Listener Crossword 4357: Solution Notes
Aft by Nutmeg
Puzzle explanation
The letters in clashes produced definitions of “pip” (seed, star, spleen, bleep, blackball) to represent The Five Orange Pips from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Coloured items from other titles in the collection were Copper Beeches, Red-headed League, Blue Carbuncle and Speckled Band. Philip at 12ac was entered as The Man with the Twisted Lip. The puzzle’s title refers to “the game’s afoot”, a favourite Holmesian remark.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | HOB | HOB(os) |
| 4 | WAGENBOOM | (WAGE + BOOM) around N |
| 11 | OPAL | (LAP + O) < |
| 12 | PHILIP | (I + LP) < around HIP |
| 13 | LIND | 2 meanings; ref. Jenny Lind |
| 15 | BEECHES | ECHE in BES(t) |
| 16 | ASTRAL | L after ASTRA(y) |
| 18 | EIGHT | homophone of AIT/EYOT |
| 19 | OSSI | (g)OSSI(p) |
| 21 | OVERWEEN | O + (WE NEVER) * |
| 23 | ENVY | ENVOY − O |
| 24 | SNED | SEND with the central letters reversed |
| 26 | LEAGUE | (AU around G) in LEE |
| 28 | CLAN | ((pe)NAL C(olony)) < |
| 29 | NGANA | (NAG in AN) < |
| 30 | BLEEDERS | DE in REBELS * |
| 33 | OTOLITH | (TOOL HIT) * |
| 34 | DEUS | D + SUE < |
| 35 | ICE MEN | CEMEN(t) after I |
| 36 | FARO | F(e)AR + O |
| 37 | CARBUNCLE | CARB + UNCLEAR − (A + R) |
| 38 | BLACKEN | (LACKEY − Y) in B(righto)N |
| Down | ||
| 2 | OPINIONED | PINION in OED |
| 3 | BAND | AN in BED − (nurs)E |
| 5 | ARBITRAL | BRA < + TRIAL with I moved up |
| 6 | GREY OWL | YE < in GROWL |
| 7 | ÉPÉE | PE < + (n)E(v)E(r) |
| 8 | BIHARI | BI + HARIM − M |
| 9 | OPERON | ER after OP + ON |
| 10 | MISLAY | M(arket) + ISLAY |
| 14 | SEETHED | SEED around THE |
| 20 | STANCHEL | (HAS CELT) * around N |
| 22 | SPLENETIC | (RESTING PLACE) * − RAG * |
| 23 | EGGED | EG + GED |
| 24 | SEPTIC | SCEPTIC − C |
| 25 | EXETER | E + REX < around ET |
| 28 | CROMB | R in COMB |
| 31 | FINN | (bee)F IN N(utritious) |
| 32 | TEA BALL | A in BALLET * |