Listener Crossword 4492: Solution Notes
Mad Tom’s Traps by Hedge-sparrow
Puzzle explanation
Discarding the letters of SUMMER FLOWERS (wild, ie scattered) from the clashes left those of LEPIDOPTERIST (rambling, ie scattered), formed real words for the grid entries. Then replacing the letters of MAD TOM’S TRAPS with those of BUTTERFLY NET changed 12 entries to types of butterfly or moth (shown below).
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 4 | FUSION BOMB | FUSION + BOMB(o) |
| 11 | INGATE | EATING * |
| 13 | OBOS | (h)OBOS |
| 15 | NOGG | ((Goin)G GON(e)) < |
| 16 | RADULAR | RAD + (circ)ULAR |
| 18 | SAINE | (I + N) in SAE |
| 19 | LIN | FLINT − FT (on the outside) |
| 20 | LARRY | ’ARRY after L(ondon) |
| 22 | T-BONE | TB + O’ + (wi)NE |
| 24 | ELOIN → ELFIN | E + LOIN |
| 26 | EIRE | homophone of (AIR + A) |
| 27 | FATE | FAT + E(-zine) |
| 29 | OUMAS | OU + MAS |
| 30 | ISIS | CRISIS − CR |
| 34 | GEAN | GEM − M + A(ndea)N |
| 36 | TEMPI | ((investmen)T + M + PI) around E |
| 38 | UNPEG | (P in GENU) < |
| 39 | AFOUL | A + homophone of FOWL |
| 41 | GYM | (MY + (strengthenin)G) < |
| 43 | IDÉES | (SEE + DI) < |
| 46 | OCEANIC | (CHINA − H + ECO) < |
| 47 | ALES | DALES − D |
| 48 | LUMA → LUNA | (MULL − L) < + A |
| 49 | UNGEAR | (r)UNG + EAR |
| 50 | GAMEKEEPER → GATEKEEPER | PEG-MAKER * around E(stat)E |
| Down | ||
| 1 | SINGLET → RINGLET | TINGLES with first and last letters switched |
| 2 | ANODAL | OD in ANAL |
| 3 | AGGER → EGGER | (d)AGGER(s) |
| 5 | URES | SURE with S moved to the bottom |
| 6 | SECATEURS | SEC + RUE < in VATS − V |
| 7 | OBAN | OBANG − G |
| 8 | BLUT → BLUE | L in BUT |
| 9 | MAAING | MING around (A + A(bsinthe)) |
| 10 | BARNET → BURNET | BARONET − O |
| 12 | AGGRIEVE | AGGR(o) + I’VE around E |
| 13 | ORIBI | ORBI(t) around I |
| 14 | ALLEYS | GALLEYS − G |
| 17 | RETEST | SETTER * |
| 21 | ORANGE PIP → ORANGE-TIP | (PIPE ORGAN) * |
| 23 | BRIEF-BAG | (BRIE + B) around F + AG |
| 25 | NOGGIN | N + OGGIN |
| 28 | TAPPET → LAPPET | TAP + PET |
| 31 | SILVERS → SILVER Y | SLIVERS with L moved down |
| 32 | DUGONG → BUGONG | DUG + ON + (bi)G |
| 33 | ONYCHA | (ANCHOVY − V) * |
| 35 | ARECA | AR + ACE < |
| 37 | LUTEAL | LUTE + A + L |
| 40 | OWLER → OWLET | HOWLER − H(arbour) |
| 42 | BALM | BALMORAL − ORAL |
| 44 | DOME | two meanings (Spenserian form of DOOM) |
| 45 | WINE | WIN + E |