leader four steps ahead (6) POWERS {-l+P}POWERS L,M,N,O,P.

DOWN
1 Two students boarding vehicle look sweet (5,3) BULL'S EYE {BU{LL}S}{EYE}
2 Beginners in athletics generally use exercise to get fit (4) AGUE [Acrostic]
3 Triumphant cry frequently coming up in park near Pune (6) EUREKA {pArK nEaR pUnE}<
4 Booted new device taking time (7) EVICTED {DEVICE}* around T
5 Leave four rocks around line roughly in the middle (8) FURLOUGH {FOUR}* around L+{roUGHly}
6 Spooner checks birds - they are picked up for Chinese food (10) CHOPSTICKS Spoonerism of Stops Chicks

7 Entrance of road closed by small change becoming flatter (6) PRAISE {P{Road}AISE}
13 Revoke TADA in live broadcast (10) INVALIDATE*
16 Regular Trichy building surrounding every other home (8) RHYTHMIC {TRICHY}* around {HoMe}
18 Associate writing in shiny dictionary (8) GLOSSARY {GLOSS{A}{R}Y}
19 Satisfaction's // something internalised (7) CONTENT [DD]
21 Would app. supply drop quietly with transfer to cloud? (6) UPLOAD {wOULD APp}*
23 Appetiser in saucepan accidentally overturned (6) CANAPE [T<]

26 Catcalls from the show haters ultimately (4) MEWS [Tail Acrostic]

Reference List

Good=G, Universal=U, Old=O, Sports=PE (Physical Exercise), Caught=C, Day=D, Five=V, America=A, Diamonds=D, Student=L, Time=T, Associate=A, Writing=R, Quietly=P, With=W.

No 14854, Friday 24 Jul 2026, Hypatia

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   Picked up a date in full-body suit (6) ONESIE (~ one see)

9   Essential food items for adolescents delivered (8) PROTEINS {PRO}{(~teens)TEINS}

10 Rock music without / with metal (8) SCANDIUM {SC{AND}IUM*}

11 Frequently reviewed math, sci though I understand you (6) GOTCHA {mAtH+sCi+ThOuGh<=}

12 Jailbird to assist guard (8) CONSERVE {CON}{SERVE}

13 Local travel mostly arranged before noon (6) TAVERN {TRAVEl}*{N}

14 Bohemian robe at Nike stores (7) BEATNIK [T]

17 Empty building housing most ancient astronomer (7) PTOLEMY {PT{OLd}EMY*}

20 Chiefly unselfish bonding using nobility to unify humanity (6) UBUNTU Acrostic Semi&lit

22 A tear circled face reflecting heated exchange (8) ARGUMENT {A}{R{MUG<]ENT}

25 Fair leader squirming in this scared reel (6) AFRAID  {AFRAID+REEL}*=FAIR LEADER [CA]

26 Initiates deals (5,3) LEADS OFF {DEALS}* [RA]

27 Retired soldier with army worn by death and rivalry (8) VENDETTA {VET}{TA}over {END}

28 Fancy student amidst new hires (6) RELISH {RE{L}ISH*}

DOWN

1   Cast enacted absorbing love story (8) ANECDOTE {ANECD{O}TE*}

2   Positions article controlled by likes (6) ASANAS {AS}{AN}{AS}

3   First Hispanic gent touring India (6) SENIOR {SEN{I}OR}

4   Junk mailer left rotting in jail for pigs primarily (7) SPAMMER S(-l+p)PAMMER

5   Some puff or get itchy? No way! (6,2) FORGET IT [T]

6   Siva left crackers for Diwali, perhaps (8) FESTIVAL*

7   Secure host for a TV show (6) ANCHOR [DD]

15 Regularly trains KIA's rides for liquid transporters (8) TANKARDS {TrAiNs+KiAs+RiDeS}

16 United Nations entering current engagement in flood (8) INUNDATE {IN}{UN}{DATE}

18 Clear display (8) MANIFEST [DD]

19 Spooner's put meat as ingredient in pulao (3,4) BAY LEAF (~lay beef to bay leaf)

21 One required to polish floor cushion (6) BUFFER  [DD]

23 Hard navigating grand city in skirt (6) GHAGRA {H} in {G}{AGRA}

24 Bits of mixed assorted spices adding lingering aroma! (6) MASALA Acrostic &lit

Reference List

Noon = N, Retired soldier = VET, Army = TA, Student = L, India = I, Current = IN, Hard = H, Grand = G

