No 14838, Monday 06 Jul 2026, Arden

Solution to 17D 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   PM comes to grip with a druggie without work and his method of working (5,8) MODUS OPERANDI {MOD{US{{OP}ER}{AND}I}

10 Slammed as the little devil played a role (5) ACTED impACTED

11 With home study make true agreement (9) INDENTURE {IN}{DEN}{TRUE*}

12 Rage about one going underwater — it's highly corrosive (4,5) AQUA REGIA {REG{1}A*}<=>{AQUA}

13 Sweep opening, take time off for golf (5) DEBUG DEBU(-t+g)G

14 The German drink will subside (3,4) DIE DOWN {DIE}{DOWN} 

16 Good natured, is nice to back some one in the group (7) INSIDER [T<=]

18 Next to undress — questions follow revelations (7) EXPOSES {nEXt}{POSES}

20 Lizard losing head in company of a furry animal (7) GUANACO {iGUANA}{CO}

22 Gets rid of bags filled with cork finally (5) SACKS {SAC{corK}S}

24 Sailing, generally (2,3,4) IN THE MAIN [DD]

26 Initially, no objection certificate to use radio not allowed late in the night (9) NOCTURNAL Acrostic

27 Speak for zero value (5) ORATE {O}{RATE}

28 I get a front man out breaking (13) FRAGMENTATION*

DOWN

2   Starts offering basic training — it's impolite to interfere (7) OBTRUDE {Of...g}{Ba..c}{Tr...g}{RUDE}

3   Experiences of active end user taking leave (9) UNDERGOES {END+USER}* over {GO}

4   Start off planting being in debt (5) OWING sOWING

5   Adorable, getting attention in conclusion (9) ENDEARING {END{EAR}ING}

6   Covered new roof within a day (5) AWNED {A}{NEW*}D} Roof as Anind? (Addendum - {A}{W{New}ED} - See comments)

7   Pounded back of head and massaged (7) DRUBBED {heaD}{RUBBED}

8   Usually no odd ones while dealing with a dip, say (5,8) SALAD DRESSING {uSuAlIy}{ADDRESSING}

9   Not even greying beard can be contrary to a radiation detector (6,7) GEIGER COUNTER {GrEyInG+bEaRd}{COUNTER}

15 New subject, without ignorance (9) NESCIENCE {NEw}SCIENCE}

17 "Room for suspicion", they say, when disoriented (6-3) S?A?E? O?T (Addendum - SPACED OUT {SPACE}{(~doubt)DOUT} - See comments)

19 Spectacular shot, showing no lust for a safety vehicle on track (4,3) PACE CAR  sPECtACulAR*

21 A bash over regular fashion makes one brave (7) ARAPAHO {A}{RAP}{fAsHiOn}

23 Suspended second breather (5) SLUNG {S}{LUNG}

25 Washroom — not one available for renting (2,3) TO LET TOiLET

Reference List

Work = OP, Time = T, Golf = G, With = W, Second = S

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 36, Sunday 28 Dec 2025, Incognito

ACROSS

8   Festive event in Nagaland (4) GALA [T]

9   Portable weapons? They are not really useful to T.rex (5,4) SMALL ARMS [DD]

10 See 9 (4)

11 Renews road surface and passes on (6) RELAYS [DD]

12 Wildly rode into settlement and demolished (4,4) TORE DOWN {T{RODE*}OWN}

13 Arranged parts with each groom (8) STRAPPER {PARTS}*}{PER}

15 Nurses accepting setter's disease (6) CARIES {CAR{I}ES}

17 Revealed ox speed was wrongly stated (7) EXPOSED*

19 Alleged, "Medical is botched up" (7) CLAIMED*

22 Go with Cortes on tour (6) ESCORT*

24 Start part of play that is about tax (8) ACTIVATE {ACT}{I{VAT}E}

26 A piece of legislation about commencement of indigenous repair covers Royal Air Force planes (8) AIRCRAFT {A{I}{Rr...r}CT} over {RAF}

