Listener Crossword 4445: Solution Notes
Strange Requests by eXternal
Puzzle explanation
Words for a fool were despatched from six answers, leaving a real word for the grid entry. Traditional fool’s errand objects were represented by the answer/entry pairs COPPER MAGNET, SPIRIT LEVEL BUBBLE, GLASS HAMMER, STRIPY PAINT, ELBOW GREASE; and LONG WEIGHT highlighted in the main diagonal.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra word (grid entry) | Answer (omitted word) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | MAGNET | MAG + NET | |
| 6 | MAL(DIV)ES | DIVES after LAM < | |
| 10 | OLOGY | O + LOGY | |
| 11 | Bobby (1ac COPPER) | ENORM | (MR + ONE) < |
| 12 | VOLUNTEER | (TRUE NOVEL) * | |
| 13 | KIRN | KIN around R | |
| 14 | pressure (WEIGHT) | BRAIL | BR + AIL |
| 15 | insubstantial (22ac BUBBLE) | CHIGOE | CHI + GO + E |
| 17 | KIP | 2 meanings | |
| 18 | DEANS | (AND + S(om)E) * | |
| 21 | DITTAY | (TRANSIT DUTY) * − TURNS * | |
| 22 | SPIRIT LEVEL | PI in (EVER + STILL) * | |
| 25 | CINCH | INCH after C | |
| 27 | AGO | (w)AGO(n) | |
| 28 | EPICAL | I in PLACE * | |
| 30 | (CLOT)H-EARS | CLEARS around HOT * | |
| 32 | men (6ac MALES) | GWEN | NEW < after G |
| 34 | INGENIOUS | IN + GEN + IOUS | |
| 35 | marathon (LONG) | ADEEM | DEE in AM |
| 36 | watch (26dn HUNTER) | TRITE | 2 meanings |
| 37 | HAMMER | HUMMER with A for U | |
| 38 | FI(SHMO)NGER | GRIEF * around (SH + MON) | |
| Down | |||
| 1 | C(ASS)OCKED | CAS(h) + SOCKED | |
| 2 | OLEIC | OLÉ + IC(e) | |
| 3 | upright (1dn COCKED) | POOR | ROO < after P |
| 4 | EYOT | TOY < after E | |
| 5 | mirror (37ac GLASS) | INURED | INJURED − J |
| 6 | MONADIC | MONA (Lisa) + D(eficient) I(n) C(lothing) | |
| 7 | banded (9dn STRIPY) | ARTISTIC | (C + RAT IT IS) * |
| 8 | joint (11dn ELBOW) | ELEGIAC | E + LEG + I + A/C |
| 9 | PAINT | A in PINT | |
| 11 | GREASE | homophone of GREECE | |
| 16 | bundling (22dn BALING) | INBREEDS | BINDERS * around E |
| 19 | EUGENOL | (NO + L) after EUGE | |
| 20 | pilfer (38ac FINGER) | SLOANES | AN in SLOES |
| 22 | BAL(LOON)ING | ALL in BOON + IN + G | |
| 23 | tries (30ac HEARS) | EERIER | ERIE in ER |
| 24 | EPSOM | MOPE < around S | |
| 26 | (MUG)-HUNTER | (GEM UNHURT) * | |
| 29 | LEFTE | LEFT + (corps)E | |
| 31 | MUTI | UT in MI | |
| 33 | WHIG | W + HIG(h) | |