No 14826, Monday 22 Jun 2026, Hypatia

Solution to 16A 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   Pick up spot for fish (6) PLAICE (~place)

4   Events from India captured in records and poems (8) EPISODES {EP{I}S}{ODES}

9   Most terrible blight initially seen in low grass (6) BAMBOO {BAd}{M{Bl...t}OO}

10 One popping a question in favour of sitter (8) PROPOSER {PRO}{POSER}

11 Singer abroad did release heavy metal covers (7,7) FREDDIE MERCURY {FRE{DID*}E}{MERCURY}

13 Dismissed and sued her (7,3) USHERED OUT {SUED+HER}* [RA]

14 Starts to accept transactions through Amazon for staple food (4) ATTA Acrostic

16 Collector's item from foundation returned on time (4) D?B? (Addendum - DEBT - {BED<=}{T} - See comments)

18 Reverend asked to label a pretty girl's trinkets (10) BAGATELLES (tag a belles to bagatelles)

21 Squeal with rum or pleasing cocktail (9,5) SINGAPORE SLING {SING}{OR+PLEASING}*

23 Say men from the East bored by English book on nuclear physicist (8) ROENTGEN {EG}{OR}<= over {E}{NT} then {N}

24 Secure link (6) ATTACH [DD]

25 Rejects vitamin given to biased patients regularly (8) DISDAINS {D}{bIaSeD+pAtIeNtS}

26 Overhead ventilation surrounding entrance (6) ADVENT [T]

DOWN

1   Excited about starters from Bengaluru's sushi bars (4) PUBS {UP<=}{Ba...s}{Su..i}

2   Bureau's chief of investigation probing gangster hurt from the bottom (7) ALMIRAH {In...n} in {AL}{HARM<=}

3   Showed cooks embracing recipe boosting cold soups (8) CHOWDERS {R} in {SHOWED}* <=>{C}

5   Stroll around centre of Saudi - Arab temple complex (11) PERAMBULATE {saUdi+ARAB+TEMPLE}*

6   Attire concealing standing order to kill (6) SUPARI {S{UP}ARI}

7   Remains close to fighting in clean contempt (7) DISGUST {D{IS}{f...nG}UST}

8   Abandoned felines in cast (5,4) STRAY CATS {CAST}* [RA]

12 Bananas contained in a trawler heading out to deep location (6,5) INDIAN OCEAN {CONTAINED+IN+A+Tr...r}* (Correction - {CONtAINED+IN+A}* See comments)

13 Doctor died! Nurse - not needed! (9) UNDESIRED {DIED+NURSE}*

15 Let down beaten side replacing England's captain (8) DEFLATED DEF(-e+l)LATED

17 Those who censor advertisements? (7) BANNERS [C&DD]

19 Somewhat cordial in eager race (7) LINEAGE [T]

20 Mother often choosing an eternal phrase in prayer (6) MANTRA {MA}{aN+eTeRnAl}

22 AI exchange in conversation generating note (4) CHIT CH(-a+i}IT

Reference List

India = I, Records = EPS (Extended Plays), Low = MOO, Men = OR(Other ranks),  English = E, Book = NT(New Testament), Nuclear = N, Vitamin = D, Gangster = AL(Capone)Recipe = R, Side = L(Left)