28 Accident is initially highlighted in diagrammatic representation of a location (6) MISHAP {M{IS}{Hi...d}AP}

30 Mark's comrades leaving demo running away (4) SCAR {ComRAdeS}*

31 Usage charges cover right to trouble (5) TROLL {T{R}OLL}

32 Atop church at one time (4) ONCE {ON}{CE}

DOWN

1   Romantic outing in Nalgonda, Telangana (4) DATE [T]

2   Maiden leaves loveless Ramgoolam crazy when going round a Trump resort (3-1-4) MAR-A-LAGO {RAmGoOLAM}*

3   Fully consumes unusually small energy source under pressure, for starters (4,2) USES-UP Acrostic

4   Artillery unit's source of electricity (7) BATTERY [DD]

5   Pastoral caller, perhaps, is around 99 (8) CLERICAL {CLER{IC}AL*}

6   Large viper gets climbing aid (6) LADDER {L}{ADDER}

7   Some men exhibit warheads at first... Duck! (4) SMEW Acrostic

14 State taxes revised (5) TEXAS*

16 Pick the Spanish court for covering last case (5) ELECT {EL}{CT} over {casE}

18 Pulls out old pamphlets (8) EXTRACTS {EX}{TRACTS}

20 Attack extraordinary North American vision (8) INVASION {NA+VISION}*

21 Attends to Sherlock's doctor around one (5,2) WAITS ON {WA{1}TSON}

23 Old Charlie's endless curse happens (6) OCCURS {O}{C}{CURSe}

25 Acrobat leaves redhead in fall (6) TUMBLE TUMBLEr

27 Short distance in Winchester (4) INCH [HIPS]

29 Car damaged hospital's curved structure (4) ARCH {CAR*}{H}

Reference List

Right = R, Church = CE, Maiden =M, 99 = IC, Large = L, The in Spanish = EL Court = CT, Old = O, Charlie = C, Hospital = H

No 14671, Monday 22 Dec 2025, Incognito

Solution to 10A 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

7   Cry at sea (4) AHOY [CD]

8   Explain, "It's intricate" (9) ELABORATE [DD]

10 Foreigners having right in Assam (6) ?L?E?S (Addendum - ALIENS {A{LIEN}S} - See comments)

11 New iPod lost in MIT centre (8) MIDPOINT {MI{N+IPOD}*T}

12 Go back and sketch (8) WITHDRAW {WITH}{DRAW}

14 Reveal evil changes by United Nations (6) UNVEIL {EVIL}*<=>{UN}

16 Poster about meandering river came (7) ARRIVED {A{RIVER}*D}

18 Insects behind tea-cup (7) CHALICE {LICE}<=>{CHA}

21 Saint, with tears, removes clothes (6) STRIPS {ST}{RIPS}

23 Filming a sort of star (8) SHOOTING [DD]

25 Mother takes vehicle on island to get some pasta (8) MACARONI {MA}{CAR}{ON}{I}

27 Small stones starting to litter behind burial site (6) GRAVEL {Li...r}<=>{GRAVE}

29 Clearly inform: "Place" with this type of clue (3,6) PUT ACROSS {PUT}{ACROSS}

30 Suspend in Changanassery (4) HANG [T] What a coincidence. I am blogging on the train and it is just crossing Changanaserry

DOWN 

1   Colder hill has rice transplanted around it (8) CHILLIER {HILL} in {RICE}*

2   Park in London for literary doctor (4) HYDE [DD]

3   I'm leaving Emirates to make promotional trailer (6) TEASER EmiRATES*

4   Why moa dances on small ricks of dried grass? (7) HAYMOWS {WHY+MOA}*{S}

5   Abe leaving shoulder bag when travelling for migration with motive of mining precious metal (4,4) GOLD RUSH {SHOULDeR+baG}*

6   Mexican food available in Delta, Colorado (4) TACO [T]

9   What nine playing around university experienced? (5) ENNUI {ENN{U}I*}

13 Model leaving Tahiti... making for Caribbean country (5) HAITI tAHITI*

15 Virginia permitted manservant (5) VALET {VA}{LET}

17 Displace cones at northern church lodge (8) ENSCONCE {CONES}*{N}{CE}

19 Pertains to business firms (8) CONCERNS [DD]

20 Actor Justin overacting partially (7) USTINOV [T]

22 Vagrant's tense on sloping road (5) TRAMP {T}{RAMP}

24 Endlessly more gas producing intense pleasure? (6) ORGASM {MORe+GAS}*

26 Wager in Canterbury (4) ANTE [T]

28 To some extent, brash yachter is pale (4) ASHY [T]

Reference List

Saint = ST, Small = S, University = U, Model = T, Northern = N, Church = CE,  Tense = T

Special, Sunday 14 Dec 2025, Neyartha (R)

Three answers per commenter till 1 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)

Starred clues have a common theme.

