No 14538, Wednesday 16 Jul 2025, Spinner

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   Evaluate taking on a partnership with American organization, finally giving commitment (13) ASSIDUOUSNESS {ASS{I}{DUO}{US}{o...oN}ESS}

10 Hurry, it's real! (5) LEGIT {LEG IT}

11 Therapy for men in tatters, unfulfilled and broken! (9) TREATMENT {MEN} in {TATTERs}*

12 Communist leader locks seats (6) CHAIRS {Co...t}{HAIRS}

13 Choose alternative saving time - maybe? (8) OPERATOR {OPT}{OR} over {ERA}

15 Right coalition's pained cry for insurgent's head (9) ALLOWANCE ALL(-i+ow)OWANCE

16 Strike down priest, nun loses her head! (4) STUN {ST}{nUN}

20 Caps student access cards (4) LIDS {L}{IDS}

21 Boxer in control of clash, claiming title at the end! (9) UNDERWEAR {UNDER}{W{t..lE}AR}

24 Still lacking time, Spinner's cryptic set is most whimsical (8) SILLIEST {StILL}{I}{SET*}

26 Where hidden advantages and the hearts of the emotional lie? (6) SLEEVE [DD]

28 Settled, wealthy society's left for the moon, perhaps? (9) SATELLITE {SAT}{EL{L}ITE}

29 Annoys woman with hollow lines (5) GALLS {GAL}{LineS}

30 Match official fixes holding period to essentially disrupt those keeping it cool (13) REFRIGERATORS {REF}{RIG{ERA}{TO}{disRupt}S}

DOWN

2   Shoddy design masks everything announced (9) SIGNALLED {SIGN{ALL}ED*}

3   Bury outside city centre (8) INTERIOR {INTE{RIO}R}

4   For understanding nuclear, try Oppenheimer's tips (4) UNTO Acrostic

5   Disruptive radioactive element's future gaining muscle basically every day! (10) U?E?P?C?E? (Addendum - UNEXPECTED {U}{NEX{PEC}T}{Every}{Day} - See comments)

6   New season missing lead character (6) NATURE {N}{mATURE}

7   Won outright as some supporters shed tears (5) SWEPT {Su...s}{WEPT}

8   Choose leader or choose to oust leader! (5) ELECT sELECT

9   Confess about turning traitor for spying continuously (7) STARING {S{RAT<=}ING}

14 Very damaging to forget starting or finishing process? (10) VARNISHING {V}{tARNISHING}

17 Clerk hosts unending party for tourist (9) TRAVELLER {T{RAVe}ELLER}

18 Dearest captain leaves behind cricket, ultimately! (7) CLOSEST {C}{LOSES}{c...eT}

19 Hard to maintain endless resolve in fag end of one's career? (8) TWILIGHT {T{WILl}IGHT}

22 Intrinsically dark, I'll eradicate! (6) KILLER [T] Semi&lit?

23 Not in favour of forgetting opening line (5) VERSE aVERSE

25 Measure of anger on being interrupted by onset of thunderstorm after fifty (5) LITRE {I{Th...m}RE}<=>{L}

27 One who might sell short or deliver (4) BEAR [DD]

Reference List

Student = L, Time = T, Left = L, New = N, Very = V, Captain = C, Fifty = L

No 14217, Wednesday 03 Jul 2024, Spinner

Solution to 15A 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   Following Pythagoras' lead, peculiar nerd turned at ninety degrees (13) PERPENDICULAR {Py...r}{PECULIAR+NERD}*

10 Percentage of quota not fulfilled (5) RATIO RATIOn

11 West Indies coming with extremely laurelled aces - they don't need to get through qualification! (4,5) WILD CARDS {WI}{La...eD}{CARDS}

12 Work from test site owned by us (6) LABOUR {LAB}{OUR}

13 Guess English's complicated, at times! (8) ESTIMATE {E}{AT+TIMES}*

15 Line-up comes before kick-off, as time runs out in front of essentially tempestuous audience! (9) ?I?T?N?R? (Addendum - LISTENERS {LIST}{ENtER}{t...eSt...s} - See comments

