Two Listeners in One by eXtent

Puzzle explanation

The clues for the nine thematic grid entries gave answers in which a letter of the entry was turned to gold (OR or AU); the affected letters spelt out “King Midas” in clue order. King Midas of Phrygia was given asses’ ears by the god Apollo and wore a headdress to conceal them. Accordingly, PHRYGIAN CAP at 12dn was removed from the grid to reveal DONKEY’S EARS at 17ac, among other new words. Entries were accepted as correct whether the blank cell in DONKEY’S EARS was included in the highlighting or not.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Entry/definition Answer Explanation
Across
1 SPO(K)ED (30dn) SPOORED SPOOK with RED for last letter
6   SPLASH LPS < + HAS *
10 opening DEPOSIT TIED < around POS
12   PARTY PAR + T(erminolog)Y
13 summers AGAPE (E + A) < around GAP
14 WH(I)P (33dn) WHAUP W + P(erch) after HAU(l)
15   TERMS RET < + MS
17   DONKEY’S YEARS Y in (DON + KEY + SEARS)
19   ENABLE L(iv)E after BANE <
23 RE(N)DER (8dn) REORDER RECORDER − C
24   BIREME homophone of BUY REAM
27   SATRAP ART < in SAP
28   SOUTHERNMOST (S(tyle)S + THEM ON TOUR) *
31 force STAMP 3 meanings
35 (G)ATE (10ac) ORATE OMERTÀ * − M(ob)
36   ATILT AT + (IT around L)
37 shabby NOINT TON < around IN
38   REPINED RE + PINE + D
39   SLUDGE SMUDGE with L(earn) for M
40 (M)ANGEY (37ac) ORANGEY RANGE in (b)OY
Down
2   PEGS G in P(e)E(r)S
3   OPAL O + PA + L(ook)
4   KOPEK (KE(e)P + OK) <
5 D(I)NT (31ac) DAUNT D + AUNT
6   STRESS DISTRESS − DI
7   LAWMEN LAWN around ME
8 melt STIR (bla)ST IR(on)
9   HYPES 2 meanings
11   SEA ELEPHANT LEA < in SEEP + H + ANT
12   PHRYGIAN CAP (GRAPHI(c) + CYAN) * after P
13 AD(D)ERS (13ac) ADORERS AS around ORDER with D moved up
16 S(A)GER (18dn) SAUGER SAUCER with G for C(afe)
18 wiser ONER ON + ER
20   ANKUS US after (AN + K)
21   XMAS X + MAS(k)
22 engages SEPTET SET around (EP + (contrac)T)
25   ATTEND D after (NETT + A) <
26   DEMURE DEMUR + E
28 SIGN(S) (22dn) SIGNOR (GROUPS IN − UP) *
29   MATIN MAIN around T
30 barred GAOL (LO + AG) <
32   POEM (DEMO TAPE) * − DATE *
33 lash SING SWATTING − WATT
34   FLEE FLEE(t)
Back to 2020 menu