Listener Crossword 4760: Solution Notes
Queen by Rebel
Puzzle explanation
The letters omitted from across answers spelt out “way in top mid, bees deflecting”. Starting downward from central cell in the top row and turning when hitting a B traced the message “erase path to royal cell” as shown here. The letters omitted from down answers spelt out “title bee; core occupiers”, leading to the phrase QUEEN BEE and its initials QB to be entered in the central cell.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer (omitted letter) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | BOLD BO(W) | B + OLD BO(y) |
| 3 | BORD(A)R | ORD in BR |
| 4 | EMPT(Y)SIS | MISSTEP * |
| 8 | MA(I)OL(I)CA | (A + CLOAM) < |
| 9 | TAI(N)T | TAIT |
| 10 | E(T)ON SUI(T) | EONS + U + I |
| 12 | PASE(O) | APES * |
| 16 | (P)ROSIT | (’TIS + OR) < |
| 17 | (M)INDS | IN + D(ungenes)S |
| 18 | CROS(I)ER | SCORER * |
| 22 | HAME(D) | HAM + E |
| 24 | (B)RUIN | (f)RUI(t) + N |
| 25 | ST(E)R(E)O | STRONG − NG |
| 26 | D(EE)RL(E)TS | DOLTS with R for O |
| 30 | AMICU(S) | AM + ICU |
| 31 | (D)ENET | (r)E(i)N(v)E(s)T(s) |
| 33 | RAPHID(E) | RAP + HID |
| 35 | LAY-O(FF) | LAY + O’ |
| 36 | ROTA(L) | R(un) O(ff) T(he) A(genda) |
| 38 | ORNAT(E)R | OR + TAN < + ER |
| 39 | EN(C)LAVE | LAV in ENE |
| 40 | (T)URBI(T)H | (yo)U + R + HIB < |
| 41 | NAEV(I) | EVAN * |
| 42 | I(N)HERES | (HER + (Evi)E) in IS |
| 43 | SALVA(G)ED | SAD around VEAL * |
| Down | ||
| 1 | BEECH MAR(T)ENS | (BEEN + S) around (CH + MARE) |
| 2 | L(I)NEN | L(eaves) + NE(ed) + N |
| 5 | PAREN(T) | AR in PEN |
| 6 | STADTHO(L)DERS | (TRADED SHOTS) * |
| 7 | D(E)S(EE)DS | D(isk)S + D(isk)S |
| 11 | A(B)USED | A + USED |
| 12 | PI(E)RR(E) | (R(aise) + RIP) < |
| 13 | D(E)SIR(E) | (Jes)S(ica) in DIR |
| 14 | (C)OOP | (POOH − H) < |
| 15 | C(O)LIBRI | C(a)L(l) I(f) B(i)R(d) I(s) |
| 19 | BU(R)LE(R)S | BS around ULE |
| 20 | S(E)ATH | (ha)S A TH(ing) |
| 21 | R(O)ADMAN | (BADMAN − B) after R |
| 23 | (C)OMBI | (z)OMBI(e) |
| 27 | S(C)ARRY | HARRY with S for H |
| 28 | L(U)NAR | (N + A) in (L, R) |
| 29 | TRO(PP)O | TROUPE with O for (tro)UPE |
| 31 | ELUV(I)A | VALUE * |
| 32 | C(E)CA | ACC < |
| 34 | CO(R)NE(R) | ONCE * |
| 37 | T-BAR(S) | RAT < around B(oy) |