16 Dealing with love, silly! (2,2) ON IT {0}{NIT}

20 Female choir's reverberation (4) ECHO [T]

21 Get shot by mistake while not being the intended target? (9) PHOTOBOMB {PHOTO}{BOMB} &lit

24 Dodgy check is caught in large heist upfront (8) TICKLISH {TICK}{L}{IS}{He..t}

26 Deceitful U-turn awkwardly exposed leader (6) UNTRUE {U+TURN}*{Ex...d}

28 Support side finally with new captain, as old as you and me! (9) ENCOURAGE {sidE}{N}{C}{OUR AGE}

29 Intense performance about upper-class eccentricities, primarily (5) ACUTE {AC{U}T}{Ec...s}

30 Caution : Spinner's returning with power and will! (13) DETERMINATION {DETER}{I'M<=}{NATION}

DOWN

2   Doctor hails best form (9) ESTABLISH*

3   Publicity over channel beginning to sell goods! (8) PRODUCTS {PR}{O}{DUCT}{S}

4   Scientist not working for slippery customer? (4) NEWT NEWTon

5   Clarify incorrect American cess trapping top taxpayers (10) ILLUSTRATE {ILL}{US}{Ta...s}{RATE}

6   Mischief-maker swaying without taking either side (6) URCHIN lURCHINg

7   Patriarchy shackles parts of the heart (5) ATRIA [T]

8   Faithfully obedient after troubling at first (5) TRULY {RULY}<=>{Tr...g}

9   Basically adds forced stress? (7) ASSERTS {Adds}{STRESS*} &lit

14 Fanaticism perhaps unseats him? (10) ENTHUSIASM*

17 Main menu cooked with complete, unending love (6,3) NUMERO UNO {MENU*}{ROUNd}{0}

18 Accepts sender's first letters randomly with no address, essentially! (7) SETTLES {Se...s}{LETTErS}*

19 Every association worker is rich (8) ABUNDANT {A BUND}{ANT}

22 Set clues having a catch! (6) CLAUSE {CL{A}USE*}

23 Enjoy part of movie featuring chief villain (5) REVEL {RE{Vi...n}EL}

25 Hoard auditor's money (5) CACHE (~cash)

27 Spotted rival players getting exercise on the sides (4) SEEN {S}{N} over {Ex...sE}

Reference List

English = E, Large = L, New = N, Captain = C, Upper-class = U, Publicity = PR, Over = O, Love = 0,  Rival players = S(south), N(North)

No 13984, Saturday 30 Sep 2023, Spinner

Welcome back Spinner after a long break.

ACROSS

1   Get involved with soldiers trapped in corrupt pleasure (13) ENTERTAINMENT {ENTER}{TAIN{MEN}T}

10 English attack loses leader, short of score by a dozen (5) EIGHT {E}{fIGHT}

11 Former flame criticises Spinner about development (9) EXPANSION {EX}{PANS}{I}{ON}

12 American pop singer's extremely sharp listeners (6) SPEARS {SharP}{EARS}

13 Primarily doctors with specialisation in solving teethy situations, for starters (8) DENTISTS {Do...s}{ENT}{In}{So...g}{Te...y}{Si...s} Semi&lit

15 Silence is a good man's complaint (9) STILLNESS {ST}{ILLNESS}

16 Perform twice for moron (4) DODO {DO}{DO}

20 Letters from boyfriend signalling conclusion, many times over (4) ENDS [T]

21 Comedy arc masquerading as constitutional government (9) DEMOCRACY*

24 Thrilling, unfinished tie - game cut short, interrupted by rains essentially! (8) DRAMATIC {DRAw}{MAT{raIns}TCh}

26 Sympathised with elderly getting irked regularly (6) AGREED {AG{iRkEd}ED}

28 Spinner back on stage, overcoming traces of intense scheduling stress (9) EMPHASISE {ME<=}{PHAS{In...e}{Sc...g}E}

29 Bond protecting tin shield (5) TITLE {TI{TL}E} Anno for TL not clear See comments

30 Spinner trained near ground in Greece or Spain (13) MEDITERRANEAN {ME}{TRAINED+NEAR}*

DOWN

2   Nation's leader, voted in with gusto initially, failed to take care (9) NEGLECTED {Na...s}{E{Gu..o}LECTED}

3   Crazy tennis player, taking no naps, running at 100% (8) ENTIRELY {TEnNIs+pLaYER}*

4   Endless road, one having many branches (4) TREE sTREEt

5   One's broken promises beginning to nurture suspicion (10) IMPRESSION {1}{PROMISES*}{Nu...e}

6   Home saved by quiet baby (6) MINUTE {M{IN}UTE}

7   Fixes distress between partners (5) NAILS {N}{AIL}{S}

8   Chief's a monster (5) BEAST {BE{A}ST}

9   Sadly, he's not getting love in singular window of opportunity (3,4) ONE SHOT {HES+NOT}* over {O}

14 Unpredictably dive since pursuing one blowing hot and cold (10) INDECISIVE {DIVE+SINCE}<=>{1}

17 Captain features in extraordinary star/hero team that plays together (9) ORCHESTRA {C} in {STAR+HERA}*

18 Irritates too much, endlessly (7) NEEDLES NEEDLESs

19 Disturb broken finger while taking hit on the sides (8) FRIGHTEN {FINGER}* over {HiT}

22 Retiring is about a long distance journey! (6) SAFARI {IS<=} over {A}{FAR}

23 Faintly touched ball, caught in a tight space - Wicket gone! (5) EDGED wEDGED

25 When losing head, a little becomes a lot! (5) AMPLE sAMPLE

27 Look after a piece of rare artwork (4) REAR [T]

Reference List

English = E, Former flame = EX, Good man = ST, Home = IN, Partners = N,S(North and South in Bridge card game), Captain = C

