Listener Crossword 4181: Solution Notes
Sinecure by Franc
Puzzle explanation
The completed grid contains A PIECE OF CAKE. The discarded letters make BATTENBERG. The whole grid is shaded to resemble a piece of Battenberg cake, with the orientation determined by the hidden YELLOW and PINK.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | COBRA | CO + BRA |
| 5 | TEREBRA | BERET < + RA; ref. Joseph Farington |
| 10 | APIECE | PIE in ACE |
| 11 | TETRA | TREAT * |
| 12 | DINT | D + INT |
| 13 | CANT | 2 meanings |
| 15 | SPILIKIN | (I PIN SILK) * |
| 16 | EXPOSÉS | EXPO + (u)S(h)E(r)S |
| 18 | DEALER | 2 meanings |
| 20 | ECLOSE | E + CLOSE |
| 22 | CLIENT | LIEN in CT |
| 24 | STEALE | TEAL in SE |
| 28 | ROMANIC | OMANI in RC |
| 30 | ABUTMENT | TUBA < + MEN + T |
| 33 | YELL | 2 meanings |
| 34 | UNIT | UNI + T(rent) |
| 35 | ASCUS | DAMASCUS − DAM |
| 36 | ERRANT | RANTER with ER moved to the front |
| 37 | SHEARER | HEAR in SER; ref. Alan Shearer |
| 38 | PARKY | PAR + KY |
| Down | ||
| 1 | BADGED | BAD + GED |
| 2 | PINT | PINTADO − ADO; or PINTAIL − AIL |
| 3 | RETOOLED | LOOT < in REED |
| 4 | ACTS | A(nglican) C(hurch) T(o) S(upplication) |
| 5 | TEMPE | TEMPEH − H |
| 6 | REFLECT | REF + (e)LECT |
| 7 | BRAKE | B + RAKESHAME − SHAME |
| 8 | RAKIA | RAKI + A |
| 9 | AVENGE | VEN in AGE |
| 11 | POISE | POI + SE |
| 14 | AXEL | AXE + L(entils) |
| 17 | PLEASURE | LEAS in PURE (noun) |
| 19 | ENAMOUR | MANE < + OUR |
| 21 | SLIP | PILS < |
| 22 | CHAGAS | CHAS around AG |
| 23 | TREWS | T(u)R(n)E(r) W(a)S |
| 25 | SCATTY | CAT in STY |
| 26 | OBEAH | OBE + AH |
| 27 | PURSE | S in PURE |
| 29 | ONCER | (c)ONCER(t) |
| 31 | TARE | TEAR * |
| 32 | GNAR | RANG < (“gnar” was mistakenly defined as a noun rather than a verb) |