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 34, Sunday 14 Dec 2025, Arden

ACROSS

1   Pornographic books hidden by back cover which is fat (7) BLUBBER {BLU{BB}E}{c..eR}

5   In fact internal condition is highly respected (7) DEIFIED {DE{IF}{I}ED} I from?

9   Alternate proof — assets provide some food (5) ROAST {pRoOf+AsSeTs}

10 Country rejected plan to introduce one dress (9) MACEDONIA {AIM<=} over {ACE}{DON}

11 Potatoes bag in parts of the Netherlands (9) FRIESLAND {FRIES}{LAND}

12 Start growing thorny rose plant (5) GORSE {Gr...g}{ROSE*}

13 Responsibility — where it lies when we undertake to do something (4) ONUS {ON US}

15 Ones getting married on board can be emulated (8) IMITABLE {1}{M}{1}{TABLE}

18 It obeys Boyle’s law — perfect perhaps, NO? (5,3) IDEAL GAS {IDEAL}{GAS}

19 Bite insect in return (4) TANG<=

22 Signore Mitchell securing pardon (5) REMIT [T]

24 Group accepting torn bill is swelling (9) CHILBLAIN {CH{BILL*}AIN}

26 Remove unwanted starch from tetrasaccharide somehow (9) ERADICATE TetrasACchARIDE* 

27 African leaders totally under the same illusion (5) TUTSI Acrostic

28 Way to describe “Short story of an Italian dish” (7) LASAGNE {LA{SAGa}NE}

29 In support of school showing no interest in computer language (7) FORTRAN {FOR}{TRAiN}

DOWN

1   Don’t have complaint about Republicans headed by Trump (6) BEREFT {BE{R}EF}{Tr..p}

2   Maybe gained about a pound after central fund became nonpartisan (9) UNALIGNED {GAINED}* over {L} after {fUNd}

3   Times set up pieces of information (5) BYTES {BY}{SET*}

4   Bank getting old in America is running riot (9) RAMPAGING {RAMP}{AGING}

5   Last of the herd killed and cut up (5) DICED {herD}{ICED}

6   Mixed gin and tonic — not only cold but cross (9) INDIGNANT {GIN+AND+ToNIc}*

7   Private banquet, democrats missing (5) INNER dINNER

8   Head of department committed a crime and covered it up (6) DRAPED {De...t}{RAPED}

14 Going over, accepting a contract giving set of dimensions... (9) SCANTLING {SCA{NT}LING}

16 ...even though it opens out providing covers (2,5,2) IN SPITE OF {IT+OPENS}* in {IF}

17 House subsequently stored blue cans (9) LANCASTER {LA{CANS*}TER}

20 Trial order done, approval to pick outsiders (6) ORDEAL {OrdeR}{DonE}{Ap...aL}

21 Standard, almost close to mark... (6) ENSIGN {ENd}{SIGN}

23 ...randomly, so man complains (5) MOANS*

24 Stop close to line, in case... (5) CEASE {C{linE}ASE}

25 Sad, half-heartedly he takes a nibble (5) BITER BITtER

Reference List

Book = B, Married = M, Interest = I, Republican = R, Pound = L, Only = O, Cold = C, Democrats = D, Contract = NT{No Trumps)

No 14642, Tuesday 18 Nov 2025, Incognito

Solution to 27A 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   Hidden a foam cudgel when travelling? (11) CAMOUFLAGED*

