Listener Crossword 4561: Solution Notes
One or the Other by Hurón
Puzzle explanation
The extra letters in wordplay of some clues spelt out “draw mirror image”, so the curve drawn through WTATEDUPP on the left side of the grid was duplicated in reflection on the right. The outer columns contained WHITE FACES while RUBY VASE was initially hidden in rows 5 and 10. The resulting image is called a Rubin vase, an example of a FIGURE-GROUND illusion (row 13) in which either two faces in profile or a vase can be seen.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer (unclued letters) | Explanation [extra letter] |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | DOUBLE-ACTING | DOUBTING around ((A + C) after L + (puzzl)E)) |
| 5 | MOUNTY | (ON [D]UTY + M(isused)) * |
| SYNTAX | homophone of SIN + TAX | |
| 7 | OPTER | [R]EPORT * |
| ADUST | A + DUST | |
| 8 | SPE(W)ER | S + PEER |
| EPOSES | POSES after E | |
| 11 | HEF(T)ED | HEED around F |
| AGOUTA | OUT in AGA | |
| 12 | IDEATE | [A]IDE + ATE |
| EN BLOC | EN + BLOC(k) | |
| 13 | CHEESE | CHE around SEE < |
| TIE(TA)C | I in TEC | |
| 16 | EN(DE)AR | (ke)EN AR(tisans) |
| ARENAS | A + SANER < | |
| 20 | HI(PP)OS | (t)HI(s) + OS |
| ISOBAR | (a)BRASIO(n) * | |
| 21 | NOMINA | NO[W] + MINA |
| ACARUS | (A + RUC + A(vi)S) * | |
| 22 | FIGURE | (G + U) in FIRE |
| GROUND | GR + [M]OUND | |
| 23 | EARNER | (y)EARNER |
| STIPAS | ([I]S + AS) around TIP | |
| Down | ||
| 1 | DSOS | D + O’ in SS |
| GYPS | GP around Y[R] + S | |
| 2 | UNDERFEE(D)S | UNDER + FÉES |
| INESCULENT | (SCENE UNTIL) * | |
| 3 | LASER | (Am)LA’S ER(ror) |
| COPPY | P[R]Y after COP | |
| 4 | AMOEBAE | (H)A(r)M (t)O (m)E(m)B(r)A(n)E(s) |
| EXTRUDE | EXUDE around T[O]R | |
| 6 | YAPPED | (DEP < around P) after AY < |
| TRENTO | TOR[R]ENT * | |
| 9 | FACES | FACE + S |
| WHITE | [I]E around WHIT | |
| 10 | ROBE | ROB + E(delstein) |
| S(T)A(T) | AS < | |
| 14 | SAVANNA | SAN’A around VAN |
| INDICIA | [M]IND + I + CIA | |
| 15 | CRASSER | RASSE in CR |
| CASINGS | SINGS after CA[A] | |
| 17 | AVOURE | OVA < + UR[G]E |
| RESORT | ROOSTER * − O | |
| 18 | CHAFE | CH + A(ttend) + FE |
| GRADS | R[E]AD in GS | |
| 19 | (UP)RUN | RU + ’N’ |
| NOMOI | NO + MOI | |