Listener Crossword 4139: Solution Notes
An Unsettled Spell by Nutmeg
Puzzle explanation
The letters transferred between clues and grid entries spelt “It Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places — Milne”, a comment by Winnie-the-Pooh about his spelling. Clue answers and grid entries included some other thematically related words.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Modified word | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | wa(I)ver | CHEERIO | CHEER + IO |
| 5 | T-rifling | WAMPEE | WEE around (A + MP) |
| 10 | (W)in | WAHABI | WI around AHAB |
| 12 | p(O)re | PARISON | PARIS + ON |
| 13 | Ro(B)ot | BEGINNING | BEING around (G + INN) |
| 14 | B-eat | NO GO | NO + GO |
| 15 | (L)over | ATILT | A + L in TIT |
| 16 | Rob-E | KANGA | KANGAROO − ROO |
| 17 | cur-S-e | HOOD | HOOD(oo) |
| 18 | A-gent | FEY | FED with Y for D |
| 19 | Er(N) | HUMOGEN | HUM + IMOGEN − I’M |
| 21 | (D)one | SWORD | (D + ROWS) < |
| 23 | T-his | RABBI | (ABBOT − OT) in RI |
| 25 | Was(H) | HELD OUT | HUT around (EL + DO) |
| 29 | h(E)aving | REBEC | REBE(l) + C |
| 30 | L-earner | HADAL | L after (HAD + A) |
| 32 | cod-E | BAR | 2 meanings (ref. barcode) |
| 34 | (T)issue | PIGLET | LET after GIP < |
| 35 | pret(T)sel | RESPELT | PRETSEL * (a deliberate misspelling) |
| 36 | cut(E) | ROBES | (st)ROBES |
| 37 | hea(R)t | ARDENT | ANT around (RD + E) |
| 38 | toyshop(S) | HONEYPOTS | TOYSHOP * around NE(w) |
| 39 | G-it’s | SILLY | CHILLY with S (spades) for CH (clubs, hearts) |
| 40 | m(E) | OLEUMS | LOUSE * around M |
| 41 | T-angle | ENMESH | (ME + SH) after EN |
| 42 | res(I)t | LIGNITE | ((a)G(e)N(t) + IT) in LIE |
| Down | |||
| 1 | (N)ever | CLEANSER | (LEANS + E(ver)) in CR |
| 2 | hi-T | HIGH-HAT | 2 meanings |
| 3 | H-armed | ENTOMB | MOB * after ENT |
| 4 | statu(E)s | RANKED | RANK + ED |
| 5 | WINNIE-THE-POOH | ||
| 6 | W-hat | MANGOLD | MANGO + L(i)D |
| 7 | sho(R)t | TRIGGER | 2 meanings (ref Roy Rogers’ horse) |
| 8 | sc-O-ut | ESPY | E-SPY (ie electronic) |
| 9 | N-ape | E-BOAT | ET around BOA |
| 11 | G-race | BIAS | SA(h)IB < |
| 12 | Chum-P-s | GEESE | GENOESE − NO |
| 20 | f(L)at | OIL BEETLE | OIL + BEETLE |
| 22 | p(A)lace | PULL ABOUT | (L + LABOU(r)) in PUT |
| 24 | C-over | TOSHY | TOY around (S + H) |
| 26 | Wild(E) | DAIRYMEN | MAIDEN * around RY |
| 27 | S-tart | TEETHE | ETH in TEE |
| 28 | Hu(M)e | UMBRAGE | U + EMBARG(o) * |
| 29 | a-I-d | RAMET | (f)RAME T(hat) |
| 31 | f-L-eet | ADEN | A + DEN |
| 33 | are-N-as | ENDS | 2 meanings |
| 34 | S-E-al’s | PLUG | GULP < |