9   Fliers going round air terminal getting drinks (5) BEERS {BEE{aiR}S}

10 Had sample altered to produce light fitting (9) LAMPSHADE*

11 Took away sailor's treatise lying with editor (10) ABSTRACTED {ABS}{TRACT}{ED}

12 Chinese chairman consumes king fish (4) MAKO {MA{K}O}

13 Setter leaving China, travelling to get egg and tortilla chip (5) NACHO {CHiNA}*{O}

15 Getting away from Spain and pacing around (8) ESCAPING {ES}{PACING*}

17 In front of barn, Indian woman endlessly pulped (8) SQUASHED {SHED}<=>{SQUAw}

19 Behind mine, territorial army makes bread (5) PITTA {PIT}{TA}

22 Between 1,100 and 1,000 billion to produce rocket propelled weapon (1,1,1,1) I C B M {1}{C}{B}{M}

23 Veerappan is excited to capture saint when releasing a race driver (10) VERSTAPPEN {VEERAPPaN}* over {ST}

26 Chapati is rolled around old and large sausage (9) CHIPOLATA {CHIP{O}{L}ATA*}

27 Hot when full, but cold when initial two-fifths is thrown away (5) S?I?Y (Addendum - SPICY spICY - See comments)

28 Animals and pagan saint circle around heart of goddess (5,6) GIANT PANDAS {PAGAN+SAINT}* over {godDess}

DOWN

1   Revolutionary paramilitary organisation's game (5) CHESS {CHE}{SS}

2   Rapidly increases hotel space in ship following Greek letter (9) MUSHROOMS {H}{ROOM} in {SS} after {MU}

3   What you might need to do before removing shoes? Messily clean university first... (6) UNLACE {CLEAN+Un...y}*

4   After fifty one, male lovingly strokes molluscs (7) LIMPETS {LI}{M}{PETS}

5   With fuel, Henry makes wide cut (4) GASH {GAS}{H}

6   Playwright admits art is destroyed (9) DRAMATIST*

7   Get damaged boat in (6) OBTAIN*

8   Kelvin is captured by gnome sailing in river (6) MEKONG {ME{K}ONG*}

14 Awkwardly climb rung going to pieces (9) CRUMBLING*

16 Valued IDs appear to be forged (9) APPRAISED*

17 Exchange cane (6) SWITCH [DD]

18 Girl hugged by heartless animal is graceful (7) ELEGANT {ELEp{G}hANT} 

20 Puts new napkin initially in soya sauce and irritates (6) ANNOYS {N}{Na...n} in {SOYA}*

21 South African Bantu people and volunteers capture bird (6) TSWANA {T{SWAN}A}

24 American tax authority is after Pennsylvania couples (5) PAIRS {IRS}<=>{PA}

25 Furniture from El Paso factory (4) SOFA 

Reference List

Sailor = AB, Editor = ED, King = K, Spain = ES, Old = O, Large = L, Hotel = H, Ship = SS, Male = M, Henry = H, Kelvin = K, Girl = G, Volunteers = TA(Territorial Army)

No 14614, Wednesday 15 Oct 2025, Arden

Solution to 13A 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   Cover of fashion completely overturned by a bloomer (8) DAFFODIL {LID}{OF}{FAD}<=

5   Awkward to see Charlie in Hague, abandoned (6) GAUCHE {GAU{C}HE*}

10 Club magazine? (7) ARSENAL [DD]

11 Watch closely the stock market in case of turnover (7) OBSERVE {BSE} in {OVER}*

12 Broken flowerpot, fool goes leaving another fool (5) TWERP floWERPoT*

13 Supply without hesitation - a horse for a Puma (9) C?T?M?U?T (Addendum - CATAMOUNT - {CATer}{A}{MOUNT} - See comments)

14 Shift to sporting plaids with setter (12) DISPLACEMENT {PLAIDS}*{CEMENT}

18 Each dog, say, gets something to eat - is it an act of committing a crime? (12) PERPETRATION {PER}{PET}{RATION}

21 ...As I am in Ordu, part of Turkey (4,5) ASIA MINOR [T]

23 Topic in paper without heading (5) ISSUE tISSUE

24 50% success over the target - he is respected in 21 (7) EFFENDI {EFF{END}Icacy}