Special, Sunday 19 Mar 2023, IIT (M) WGC, IIT (M) Crossie Open Finals, Spinner

Two answers per commenter as the CW is a 11x11 plus Two more answers from the Additional clues below till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)  

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN FOUR ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

ADDITIONAL CLUES 

In addition to the 2 clues in the grid you can also take TWO CLUES EACH from the 40 Clues below.

And after all the answers are in the answers to A, B and C under THEMS v=can be attempted by anyone.

ROUND 1

COLD solve the following

1. Routine trick to sidestep raging mom (6) COMMON {CO{MOM*}N}

2. Gloves displayed during players’ net time, retrospectively (7) MITTENS [T<=]

3. Spinner breaks outrageous stand, with wicket finally out of the way (7) DISTANT {D{I}STAN*}{w...eT}

4. Deep half of colours seen next to airspace (5) HUSKY {HUes}{SKY}

5. At first, fairly strict or unemotional (6) FRIGID {Fa...y}{RIGID}

6. Probing collapsing gin price (8) PIERCING {GIN+PRICE}*

7. Remedy providing relief with combination of soup/hug/cry (5,5) COUGH SYRUP {SOUP+HUG+CRY}*

8. Scathing piece in Guardian’s front (6) BITING {BIT}{IN}{Gu...n}

ROUND 2

9. Flower bunches set around entrance to exhibition (6) GANGES {GANG{Ex...n}S}

10. New northern region with zero as number (8) NARCOTIC {N}{ARC{0}TIC}

11. Issue for millennials (7) PROGENY [DD]

12. Supply chain pal is a church person (8) CHAPLAIN {CHAIN+PAL}*

13. Out of control insect lands on end of butter popcorn, for starters (7) RAMPANT {ANT}<=>{RAM}{Po...n}

14. Long summer series (6) LADDER {L}{ADDER}

15. Harry Potter is more speckled (8) SPOTTIER {POTTER+IS}*

16. Resolve root of software’s problematic layer (8) SMOOTHEN {So...e}{MOOT}{HEN}

ROUND 3

Themed long connect round

17. Spinner’s back covering remote expedition(6) SAFARI {I'S}<= over {AFAR}

18. Buffet without a belly(5) PUNCH PaUNCH

19. Very organized tenure as volunteer(7) VENTURE {V}{TENURE*}

20. Navy irregularly doing circles around India’s tip(6) INDIGO {IND{I}GO*}

21. Throwback time for sprinter(4) BOLT {LOB<=}{T}

22. Relish orange peel(4) ZEST [DD]

23. Form of grappling in gross ring(4) SUMO {SUM}{O}

24. Miniature champion ant-man returning bottles(4) NANO [T<=]

ROUND 4

Double Hop Round

SAMPLE CLUE:

0a. Employees enlightened about right beginning to request salary (7)

0b. Young scout embraces left coalition (4) 

0c. _ _ _ _ _  (5) 

ANSWER:

0a. WORKERS - WO(R)KE+R() + S()

0b. CLUB - C(L)UB

0c. Workers Club which is  STAFF (5)

25a. Red celestial body having a trace of rubidium (6) MAROON {M{A}{Ru...m}OON}

25b. Stimulate with black thread (5) FIBRE {FI{B}RE}

25c. _ _ _ _ _ _  (6) STRAND

26a. Break away the day before getting a date (5) EVADE {EV{A}{D}E}

26b. Endeavour to win over right chick (4) BIRD  {BI{R}D}

26c. _ _ _ _  (4) DUCK 

27a. Decline to repeatedly employ having failed initially! (6) REFUSE {RE{Fa...d}USE}

27b. Rear small wolf (4) SEAT {S}{EAT}

27c _ _ _ _ _  (5) STOOL

28a. Start writing without ink essentially, after love! (7) OPENING {PENnING}<=>{O}}

28b. Magic beginning to cause damage! (5) CHARM {Ca..e}{HARM}

28c. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (8) ENTRANCE

29a. Soldier embraces current chief (4) MAIN {MA{I}N}

29b. Musical genre connected with a beginner (5) METAL {MET}{A}{L}

29c. _ _ _ _  (4) LEAD

30a. Automobile maintains ratios for line (8) BUSINESS {BU{SINES}S}

30b. Satirical with traces of overthinking, reductionism or anxiety (5) WORRY {W{Ov...g}{Re...m}RY}

