Cryptic crossword No 3,850

Special Instructions: Features a few familiar foreign words

Across

A Polynesia island you in Italy treasure without end (6)
Fainting over snow drifting in end of spring (8)
Establish European National law (5)
Appallingly too lax and left small amphibians (8)
Amber is inside or out (8)
Judge in Tesla possibly first to arrive late to collect you we're told (8)
Holiday you say -I don't believe it! (3,4)
Insert cannula to relieve temperature for cold and cover to keep warm (8)
Irrationally hateful when bar starts to offer beer in cans (6)
Brilliant purchase in audio. I'm off! (7)
Former Syrian leader mostly lied about getting attacked (8)
What matador might shout we hear to get milk added to coffee? (2,4)
Advise initially of taxes introduced fraudulently in city (6)
An Israeli possibly announced goodbye? (5)

Down

Hard to be excluded from refuge for shelter (6)
Indian car manufacturer's announcement of departure on the radio (4)
Name lough in Irish city (6)
Hi Roy it's us unexpectedly with corrupted file showing old biographical TV show (4,2,4,4)
Scientist first to geosurvey mountain (6)
Clue to posh way to find bargains? (4,6)
Goodbye from spies with love (4)
I doubt judge and I developed in country in Africa (8)
State first to open new area expelling English and it's goodbye to Japanese (8)
Who for instance cooks beheaded ducks? (6)
If he renewed USA bombing in Germany it's goodbye (3,11)
German sports car rental agreement is liable initially for detailed accounting (5,5)

Pentman has made 2 changes since publishing this crossword.

Pentman has provided annotated solutions for this crossword.

8 comments

Podger

17 hr ago

Thanks, Pentman, for another nice Friday puzzle. Some funky words among the solutions. Jotted down 18a, 22a, 6d, 20d and 23d as favourite clues. Homophone at 21a is a bit dodgy to my ear - but I've just done a dodgy one of my own so all's fair in love and war:). Wasn't sure that 14d quite succeeds: don't think you can call it &lit; and if "clue to get posh" is the clue, "bargains" then doesn't work as the definition. Or am I being dim (it happens a lot)? ἔρρωσο!

4 replies

Last reply 13 hr agoView thread

Sisyphus

15 hr ago

Thanks Pentman for another solid puzzle- hope it’s not your swan song! Enjoyed the theme and picked out 10a, 18a, 22a, 1d, 2d, 6d and 14d as my favourite clues. I was ok with 21a- heard it being sung after a few in the Tavern in the Town! In 22a I’d prefer the ‘when’ to be ‘as’ in its link word role. And in 4d I’m not convinced the solution fits the def without a ‘counter’?

2 replies

Last reply 13 hr agoView thread

Cryptic crossword No 3,850

Fri 28 Aug 2026, set byPentman