No 14923, Wednesday 14 Oct 2026, Gridzilla

Solution to 13D 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   Bored by country song in party? (8) CAROUSAL {CARO{USA}L}

9   Way, reportedly, to get to big house (5) MANOR (~manner)

10 European has half Polish name (4) FINN {FINish}{N}

11 What's seen in hands of orthodontists, etc? (3,2,5) AND SO FORTH [T]

12 Overwhelmed by arthritis sometimes? Yes! (2,2,2) IT IS SO [T]

14 The University dean's building is cool (8) UNHEATED {THE+U+DEAN}*

15 Heartbroken chaps continue to sigh? (7) BREATHE {HEART}* in {BE}

17 Hip and leg operation basically pending (2,5) IN LIMBO {IN}{LIMB}{Op...n}

20 Wretched fellow's killing time inside (8) INFERNAL IN(+f-t)FERNAL

22 Play fine puzzle right away (6) FIDDLE {F}{rIDDLE}

23 Ones you can bank on, to get serious? (2,8) NO NONSENSE {ONES}* [Letter Bank]

24 OK to pester for repayment of a loan, we hear (4) DONE (~dun)

25 One of the best violinists ever from Russia, enthralled millions, for starters (5) EFREM Acrostic Semi&lit

26 Even lower? (8) DECREASE [DD]

DOWN

1   Support staff for flights? (8) BANISTER [CD]

2   Either way, it's lunch time (4) NOON<=>

3   Up in Saratoga, I sampled some cheese (6) ASIAGO [T<=]

4   Lids came off easily? (4,3) SLID OUT {LIDS}* [RA]

5   Even in those days, dogs primarily scavenged meals on occasion (8) SMOOTHEN {THEN}<=>{Sc...d}{Me..s}{On}{Oc...n}

6   Ordinary and OK? Fine and fantastic? Or exceptional? (3,2,1,4) ONE OF A KIND {O+AND+OK+FINE}*

7   Jerk starts to expose his tummy in restaurant, when getting a tip (6) WRITHE [Acrostic<=]

13 Spooner's hound got a ride (10) S?A?E?O?R?  (Addendum - SKATEBOARD (bait scored to skateboard - See comments)

16 Fine day to board carriage back from office (8) HANDSOME {HAN{D}SOM}{o...cE}

18 Cat is able to jump around corner (8) BALINESE {IS+ABLE}* over {NE}

19 Full day, one dude's getting fleeced in city (4-3) ULAN-UDE {fULl}{dAy}{oNe}{dUDEs}

21 What's set up quickly, at the conclusions of some trials? (6) NOOSES {SOON<=}{somE}{t...lS} &lit

22 Strong fellow gets hurt unloading piano (6) FIERCE {F}{pIERCE}

24 Flower placed on top of policeman's grave (4) DEEP {DEE}{Po...s}

Reference List

Name = N, University = U, Fellow = F, Time = T, Fine = F, Right = R, Ordinary = O, Day = D, Corner = NE, Piano = P

No 14922, Tuesday 13 Oct 2026, Vidwan

Solution to 11A 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   Recent changes after removal of pressure, reportedly for housing of the illegals (9,6) DETENTION CENTRE {RECENT}*<=>{(~de tension)DETENTION} 

9   Help with a licit smuggling in future (10) FACILITATE {F{A+LICIT}*ATE}

10 Approached leader retreating to the top (4) ACME (-c)A(+c)CME Retreating or going forward?

11 Will might influence size (8) ?T?E?G?H (Addendum - STRENGTH [MD] - See comments)

13 Nation hides force away from the borders (6) INLAND fINLAND

14 England's local troller manipulated voters list (9,4) ELECTORAL ROLL {E+LOCAL+TROLLER}*

17 Plateau to pianissimo beholding perfect state (6) UTOPIA [T]

18 It's basically most open kind of relative discrimination (8) NEPOTISM {ITS+Most+OPEN}*

21 Organised first leaderless agitation (4) STIR fIRST*

22 A new sister at spy agency, the heartless harbinger (10) ANNUNCIATE {A}{N}{NUN}{CIA}{ThE}

24 Economic crisis that is back, involves media controlled by Mafia boss chasing capital (5,10) GREAT DEPRESSION {IE<=} over {PRESS} in {DON} after {GREAT}