No 14825, Saturday 20 June 2026, Hypatia

 ACROSS
1 Saw grades at first and walked unsteadily around school (8) GLIMPSED {Grades}{LIMP{S}ED}
5 Makes patients consume unlimited drugs (6) CAUSES {CA{drUgs}SES}
10 Some of mine are still closest (7) NEAREST [T]
11 Spotted every now and then, Leonardo must be on the way (2,5) EN ROUTE {lEoNaRdO mUsT bE}
12 Catch hot liquid discharged from the chemical producing resin (5) ELEMI {thE chEMIcaL}*
13 Source of illumination from tip of lamp, one flickering in darkness (4,5) NEON LIGHT{Lamp ONE}* in {NIGHT}

14 Secure investment with a steady income? It's dope! (5,7) FIXED DEPOSIT {IT'S DOPE}* [RA]
18 Are such foods spoiling casino? (5,2,5) HOUSE OF CARDS*
21 Salvaged part of hospital returning to medical complex (9) RECLAIMED {ER<}{CLAIMED*}
23 Initially Arabs brought Yemeni ships safely to Gulf (5) ABYSS [Acrostic]
24 Criminal pushing Ecstasy through sick girl (7) ILLEGAL {ILL}{E}{GAL}
25 Bush shirt embraced by a man going before that woman (7) HEATHER {T} inside {A}<=>{HE}{HER}

26 Stone age building protecting poor men ultimately on time (6) GARNET {AGE}* around {pooR}{meN}+T

27 Audio equipment voyeur heard on board (8) SPEAKERS {PEAKER}(~PEEKER) inside {SS}

DOWN
1 Plant thriving in geranium pots (6) GINGER [T]

2 Pictures Hypatia playing games (6) IMAGES {I}{GAMES*}
3 Drop cost covering diamonds picked up to pawn (9) PRECIPICE {PRICE} around {ICE<}{P}
4 Relatives of former spouse cared for at a filmy set (8,6) EXTENDED FAMILY {EX}{TENDED}{A FILMY}*
6 Leaders of all parties realigned in last month (5) APRIL [Acrostic]
7 Slow // to respond like a bullet? (8) SLUGGISH [D & CD]
8 Suspect a terrorist keeping watch (8) SPECTATE [T]
9 Where to find items people used to sell? (6-4,4) SECOND-HAND SHOP [CD]
15 Meditative stance of director in American space agency with plan to retire (9) PADMASANA {A}{NASA}{M{D}AP}<

16 Spooner's stepping in line? That's lovely (8) CHARMING {Spoonerism of MARCHING}
17 Strong Greek character concealing extremely unusual lesion (8) MUSCULAR {MU}{SC{UnusuaL}AR}
19 Discontented lady these days eating hard oriental fruit (6) LYCHEE{LadY}{C{H}{E}E}

20 Egyptian God of love coming up regularly from said ruins (6) OSIRIS {O}{SaId RuInS}<

22 Fish in corner (5) ANGLE [DD]

REFERENCE LIST

School=S, Hot=H, Part of Hospital=ER (Emergency Room), Ecstasy=E, Man=He, That woman=Her, Time=T, On Board=inside Ship (SS), Pawn=P, Former Spouse=Ex, Director=D, American=A, Space Agency=NASA, These days=CE (Christian Era), Oriental=E, Love=0=O.

No 14795, Saturday 16 May 2026, Hypatia

 ACROSS
7 Get rid of letters from index term in a textbook (11) EXTERMINATE [T]
8 Lot's spoken for a little limelight (3) LUX {~LUCK'S}
10 Deep // sea fish (4) BASS [DD]
11 Old-time secretary rearranging notes (5) STENO*
12 Local returning before India's spring harvest (4) RABI {BAR<}{I}
13 Entrances to historical and majestic pillars in heritage site (5) HAMPI [Acrostic]

15 Extremely envious incident framing one charged for spying (9) ESPIONAGE {EnviouS}{P{ION}AGE}

16 Checks for auditor's rules (6) REIGNS {~REINS}
18 I hated trips in Middle Eastern airline (6) ETIHAD*

21 What one gets from eating garlic in the bar (3,6) BAD BREATH {THE BAR*} [RA]
23 Husband overwhelmed by duty in mating game? (5) CHESS {C{H}ESS}
25 Starts to question UN about Yemeni port (4) QUAY [Acrostic]
26 Father wearing cool fashion brand (5) PRADA {P{RAD}A}