30c _ _ _ _ _ _  _ (7) CONCERN

31a. Engineer cleared air (7) DECLARE*

31b. Strangely CID not rolling back number one rule (9) CONDITION {CID+NOT}* {NO1<=}

31c _ _ _ _ _ (5) STATE

32a. Crushed or activated with diesel (8) POWDERED {POW{D}ERED}

32b. Home away from home soil (5) EARTH hEARTH

32c.  _ _ _ _ _ _ (6) GROUND

ROUND 6

33. Perhaps a cultural Issue? Check TV, darling! (4,4,4) TEST TUBE BABY {TEST}{TUBE}{BABY}

34. Daze with six deliveries, getting wicket and driver’s seat! (9) OVERWHELM {OVER}{W}{HELM}

35. Transport for the flight averse player to travel around, having lost time (8) ELEVATOR {E}{TO+tRAVEL}*

36. Committed to ruin Spinner’s date (10) DETERMINED {DETER}{MINE}{D}

37. A team entering practice space with extremely unhealthy apprehension (7) ANXIETY {A}{N{XI}ET}{u...hY}

38. Judge’s pal takes over to execute once again in retirement (8) MODERATE {M{REDO<=}ATE}

39. Liver or liquor? (4) BEER BE'ER

40. Perhaps statement on TV that’s describing masseur’s action (5,7) PRESS RELEASE {PRESS RELEASE}

THEMES

A. What is the theme in ROUND 1 above? COLD

B. What's the connect in ROUND 3 above? TATA Cars

C. Doctor? Permission to ice what’s overhead (in the title)! (4,7,4) IITM CROSSIE OPEN*

Enjoy

Special, Sunday 12 Mar 2023, IIT (M) WGC, IIT (M) Crossie Open Prelim, Spinner

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.

NOTE 

In addition 5 clues in the grid have surface readings that are potential plot summaries of famous English movies. Write the clue number and name of the movie after all the solutions are in.

No 13468, Tuesday 01 Feb 2022, Spinner

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   Lincoln’s resistance well reasoned, out of the ordinary! (12) ABERRATIONAL {ABE}{R}{RATIONAL}

10 Husband’s worry endlessly lingers (5) HANGS {H}{ANGSt}

11 Spinner’s left a note, regularly of value! (9) IMPORTANT {I'M}{PORT}{A}{NoTe}

12 Profile of swashbuckling leader — “Home and away, pull off wins!” (6) S?A?O?  (Addendum - SHADOW {Sw...g}{H&A}{DO}{W} - See comments)