25 With entrance, exit is determined (2-2-3) DO-OR-DIE {DOOR}{DIE}

26 Fat, close to outlet in parts (6) TALLOW {ouT}{ALLOW}

27 Diamond setter retraced the way, disappeared outside (8) GEMSTONE {G{ME<=}{ST}ONE}

DOWN

1   Need to keep runs in the end (6) DEARTH {DEA{R}TH}

2   Friends initially like to catch up and bind (6) FASTEN {Fr...s}{AS}{NET<=}

3   New iPhone - part of Spanish cheers for one who loves his wine (9) OENOPHILE {O{IPHONE*}LE}

4   No replications possible instead of a parent (2,4,8) IN LOCO PARENTIS*

6   Going north in Massachusetts state (5) ASSAM [T<=]

7   Blackbird car on top of the conveyor (8) CAROUSEL {OUSEL}<=>{CAR}

8   Negotiated a detente, but it lacks teeth (8) EDENTATE 

9   Bond meets Bond for a game (8,6) CONTRACT BRIDGE {CONTRACT}{BRIDGE}

15 Pick up book images - they represent the writer's feelings (9) EMOTICONS {TOME<=}{ICONS}

16 A father, say, keeps quiet - is it clear? (8) APPARENT {A}{PARENT} over {P}

17 Productive, almost complete by date, say (8) FRUITFUL {FULl}<=>{FRUIT}

19 Founder ousted, happened regularly before (4,2) USED TO*

20 Cancel permit for river crossing (6) DELETE {DE{LET}E}

22 Work before leave to get the fruit (5) MANGO {MAN}{GO}

Reference List

Charlie = C, Runs = R, Spanish cheers = OLE, Quiet = P

No 14562, Wednesday 13 Aug 2025, KrisKross

Solution to 4D 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   Class in college translated Tagore story in the end (8) CATEGORY {C}{TAGORE*}{s..rY}

5   Losing initial momentum, batsmen playing and missing (6) ABSENT BATSmEN*

9   Very large chunk of stollen or mousse (8) ENORMOUS [T]

10 Today, simply change (6) ADJUST {AD}{JUST}

12 What a rustler may do to assess the situation (4,5) TAKE STOCK [DD]

13 To sum up, exhausted after exchange of words (2,3) IN ALL {ALL<=>IN}

14 Unfortunately, healthy food mostly rejected (4) ALAS SALAd<=

16 Bumpy ground around lake (7) NODULAR {AROUND+L}*

19 Say, a clarinet missing note wrongly (7) ARTICLE {A+CLARInET}*

21 Bouquet picked up and mailed (4) SENT (~scent)

24 Weapon with tip broken - look! (5) LANCE gLANCE

25 Juicy cryptic clue: "For starters, cashew nuts" (9) SUCCULENT {CLUE+Ca...w+NUTS}*

27 Bit of light soup, not crackers (6) PHOTON {PHO}{NOT*}

28 Pieces of paper scattered often in traditional celebrations, principally (8) CONFETTI {OFTEN+In+Tr...l+Ce...s}* Semi&lit

29 Can't stand? Do exercises for beginners - try! (6) DETEST {Do}{Ex...s}{TEST}

30 Dirty tea-set broken by that man - one sensitive to taste (8) AESTHETE {HE} in {TEA+SET}* 

DOWN

1   Does Switzerland have the ultimate in chocolates? (6) CHEATS {CH}{EAT}{c...eS}

2  Soldiers wearing uniform reversing a vehicle (6) TROIKA {KI{OR}T}<={A]

3   Group activities making everyone sweat primarily? (5) GAMES Acrostic &lit

4   Screeching on the telephone, make you and I startled (7) R?U?O?S (Addendum - RAUCOUS (~ rock us) - See comments)

6   Invalid ordered to eat red bananas (9) BEDRIDDEN {B{RED*}IDDEN}

7   After due suffering, guy is fit to be trained (8) EDUCABLE {DUE*}{CABLE}

8   Protecting old King Lear, going mad at end of play (8) TUTELARY {TUT}{LEAR*}{plaY}

11 Hide second family (4) SKIN {S}{KIN}

15 He's cruel, evil, without love, wanton (9) LECHEROUS {HES+CRUEL}* over {0}

17 Ran quickly following good hit.. Wicket lost! (8) GALLOPED {G}{wALLOPED}

18 Small function to implement, basically using tables in Excel (5,3) STAND OUT {S}{TAN}{DO}{Us..g}{Ta...s}

20 Crossing borders, stopped for rest (4) EASE cEASEd

21 Most angry, cutting charge for sugar (7) SUCROSE {SU{CROSs}E}

22 Live telecast project! (6) BEETLE {BE}{TELE*}

23 Fight in East River (6) STRIVE [T]

26 Sick fellow in army division (5) UNFIT {UN{F}IT}

Reference List

College = C, Today = AD, Lake = L, Note = N, Switzerland = CH, Soldiers = OR, Second = S, Good = G, Wicket = W, Small = S, Function = TAN, Fellow = F

No 14515, Thursday 19 Jun 2025, Gussalufz

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.

