No 13922, Thursday 20 Jul 2023, Dr. X

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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   What model might say she's doing is impressive (8) IMPOSING {I'M POSING}

5   Most thrilled, about to marry in European country (6) SWEDEN {S{WED}ENt}

10 Spies capturing old leader of terrorists in Brazilian municipality (5) COTIA {C{O}{Te...s}IA}

11 Sparkle in court, case resolved (9) CORUSCATE*

12 Criticism by newly-wed crushes groom's heart, terribly sad (9) BROADSIDE {BR{grOom}{SAD*}IDE}

13 Batter in decline after gaining pounds (5) F?A?L (Addendum - FLAIL {F{L}AIL} - See comments)

14 Funny scene about a meeting to raise the spirits (6) SEANCE {SE{A}NCE*}

15 Connects parts to conserve power (7) SPLICES {S{P}LICES}

18 Muffins, tea? Deli sandwiches, alternatively (7) INSTEAD [T]

20 Supporting retired man in difficulty (6) BEHIND {B{HE<=}IND}

22 Many crave for hidden treasure (5) CACHE {C}{ACHE}

24 Knocking back gin, miss cuddling lover finally mated (9) PARTNERED {TRAP<=}{NE{l..eR}ED}

25 Promiscuous actor chasing lady in set is millionaire (9) PLUTOCRAT {ACTOR}*<=>{P{L}UT}

26 One with snare crossing large creek (5) INLET {1}{N{L}ET}

27 Root may be run out, leaving Australia's captain excited (6) EMBRYO {MaY+BE+RO}*

28 Groupie in rave taking off posh gown (8) PEIGNOIR {GROuPIE+IN}*

DOWN

1   At home, youngster gets essentially weird nightmares (6) INCUBI {IN}{CUB}{weIrd}

2   Glib Spanish man going around with society lady providing financial support (9) PATRONESS {PAT}{SENOR<=}{S}

3   What to do when national anthem's played at event? Behave formally (5,2,8) STAND ON CEREMONY [C&DD]

4   Include new species of atom (7) NUCLIDE*

6   Fantasy of fling with hunk is exciting (7,8) WISHFUL THINKING {FLING+WITH+HUNK+IS}*  Semi&lit

7   Play diamond ace to secure slam (5) DRAMA {D}{RAM}{A}

8   Taunts son? That's uncalled-for (8) NEEDLESS {NEEDLES}{S}

9   Kisses girl on drive back (6) GREETS {G}|{STEER<=}

16 Tenor in control, a fantastic voice (9) CONTRALTO {T} in {CONTROL+A}*

17 Criticize film about the French student (8) DISCIPLE {DIS}{PIC<=}{LE}

19 Take off in record-breaking run (6) DEPART {D{EP}ART}

20 Better U-shaped glass tube (7) BURETTE*

21 Journalist in English retro bar, drinking Italian vermouth (6) EDITOR {E}{D{IT}OR<=}

23 Bit of cold drink with bit of booze (5) CRUMB {C}{RUM}{Bo..e}

Reference List

Old = O, Pounds = L, Power = P, Many = C, Lady = L, Run Out = RO, Posh = U, Glib = PAT, Society = S, Diamond = D, Ace = A, Son = S, Girl = G, Tenor = T, Criticise = DIS, The in French = LE, Record = EP(Extended Play), English = E, Italian Vermouth = IT, Cold = C

No 13921, Wednesday 19 Jul 2023, Dr. X

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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Woman yearning to welcome love with firm, tight hug that's contagious (8,5) WHOOPING COUGH {W}{HO{O}PING}{CO}{HUG*}

8   Penniless family in street (5) SKINT {S{KIN}T}

9   Unpleasant member beginning to lose in board game (9) CHARMLESS {CH{ARM}{Lose}ESS}

11 Change criminal record (10) CONVERSION {CON}{VERSION}

12 Sunny afternoon in Indian city (4) ?A?A (Addendum - GAYA {GAY}{A} - See comments)

14 Party wanting grants for states (7) NATIONS doNATIONS

16 South American Indian starting to roar, bitten by iguana perhaps (7) GUARANI {GUA{Roar}ANI*}

17 Drunk woman beginning to entice? Told you! (2,5) SO THERE {SOT}{HER}{En...e}

19 Where one might see extremely nimble Yankee in action? (3,4) NEW YORK {Ni..lE}{W{Y}ORK} Semi&lit

21 Leg before wicket at penultimate match (4) GAME {GAM}{w..kEt}

22 Tumult across border with extremely close conflict (10) DIVERGENCE {DI{VERGE}N}{ClosE}

25 Aiming at great night out when husband's away (9) TARGETING {GREAT+NIGhT}*

26 Golf clubs kept by sir on sideboard (5) IRONS [T]

27 College girl stumped by tenet covering extremely gruelling concept in Marxist ideology (5,8) CLASS STRUGGLE {C}{LASS}{ST}{RU{Gr...nG}LE}

DOWN

2   It's worn on the head by one in Tehran perhaps (7) HAIRNET {HA{1}RNET*}

3   Where mountain climbers might be desperate (2,3,5) ON THE ROPES [DD]

4   Popular performers, mostly South American Indians (5) INCAS {IN}{CASt}

5   Good knock by member in county cricket club (9) GLAMORGAN {G}{LAM}{ORGAN}

6   Unit of electrical resistance close to ninety? Good heavens! (2,2) OH MY {OHM}{n...tY}

7   Exotic garden on a Caribbean island (7) GRENADA {GARDEN}*{A}

8   Doing great finally with chess moves showing unusual perception (6,5) SECOND SIGHT {DOING+g..aT+CHESS}*

10 Complaint in the main is about kiss scenes, revolting (11) SEASICKNESS {A+KISS+SCENES}*

13 Urging to recruit RAW perhaps to find one listening secretly (10) EARWIGGING {E{RAW*}{1}GGING}

15 Names category without hesitation (9) SPECIFIES {SPEC{IF}IES}

18 Start to transport processed lumber in open cart (7) TUMBREL {Tr...t}{LUMBER*}

20 Breaking law, goon makes unintentional error (3,4) OWN GOAL*

23 Mendicant brushing aside black moth (5) EGGAR bEGGAR

24 Lay back after drinking close to five pegs (4) TEES {SE{fivE}T<=}

Reference List

Woman = W, Afternoon = A, Party = DO, Yankee = Y, Leg = GAM, Husband = H, College = C, Stumped = ST, Popular = IN, Good = G, About = A, Black = B