DOWN

1   Leave males to rest around supermarket (10,5) DEPARTMENT STORE {DEPART}{MEN}{TO+REST}*

2   People beheaded in evil city (6) VENICE {V{mEN}ICE}

3   Run small time gang (6) STRING {S}{T}{RING} 

4   Until now lacked right piece of furniture (4) SOFA {SO FAr}

5   Pain of nail splitting of fruits like strawberries (8) ACHENIAL {ACHE}{NAIL*}

6   Popular name developed oil printing method (8) INTAGLIO {IN}{TAG}{OIL*}

7   Edge into Channel Islands and sail aggressively in race to outlaw (15) CRIMINALISATION  {C{RIM}I}{N{SAIL*}ATION}

12 Flier exporting Island drug (5) HERON HEROiN

15 Worthless, timeless, most honest name of sky (8) EMPYREAN {EMPtY}{REAl}{N}

16 Toy bear holding a California chest for beverage leaves (3,5) TEA CADDY {TE{A}{CA}DDY}

19 Think of power, think without weight (6) PONDER {P}{wONDER}

20 Lust! This controls right on time! (6) THIRST {THI{R}S}{T}

23 Severus severed head and part of neck (4) NAPE sNAPE

Reference List

Force = F, England = E, New = N, Small = S, Time = T, Right = R, Popular = IN, Island = I, Time = T, Name = N, Power = P, Weight = W

No 14921, Monday 12 Oct 2026, Vidwan

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 13D 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   British National limit for Spooner's sleep (6) CATNAP (~nat cap to cat nap}

9   Laugh out loud! Almost high, father gets sticky candy! (8) LOLLIPOP {LOL}{LIt}{POP}

10 Alien about alien phase or something similar (2,6) ET CETERA {ET}{C}{ET}{ERA}

11 Talk about retaining the French country house (6) CHALET {CHA{LE}T}

12 Intense part of pride! Epiphany! (4) DEEP [T]

13 Macho guys having no power before love! No wonder! (10) PHENOMENON {HE MEN} over {NO} follows {P} then {O}{N}

14 Talk about India's Himalayan tree (7) CONIFER {CON{I}FER}

15 Weak, heartless and say vile wish (7) FANTASY {FAiNT}{SAY*}

17 Praise fellow to obtain unlimited dates (10) FELICITATE {F}{ELICIT}{dATEs}

18 Pay attention to main killer eliminating sons (4) HARK sHARK Why son in plural?

19 Pick well regularly within group (6) SELECT {S{wElL}ECT}

20 Train going around hot and popular country (8) THAILAND {T{H}AIL}{AND} Train/Tail? What's the role of Popular?

22 Emergency provision for Spooner's dangerous quartet (4,4) FIRE DOOR (~dire four to fire door)

23 Loses sleep over work in constituencies (6) SWEATS {S{W}EATS}

DOWN

1   Standard article on regressive units of heredity is describing reproduction without fertilisation (15) PARTHENOGENESIS {PAR}{THE}{{ON<=}{GENES}{IS}

2   One who explains without exhibition and advertising and one competed over support for poor (15) UNDERPRIVILEGED {expoUNDER}{PR}{1}{VI{LEG}ED}