13 Inept error not cool, edited for correspondent (8) REPORTER {inEPT+ERROR}*

15 One who might cure reactions to all pesky triggers except rum and gin, basically! (9) ALLERGIST {ALL}{TrIgGERS}* 

16 Oddly refused vaccine before introduction of entry condition (4) ACNE {vAcCiNe}{En..y}

20 Delta/omicron, in conclusion, repress vaccine shot! (4) DOSE {D}{O}{r...eS}{v...nE} 

21 Reminders on viruses mutating! (9) SOUVENIRS*

24 Stylish traits put in place by India’s top captain (8) ARTISTIC {TRAITS*}{I}{Ca...n}

26 Something that shocks the target, involving marketing, essentially? (6) TEASER {T{m..kEt..g}ASER} Semi&lit

28 American seen outside city while being inside city leads to inquisitiveness (9) CURIOSITY {C{U{RIO}S}ITY}

29 Spins in two directions after grass is trimmed (5) TURNS {N}{S}<=>{TURf}

30 Pulling up from dip towards lower level (8-4) DRESSING DOWN [DD] (Addendum - {DRESSING}{DOWN} - See comments)

DOWN

2   Parts of ship’s black crests peeling off at the top (9) BINNACLES {B}pINNACLES}

3   Returned to support revolutionary with love (8) RESTORED {REST}{O}{RED}

4   A team with nations, ultimately? (4) AXIS {A}{XI}{n...nS} Semi&lit

5   Setter’s following — one million! The papers: “Magnificent!” (10) IMPRESSIVE {I'VE}<=>{1}{M}{PRESS}

6   Contract currently includes annually revised rates, for starters (6) NARROW {N{An...y}{Re...d}{Ra..s}OW}

7   Rookie gets direction that’s of minimum significance (5) LEAST {L}{EAST}

8   Quarantining finally, carrier cut off all contact! (5) GHOST {q...nG}{HOST} 

9   Son tries hiding primarily overcooked lies (7) STORIES {S}{TRIES}* over {Ov...d}

14 Perhaps, ‘I’ in Egoism invites new scandals (10) IGNOMINIES {I+IN+EGOISM}* over {N}

17 Sommelier’s friend’s company initially recruits team having thousands (9) CORKSCREW {CO}{Re...s}{{K'S}{CREW}

18 Move on from a skip decked with topmost victories (7) ADVANCE {A}{D{Vi...s}ANCE}

19 Positive batting complimented, with captain at the middle (8) INFECTED {IN}{FE{C}TED}

22 In the end, water gets into a boot on the beach (6) ASHORE {A}{SHO{w..eR}E}

23 Dissolve coaches’ entourage at last after years (5) ERASE {e...gE}<=>{ERAS} (Addendum - {c...eS}{e...gE}<=>{ERA} - See comments)

25 Wearied at heart, captain led extraordinary ride (5) TIRED {capTain}{RIDE*}

27 Hue and cry about doctor quitting (4) CYAN {ANd+CrY}*

Reference List

Resistance = R, Husband = H, Win = W, Cool = IN, Delta = D, Omicron = O, India = I, Directions = N,S, Black = B, Million = M, Rookie = L, Son = S, New = N, Thousand = K, Batting = IN, Captain = C

No 13390, Saturday 30 Oct 2021, Spinner

ACROSS

1 Emotional air all around leading to a change for the better (12) AMELIORATION {EMOTIONAL+AIR*}

10 Bust chiefly shattered in blast (5) BOSOM {BO{Shattered}OM}

11 Fulfilling programme primarily emphasising anchor’s yell (9) APPEASING {APP}{Emphasising}{Anchor}{SING}

12 Hurt jawbone plated with metal (6) ACHING {A{CHIN}G}

13 Most savage cryptic clue set traps solver ultimately! (8) CRUELEST {CLUE+SET*} around {solveR}

15 Resistance overcome by widespread disease concerning the skin (9) EPIDERMIC {EPIDE{R}MIC}

16 Sing jazz improvisation from intro of ‘Smelly Cat’ (4) SCAT {Smelly}{CAT}

20 Track // family // business (4) LINE (MD)

21 Worker embraces a young, queer woman offering advice (5,4) AGONY AUNT {A{A+YOUNG*}NT}

24 Flight? In other words, ’twas airy! (8) STAIRWAY {TWAS+AIRY*}

26 Male takes no true responsibility! (6) MANTLE {MA{N}{T}LE}

28 On getting work, sign-up actively for donating! (9) SUPPLYING {SIGN+UP*} around {PLY}

29 Egg on various unheralded lads everyday, for starters (5) OVULE (Acrostic)

30 To assist, they play captions as CM rambles (12) ACCOMPANISTS {CAPTIONS+AS+CM*}

DOWN

2 Deformed from accident involving player with two other players (9) MISSHAPEN {MIS{S}HAP}{E}{N}

3 Drunk old man gets energy on drinking energy drink (8) LEMONADE {OLD+MAN*}+{E} around {E}

4 Old friend’s a gem (4) OPAL {O}{PAL}

5 According to some sources, they’re charged with multiple counts of defamation! (10) ASPERSIONS {AS PER}{Sources}{IONS}

6 Setter matures on imbibing methods introduced in icons (6) IMAGES {I}{Methods}AGES}

7 Ignorant rogue loses principal while accruing interest (5) NAIVE {kNA{I}VE}

8 Basically, underwater vessel? (1-4) U-BOAT {Underwater}{BOAT} &lit

9 Protest a fool’s arrogant, thoughtless enactments at the outset (7) AGITATE {A}{GIT}{Arrogant}{Thoughtless}{Enactments}

14 A qualifying test invested in viewpoint of realism (10) PRAGMATISM {PR{A}{GMAT}ISM}

17 Fashion scam nearly brought down model (9) CONSTRUCT {CON}{STRU{C}T}

18 Tightest of catches goes down — with it, match essentially! (7) CLOSEST {C}{LOSES}{maTch}

19 “I’m on a car, cooking pasta!” (8) MACARONI {I+M+ON+A+CAR}

22 Dance away to unending beat (6) FROLIC {FRO}{LICk}

23 Often, etiquette embraces dogma (5) TENET (T)

25 Royal phalanx shields dominant leader (5) ALPHA (T)

27 Silver lining of Raja’s wonderful city, perhaps? (4) AGRA {AG}{RajA}

Reference List

Programme=App, Metal=Ag, Resistance=R, Worker=Ant, No=N, True=T

Player=S (South), Players=EN(East&North), Energy=E, Energy=E, Old=O, Setter=I, Interest=I, Qualifying test=GMAT, Nearly=C(Circa), Catches=C, Silver=AG

