Listener Crossword 4339: Solution Notes
Mixed Doubles by Shackleton
Puzzle explanation
The initially-filled grid is shown here.
The last letters of across clues spelt “fully extend each block N,S,E,W”, which separated the grid into four quadrants. The first letters of down clues gave “the animals went in two by two”. Drawing circles through ELEPHANT and KANGAROO in the NE and SW quadrants, and lines through ANT/WASP/BEE (NW) and BEHE/MOTH (SE) formed large letters for a 2×2 crossword with ZO at 1ac and 1dn, and OX at 2dn and 3ac. Definitions for these were the extra words (ZO = hybrid/cross, OX = steer/buffalo) in the clues that gave the symbols for the corresponding entry numbers in the new grid.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra word | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ERECT | E + homophone of WRECKED | |
| ESKAR | S in RAKE < | ||
| 0 | HYE | H + YE | |
| HIN | BEHIND − (B(ought) E(veryone) D(rinks)) | ||
| 1 | hybrid | TONELESS | (E + LESSON) * |
| cross | MONEYMEN | MEN around (ONE + Y + M) | |
| 1 | PARTAN | (s)PARTAN | |
| CUMMER | CUER around MM | ||
| 1 | CORCASS | (C + SS) around ORCA | |
| POMFRET | FRET after MOP < | ||
| 2 | CYAN | Y(acht) in CAN | |
| PLAN | (AP < around L) + N | ||
| 2 | ’TWAS | TWA + S | |
| APED | PED after A’ | ||
| 2 | APOLLO | A + POLL + O | |
| BEEGAH | (A(nd) H(ealthy)) after (BEE + G) | ||
| 2 | FOETAL | (F(i)L(l) A(r)T (d)E(c)O) * | |
| CREOLE | C + E in ROLE | ||
| 3 | AMNIA | ((Angli)A IN MA(il)) < | |
| LENIS | LENS around I | ||
| 3 | MEDIAE | (EA + IDEM) < | |
| CANDOR | COR around AND | ||
| 3 | AUMBRY | AU + (MY around BR) | |
| CARBON | (R + BO) in CAN | ||
| 4 | EIDOGRAPH | H after (PAR + GO + DIE) < | |
| BABIRUSSA | ((BIS around RU) after BA’) + SA | ||
| 4 | BEASTIE | BEE around ASTI | |
| ESTATED | E + STATE + D | ||
| 5 | TREND | T’ + RED around N | |
| SILER | ((obscu)RE LIS(tener)) < | ||
| 6 | BREEDS | ’RE in BEDS | |
| DIAPER | REPAID < | ||
| 6 | steer | THREE-DECK | (THE CREEK + D(ec)) * |
| Buffalo | TWOSOME | T + WOESOME − E | |
| 6 | SEEMLIER | (MIRE EELS) * | |
| SASHAYED | (HEADS SAY) * | ||
| 7 | ALPHA | LA < + HP < + A | |
| EPHOD | EPH + OD | ||
| 7 | EPOS | POSE with last letter moved to the front | |
| NAAM | A(dopted) in NAM | ||
| 8 | RENGA | ENG in AR < | |
| GABLE | 2 meanings | ||
| 10 | SHAHDOM | HAS * + H(er) + DOM | |
| APPOINT | OINT after APP | ||
| 11 | SOAK | (OK + AS) * | |
| PHOH | PHO(tos) + H | ||
| 12 | ADMIRER | MARRIED * | |
| HAS-BEEN | BASH * + E’EN |