3   Not the first omission by section of Church (4) APSE lAPSE

4   Wise burying a hatchet (7) CLEAVER {CLE{A}VER}

5   Voters somehow tolerate EC! (10) ELECTORATE*

6   I retraced the log rolling mouthpiece that prevents lip stains (9,6) CIGARETTTE HOLDER*

7   Pull head back with the one short string wound for support (5,2,8) TOWER OF STRENGTH {TOW}{FORE<=}{THE+STRiNG}*

13 Clues regularly ignored in love forecast (10) P?E?I?T?O? (Addendum - PREDICTION PREDIleCTION - See comments)

16 Large insect occasionally bearing light (7) LANTERN {L}{ANT}{bEaRiNg}

21 Further exposed fake love (4) ALSO {fALSe}{O}

Reference List

Alien = ET, About = C, The in French = LE, Power = P, No = N, India = I, Fellow = F, Sons = S, Hot = H, Work = W, Standard = PAR, Advertising = PR, Support = LEG, Large = L

The Hindu Cryptic No 77, Sunday 11 Oct 2026, Arden

Rangoli by Gowri

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

6   Brooded over means of transport (5) MOPED [DD]

7   It's plain - giving access to auditors isn't very bright (8) OVERCAST {OVER{CA'S}T}

10 An issue dogging the country is a curse (7) MALISON {SON}<=>{MALI}

11 Left her in a day, was cheated (7) WELSHED {WE{L}{SHE}D}

12 Herb's touring America, finds something to eat (7) SAUSAGE {SA{USA}GE}

13 Fish drinking only pints - looks affected (7) FOPPISH {F{O}{PP}ISH}

14 Red arrow - I score Greens (3-8) ECO-WARRIORS*

19 Keeping animal in a haystack is part of habit (7) CASSOCK {C{ASS}OCK}

21 Reduce setting dog after dog (7) CURTAIL {CUR}{TAIL}

23 Nowadays guard becomes a guide (7) ADVISOR {AD}{VISOR}

25 King for single day (7) SOLOMON {SOLO}{MON}

26 Amusing to have a drink - this precedes the announcement (4,4) DRUM ROLL {D{RUM}ROLL}

27 Use dressing early to contain damage by burning (5) SINGE [T]

DOWN

1   Acclaim for Jobs' creation across a country (8) APPLAUSE {APPL{A}{US}E}

2   Some bypassed order, returned to port (6) ODESSA [T<=]

3   Snake oil seller will get on to eastern border (10) MOUNTEBANK {MOUNT}{E}{BANK}

4   Catcall from audience to follow all of them finally (4) MEOW [Tail Acrostic]

5   Mishit transformed these geological features (6) ISTHMI*

6   Champagne and orange juice in the bush (6) MIMOSA [DD]

8   Music company entertains various plays (7) CALYPSO {C{PLAYS*}O}

9   Oddly, in India chaos prevails in state (5) IDAHO {InDiA+cHaOs}

13 Least force applied on ship's bow (10) FORECASTLE*

15 Australian native to work with very big quantity (7) OPOSSUM {OP}{OS}{SUM}

16 Ill-gotton wealth, no middlemen involved in plant (8) SCAMMONY {SCAM}{MONeY}

17 Run before shut down of a nuclear reactor (5) SCRAM [DD]

18 Look at that cricketing shot! (6) GLANCE [DD]

20 It flows always between poles (6) SEVERN {S}{EVER}{N}

22 Enjoy the dip (6) RELISH [DD]

24 Lost a club in shambles over disturbance (4) RIOT abatTOIR<=

Reference List

Left = L, Only = O, Pint = P, Eastern = E, Work = OP, Very big = OS, Poles = S,N

No 14920, Saturday 10 October 2026, Vidwan

ACROSS

8 Dressed and scented, one who succeeds (10) DESCENDANT*

9 Going past one time (4) EXIT {EX}{I}{T}

10 Pressure on borders of Turkey! Turkey in revolt and distressed! (15) POVERTYSTRICKEN {P}{OVER}{TurkeY}+{TR} in {SICKEN} The word should be hyphenated

