Out to Work by Charybdis

Puzzle explanation

Cells containing clashes and their reflections in a vertical axis formed a stick figure. Sums of the clashing letters spelt “jumping Jack”. Extra letters from across clues spelt “open the box”, so the Jack (in-the-box) “jumped” out, leaving empty cells. Letters from down clues spelt “master of none”, suggesting a Jack-of-all-trades. Four trades omitting “jack”, and “spring-heeled”, were to be highlighted.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra letter Answer Explanation
Across
2   TARP PRAT <
6 m(o)b SLUMBER RULES * about MB
13   ALL ALLY − Y
14 Cha(p) TEARFUL TEA + FLU * about R
15   STEED ’S + TEED
16 Woo(e)d APPLE PP in ALE
17   RECALLS EARL * about C + L(ays) + S
18 do(n)e KITTEN KIT [effects] + TEN
19   AILSA AILS + A
22   HARN HA(d) + RN
23   QUARRY 3 meanings [came²]
25   TIER 2 meanings
27 me(t) URSUS R(esponsibility) in US + US
28   WOE W + OE
29 (H)old PEASE PLEASE − L
31   ABAC ABAC(k)
33 l(e)ads GUSLES GUS + LES
34   PLUG L in PUG
36   PAINT PINT about A
39   PALMAS MA in SLAP <
41   PLUMBER PLUM + BE + R(ace)
43 (B)one ILEAL I + LEAL
44   NIECE NICE about E [ecstasy]
45 uni(o)n’s SPIRING UNINSPIRING − UNIN
46   NUN (re)NUN(ciation)
47 ne(x)t SHEELED SHED about EEL
48   ARDS D in ARS
Down
1   BASRA ARABS *
3   ALEC ALE + C
4   RHEAS SHARE *
5 (m)oralist TAILORS ORALIST *
6 s(a)y SCALLYWAG CALL in SY + WAG
7 (S)end LAPSE L + APSE
8 (t)ending MALICE MALIC + (parasit)E
9 Kin(e) BRETHREN (som)BRE THREN(ody)
10 (r)aids EFIT E + FIT
11   RUDERY (p)RUDERY
12   BLENNIES BENNIES [amphetamine pills] about L
20   LAUD LA + U + D
21 ori(o)le LIEGELORD (GOLDEN ORIOLE − NO) *
23 i(f) QUIPPISH Q + I in UPPISH
24   QUAGMIRE QUIRE about (AG + M)
26   MALI 2 meanings
29 ra(n)t PUPUNHA PUP + UNHA(ppy)
30 B(o)ars CLASPS P(laced) in CLASS
32 li(n)e BAILIE BA + I’ + LIE
35 d(e)ad APAGE PA in AGE
37   AMISS AMI’S + S(ister)
38   TREND T’ + REND. The Heathcliff reference for T’ = “to” was erroneous, as it’s obsolete rather than Northern.
40   LOTH (c)LOTH
42   BEND BEN [tree] + D(ecreases)
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