BALEFUL NURSE AT WORK

ACROSS

9   Ailments cured by fourth-grade level (9) DISMANTLE {AILMENTS}*<=>{graDe}

10 Brilliant boy, reportedly (5) SUNNY (~sonny)

11 Madhya Pradesh engineer boring boss out (7) STUMPED {STU{MP}{E}D}

12 Dislike a censored translation (7) VERSION aVERSION

13 Alarm starts to interrupt consciousness after short rest in retreat (5) PANIC {In...t}{Co...s}<=>{NAP<=}

14 Kitties back calls for jams (9) STOPPAGES {POTS<=}{PAGES}

16 Casting couch? Lamer film, answer NO? (8,7) CHEMICAL FORMULA {COUCH+LAMER+FILM+A}*

19 Orphan cat chewed up fruit with part of flower attached (9) ANTHOCARP*

22 In public, I duly turned playful (5) LUDIC [T<=]

24 One born before one's time, in forlorn eastern empire (7) PREEMIE {E+EMPIRE}*

26 Seen in disco: "N.B.: Riot with spirit" (3,4) CON BRIO [T]

27 Sneakily get in, see for free (3,2) LET GO {GET}* in {LO}

28 "Percussion instrument? Play guitar, Richard!" says Spooner (9) DRUMSTICK (~strum dick to drumstick)

DOWN

1   Figures unpleasant matter is over after dad loosens up (4,2) ADDS UP {PUS<=}<=>{DAD}*

2   Publication of one's opinion getting student ultimately expelled by university (8) ?S?U?N?E (Addendum - ISSUANCE {1'S}{S(-t+u)UANCE - See comments)

3   Beverage lid and container retracted (counterfeit coin) (10) CAPPUCCINO {CAP}{CUP<=}{COIN*}

4   "ABCD" daughter and son arguing (2,4) AT ODDS {A to D}{D}{S}

5   Exclude page describing very revolting enemy (5,3) LEAVE OFF {LEA{V}{FOE<=}F}

6   Person at computer hampered by mouse regularly (4) USER [T]

7   Completion of repair a month away (6) ENDING mENDING

8   Work out locations of gay man's frolicking around India (8) GYMNASIA {GAY+MANS}* over {I}

15 Bulk of wine trade by ship? (10) PORTLINESS {PORT}{LINE}{SS}

16 Man mates in India, they provide support (8) CHAPPALS {CHAP}{PALS}

17 Spiders are sad in shot (8) ARANEIDS*

18 Be at the bottom of anguish, essentially, and cross red line (8) UNDERLIE {angUish}{RED+LINE}*

20 What's left of camp after wife's entry? Unknown! (6) TWENTY {T{W}ENT}{Y}

21 "Prepare to leave partnership": U.K. capitulates, partially regressing (4,2) PACK UP [T<=]

23 Roosters absorbing first bit of light? They might awaken you alarmingly (6) CLOCKS {C{Light}OCKS}

25 Pull dramatically, showing cheek in second over (4) MOON {MO}{ON}

Reference List

Engineer = E, Answer = A, Eastern = E, University = U, Daughter = D, Son = S, Very = V, Month = M, India = I, Ship = SS, Wife = W, Unknown = Y, Second = MO, Over = ON

No 14429, Tuesday 11 Mar 2025, Arden

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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Blame a metropolis for all the greed (8) RAPACITY {RAP}{A}{CITY}