11 Official is bit earnest and ardent (8) STANDARD [T]

14 Upset about party position on the ground (3-3) MID-OFF {MI{DO}FF}

16 Fair fellow Peter,after robbing banks (4) FETE {F}{pETEr}

17 Large creature like gorilla with large fold (5) LAPEL {L}{APE}{L}

18 Shreds of oddly plain note (4) LINT {pLaIn NoTe}

19 Showing no interest,committed theft,mostly Identity Card! (6) STOLID {STOLe}{ID}

20 A US market index study with Judge operating on English system originally (3,5) DOW JONES {DO}{W}{J}{ON}{E}{System}

21 Progressive leaning district going to fine royal man (15) FORWARDTHINKING {FOR}{WARD}{THIN}{KING} Ditto 10A. Hyphenated word

26 Dread female attention (4) FEAR {F}{EAR}

27 British secure China's new data security technology (10) BLOCKCHAIN {B}{LOCK}{CHINA*}

DOWN

1 Extradition Office gaining nothing for Leader of America (10) DEPORTMENT {DEP(-a+O)ORTMENT

2 Hurt every head to tail (4) ACHE (-e)ACH(+E)E

3 Native American lost heart, called out dead and signed (10) INITIALLED {INuIT}{dIALLED}

4 Acts funny! Was chasing First Lady! (4) LAWS WAS*<=>Lady

5 Father mostly checking time to move (4) STIR {S{T}IRe}

6 Ice-cold lap dancing is wrong (10) PECCADILLO*

7 Mention it in church (4) CITE {C{IT}E}

12 Born fool donning most loose embroidery (10) NEEDLEWORK {NEE}{D{LEWd}ORK}

13 Cheated fellow pushed back date over suspicion of permissiveness (5) DUPED {DU(-d)E(+D)} over Permisiveness

14 My walk, this alters! (4,6) MALT WHISKY* &Lit

15 Good restricted by good, complain about new digital growth (10) FINGERNAIL {FIN{G}E}{R{N}AIL}

22 Done in open mainly (4) OVER OVERt

23 Polish unknown gem (4) RUBY {RUB}{Y}

24 Time to run to love? Yes! To Paris and Hector's place! (4) TROY {T}{R}{O}{Y}

25 Legendary goalkeeper Harry Hank (4) KAHN*

REFERENCE LIST

One=I,Time=T, Fellow=F, Large=L, Judge=J, English=E, Female=F, British=B, Nothing=0=O, Dead=D, Church=CE, Date=D, Good=G, New=N, Unknown=Y, Run=R, Love=O, Yes=Y. 

No 14919, Friday 09 Oct 2026, Pixie Dust

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   Oh! This dessert funnily got a hole! (6) GELATO {GELATO+OH}*=GOT A HOLE

