No 14052, Friday 22 Dec 2023, Dr. X

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   Barbarian is decent, amateur struggling to last till end of boxing bout (2,3,8) GO THE DISTANCE {GOTH}{IS+DECENT+A}*

8   Admired bar in expensive retreat (5) RATED {DE{T}AR<=}

9   Former US Secretary of State is smooching queen (9) KISSINGER {KISSING}{ER}

11 Where motors pile haphazardly? (10) METROPOLIS* &lit

12 Food counter in fortress (4) BURG <=

14 Really excited getting hold of dog - essentially more faithful (7) LOYALER {L{dOg}YALER*}

16 Most vulgar American with couple of females in den (7) NAFFEST {N{A}{FF}EST}

17 Meeting most influential Republican (7) SEMINAR {SEMINAl}{R}

19 Plants with many benefits (7) LOTUSES {LOT}{USES}

21 Stench from estuary releasing carbon (4) REEK cREEK

22 Wants dope to host drug party by end of December (10) DESIDERATA {D{E}{SIDE}{d...eR}ATA}

25 Medley by fantastic pro, it entertains crowd (9) POTPOURRI {PRO+IT}* over {POUR}

26 Loosen up in trip by noon (5) UNPIN {UP+IN}*{N}

27 Miserable after hot fight, we resolved to accept situation (2,4,3,4) GO WITH THE FLOW {HOT+FIGHT+WE}*{LOW}

DOWN

2   Dwell too long with unacceptable associate in filthy place (7) OUTSTAY {OUT}{ST{A}Y}

3   Stop on street after extremely hasty skid on wet road (10) HYDROPLANE {DROP}{LANE}<=>{HastY}

4   Quick glance by con concealing ecstasy, two kilos (5) DEKKO {D{E}{K}{K}O}

5   Lesson is about changes pertaining to a period (9) SESSIONAL {LESSON+IS+A}*

6   Birds confined by setting up wires in aviary (4) ANIS [T<=]

7   Nasty fellow leaves enclosure, stealing waterproof jacket (7) CAGOULE {CAG{fOUL}E}

8 Feature of road safety guidelines saving boy after a little mishap on journey (6,5) RUMBLE STRIP {RU{Mi...p}{B}LES}{TRIP}

10 Perfectly fine in hospital after doctor treated a strain (5,2,4) RIGHT AS RAIN {H}<=>{RIG} with {A+STRAIN}*

13 From where one might lose link spontaneously (3,3,4) OFF THE CUFF [DD]

15 Attention caught by rather unusual metallic element (4,5) RARE EARTH {RARE{EAR}TH*}

18 Expert in some art perhaps (7) MAESTRO*

20 Slice of smoked meat, bit of potato and eggs for cleaner (7) SHAMPOO {Sm...d}{HAM}{Po...o}{OO}

23 Sir is hoping to master language (5) IRISH [T]

24 Architectural mouldings crumble over island (4) TORI {ROT<=}{I}

Reference List

Amateur = A, Bar = T, Queen = ER, Female = F, Republican = R, Carbon = C, Drug = E, Noon = N, Associate = A, Con = DO, Ecstasy = E, Kilo = K, About = A, Fellow = F, Boy = B, Hospital = H, Doctor = RIG, Island = I

No 14051, Thursday 21 Dec 2023, Dr. X

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

1   Customers may run to pick up iPhones at launch? Just what I wanted to hear! (5,2,2,4) MUSIC TO MY EARS {CUSTOMERS+MAY}* over {Ip...e}

8   Paitent's endlessly tired, injected with bit of iron (5) STOIC {STO{Iron}Ck}

9   Advertisement, one with men showing buttocks (9) POSTERIOR {POSTER}{1}{OR}

11 Adulatory old suitor easily captures gal's heart (10) IDOLATROUS {OLD+SUITOR over {gAl}

12 Reviewed microscopic saprophytes containing spore-bearing sacs (4) ASCI [T<=]

14 Outstanding story ending in tragedy for Romeo (7) PAYABLE PA(-r+y)YABLE

16 Foolishly, crazily discarding spades (7) INANELY INsANELY

17 Various waterbirds close to lake (7) DIVERSE {DIVERS}{lakE}

19 Force out old director in firm (7) EXTRUDE {EX}{TRU{D}E}

21 Bridesmaid likes to eat south Indian food (4) IDLI [T]

22 Intimidates nervous intern, say (10) TYRANNISES* 

25 Removal of a cancer spreading over sides of lobe (9) CLEARANCE {A+CANCER}* over {LobE}

26 Vehicle in the middle overtaken by American chap at full speed (5) AMAIN {A}{MA{vehIcle}N}

27 Nude models getting randy, held cavorting secretly (13) UNDERHANDEDLY {NUDE}*{RANDY+HELD}*

DOWN
2   Silly fool captivated by eccentric guy's study of flying saucers (7) UFOLOGY {FOOL}* in {GUY}*

3   Where judge may hear some cases and check meanings of words? (2,8) IN CHAMBERS [DD]

4   Exercise, cut salt to become thin (5) TAPER {TA{PE}R}

5   Male building muscle in front of arm (9) MASCULINE {MUSCLE+IN+Arm}

6   Oriental retreat is paradise (4) EDEN {E}{DEN}

7   Reprint fantastic series about origin of universe (7) REISSUE {REISS{Un...e}E*}

8   Rim in new specs did lead to painful problem (7,4) SLIPPED DISC {LIP} in {SPECS+DID}*

10 When one gets wet, say, in storm inside grounds (5,6) RAINY SEASON {IN+SAY}* in {REASON}

13 System of gambling money gets girl involved in unpleasant experience (10) ?A?T?N?A?E (Addendum - MARTINGALE {MAR{TIN}{GAL}E} - See comments) 

15 Thoroughly cheery in ground after securing victory (5,4) EVERY INCH {CHEERY+IN}* over {V}

18 Serf is sick, overwhelmed by strain (7) VILLEIN {V{ILL}EIN}

20 Disentangle as clan runs wild, killing hundred (7) UNSNARL {cLAN+RUNS}*

23 Dined at home from a can containing cream essentially (3,2) ATE IN {A}{T{crEam}IN} 

24 Egg on roll needs bit of salt (4) URGE sURGE

Reference List

Men = OR, Romeo = R, Spades = S, Exercise = PE, Oriental = E, Victory = V, Hundred = C