27 Replace stews without exotic eel or fish (4) CARP {RePlACe*}
28 Fine tips from embroidered Zari in Moroccan hat (3) FEZ {F}{Embroidered}{Zari}

29 Actor's pass with a hint of romance in dreary kiss (7,4) GREGORY PECK {GRE{GO}{Romance}Y}{PECK}

DOWN

1 Old accountant on vacation, initially had food - mine! (8) EXCAVATE {EX}{CA}{Vacation}{ATE}
2 Space between hospital sheets, ultimately in layers (4) HENS {H}{EN}{sheetS}
3 Cheer up in the morning with milk (5) AMUSE {AM}{USE}
4 Topical jingle that's upside down (7) INVERSE {IN}{VERSE}
5 Drug in operation used to release oxygen (8) ATROPINE {OPERATIoN*}

6 Spooner asking tramp to embrace fraud (6) HUMBUG {Spoonerism of BUM HUG}
9 Prohibit course covering resistance wave (8) BRANDISH {B{R}AN}{DISH}
14 Ordinary request put up in outlays for attendants (8) PAGEBOYS {O BEG}< in {PAYS}
17 Cleaners in school with those in tears (8) SWEEPERS {S}{WEEPERS}
19 Conceptual// outline (8) ABSTRACT [DD]
20 Doctor gets to drink poured rum (7) STRANGE {GETS*} around {RAN=poured}
22 Discrimination shown in cinema cum entertainment (6) ACUMEN [T]
24 Say, Omani upset about bit of jeera in millet (5) BAJRA {ARAB<} around {Jeera}

27 Penny cuddled by shy ape (4) COPY {CO{P}Y}

Reference List

India=I, Husband=H, Fine=F, Old=Ex, Accountant=CA (Chartered Accountant), Space=EN, Hospital=H, Morning=AM, Oxygen=O, Resistance=R, Ordinary=O, School=S, Penny=P.

