Listener Crossword 4110: Solution Notes
Contractions by Hubris
Puzzle explanation
For the 12 special clues, one definition led to the grid entry and the other led to a word that could be seen as a cryptic indication for the entry.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | STRING | STR and ING = STRANDING |
| 5 | OBSESS | OB’S (old boy’s) + ESS |
| 10 | ACE | A + FORCE − FOR |
| 12 | PANOPTIC | PANIC around TOP * |
| 13 | SHAPS | SAPS around H |
| 14 | PLICAE | (SPECIAL − S) * |
| 16 | LISLE | (spira)L IS LE(ft-handed) |
| 17 | ARISH | (p)ARISH |
| 18 | PROFIT | PRO + FIT |
| 20 | INSOLENT | INDOLENT with S for D |
| 22 | PENLIGHT | EN in PLIGHT |
| 28 | FREELY | EEL in FRY |
| 29 | EAGLE | L in EAGE = LINEAGE |
| 32 | APPLE | (ch)AP + PLE(nty) |
| 33 | RAETIA | (AI + TEA + R) < |
| 34 | NISSE | N + IS + SUE − U |
| 35 | STRIPPED | P in STRIPED = PINSTRIPED |
| 36 | TEM | T and EM = TANDEM |
| 37 | TERCEL | (Eas)TER CEL(ebration) |
| 38 | RHESUS | (o)R (Spanis)H (puzzl)E (tree)S (yo)U + S(cale) |
| Down | ||
| 1 | SASHAY | SAY around (SH + A) |
| 2 | REALIA | REGALIA − G |
| 3 | IMPISH | IMP over ISH = IMPOVERISH |
| 4 | GATLING | T in GALING = TING-A-LING |
| 6 | BOLERO | B and OLERO = BANDOLERO |
| 7 | ETCH | STRETCH − STR |
| 8 | SIAM | (hou)S(e ep)I(c in) A (fil)M |
| 9 | SCENT | SC and ENT = SCANDENT |
| 11 | CHARMER | CH + homophone of ARMOUR |
| 15 | IDOL | ID + O + L(over) |
| 19 | INCLOSE | IN CLOSE (“silly” means “close to the batsman” in cricket) |
| 21 | SHOPPER | S and HOPPER = SANDHOPPER |
| 23 | LEAT | LET around A |
| 24 | ILLIPE | ((solubl)E PILL, I(f)) < |
| 25 | VALISE | V and ALISE = VANDALISE |
| 26 | EGESTS | EG + (p)ESTS |
| 27 | BEGEMS | EMS after (B(alconies) + EG) |
| 28 | FIRST | RS (Royal Society) in FIT |
| 30 | MATE | M and ATE = MANDATE |
| 31 | SERR | R in SER = RINSER |