Listener Crossword 4297: Solution Notes
Tetris by Aramis
Puzzle explanation
This puzzle marked the 30th anniversary of the computer game Tetris. The perimeter contains SANCHO PANZA, DON QUIXOTE and El Caballero de la Triste Figura, (in the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations), which was a title that Panza bestowed on Quixote. Triste figura is interpreted here as suggesting an anagram of “Tetris”, with figura hinting at the shapes. Highlighting in the grid consisted of the phrase “tilting at windmills”, in a crossed form approximating a windmill’s sails.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Misprint(s) | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | IODOUS | ODIOUS with I moved to the front | |
| NOES | homophone of NOSE | ||
| 2 | WALLA | W + ALL + A | |
| TERSE | PER SE with T for P | ||
| 3 | OSIER | COSIER − C | |
| SUITS | SUI + T + S | ||
| 4 | SCLATE | SC + LATE | |
| RANK | 2 meanings | ||
| 5 | DIOL | LOID < | |
| SIGNAL | GINS * + AL(e) | ||
| 6 | PONE | OPEN * | |
| IN-TRAY | INT + RAY | ||
| 7 | PROSIMIANS | PROS + I’ + MI + ANS | |
| 8 | OUST | OU + ST | |
| INDIGO | IND + I + GO | ||
| 9 | MOLYBDENUM | MOLY + BUM around (D + EN) | |
| 10 | SIGNARY | NARY after SIG | |
| AIM | I in AM | ||
| 11 | TRUTHS | (H + TRUST) * | |
| FLEW | homophone of FLU | ||
| 12 | DJEBEL | D(isplays) J(ack) E(xhibiting) + BEL | |
| IRID | ID after IR | ||
| Shapes | |||
| ro(O)k | SAAR | SA + A + R | |
| sp(I)ce | ZEST | Z + EST | |
| L(I)vely; f(O)r | IRON-PANS | ((O)RPINGTONS with A for GT) * | |
| (L)ove | CHOU | (publi)C HOU(se) | |
| Coa(T)ed; ide(S) | ANODISED | AND around (O + IDES *) | |
| ja(R) | OLLA | O(pening) L(eft) L(eft) A(gain) | |
| vi(O)ls | GUES | GUES(s) | |
| sh(I)ver | GRUE | GRUE(l) | |
| cra(Z)ed | TARE | (c)RATE(s) * | |
| over(S); (S)A | WOORALIS | WALIS around (O + OR) | |
| Di(R)k | EFIK | (KNIFE − N) < | |
| (Z)any; (S)lay | ANALYSTS | (ANTS SLAY) * | |
| (T)Vs; m(I)ssed | TRANNIES | (ARE SENT IN) * − E | |
| (S)illy; pre(T)ence | SCIOLIST | SOLICITS * | |
| d(I)al; sou(L) | CABALLED | BA in CALLED | |
| pa(L) | OPPO | OP + OP < | |
| Outsi(Z)e; (Z)ero | ENORMOUS | (NORM + O) in SUE < | |
| (L)etter | AIDE | IDEA with A moved to the front | |
| pas(T)a; cro(T)ch | INGUINAL | LINGUINA with L moved to the end | |
| (R)ain | MIST | homophone of MISSED | |
| (T)ense; l(I)ving | IMMORTAL | IMMORAL around T | |
| b(O)re | BIND | BIND(i) | |
| (L)eathery | UGLY | U(sin)G L(eather)Y | |
| Tea(R) | RANT | RAN + T(able) | |
| p(O)sture; b(O)lter | STRIDDLE | ST + RIDDLE | |
| Ma(Z)y | WEIR | WRITES * − T − S | |
| (R)id; p(I)n | DETOXIFY | ((YO + TED) around FIX) < | |
| sh(R)ub | HEBE | EPHEBE − EP | |
| (L)oved; (L)ily | JONQUILS | (N + QUAILS − A) after JO | |