8   Study substitute with a bit of terrifying condescension (8) CONTEMPT {CON}{TEMP}{Te...g}

9   Essentially Jacob must stick to this kind of musical instrument (8) ACOUSTIC {jACOb}{mUSt}{sTICk}

10 Scoundrel cycling around Henry, sniffles (6) WHINES {(-s)W{H}INE(+s)S}

11 Master stroke acquiring one British Bar (8) PROHIBIT {PRO}{H{1}{B}IT}

12 Losing face, lamenting and suffering (6) AILING wAILING

13 Live on...smitten! (5,2,4) MADLY IN LOVE {LIVE+ON}* [RA]

18 Authorise a manager to disclose rating in London (6) SEAMAN [T]

20 Perhaps stay fit accepting rule to classify according to a graded scale (8) STRATIFY {STAY+FIT} over {R}

22 Mate regularly ignoring Bishop's corrupt scheme (6) SPOUSE {biShoPs+cOrrUpt+SchEme}

23 Swell! Here batter is safe! (8) INCREASE {IN CREASE}

24 Look, Sir! ET's are to a certain extent backing star? (8) ASTERISK [T<=]

25 Penny chases husband out and hammers (6) POUNDS {P}{hOUNDS}

DOWN

1   Happy boxing copper element (7) MERCURY {MER{CU}RY}

2   Old Russian woman's headscarf (8) BABUSHKA [DD]

3   Spooner's child (middle) in steam bath? (3,3) HOT TUB (~tot hub to hot tub)

4   Blizzard? Fellow is beginning to breakdown and explode (8) SNOWBALL SNOW(-f+b)BALL

5   Delivered grain soap (6) SERIAL (~cereal)

6   Special transparent material protecting primarily exposed organs (7) SPLEENS {SP}{LE{Ex...d}NS}

8   Frequently used tack oils for cylindrical skewer? (8,5) COCKTAIL STICK {TACK+OILS}* [Letter Bank]

14 Hang on! Don't start to tell a story in undies (8) LINGERIE {LINGER}{lIE}

15 Corrupted virtue...so like glass! (8) VITREOUS* 

16 Experiment involving English politician leads to commotion (7) TEMPEST {T{E}{MP}EST}

17 Harry dies of mainly fatigue in part of a cricket field (3,4) OFF SIDE {DIES+OF+Fa...e}*

19 Guy goes around university with date and gets attacked (6) MAULED {MA{U}LE}{D}

21 For starters, roast eggplant chunks in parmesan emulsion (6) RECIPE Acrostic Semi&lit

Reference List

Study = CON, Henry = H, British = B, Rule = R, Penny = P, Husband = H, Fellow = F, Special = SP, English = E, Politician = MP, University = U, Date = D

No 13465, Friday 28 Jan 2022, Vidwan

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS ON FRIDAYS 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   Wavy ‘New Jazz’ gig lacks original jauntiness (6) ZIGZAG {jAZZ+GIG}*

4   Topic for an egotist? (5) THEME {THE ME}

9   Country song about soldiers (7) ARMENIA {AR{MEN}IA}

10 Where vagrants hang out and derelict kids fight (4,3) SKID ROW {KIDS*}{ROW}

12 Oddly costliest brand of a machine (4) OTIS {cOsTlIeSt}

13 Rock star big as lead in U2, supports harmony (4,6) BASS GUITAR {STAR+BIG+AS+U2}* 

15 She waxed eloquently, impressed many VIPs (7) TUSSAUD [CD]

17 Install software on it freely (7) APPOINT {APP}{ON+IT}*

19 Master returns, has bread and some steamy stuff (7) EROTICA {ACE<=} over {ROTI}

21 It flows with energy regularly, in tizzes (7) YANGTZE {YANG}{TiZzEs}

23 Song about old flame in country town (10) ALEXANDRIA {A{L{EX}AND}RIA}

26 Immense desire — not new, not right (4) HUGE HUnGEr

28 One trapped in a blood curdling game (7) DIABOLO {1} in {A+BLOOD}*

29 It is about better management of the races (7) EUGENIC [CD]

30 It is a nightmare! Of course! (5) BOGEY [C&DD]

31 Dull, sickly dog confined in a filthy place (6) STODGY {ST{DOG*}Y}

DOWN

1   Lifeless ones seen on Zoom, expressing nothing! Pricks wasting time! (7) ZOMBIES {ZOoM}{BItES}

2   Nucleotide regularly found in Green Tea (4) GENE {GrEeN+tEa}

3   Posture like a half-Cobra (5) ASANA {AS}{A}{NAja}

5   Japanese work with very few words (5) HAIKU [CD]

6   Myself and Rajinikanth are basically this (almost) (7) MARATHI {My...f}{And}{Ra...h}{Are}{THIs} Semi&lit Presuming Vidwan is a Marathi?