5   Announced country's development, primarily (6) STATED {STATE}{De...t}

10 Just follow an ex-PM to this place in London (7) MAYFAIR {FAIR}<=>{MAY}

11 Foreign trade - company follows modern-style architecture (3,4) ART DECO {TRADE*}{CO}

12 Current doctor provided initial treatment (5) DRIFT {DR}{IF}{Tr...t}

13 Avoid routes meant for Arctic air transport (3-6) SKI-PLANES {SKIP}{LANES}

14 One with money has orderly routine to follow, it's too small to notice (12) ANTINEUTRINO {AN}{TIN}{ROUTINE*}

18 Could be shifted - room to detect small stuff (5,7) CLOUD CHAMBER {COULD*}{CHAMBER}

21 Grown up, essentially very, very immoral person (9) ADULTERER {ADULT}{vERy}{vERy}

23 She is surrounded by us in this location (5) W?E?E (Addendum - WHERE {W{HER}E} - See comments)

24 Well-built side - detailed nourishment for the sick (4,3) BEEF TEA {BEEFy TEAm}

25 Bar those who are antidemocratic, antinational at heart (7) CANTINA [T]

26 Mob went crazy as women left for Bury (6) ENTOMB {MOB+wENT}*

27 Willing to stop being in debt (8) ENDOWING {END}{OWING}

DOWN

1   I'm ready to go out - not a solution (6) REMEDY {ME} in {REaDY}*

2   First person, one among many maybe a heathen (6) PAYNIM {Pe,,,n}{YAN{1}M*}

3   Tense working in an African country - is subdued (9) CHASTENED {CHA{TENSE*}D}

4   Professional dancer to perform - panic in Rocherster, perhaps (14) TERPSCICHOREAN {PANIC+ROCHESTER}* Typo in Rochester

6   Complete selling oil in France (5) TOTAL Anno not clear [DD} See comments

7   Dog houses - born and brought up as a wooden peg (8) TREENAIL {TR{NEE<=}AIL}

8   Comes down fuming - see it played in court (4,4) DROP SHOT {DROPS}{HOT}

9   To remain an active revolutionary, one has to be in a way, brave (6,8) NATIVE AMERICAN*

15 Take down criminal, only by unarmed combat (3,4,2) TAE KWON DO {TAKE+DOWN}*{O}

16 Extremely symbolic gathering for a game (8) SCRABBLE {Sy...iC}{RABBLE}

17 Parthenon, say, captures Greek character in a jiffy (8) MONUMENT {MO{NU}MENT}

19 House with a small car below empty garage (6) GEMINI {MINI}<=>{Ga..gE}

20 Nostalgia grips even outsiders in this Asian city (6) PENANG {P{EveN}ANG}

22 Starting to temporarily accommodate a pole (5) TOTEM [T]

Reference List

Money = TIN, Women = W, Born = NEE, Only = O

No 14401, Thursday 06 Feb 2025, Arden

Solution to 17D 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   Partly it is a new concoction (6) TISANE*

4   Cocktail waiters get inadequate tip, so to speak (2,2,4) AS IT WERE {WAITERS}* over {i...tE}

9   Finally found it in USA - random checks? (6) AUDITS {f..nD+IT+USA}*

10 Money stolen might bring down a game (8) BUCKSHOT {BUCKS}{HOT}

12 Empty threat - I look around and do nothing (3,5) SIT TIGHT {SI{Th..aT}{I}GHT}

13 Abandoned childcare, had to go round (6) CIRCLE {CIRCLE+HAD}*={CHILDCARE} [CA]

15 A song in celebration of marriage composed by Tom and Phil Aaron (12) PROTHALAMION*

18 Evidences show place is in terrible state (12) ATTESTATIONS {ATTE{STATION}S*}

21 Keen to protect girl in a corner (6) CRANNY {CR{ANN}Y}

22 A rare medical condition - relapses partially because of sugar (8) DEMERARA [T<=]

24 Media director imbibing alcohol - outsiders make a song (8) MADRIGAL {MediA}{Di...oR}{Im...nG}{Al...oL}

25 Pretentious in greeting (6) CHICHI {CHIC}{HI}

26 A theatre person takes time to get a fish (8) STURGEON {S{T}URGEON}

27 Enemy desperate to get hold of an unknown protein (6) ENZYME {EN{Z}YME*}

DOWN

1   Patterns running across the nave, say (8) TRANSEPT*

2   Second book on insurrection... (8) SEDITION {S}{EDITION}

3   ...even so, not accompanied by status (15) NOTWITHSTANDING {NOT}{WITH}{STANDING}