No 14794, Friday 15 May 2026, Hypatia

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

7   Cycles poorly to hospital in rough vehicle (8) RICKSHAW {(-s)ICK(+s)S}{H}{ in {RAW}

9   Active local touring old destinations initially on a ship (6) ABOARD {A}{B{O}AR}{De...s}

10 Personally crafted project, say - a lamp (4) DIYA {DIY}{A}

11 Cancelling out filling NYU rolls (10) NULLIFYING*

12 Intolerant people in scraps about match (6) BIGOTS {BI{GO}TS}

14 Whip gooey substances coating ordinary fruits (8) TANGELOS {TAN}{GEL{O}S}

15 Terribly upsetting hater (13) HEARTBREAKING [HATER}* [RA]

18 The Reverend Harry's condition in decline (8) STAGNATE (~nag state to stagnate)

20 Sanskrit scholar drinking hot water in Delhi (6) PANINI {PAN{IN}I}

21 The only option for an ultimate holiday spot? (4,6) LAST RESORT {LAST}{RESORT}

22 Middle Eastern port finally closed to North America (4) DOHA Tail Acrostic

23 Surprisingly last to answer on the buzzer? (6) HORNET {a...eR+ON+THE}*

24 African from Western part of Ghana is in Utah (8) TUNISIAN [T<=]

DOWN

1   Drop vessel, eating very little (8) DIMINISH {DI{MINI}SH}

2   Fine bits of radish alongside vegetable (4) OKRA {OK}{Ra...h}{Al...e}

3   Conservative husband in old style baggy trousers (6) CHINOS {C}{H}{IN}{O}{S}

4   Spanish ranch house had a nice complex (8) HACIENDA*

5   Say, Hawaiian acting in one's play (10) POLYNESIAN*

6   Supporting books - starting from Othello, immediately (6) PRONTO {PRO}{NT}{Ot...o}

8   Smart new tutor led extremely unusual careers (4-6-3) WELL-TURNED-OUT {NEW+TUTOR+LED+Un...aL}*

13 Oscar called you and me to protect brown animals (10) ORANGUTANS {O}{RANG}{U{TAN}S}

16 Touchy about party reduced to a caricature (8) TRAVESTY {T{RAVe}ESTY}

17 Girl with bhai jaan, not oddly pacifist by principle (8) GANDHIAN {G}{AND}{bHaI+jAaN}

19 Item of crockery the camp lost frequently (6) TEAPOT {ThE+cAmP+lOsT}

20 Part of expat in American film (6) PATINA [T]

22 Whack fly (4) DASH [DD]

Reference List

Hospital = H, Old = O, Ordinary = O, Hot = IN, Conservative = C, Husband = H, Style = S, Books = NT(New Testament), Oscar = O, Girl = G

No 14766, Monday 13 Apr 2026, Hypatia

Solution to 26A 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   Possible to say, trade in scrap (6) CANCEL {CAN}{(~sell)CEL)

4   Bird herding two tailless animals (6) BULBUL {BULl}{BULl}

9   Fervent cry (4) KEEN [DD]

10 Complain about broken locks? (5,5) SPLIT HAIRS {SPLIT}{HAIRS}

11 Associate litigation relating to a court (6) ATRIAL {A}{TRIAL}

12 Spooner's bag hit chair behind the driver (4,4) BACK SEAT (Sack beat to back seat)

13 Agatha Christie novels and plays with sound (9) WHODUNITS*

15 Basically headgear - also topis sometimes (4) HATS Acrostic &lit

16 Hard to take over in say, Kohli's steps (4) GHAT G(-o+h)HAT

17 Herb's running after terrible game (9) BADMINTON {MINT}{ON}<=>{BAD}

21 Activate new TiVo to entertain couple (8) MOTIVATE {M{TIVO*}ATE}

22 Country dividing drug and alcohol (6) UGANDA [T]

24 Charming food shop's extremely garish bar's nearly crowded (10) DELIGHTFUL {DELI}{Ga..sH}{T}{FULl}

25 Has topless dresses (4) OWNS gOWNS

26 Without consuming drugs, model's most balanced (6) S?N?S? (Addendum - SANEST {SAN{E}S}{T} - See comments)

27 Peacekeeper's soldiers taking a line that's imaginary (6) UNREAL {UN}{RE}{A}{L}

DOWN

1   Spotted cat that's reportedly a rogue (7) CHEETAH (~cheater)

2   Sacred bull treasured by Pakistan and India (5) NANDI [T] 

3   Reverse speech impediment in time for character in Greece (7) EPSILON {E{LISP<=}ON}

5   A small increase in uniform cost, ultimately included in selection (6) UPTICK {U}{P{cosT}ICK}

6   Snake was pickled in can for sailor (9) BOATSWAIN {BOA}{T{WAS*}IN}

7   Frequently use that in really round ropes (7) LARIATS {uSe+ThAt+In+ReAlLy}<=

8   Anything goes in Easter ball (3,4,3,3) ALL BETS ARE OFF {EASTER+BALL}* [RA]

14 Registered ardent interest primarily in rare and ethnic group (9) DRAVIDIAN {R}{AVID}{In...t} in {AND}*

16 Merchants following Government's rule score unexpectedly (7) GROCERS {G}{R}{SCORE}*

18 Sentimental old lady, underrated, discontented about nothing (7) MAUDLIN {MA}{Un...eD}{NIL<=}

19 Spoken without sound for a second, say (7) ORDINAL {OR{DIN}AL}

20 Oddly, Bhatt shoots for anticlimax (6) BATHOS {BhAtT+sHoOtS}

23 Chiefly aloft, beyond or vertically elevated! (5) ABOVE Acrostic & lit

Reference List

Associate = A, Hard = H, Over = O, Bar = T, Drug = E, Model = T, Soldier = RE(Royal Engineers), Line = L, Uniform = U, Registered = R, Interest = I, Government = G, Rule = R