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word,  Reference list word, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Opposite indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

No 13306, Thursday 22 Jul 2021, Spinner

Solution to 1A 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   Filling in when head’s away — something one might do at a summer internship? (6) A?D?N? (Addendum - ADDING pADDING - See comments)

4   Caught after chief of police recalled good man’s theories (8) CONCEPTS {C}{ONCE}{Po...e}{ST<=}

10 Newspaper exclusive, one that causes a drop in concentration levels! (7) THINNER {TH}{INNER}

11 Criminal deed, hiding origin of transmission — it’s to be avoided in a pandemic! (7) CONTACT {CON}{Tr...n}{ACT}

12 IT update breaks facility (8) APTITUDE*

13 Shooter is trapped by well-designed plot (6) PISTOL {P{IS}TOL*}

15 Girl’s date hijacked by amateur (4) LADY {LA{D}Y}

16 Ruined by coronavirus, finally healed on getting protective equipment (9) SCUPPERED {c...uS}{CU{PPE}RED}

19 Italy rose spectacularly for rightfully due winnings! (9)  ROYALTIES*

21 Artificial intelligence takes over small bit of antiquated continent (4) ASIA {A{S}I}{An...d}

25 Holy pouch with vermilion (6) SACRED {SAC}{RED}

26 Fond of condemned king thrown out by husband (8) ATTACHED ATTAC(-k+h)HED

28 Spinner’s following former flame with answer for question (7) EXAMINE {MINE}<=>{EX}{A}

29 Train carries haul when returning daily (7) REGULAR {RE{LUG<=}AR}

30 Pressure’s disorienting when wading through water (8) PADDLING {P}{ADDLING}

31 Observed selection of co-star edgily (6) STARED [T]

DOWN

1   If truth be told, account total hides a bit of unscrupulousness (8) ACTUALLY {AC}{T{Un...s}ALLY}

2   Medical professional provided some treatment before editor feel asleep (7) DRIFTED {DR}{IF}{Tr...t}{ED} Feel or Fell?

3   Perhaps, point when batters get nervous batting in net, yes? (6) NINETY {IN+NET}*{Y} (Correction - {N{IN}ET}{Y} - See comments,)

5   Cry of pain when finger’s cut at the top (4) OUCH tOUCH

6   Scrutinise son running amok, consumed by alcohol (8) CONSIDER {C{SON*}IDER}

7   Talk softly before clang (7) PRATTLE {P}{RATTLE}

8   Solve intrinsically felt testing, in retrospect (6) SETTLE [T<=]

9   Remove aerated liquid, grabbing nearly frozen water! (9) ERADICATE {ERAD{ICe}ATE*}

14 Those who triumph unexpectedly over makers of crossword! (9) UPSETTERS {UP}{SETTERS}

17 Friend returning home is important (8) MATERIAL {MATE}{LAIR<=}

18 Travelled here and there? Dread new variant! (8) WANDERED*

20 Apple’s origin story starts here: Design hardcore, with no compromise ultimately! (7) ORCHARD HARDCORe*

22 Southern dynasty’s ruler firstly an intellectual (7) SCHOLAR {S}{CHOLA}{Ru..r}

23 Unexpectedly elapse, becoming dead to the world (6) ASLEEP*

24 Great playing by team’s leader for goal! (6) TARGET {GREAT*}{Team}

27 Eager for knowledge, absorbs everything at first (4) KEEN {KE{Ev...g}N}

Reference List

Caught = C, Good man = ST, Newspaper = TH(The Hindu), Date = D, Protectice equipment = PPE, Small = S, King = K, Husband = H, Former flame = EX, Answer = A, Pressure = P, Account = AC, Editor = ED, Yes = Y, Softly = P, Southern = S 

No 13265, Friday 04 Jun 2021, Spinner

Lockdown day 37 of 40 Stay Safe at home

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

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Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only

The regular blog will replace the clues at 4 PM.

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

ACROSS

1   Stayed with drummer’s last beat (6) STRUCK {ST{d...eR}UCK}

4   Runs away to the west, with money secured (8) STRAPPED {DEP{P}ARTS<=}

10 Country locked between plateaus triangularly (7) AUSTRIA [T]

11 Stable feeder system recruits a supervisor (7) MANAGER {MAN{A}GER}

12 Skip while maintaining standard time interval (8) DISTANCE {D{IST}ANCE}

13 Overt rookie’s trespassing of covert area (6) PUBLIC {PUB{L}IC}

15 Decay around centre of tooth’s base (4) ROOT {RO{toOth}T}

17 Exclusion of some tribes — basically, bigotry! (9) OSTRACISM {Of}{Some}{Tr...s}{RACISM}

20 Nice to be rid of incompetent leader after ten years resulting in social decay (9) DECADENCE {NiCE}<=>{DECADE}

21 30% of land on earth is towards the west, within America’s borders (4) ASIA {Ame{IS<=}ricA}

