Listener Crossword 4656: Solution Notes
Co-star by Lysander
Puzzle explanation
The letter encodings for converting answers to grid entries were: A → I, B → SP, C → ST, D → N, E → A, F → RE, G → SE, H → ER, I → E, J → PR, K → ES, L → R, M → NE, N → S, O → AR, P → D, Q → AL, R → L, S → T, T → P, U → O, V → LE, W → TE, X → NT, Y → ED, Z → NS. The entry REDDED at 8dn was justified as the past tense of “redd2”, the Scottish form of “rede”. The title illustrated CO → STAR.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | BALER | BATTLER − TT |
| 5 | LENTIL | (b)LEN(d) + TIL |
| 9 | FOLKSY | F + YOLKS * |
| 13 | VUM | VALIUM − ALI |
| 14 | Q-SHIP | Q + ’S + HIP |
| 16 | MELIC | MC around ELI |
| 17 | LENG | GLEN with letters cycled |
| 18 | SHIN | 2 meanings |
| 21 | PIXY | P(ropert)Y around IX |
| 23 | NONE | (a)N(n)O(u)N(c)E(d) |
| 24 | PANTOS | PANTS around O |
| 28 | JEW | J(oseph) E(rlanger) W(as) |
| 30 | TOG | GOT < |
| 32 | CION | CITATION − TATI |
| 33 | FOIL | 2 meanings |
| 34 | RIEL | LEIR < |
| 35 | BALAS | SALAB(ility) < |
| 36 | CEDI | DICE * |
| 37 | CARY | (Y + RAC) < |
| 38 | WARN | WAR + N |
| Down | ||
| 1 | BRADS | D in BRAS |
| 2 | JIG | (en)J(oy) (b)I(g) (bud)G(ets) |
| 3 | LEX | EX after L |
| 4 | EFF | (F + FE) < |
| 5 | LIRAS | SAIL < around R |
| 6 | CIRÉ | C(ollect) I(rish) R(ed) E(arthenware) |
| 7 | THAN | TANH with H moved up |
| 8 | LIPPY | 2 meanings |
| 10 | LEANY | (e)LE(g)AN(c)Y |
| 11 | CHI | C + HI |
| 12 | PING | PIN + G |
| 15 | TELLER | 2 meanings |
| 19 | IODIC | (per)IODIC(al) |
| 20 | INSULAR | URINALS * |
| 22 | SOGER | SO + GER |
| 23 | BULK | BAULK − A |
| 25 | ADITS | À + DITS |
| 26 | BOG | GOB < |
| 27 | WHIP | WHIPPET − PET |
| 29 | CLAP | 2 meanings |
| 31 | BEZ | BIZ with E for I |