Listener Crossword 4318: Solution Notes
Wordplay by Schadenfreude
Puzzle explanation
Letters omitted by wordplay were in unchecked cells, allowing at least two possible answers. The correct letter choices gave ALTERNATIVES, which can be read as “alter natives”; 36ac was thus altered to NATIONS, a definition for the wordplay-only answers, creating STERNS, which as a verb can mean “rows backward”.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer [omitted letter] | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | LAMEDH | LAME + DH |
| 6 | ANATT[A], ANATT[O] | TAN < after A + T |
| 11 | [L]IBERIA, [S]IBERIA | IBERIA |
| 13 | TANGIBLE | (I’ + B) in TANGLE |
| 14 | METAL | MET + LA < |
| 15 | AREOL[A], AREOL[E] | ARE + O’ + L |
| 16 | WEANERS | WERE* around (A + N) + S |
| 18 | CHA[D], CHA[R] | C + HA |
| 19 | [N]EST, [R]EST, [V]EST | E’S + T |
| 21 | HOEDOWN | HO + E + DOWN |
| 23 | SINUATE | SITUATE with IN for IT |
| 25 | ALM[A], ALM[E] | AM around L |
| 27 | [H]ERN, [P]ERN, [T]ERN | RE < + N |
| 29 | MAINTOP | M + (TRAIN − R)* + OP |
| 31 | COGNAC | CAN < after COG |
| 33 | BENN[E], BENN[I] | BEN + ’N’ |
| 35 | SRI LANKA | (SR + LANK + A) around I |
| 36 | NATIVES | (I + V) in NATES |
| 37 | BRAI[S]E, BRAI[Z]E | A in BRIE |
| 38 | SNEAPS | SS around NEAP |
| Down | ||
| 1 | HAMLET | HAM + LET |
| 2 | DI[K]A, DI[T]A | (AI + D) < |
| 3 | ERITREA | (IT + RE + A) after ER |
| 4 | MÊLÉE | LEE after ME |
| 5 | LILIAN | NAIL < around LI |
| 7 | TOILWORN | OR in (TOIL + W + N) |
| 8 | TOGO | TO + GO |
| 9 | APNEA | AP + NEA(t) |
| 10 | ATTACH | ATTACHÉ − E |
| 12 | WARHOL | WAR + HO + L |
| 17 | NONPOLAR | (PR ON LOAN)* |
| 20 | STRAKE | ST + RAKE |
| 22 | EMANATE | E + MANDATE − D |
| 23 | ENCASE | EN + CASE |
| 24 | STERES | S + SECRET < − C |
| 26 | AMBANS | A + MAN’S around B |
| 28 | ENNUI | U in (t)ENNI(s) |
| 30 | INDIA | IN + AID < |
| 32 | GA[E]A, GA[I]A | AG < + AU − U |
| 34 | E[U]AN, E[V]AN, E[W]AN | EA + N |