Listener Crossword 4560: Solution Notes
Midsummer by Chalicea
Puzzle explanation
The puzzle marked the 705th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, with which all of the extra words in down clues were associated. The question from initial letters of the words flanking them was “Where did Bruce win?”, the answer being “at Bannockburn”, which filled both diagonals of the grid. Colouring the rest of the grid blue created a semblance of the Scottish saltire (for which straight or jagged edges were accepted).
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra word | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | ASSASSINATES | ((na)I(ve) + NATES) after ASS after ASS | |
| 11 | TRIMURTI | TRIM + UR + TI | |
| 12 | LABIUM | (Po)L(ym)A(th) B(il)I(ng)U(al) M(an) | |
| 14 | BUMBAG | BUM + BAG | |
| 16 | ARGALI | ARGAL + I | |
| 17 | SEL | SELDOM − DOM | |
| 20 | THANNA | THAN + N/A | |
| 23 | NURSE | 2 meanings | |
| 24 | LUTTEN | (TURN LEFT − (R + F)) * | |
| 26 | IN A SORT | (rets)INAS OR T(okays) | |
| 27 | OPAH | POACH * − C | |
| 28 | MOOSE | MOO + S(ecretiv)E | |
| 29 | SOTS | SPOTS − P | |
| 31 | PATRICK | TRICK after PA | |
| 32 | CAIMAC | CA + I + MAC | |
| 34 | PLOOK | P + LOOK | |
| 35 | TAKE IN | TA + (KIN around (servic)E) | |
| 38 | ROB | BOR < | |
| 40 | LABDAS | LAB + SAD < | |
| 42 | DOUGAL | DO + U + GAL | |
| 45 | ENOUGH | ROUGH with EN for the first letter | |
| 47 | ARGONAUT | ANGOSTURA * − (gin)S | |
| 48 | OCTOGENARIAN | GONE * in RAINCOAT * | |
| Down | |||
| 1 | ATLATL | ATL + ATL | |
| 2 | START-UP | (P(osh) + U + TRATS) < | |
| 3 | troops | SOB | BOS(s) < |
| 4 | ARIA | AIR < after A | |
| 5 | SHULN | SHUN around L | |
| 6 | marsh | IRIS | IRIS(h) |
| 7 | NIB | BIN * | |
| 8 | TUM | M(anifesto) after TU | |
| 9 | STAP | (faul)T in SAP | |
| 10 | AIGLETS | GENITALS * − ’N’ | |
| 13 | MINNOCK | (ONE-TRACK MIND) * − RATED * | |
| 15 | ULNAE | ((epicur)EAN LU(nch)) < | |
| 18 | AUSSIE | IS < in (A + USE) | |
| 19 | horsemen | GROOM | G + ROOM |
| 21 | ATHROB | BORA < around (ligh)TH(ouse) | |
| 22 | UNSCALE | (US CLEAN) * | |
| 25 | TATOU | homophone of TATTOO | |
| 27 | clansmen | OPPIDAN | DISAPPOINTED * − DIETS * |
| 28 | MIKRA | (ARK + I’M) < | |
| 30 | victory | TANAGRA | TANA around (A + GR); ref. 20ac |
| 33 | surrender | CASH IN | CHAINS * |
| 36 | KANGA | 2 meanings | |
| 37 | Scots | RO-RO | (Scrabste)R OR O(thers) |
| 41 | BOER | BO(wl)ER | |
| 43 | GOT | TOG < | |
| 44 | Stirling | LAG | 2 meanings |
| 46 | UZI | (z)UZI(m) | |