Listener Crossword 4063: Solution Notes
Resident by Hotspur
Puzzle explanation
The correct letters in clues spelt out “Located on the farther side / Where trains with other trains collide”, a clue to Transnistria (anagram of trains + trains). Moldova & Ukraine (the neighbours of Transnistria) appeared in symmetric diagonals, and were to be highlighted. The title is an anagram of Dniester, the river from which Transnistria derives its name. The unused letters in clashes spelt out OVER THE RIVER.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Correction | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | too(L)s | AWLS | (b)AWLS |
| 4 | (O)f | RHOMBOIDAL | (HOMALOID + (hy)BR(id)) * |
| 12 | (C)ad | OIK | Alternate letters |
| 14 | ch(A)p | TAMANU | MAN in TAU |
| 15 | Ma(T)e | MARROWSKY | MARROW + SKY; example of spoonerism |
| 16 | N(E)cks | PETS | T(endon) in PES |
| 17 | no(D) | AGREE | GREE after A(rmy) |
| 18 | fo(O)t | TERTIA | TRET < + T’ + A |
| 19 | (N)ext | ANNEX | Hidden |
| 20 | (T)ax | ATRIP | AIRSTRIP – IRS |
| 22 | (H)aunts | DEIGNS | GI < in DENS |
| 25 | fo(E) | ANTI | ANTIC – C |
| 28 | (F)ake | ECHT | (Albr)ECHT [Dürer] |
| 30 | f(A)st | LENTI | LENT + I |
| 31 | (R)un | NO-ONE | NOONER – R |
| 32 | s(T)ay | SIST | IS in ST |
| 33 | (H)ot | LATH | LAT + H |
| 34 | Irvin(E)’s | RESETS | STEERS *; “fence” = handle stolen goods, Irvine in Ayrshire |
| 35 | Numbe(R) | SIZED | SIZE (6 in dice) + D |
| 36 | (S)lips | ICIER | EPICIER – (k)EP(i); French words, hence “his” |
| 41 | no(I)ses | ESSOIN | NOISES * |
| 44 | Da(D)a | ERNST | N in (bold)ER ST(yles) |
| 45 | d(E)ad | KEAS | E in KAS |
| 47 | (W)ard | AVERROIST | ROIS in AVERT |
| 48 | s(H)oes | UNBOOT | BO in (UN + OT) |
| 49 | mal(E) | HER | R after HE; “her indoors” = wife |
| 50 | pie(R) | ASSONANTAL | AS + SON + ANTA + L |
| 51 | B(E)ss | ESDA | BETHESDA – BETH (Elizabeth) |
| Down | |||
| 1 | s(T)ones | ALMANDINES | (ALMA + DINES) about N; “hoofer” = dancer |
| 2 | pa(R)t | LIVRAISON | VR (film) in LIAISON |
| 3 | f(A)re | SKRAN | KR in SAN |
| 5 | b(I)nd | HOWLET | W in HOLE + T; “strix” is Latin for owl, see striges |
| 6 | Un(N)est | OUST | JOUST – J |
| 7 | ches(S) | MAKEBATES | BEAK * in MATES; reference checkmate |
| 8 | (W)et | OAST | First letters |
| 9 | d(I)sh | DAE | (sun)DAE |
| 10 | nea(T) | ANTLIATE | TAIL < in NEAT * |
| 11 | (H)ophead | LUSH | (f)LUSH |
| 12 | M(O)rals | TAGS | Hidden reversed |
| 13 | (T)art | HOER | HOOKER – OK |
| 14 | (H)ill | TYRANTS | ANTS after TYR |
| 16 | P(E)ter | PITIERS | IT in PIERS; reference old form of Peter |
| 21 | spu(R)ge | POINSETTIA | (IT + SAPONITE) * |
| 23 | no(T) | GUNLESS | UNLESS after (fi)G(ht) |
| 24 | (R)ent | UNSHRIVEN | HUNS * + RIVEN |
| 26 | qu(A)ds | INTERNEES | INTER + homophone (KNEES) |
| 27 | pa(I)ns | MOLIMENS | MOL + IS about MEN |
| 29 | (N)eck | CATBOAT | (BOA after (A + T)) in CT |
| 34 | Ma(S)s | SCORIA | (AI + ROCKS – K) < |
| 37 | S(C)ray | TERN | Homophone (TURN) |
| 38 | well-(O)iled | EVOHE | EVE about OH (my) |
| 39 | Ta(L)i | OSSA | FOSSA – F |
| 40 | (L)ilts | SKUA | U in SKA |
| 42 | t(I)me | SOON | SOLON – L |
| 43 | Sno(D) | NEAT | A(concagua) in NET |
| 46 | S(E)aman’s | ABS | Two definitions (muscles) |