5   Stagger in as guest, uninvited (4) STUN [T]

6   Last challenge, act on it - think he somehow can accept defeat stoically? (4,2,2,3,4) TAKE IT ON THE CHIN {c...gE+ACT+ON+IT+THINK+HE}*

7   Deplorable hesitancy without any moral principles (6) ETHICS HESITanCy*

8   The final encounters go up in value (6) ESTEEM {thE}{MEETS<=}

11 Tea cups besides a football team (7) CHELSEA {CH{ELSE}A}

14 Fallen in love with small babies' wear (7) SMITTEN {S}{MITTEN}

16 Upset harmony over Catholic kingdom (8) MONARCHY {MONAR{C}HY*}

17 At home in a country (8) ?S?A?I?E ()

19 Rascals quietly involved in swindles (6) SCAMPS {SCAM{P}S}

20 Third of silver and gold in the carriage (6) LANDAU {siLver}{AND}{AU}

23 Palm tree tops - some are grown outside (4) SAGO Acrosctic

Reference List

In = CHIC,  Time = T, Unknown = Z, Second = S, Small = S, Catholic = C, Quietly = P

No 14326, Saturday 09 Nov 2024, Incognito

ACROSS

8   Capital from eastern part of Georgia arranged (4) RIGA geoRGIA*

9   Brave cougar is walking around America carrying sweetheart with love (10) COURAGEOUS {COUGAR*}(US) over {swEet}{O}

10 For starters extraordinary lumbar vertebra appears in small picture of the hip (6) PELVIC {P{Ex...y}{Lu...r}{Ve...a}IC}

11/23 After glance, fit defectors rounded up senior government employees (8,8) GAZETTED OFFICERS {GAZE}{FIT+DEFECTORS}*

12 NCO's servant releases head of valets for gobbling eggs at first (8) SERGEANTS SER(-v+g+e)GENTS

14 Lathi with embedded electronic component for law enforcement force (6) POLICE {POL{IC}E}

16 Study Voltaire giving up vote (4) LAIR voLtAIRe

17 After end of road, precipitation is in sewer (5) DRAIN {roaD}{RAIN}

18 Long tree (4) PINE [DD]

19 Inferior descendant slaughtered one pig (6) EPIGON*

21 Toast cop distributing pieces of outer wear (8) TOPCOATS*

23 See 11

26 Hat obtained from livery stable under renovation after removal of leaves (6) TRILBY {lIveRY+sTaBLe}

27 After Monday, 10 middlemen leave, kidnapping Romeo in Balkan country (10) MONTENEGRO {MON}{TEN}{mEn}{G{R}O}

28 Chinese gets two consecutive letters for cook (4) CHEF {CH}{E}{F}

DOWN

1   Military Policeman followed an excited caddie bearing note for senior officer's assistant (4-2-4) AIDE-DE-CAMP {MP}<=>{CADDIE}* over {E}

2   Redeemer carrying silver in tray (8) SALVAGER {SALV{AG}ER}

3   Tree always cut along central imaginary axis, for starters (6) ACACIA Acrostic

4   Throw plug (4) BUNG [DD]

5   Mother managed carrying an American code for "Sweetened almond meal" (8) MARZIPAN {MA}{R{ZIP}{AN}

6   Pulse observed in prevalent illness (6) LENTIL [T]

7   Certain enjoyment, in absence of appeal (4) SURE pleaSURE

13 Raise a drink for honouring a person, "To a saint!" (5) TOAST {TO}{A}{ST}

15 Some policemen cheat head of staff at crooked stable (10) CONSTABLES {CON}{St..f}{STABLE*}

17 European don's gun brandished in underground prison cells (8) DUNGEONS {E+DONS+GUN}*

18 Royal son goes around old Viscount's region (8) PROVINCE {PR{O}{V}INCE}

20 Responsible person capturing one military officer (6) GUILTY {GU{1}{LT}Y}

22 Don's counterparts drop Carter during reshuffle (4,2) PUTS ON cOUNTerPartS*

24 Base is 12 inches (4) FOOT [DD]

25 Ship carrying silver sinks (4) SAGS {S{AG}S}

Reference List

Romeo = R, Chinese = CH, Note = E, Saint = ST, European = E, Old = O, Viscount = V, Military officer = LT(Lieutanant)