24 Sharpens edge of bolt that’s blunt (6) HONEST {HONES}{bolT}

25 Water infused with two vitamins taken everyday at the start is sufficient (8) ADEQUATE {A{D}{E}QUA}{Ta..n}{Ev...y}

28 Animals, over a long period of time, becoming winged creatures (7) PIGEONS {PIG{EON}S}

29 Now and then, clues by Spinner certainly provided entertainment! (7) LEISURE {cLuEs}{I}{SURE}

30 Elevation, with second in line moving to the top, gives breathing space (8) LATITUDE (+l)LA(-l)TITUDE

31 Swear at trial (6) ATTEST {AT}{TEST}

DOWN

1   DNA strand altered, erasing a bit of narcissistic quality (8) STANDARD {DnA+STRAND}*

2   Flowers planted in upturned vases organically (5) ROSES [T<=]

3   Clear soup with chunk of enriched grains (6) CEREAL {CER{En...d}AL}

5   Cat’s drums (4) TOMS [DD]

6   Declare a new lockdown at the end to recover, after starting late (8) ANNOUNCE {A}{N}{l...wN}{bOUNCE}

7   Boxers first on table among dogs with a wrinkled face (9) PUGILISTS {PUG{1}{LIST}S}

8   Scandal envelops Election Commission’s order (6) DIRECT {DIR{EC}T}

9   Basically, coronavirus curve runs its course in leader’s absence, resulting in dead bodies! (9) CARCASSES {Co...s}{ARC}{pASSES}

14 Ice-cold or otherwise, one’s emotion is considered insincere (9) CROCODILE*

16 Instant deliveries before late hours (9) OVERNIGHT {OVER}{NIGHT}

18 Plant manufactured soft coat (8) CATSFOOT*

19 Beats men regularly in cellar (8) BASEMENT*

22 Place perhaps in which church ultimately sits? (6) CHAPEL {C{c...cH}APEL*} Semi&lit

23 Impudent person finally faces whip (6) SQUIRT {f..eS}{QUIRT}

26 “Please apply after a minute!” (5) AMUSE {USE}<=>{A}{M}

27 Cashed in on currency consuming energy (4) USED {US{E}D}

Reference List

Money = P, Rookie = L, Minute = M, Currency = USD, Energy = E

No 13239, Wednesday 05 May 2021, Spinner

Lockdown Day 8 of 14 Stay Safe

Solution to 26D 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   Unboundedly delighted by margins of election result (6) HAPPEN {HAPPy}{El...oN}

4   Audiotape from band breaking social order (8) CASSETTE {CAS{SET}TE}

10 Small instrument basically emitting resonance of a higher frequency (7) SHARPER {S}{HARP}{Em...g}{Re...e}

11 Health professionals caught in spot, with first signs of oxygen running short (7) DOCTORS {DO{C}T}{Ox...n}{Ru...g}{Sh..t}

12 Playing clarion before break of dawn is hard (8) IRONCLAD {CLARION*}{Dawn}

13 Woman nearly frames betrayer (6) WEASEL {W}{EASELs}

15 Saw a youngster at heart, on vacation! (4) AWAY [T]

17 Increasing pressure troubled IPL, seemingly? No? Yes! (9) IMPELLING {IPL+seEMINGLy}*

20 Extraordinarily, all men I described returning in a thousand years, many times over! (9) MILLENNIA {ALL+MEN+I}* over {IN<=}