7   How Nadal felt about due process? (3,2,3,4) LAW OF THE LAND*

8   Very boring, say it’s sort of geological equilibrium (8) ISOSTASY  {SO} in {SAY+ITS}*

11 Upwardly mobile, fresh B.Tech men working hard to stay on the sidelines (4,3,5) WARM THE BENCH {RAW<=}{BTECH+MEN}*{H}

14 Racist person? A Zionist? To some extent (4) NAZI [T]

16 Unreasonable time spent for total messaging system in underground (8) DEADDROP {DE(-t+add)DDROP}

18 Unopened bottle and a delinquent (4) PUNK sPUNK

20 Mint gold and silver in one round (7) OREGANO {OR} and {ON{AG}E}<=

22 Collection of sports ties (7) TOURNEY [CD]

24 Promotion and honour for a reader (5) ADOBE {AD}{OBE}

25 Write about boring sex cowboy! (5) INEPT {PEN<=} in {IT}

27 Grey, broken wall’s gone (4) AGED damAGED

Reference List

Old flame = EX, New = N, Right = R, Time = T, Hard = H, Promotion = AD, Sex = IT

No 13464, Thursday 27 Jan 2022, Incognito

Solution to 10A 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

8   Refuse processing by computer, in short, and dance with nothing on? (4) GIGO {GIG}{0} 

9   Instrument turns tuneful, after peacekeepers left (5) FLUTE TunEFUL*

10 The King of Spades went back south to get slippery creatures (4) E?L? (Addendum - EELS {LEE<=}{S} - See comments)

11 Setter got into automobile with a photographic contraption (6) CAMERA {CA{ME}R}{A}

12 Pods bearing edible seeds for insane people (8) NUTCASES [DD]

13 Escort Argentinian president after tea (8) CHAPERON {CHA}{PERON}

15 Setter using oxygen performed experiment at first, producing salt (6) IODIDE {I}{O}{DID}{Ex...t}

17 Scud toy may become subject matter of divorce case, perhaps (7) CUSTODY*

19 Strained relations between USA and USSR when century old secret service returned (4,3) COLD WAR {C}{OLD}{RAW<=}

22 Good man with a lot of paper makes a flower (6) STREAM {ST}{REAM}

24 Parvenus reconstituted start-ups (8) UPSTARTS*

26 Hat Raman threw at plant (8) AMARANTH*

28 Kodava canine which ate nothing (6) COORGI {CO{O}RGI}

30 See 4 Down

31 Quick communication from Eastern Mali was garbled (5) EMAIL {E}{MALI*}

32 Attract backward (4) DRAW<=

DOWN

1   Visitor permit is included in Virginia (4) VISA {V{IS}A}

2   Designed toy phone device used by spymasters to lure (8) HONEYPOT*

3   Romantic entanglement from Anglo French exhibition (6) AFFAIR {A}{F}{FAIR}

4/30  Spooner’s punning clan’s devious scheme (7,4) CUNNING PLAN (~ punning clan to cunning plan)

5   I turn one berserk and get a particle (8) NEUTRINO*

6/16  This is used to send money and order conscription. Would you call this a DD? (6,5) DEMAND DRAFT {DEMAND}{DRAFT} 

7   This, for example, was a clew in days of yore (4) CLUE Definition by example

14 Search around a frequented place (5) HAUNT {H{A}UNT}

16 See 6

18 Spotted tiles used as examples of collapse (8) DOMINOES [CD]

20 Princess gets nuts after removing last bit of shell and stones, perhaps (8) DIAMONDS {DI}{AlMONDS}

21 Aborigine, found by male, hiding behind shrub (7) BUSHMAN {MAN}<=>{BUSH}

23 Making a mistake by beheading a fish (6) ERRING hERRING

25 Agricultural implement obtained by dropping hammer from communist symbol (6) SICKLE {hammer and SICKLE}

27 “Shopping complex,” heard a gangster’s arm candy (4) MOLL (~mall)

29 Great! Butter results in little weight! (4) GRAM {G}{RAM}

Reference List

Peacekeepers = UN, South = S, Century = C, Good man = ST, Eastern = E, Virginia = VA, Anglo French = AF, Princess = DI, Great = G

No 13463, Wednesday 26 Jan 2022, Incognito

REPUBLIC DAY GREETINGS

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 17A 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

