Listener Crossword 4657: Solution Notes
Dos by Awinger
Puzzle explanation
The letters omitted by wordplay in clues spelt out PARTIES and ELECTION in the grid. Four party designations (GREENS, LABOUR, LIB DEM, TORIES) were then swapped with each other. Voting was represented by entering X in the empty cell of 38ac/32dn. The puzzle’s title is a synonym of (a different meaning of) “parties”. It was published in the week of local government elections in the UK, which were originally scheduled for May 2020 but had been delayed for a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer (unclued letter) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | TRIGAMY | TRIG + AMY |
| 6 | TESTES | (SET + SET) < |
| 11 | HERE | HER + (n)E(w) |
| 13 | TIRO | T(rain) I(n) R(io) O(ffice) |
| 14 | ROOST | ROT around OS |
| 15 | EVEN ON | (el)EVEN-ON(e) |
| 16 | VRILS | VEILS with R(adium) for E |
| 18 | E(P)IC | CIE < |
| 19 | N(A)EVE | EVEN < |
| 20 | INERT | IN + ER + T |
| 21 | CAEN | CAEN around TEN * = CANTEEN |
| 23 | BEE(R) | BEE |
| 24 | CARS | SCRA(p) * |
| 27 | GUSL(I) | (playin)G US L(ullabies) |
| 28 | MULGA | GLUM < + A |
| 34 | (S)ARI | (h)ARI(m) |
| 35 | OTIC | (neur)OTIC |
| 36 | IN SE | (t)INSE(l) |
| 37 | COM(E)S | SMOC(k) < |
| 38 | TEAS | homophone of TEASE |
| 41 | ANI(L) | ANIMAL − MAL |
| 43 | ELUD(E) | DUEL * |
| 44 | A(C)ORNS | SONAR * |
| 45 | NANAS | ANA in N,S |
| 46 | AL(T)O | LO after A |
| 47 | G(I)ST | ANGST − AN |
| 48 | G(O)SPEL | (Re)G’S PE L(esson) |
| 49 | BANYA(N)S | (SAY + NAB) < |
| Down | ||
| 1 | THEMING | THE + MING |
| 2 | IRELESS | RELIES with I moved up + (account)S |
| 3 | GENERAL(E) | GEL around (N(ero) + ERA) |
| 4 | ATO(P) | (c)A(u)T(i)O(n) |
| 5 | MINICAB(S) | I’M < + CABIN * |
| 6 | TORI | TIRO * |
| 7 | ERINNA | (offic)ER IN NA(vy) |
| 8 | SOL(A) | SO + L(oved) |
| 9 | TO SEEK | (pho)TOS + EEK |
| 10 | STEE(R)S | S + TEES |
| 12 | EVEN(T)UATED | E + ADVENTURE * − R |
| 17 | OVERGR(E)ENS | (O + N + S) around VERGE around R |
| 22 | ARDAS | (SAD + R) < after A |
| 25 | SERENA(T)A | R in SEEN + A + A |
| 26 | OURO(L)OGY | (YOUR GOO) * |
| 29 | LEMUR(I)A | LE MUR + A |
| 30 | ASSISTS | SIST in (AS + S) |
| 31 | VOTING | TIN in VLOG − L |
| 32 | MIENS | AMIENS − A |
| 33 | MISUSE | MISE around (U + S(uffrage)) |
| 39 | ALAP | AP around LA |
| 40 | UDAL | (LAIRD PUT) * − TRIP * |
| 42 | I(C)ON | I + ON |