21 Reef taken for a ride endlessly (4) ISLE mISLEd

24 Indigenous experiment gets around a spot of bother (6) TRIBAL {TRI{Bo...r}AL}

25 Where you might see a plate and a pitcher containing batter? (8) BASEBALL [CD]

28 Upset by a stupid person, tattles now and then (7) AGITATE {A}{GIT}{tAtTlEs}

29 More cheerful way to get the flame going (7) LIGHTER [DD]

30 Wait by husband’s manor, keeping child at heart! (8) HESITATE {H}{ES{chIld}TATE}

31 Dreaded a freed criminal (6) FEARED*

DOWN

1   Head of healthcare rebuilt a spoilt infirmary (8) HOSPITAL {He...e}{A+SPOILT}*

2   Philosopher’s squad ignores rejection upon rejection (5) PLATO PLATOon

3   Look forward to money getting invested into business leader’s model (6) EXPECT {EX{P}EC}{T}

5   An informed deputy enabling leaders? (4) AIDE Acrostic &lit

6   Cunningly erects laboratory’s fences under the hood (8) SECRETLY {ERECTS}*{La...rY}

7   Large number of people (not sadhus) let loose! (9) THOUSANDS*

8   Finally gone — a clever, entertaining setter, undoubtedly! (6) EASILY {gonE}{A}{S{I}LY}

9   Catastrophic matter put before specialist for remedy (9) TREATMENT {MATTER}*{ENT}

14 Dubiously claimed, “On eating some bananas ultimately disease can be cured!” (9) MEDICABLE {MEDICA{Ba...s}L*}{d...sE}

16 Lies a bit about one’s competencies (9) ABILITIES {LIES+A+BIT}* over {1}

18 Satisfying when farmer gets money (8) PLEASANT {P{L}EASANT}

19 Ordered a retreat from field even with men to spare? (8) DECLARED [CD]

22 Raid prematurely ended husband’s transfer (6) ATTACH {ATTACk}{H}

23 After explosive gale, recalled European competition! (6) LEAGUE {GALE*}{EU<=}

26 Think twice when axing leader for change (5) A?T?R (Addendum - ALTER fALTER - See comments)

27 Achievement staying in safe atmosphere! (4) FEAT [T]

Reference List

Small = S, Womwn = W, Husband = H, Money = P, Model = T, Money = L 

No 13218, Saturday 10 Apr 2021, Spinner

 Across

1 Investors capital almost overdrawn — reflected losses, ultimately! (12) STOCKHOLDERS {STOCKHOLm}{RED<=}{losseS}
10 Man entering state of unconsciousness — indicator of a pause (5) COMMA {COM{M}A}
11 Circumstances forced us into it (taking up a bit of artisanship) (9) SITUATION {US+INTO+IT*} around {Artisanship}
12 Sport’s coming back with zero crowds (6) TROOPS {SPORT<=} around {O}
13 Pushcarts for time travel? Perhaps, yes! (8) TROLLEYS {T}{ROLL}{YES*}
15 Virtue of a dubious front runner (9) FAVOURITE {VIRTUE+OF+A*}
16 Look after silicon storage unit (4) SILO {SI}{LO}

20 Essay spotlights stifled voices (4) SAYS (T)
21 Drew primarily as two models posed with underwear at the centre earlier (9) ATTRACTED {As}{TT}{undeRwear}{ACTED}
24 Deviant setter gets no credit, strangely (8) INDIRECT {I}{N}{CREDIT*}
26 Rogue had to prepare a pitch (6) CURATE {CUR}{ATE}
28 Temples originally ordain circling around it as ritual (9) TRADITION {Temples}{ORDAIN*} around {IT}
29 Infect certain territories partially (5) TAINT (T)
30 Disbelief on account of ten months lost overcoming infection’s onset (12) ASTONISHMENT {AS}{TEN+MONTHS*} around {Infection}

Down

2 Acting sad when describing prom gone wrong (9) TEMPORARY {TE{PROM*}ARY}
3 Title-winning side is basically working exclusively with leading hypnotherapist (8) CHAMPION {C{Hypnotherapist}AMP}{Is}{ON}
4 Throw flaming bottles single-mindedly, for starters (4) HOST {HO{Single-mindedly}T}
5 Exciting age disrupted true studies (10) LITERATURE {LIT}{ERA}{TRUE*}
6 Sanction’s justifiable in leader’s absence (6) ENABLE {tENABLE}
7 Locality raided by some policemen, causing resentment (5) SPITE {S{Policemen}ITE}
8 Critical of reduction in wage, every now and then! (5) ACUTE {wA{CUT}gE}
9 With daughter away, finished picture in a single attempt (3,4) ONE SHOT {dONE}{SHOT}
14 Safety from nepotic rot in new order (10) PROTECTION {NEPOTIC+ROT*}
17 Version control follows IT guideline, essentially (9) ITERATION {IT}{guidEline}{RATION}
18 Sets up goal, as flop buries pass at the last second! (7) ASSISTS {AS}{SI{pasS}T}{S}
19 Adapt to onset of monarchy after unending blame (8) ACCUSTOM {ACCUSe}{TO}{Monarchy}
22 Start out of order, skipping setter — a maestro! (6) ARTIST {START*} around {I}
23 Where a banker is likely to deposit holdings? (5) DELTA (CD) Banker=One with banks=River
25 Physician with a degree in thespian art (5) DRAMA {DR}{A}{MA} 
27 Colonial creatures, perhaps found to return in most nations (4) ANTS (T<=)

 

Reference List

Man=M, Zero=O, Time=T, Look=Lo, Silicon=Si, Model=T, Setter=I, No=N, Had=Ate
Working=On, Daughter=D, Second=S, Setter=I, Physician=Dr, Degree=MA

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word,  Reference list word, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Opposite indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous