Listener Crossword 4230: Solution Notes
Elm by Quinapalus
Puzzle explanation
Grid B answers formed a 5×5 grid. Corrections and skipped letters from Grid A spelt out “cut along grid lines by skipped letters” and “Pythagorean triple”. Grid A is cut at the positions of skipped letters and the three pieces are assembled with Grid B to make the final 13×13 grid. The dissection illustrates that 5, 12 and 13 form a Pythagorean triple, ie, 52 + 122 = 132. The title comprises the 5th, 12th and 13th letters of the alphabet.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Misprint | Answer [skipped] | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Grid A | ||
| (C)ooked | À LA | ALA |
| a(U)to’s | BHP | HP after B |
| PAT[T]É | PÂTÉ | |
| ENGR[A]CE | (C GREEN) *; ref. BBC Radio 4 announcer Charlotte Green | |
| hea(L)ing | CAUDLE | CLAUDE * |
| b(O)lls | COR | 2 meanings |
| E[N]TIRE | TIREE with E moved | |
| lo(G)s | COSECH | C(aff) + CHOSE * |
| DO[G]-ENDS | SODDEN * | |
| ENTE[R]ER | (ori)ENTEER(ing) | |
| REDU[I]T | (INTRUDER − R − IN) * | |
| si(D)e | EDGE | HEDGE with dropped aitch |
| ESTE[L]LA | SET * + E-LA | |
| men(I)al | ETA | ATE < |
| RUI[N]S | I in RUS | |
| COHER[E]R | C/O + HERR | |
| (S)how | EXPO | EX + PO |
| (B)itten | FOOLED | FLED around OO |
| P[Y]RITI[S]E | R(ock) in PIT + IE | |
| Par(K)y | GLOW PLUG | (LOW + P) in GLUG |
| h(I)ps | JACQUE | JACQUE(s) |
| (P)ails | KITS | 2 meanings |
| gras(P) | LATCH ON TO | LATCH + O + NOT * |
| EL[E]A | ALE < | |
| (D)iddy | LEAST | TALES * |
| (L)ine | NIELLI | (v)ILLEIN(age) < |
| MAPP[E]RS | (P(orn) R(eceived)) in SPAM * | |
| LO[T]A | (c)LOA(k) | |
| SA[T]INS | SAINS | |
| (E)ats | OCA | O’ + C + A |
| LEI[R]S | LEI + S | |
| (S)ignifies | OLIGO- | LIG in (O + O) |
| (P)oetic | POURSUIT | SPIRITUOUS * − IS * |
| pon(Y) | PUNTEE | PUNT + EE |
| RATE [T]ARTS | TEAR in RATS | |
| TIT[H]ED | TITE + D | |
| NOSE[A]N | NOSE + N | |
| (G)o | REAST | (rubbe)R + EAST |
| Méd(O)c | RED | 2 meanings |
| Ma(R)ine | SEA | ’S + AE < |
| (E)lement | STANNATE | ANN in STATE |
| A[N]AT[A]SE | A + A(bou)T S(ky)E | |
| LOCUST [T]REE | (TO CLUE RESIN − IN) * | |
| (R)asping | STRIDOR | (IS TORRID − I) * |
| r(I)g | SUBFUSC | SUB- + F + U + SC; ref. Michael Foot, former editor of ISIS magazine |
| (P)air | UNTEAM | UN + MEAT * |
| non-(L)ocal | XENO- | (ONE + X) < |
| Main(E) | YENTAS | (N + YEAST) * |
| Grid B Across | ||
| SAE | SAGE − G | |
| ONS | 2 meanings | |
| NATES | NAT + E(arth’s) S(hadow) | |
| IZARD | WIZARD − W | |
| CHEST | (a)CHES T(hrob) | |
| Grid B Down | ||
| TONIC | (Godo)T ON IC(e) | |
| INA | IN + A | |
| AVERS | WAVERS − W | |
| EMS | HEMS − H | |
| TAE | 2 meanings (see etymology of “tae kwon do”) | |