Listener Crossword 4486: Solution Notes
In Self-defence? by Lavatch
Puzzle explanation
Every clue had the second letter amended, the corrections spelling out “the right of ... people to ... bear arms shall not be infringed”, from the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. Similarly, all grid entries with the second letter unchecked had those letters amended, to spell out “second amendment”, with the replaced letters forming “stick to one’s guns”.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Misprint | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | S(T)art | ENTERS | (r)ENTERS |
| 5 | S(H)illing | PULLETS | (S + TE(n) + L + L + UP) < |
| 10 | D(E)mon | AFREET | R(unyon) in (A + FEET) |
| 12 | A(R)ts | STARLET | ARTS * + LET |
| 13 | B(I)rd | RESECT | REE around S(un) + C(olumnis)T |
| 15 | (G)ent | ERNIE | I in ERNE |
| 16 | T(H)ug | BRUTER | BRUTE + (carrie)R |
| 17 | (T)iddler | SMITER | MITE in S(ilve)R |
| 18 | C(O)y | ECOLOGY | (COY + LEGO) * |
| 20 | (F)unction | AGONISES | A + SIN < in GOES |
| 24 | (P)enal | STIR | T in SIR |
| 26 | G(E)tting | AKIN | (t)AKIN(g) or (m)AKIN(g) |
| 28 | F(O)rmed | TILLERED | TILLED around RE |
| 29 | S(P)ain | ESQUIRE | E + S + QUIRE |
| 30 | (L)ob | ISLING | I + SLING |
| 33 | L(E)ads | SAURON | (A(lmost) U(nbelievable) R(ecitals)) in NOS < |
| 36 | S(T)unted | MA FOI | MAFI(a) around O |
| 38 | C(O)ver | ENCASE | C in (E + SANE) < |
| 39 | A(B)used | OORIALS | (A LORIS) * around O |
| 40 | S(E)t | ISLAND | LAND after I’S |
| 41 | S(A)int | SKELLIE | S + KELL + IE |
| 42 | F(R)aming | SNELLS | NELL in SS |
| Down | |||
| 1 | P(A)rts | EAVES | (l)EAVES |
| 2 | G(R)oss | TRON | (s)TRON(g) |
| 3 | (M)ug | EEJIT | (JE in TIE) < |
| 4 | E(S)ter’s | STEARIN | SIN around TEAR |
| 5 | (S)ay | PSST | P(eddler)S + ST |
| 6 | T(H)e | LACROSSE | LA + SCORES * |
| 7 | W(A)shing | ELUTOR | (TO RULE) * |
| 8 | P(L)ayed | TENE | TEN + E |
| 9 | O(L)d | STORYING | (O + RY) in STING |
| 11 | A(N)no | FERMATE | A in (F(lorenc)E + R + M + TE) |
| 14 | P(O)tty | TULWAR | ULTRA * around W |
| 18 | (T)art | ESILE | (ELSE around I) < |
| 19 | (B)oss | ASBESTOS | (A BOSS SET) * |
| 21 | S(E)wer | ORDURE | (b)ORDURE |
| 22 | O(I)l | NOTIONAL | (OIL + TAN) * after ON < |
| 23 | O(N) | MIDNOON | ON < in MID-ON |
| 25 | (F)ighter | GLIOSIS | GI’S around SOIL < |
| 27 | O(R)der | SQUARE | QU in SARE(e) |
| 31 | D(I)sh | LADLE | LAD + L(andgrav)E |
| 32 | S(N)eers | GIRDS | GID’S around R |
| 34 | (G)ood | ATOK | A + TOG − G + K |
| 35 | P(E)ace | EASE | (s)EA SE(rpent) |
| 37 | (D)onkey’s | FOAL | FAL around O |