Listener Crossword 4551: Solution Notes
Optics by Phibre
Puzzle explanation
The affected answers were entered with letters sharing cells, to produce one depiction of a lens as if optically magnified and another reduced.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Answer (unclued letter) | Explanation [extra letter] |
|---|---|
| RAMP S(H)OTS | (SPORTSMAN − N) * |
| GET | GE[N]T |
| A PIACER(E) | (I + ACE) in APR |
| MOOR | OR after M[A]O |
| BO(L)LARD | L in BOARD |
| SABRE | S[P]ARE around B(attle) |
| B CELL | BELL around C[O] |
| ALI | [C](h)A(p)L(a)I(n) |
| LOR(A)L | L OR L |
| ELATI(N)G | (LAT + I) in EG |
| LORAN | LO[T] + RAN |
| SLA(T)ING | A(nchovy) in SLING |
| LINGEL | (meltin)G in LIN[T]EL |
| RECIPE | REC[T]I + PE |
| COUP DE POING | (CO[P]IED POPGUN) * |
| UEY | U + [A]YE < |
| ALE | AL[T]ER − R |
| SL(O)PE | (front)S (wil)L (dro)P (pressur)E |
| AM(P)LE | (H)AMLE(t) |
| ES(T)H | SHE with E(urope) moved to the front |
| (T)REENS | SNEER < |
| SEE | S[H]EE(t) |
| INTERNS | IN TE[A]RS around N |
| RABBLE-ROUSES | ER in ([A]RAB + BLOUSES) |
| (A)POCOPE | POPE around CO |
| MILERS | (Ski-bu)M + [O]ILERS |
| P(A)LLADIUM | (LAD + I) in PLUM |
| S(C)ALL | S + ALL |
| S(C)ALE | (A + L) in SEX − X |
| HERM | RM after [T]HE |
| ORDEA(L)S | ORDERS with A for second R |
| SMA | S(udden) + MA[L] |
| G(O)BANG | B in GANG |
| EORL | LO[N]E < around R |
| (T)REILLAGES | (SEE A GRILL) * |
| S(A)TIN PAPER | (PEN IS PART) * |
| LINCOLN | LINN around C[O]OL |
| NIPPLE | P[E]P in NILE |
| SIPPLE | SI(kh) + P[E]OPLE − O |
| JEDDAR(T) | DREAD * after J |
| ESNES | NE in [C]ESS |
| C(O)YOTE | CYTE around O |
| KIL(N) | (jer)K IL(lustrating) |
| (E)LSE | L(ibrarians) S(hh-ing) E(ach) |
| SMEE | [L]EES < around M(aimed) |
| (P)HI | H(arass) + I |