Listener Crossword 4380: Solution Notes
Stomach by MynoT
Puzzle explanation
The letters in clashing cells combined to form SUN and the names of the eight planets, in order, on the SW-NE diagonal. The message from extra letters in wordplay was “symbolise clashes”, so symbols (in current scientific use) for the sun and planets were used in the clashing cells. Planet abbreviations from the International Astronomical Union (Me, V, E, Ma, J, S, U, N) were also accepted. The title refers to the location of the solar plexus, which might be a cryptic description of the arrangement of planets around the sun.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Answer | Explanation [extra letter] |
|---|---|
| ACT AS | A in ACTS |
| ADROITER | (A + D + TER) around ROI |
| AMICE | A + MICE |
| ANT | (cy)AN[O]T(ic) |
| APPARELS | APPALS around RE |
| AVENA | VEN in AA |
| BREW | B[Y]RE + W |
| CATNEP | CA[S]T + PEN < |
| CHAPEAU | CHAPE + AU |
| COMMERCE | COMMENCE with R for N |
| DEPOT | TOPED < |
| ELT | SPELT − SP |
| EOS | E O + S |
| EPIC | [S]PICE * |
| ERRAND | ERR + AND |
| ESSAYETTES | SAY in (E + SET + TES) |
| ETH | [S]ETH |
| EURYALE | EUR + YALE |
| FORERUNNERS | FORE + RUNNERS |
| GELATI | GELATION − ON |
| GLEN | GLENN − N |
| GOATHERDS | (THE + RD + S) after GOA |
| HARD-SET | HARDS + ET |
| HORS | HO[A]RS(e) |
| ITA | IT + A |
| IWI | (Maor)I WI(ll) |
| JUPATIS | (PIA JUST) * |
| LAY | LA[I]TY − T |
| LET | LE[S]T |
| LIBRAN | LI[E] + BRAN |
| MARCESCIBLE | MARC + FERMENTESCIBLE − FERMENT |
| MUSE | homophone of MEWS |
| NEURALGIA | ([C]RUEL AGAIN) * |
| NOUGATINE | (GOAT IN [M]ENU) * |
| PANEGYRICS | GREY * in PANICS |
| PANNIER | ANNIE in PR |
| PINSTRIPED | PINED around STRIP |
| POILU | OIL in PU[B] |
| RAIL-BORNE | (OR IN BALER) * |
| REGIUS | R + EG + IS around U |
| RELOADS | ORDEALS * |
| RET | (cove)R[L]ET |
| RYES | RYE’S |
| SAND | SAN[E] + D |
| SASSY | SASSABY − AB |
| SCOP | SCOP(e) |
| SEA PARROT | SET around (A + PARR + O(cean)) |
| SEI | SEINE − NE |
| SLITS | SPLITS − P |
| STRICTNESS | SS around CENTRIST * |
| SUERS | SUDDERS − DD |
| TALC | (le)T[H]AL C(yanide) |
| TERMS | homophone of TURMS |
| TÊTES-À-TÊTES | (STATE SETTEE) * |
| THETE | THETA with last letter changed |
| TRANSFUSERS | US in TRANSFERS |
| TUNEFUL | UN in FLUTE * |
| URACIL | U + RAC + I’ + L |
| YALE | YE around AL[L] |