8   Eric cooked food (4) RICE*

9   Perhaps, Sam’s pawnbroker (5) UNCLE [DD]

10 Violent anger, without a hint of nastiness, is still anger (4) RAGE AnGER*

11 That man, Arthur, gets head of state’s suit (6) HEARTS {HE}{ART}{St...s}

12 Transplant pea early for 12 months (including an extra day) (4,4) LEAP YEAR*

13 Awful! China jails people’s representative hugging love supporter (8) CHAMPION {CHINA}* over {MP} and {0}

15 Rant wildly about South Africa’s feral child brought up by apes (6) TARZAN {TAR{ZA}N*}

17 Forger’s workshop’s located next to the track (7) ?O?N?R? (Addendum - FOUNDRY {FOUND}{RY} - See comments)

19 Manhunt procedure could be result of misconstrued danger coupled with some timidity (7) DRAGNET {DANGER}*{Ti...y}

22 Italian family gangs found involved in Bahama fiasco (6) MAFIAS [T]

24 Playground equipment includes a short distance for natation (8) SWIMMING {SW{1 MM}ING}

26 Mulish Bob turns somersaults (8) STUBBORN*

28 Second-in-command’s responsibility to hold the record (6) DEPUTY {D{EP}UTY}

30 Ms Austen’s first part of Emma’s written after a month (4) JANE {Emma}<=>{JAN}

31 In short, he takes down a dictator’s notes — perhaps notes wrongly (5) STENO*

32 Imitates animal producing extraordinary sounds for starters (4) APES Acrostic

DOWN

1   Engineer collects one thousand for two wheeler (4) BIKE {B{1 K}E}

2   Iron rail's initially carried by railway employee to river transport operator (8) FERRYMAN {FE}{Rail}{RY}{MAN}

3   Setter goes after wandering mules to get breakfast food (6) MUESLI {I}<=>MULES}*

4   Daniel gets cold when travelling around country (7) ICELAND {I{C}ELAND*}

5   Wild tamer having flatulence becomes celebrity performer (8) MEGASTAR {ME{GAS}TAR*}

6   Disbursing cashier accepts right appeal (6) PRAYER {{P{R}AYER}

7   Turkish leader residing in Accra, Ghana (4) AGHA [T]

14 Shout endlessly with a laughing sound resulting in noisy fuss (3-2) HOO-HA {HOOt}{HA}

16 Worried aunties dropped us and dined at home (3,2) ATE IN AuNTIEs*

18 Scrambled egg consumed by Spenser begets reaction (8) RESPONSE {RESP{O}NSE*}

20 E.g., napalm deployment strategy worked out in advance (4,4) GAME PLAN*

21 Apart, like beneath (7) ASUNDER {AS}{UNDER}

23 Hide uniform in bed after I’m drenched (6) IMBUED {I'M}{B{U}ED}

25 Indian gold, including ring, within building (6) INDOOR {IND}{OR} over (O)

27 Sailor carries boy in ski lift (1-3) T-BAR {T{B}AR}

29 Lower tips arising from commencement of taxation on exotic starters (4) TOES Acrostic

Reference List

South Africa = ZA, Record = EP(Extended Play), Engineer = BE, Thousand = K, Railway = RY, Cold = C, Right = R, Uniform = U, Gold = OR, Sailor = TAR, Boy = B

Special, Sunday 19 Mar 2017, Amrita

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM as usual (Annotations compulsory)
Please provide all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
1   Empty Apartment (4)
4   Soft grass (maybe edible) covers a side (10)
9    A regular beet / devil's tongue cooked ain't no good to taste, for example (6,9)
10 Alternative fuel vehicle goes ahead extremely laboriously and cautiously (9)
12 Pick second vehicle, not the Audi at the front but the SUV from the middle (5)
15 A dress fits evenly and looks like a dream? (6)
16 Guide and preach on reforms (8)
17 Say, shoes exchange counter (8)
18 Not acceptable to sing-along around bar - that would be a way to fight? (6)
20 Fresh crackers - not one is broken (5)
23 Work upon grim areas to form ties (9)
24 Perhaps, a half and a quarter of oral anti-inflammatory pain killers (8,7)
25 Shocked by the first lapse on flip side (10)
26 Corner retreat full of odd lime trees (4)

