Daily hard — 2026-09-17

Across

1. 2. What you might pull in an emergency to leave a plane quickly (11)
2. 5. A formal proposal or suggestion, often in reasoning. (11)
3. 10. Manhattan-born organization providing advocacy and social services to older LGBTQ adults since 1978 (4)
4. 12. People from a city in Turkey's central region. (8)
5. 13. Country music singer famous for hits like The Gambler, born in 1938. (6)
6. 16. Site of a significant 1864 Civil War battle at Franklin (9)
7. 17. English singer and drummer born in 1951 who achieved success with Genesis (7)
8. 18. American 24-hour cable news network founded by Ted Turner in 1980 (3)
9. 21. Oil producer sanctioned by the US in 2020. (6)
10. 22. Popular flower often given on special occasions. (5)
11. 23. Vintage term for the fabric used in making trousers and overalls. (8)
12. 24. Historic Somerville apartment building on the national register, sharing its name with a Florida city. (7)
13. 25. Historic Brockton apartment building on the national register named for a scenic drive. (7)

Down

1. 1. A term used in literature to describe a quest without value, often in fables. (11)
2. 3. Textbooks used in classrooms (11)
3. 4. Hit song famously covered by the likes of The Beatles (10)
4. 6. Term for those in their youth, often energetic and lively. (10)
5. 7. Loss of a friendship, especially online (10)
6. 8. Adverb often used in the context of failed attempts or poor performances (12)
7. 9. These compounds play a role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. (7)
8. 11. Preferred method for signing important documents. (10)
9. 14. English musician born in 1951 who was the frontman for the rock band The Police (5)
10. 15. Exciting and intense, often used in informal contexts. (7)
11. 17. Windsor County Democrat elected Vermont Senate Majority Leader in 2021. (8)
12. 19. Daniel's surname in the 'Bill' series on TV. (6)
13. 20. Tool used to smooth or shape wood surfaces (6)