Listener Crossword 4040: Solution Notes
In Shock by Hubris
Puzzle explanation
Corrected letters in clue misprints spelt “The best club in London — Mr Twemlow” from Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend, referring to the House of Commons. Solvers were to highlight the 33 cells showing the current layout of the House, ie, SPEAKER, MACE, LABOUR MPS, and OPPOSITION MPS, two of these words appearing in alternate letters. The title refers to an abbreviation HoC, hidden in “Shock”, although the more usual form is HC.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Misprint | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | Di(T)s | ODES | Hidden |
| 4 | PEAK | Homophone (PIQUE) | |
| 7 | ERASE | ERAS before (tap)E | |
| 11 | (H)ealth | FILTH | First letters |
| 12 | IGNORE | I’ + N(ose) in GORE | |
| 13 | ru(E) | FRISEUR | IS in (FR+ RUE <) |
| 16 | (B)abel | NOISE | I in NOSE |
| 18 | (E)nd | DIE | DIE(sel) |
| 19 | PEARL | Homophone (PURL) | |
| 20 | ELLIPTIC | LIP in (C)ELTIC | |
| 22 | IMBUES | (l)IMB + USE * | |
| 25 | (S)imple | BARMY | BARM + (an)Y |
| 26 | sta(T)e | NORM | Hidden |
| 27 | MACER | (A + CE) in M(ancheste)R | |
| 29 | PIPS | (jumP) + I’ + PS | |
| 31 | (C)one | STOPE | TOP in SE |
| 33 | mea(L) | REPAST | PA in REST |
| 34 | MISSTATE | ESTIMATE *, E becoming S | |
| 38 | d(U)ck | GOOSE | GO + OS + E |
| 41 | (B)e | RAN | Hidden |
| 43 | Tr(I)m | DECOR | DECORATE – ATE |
| 44 | pla(N)t | PARSNIP | PAR + SNIP |
| 45 | PROTYL | (PETROL, E becoming Y) * | |
| 46 | ho(L)e | DRIVE | R in DIVE |
| 47 | f(O)e | ENEMY | EN + EM + (necessar)Y |
| 48 | NETS | NETSUKES – UKES | |
| 49 | SPED | SP(e)ED | |
| Down | |||
| 1 | OFFSPIN | OFF + SPIN | |
| 2 | cha(N)t’s | DIRGE | (helpin)G in DIRE |
| 3 | ELIA | LI(es) in EA | |
| 4 | Ha(D)es | PHELLEM | HELL in MEP < |
| 5 | ELUDE | PRELUDE – PR | |
| 6 | AIRILY | (I FLY – F(ear)) after AIR | |
| 7 | ENNUI | NINE * about U | |
| 8 | L(O)ft | ROOM | (b)ROOM |
| 9 | Bea(N) | ARIOT | HARICOT – (H + C) |
| 10 | EGENCY | (r)EGENCY | |
| 14 | (M)ob | SCRUMPS | SCRUM + MPS – M(ercy) |
| 15 | Retaile(R) | SELLER | LL in SEER |
| 17 | stin(T)s | SKIMPS | SKIPS about M |
| 21 | PAPPOUS | OAP’S PUP * | |
| 23 | MOTILE | MO + TILE | |
| 24 | (W)earing | SAFARI | (A + F) in SARI |
| 28 | He(E)ds | REGARDS | GARDENERS * – EN |
| 30 | STEPPED | PED under STEP | |
| 31 | S(M)ear | SMUDGE | S + MUDGE |
| 32 | STAPLE | STALE about P; we apologise for the erroneous enumeration in the clue | |
| 35 | (L)olly | SUCRE | CURSE * |
| 36 | br(O)ad | TARTY | TART + Y(east) |
| 37 | ENACT | Hidden | |
| 39 | STIVE | ST IVE(s) | |
| 40 | DOOM | MOOD < | |
| 42 | (W)ire | SNIP | PINS < |