DOWN
2   Animal suit model took off for party top (7)
3   Sharp tools to stab evil Ken, perhaps (5,6)
4   Peter on vacation, rose hurriedly on receiving dog's signals (10)
5   Spirit of a company besieged by an issue (5)
6   A temple perhaps, found in central Mugello (Tuscany) (5)
7   Quietly stripped varnish spread on alloy (5)
8   Menial worker should be Brown, perhaps says Spooner (7)
11 A navy bordered lace used to design a kind of butterfly (7)
13 The introductory note given before a tour? (3,8)
14  Stage set for second base (10)
17 Twisted laughter, a backstabber's hidden act (7)
19 Principle of other variable measurement (7)
21 Cover up in winters (5)
22 City of Tokyo remodelled (5)
23 Highways seen outside a metropolis (5)

Across Lite version can be accessed at AMRITA 1

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword, Sunday 19 Mar 2017

ACROSS
1   Lizard with energy grabbing bite, not quietly (5) GECKO {pECK} in {GO} One creature that gives me the creeps!!

4   List containing tips from epigram and poem, for example (4,5) ROLE-MODEL {Ep...aM}{ODE} in {ROLL}
9   Soul accepting falsehood, very trusting (9) BELIEVING {BE{LIE}{V}ING}
10 Rotten part of frivolous yarn (5) LOUSY [T]
11 Malevolent creature concealed in flower (6) ORCHID {ORC}{HID}

12 Perfectionist beginning to sob, heart broken by learner (8) STICKLER {Sob}{TICK{L}ER}
14 Singer, sober, moon in sky affected (6,8) SMOKEY ROBINSON*
16 Anxiety about half of work, obscure, with a line lacking depth (3-11) TWO-DIMENSIONAL {T{WOrk}-{DIM}ENSION}{A}{L}
20 Confirmed time established in arrangement of date (8) ATTESTED {T}{EST} in {DATE}*
21 Piece of jewellery I love in artist's workroom (6) STUDIO {STUD}{I}{O}
23 One surrounded by cheers, sun god in crown (5) TIARA {T{1}A}{RA}
24 Engine with extremes of power breaking bad robot up (9) TURBOPROP {PoweR} in {ROBOT+UP}*
25 Silly aim oddly receiving resistance in like manner (9) SIMILARLY {R} in {SILLY+AIM}*
26 Treacherous person lacking wide support (5) EASEL wEASEL

DOWN
1   Great upset over book about ape (6) GIBBON {GI{B}B<=}{ON}

2   Fellow in fantastic form, calm doctor in comic novel (4,7,4) COLD COMFORT FARM {F} in {FORM+CALM+DOCTOR}*
3   Honour large venture, right away creating monument (7) OBELISK {OBE}{L}{rISK}
4   Bar protest (4) RAIL [DD]
5   Guide for sailors with happy hearts on river (10) LIGHTHOUSE {LIGHT}{H}{OUSE}
6   Prophet in endless pain in country (7) MALACHI {MAL{ACHe}I}
7   Rules applied unfairly in tennis match perhaps restricting quality (6,9) DOUBLE STANDARDS {DOUBLE {STANDARD}S}
8   Los Angeles group engaging you for hairdresser's work? (8) LAYERING {LA}{YE}{RING}
13 Pretty tense, in a mess without new compositor (10) TYPESETTER {PRETTY+TEnSE}*
15 Opponent disrupting last broadcast in lost land (8) ATLANTIS {ANTI} in {LAST}*
17 Position during delay (7) INSTALL {IN}{STALL}
18 Result revealed approach (7) OUTCOME {OUT}{COME}
19 Politician inhibited by sign about rising force (6) COMPEL {MP} in {LEO}{C}<=
22 Become strained and fight (4) FRAY [DD]