Listener Crossword 4797: Solution Notes
Zip Code by Karla
Puzzle explanation
For each clash in the grid, the fifth letter in one of the crossing answers was discarded in favour of the other answer’s letter, ie making an amendment in the fifth position. The entered letters were a jumble of “you have the right to …”, the typical start of a Miranda warning in the United States. Reading down from cell 5, REMAPN SILEKT had its fifth letters changed to give the next words, REMAIN SILENT. A Miranda warning informs a suspect in police custody of their right under the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution to refuse to answer questions, in order to avoid self-incrimination. The puzzle’s title referred to the codified right to say “zip” (nothing), and also hinted at the American theme.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | DIAPER | REPAID < |
| 7 | DISARM | RM after DISA |
| 12 | EMIR | EMI + R |
| 13 | NÉVÉS | SEVEN < |
| 15 | NANISM | NAN + IS + M(ention) |
| 16 | ORIGINS | (B)ORIS around GIN |
| 17 | UNPARED | homophone of UNPAIRED |
| 18 | GOOR | OR after GO |
| 20 | MUSO | MUS(k) + O |
| 21 | CEE | EEC < |
| 22 | ORNATENESS | (ON STAR SEEN) * |
| 24 | ARÊTES | SEA < around RET |
| 26 | EXCISE | 2 meanings |
| 28 | RERADIATED | (DEAR DEAR IT) * |
| 31 | UGH | HUG with letters cycled |
| 32 | PALY | PLAY with L moved later |
| 35 | AESC | ACES with C moved two places right |
| 36 | REFEREE | RE + FEE around RE |
| 39 | SEA-LIKE | SEAL + I(talian) K(itchen) E(ven) |
| 40 | LAPDOG | OG after LAPD |
| 41 | STOAS | SÃO < after ST |
| 42 | AGUE | ARGUE − R |
| 43 | TEETHE | TEE + THE |
| 44 | HERERO | HERE + OR < |
| Down | ||
| 2 | IMAGES | IM + AGES |
| 3 | AINU | (Mumb)AI NU(rses) |
| 4 | INSPIRED | SNIPER * in ID |
| 5 | REMAP | EM in RAP |
| 6 | LVOV | VOLV(o) * |
| 8 | IRIDS | DI < in IRS |
| 9 | SIGN IN | GIS < + NIN(e) |
| 10 | RANKEST | RANT around KES; ref. A Kestrel for a Knave author |
| 11 | MISSUS | MISS US |
| 12 | ENIGMA | (A + ME around GIN) < |
| 14 | NARCEINE | (NEAR NICE) * |
| 19 | OVERREAD | ERR in (O + VEDA *) |
| 20 | MALAR | ALARM with last letter moved to start |
| 23 | EXECRATE | EXEC RATE |
| 25 | REGRADE | RE + EDGAR * |
| 27 | ENCASE | EASE around N(ordi)C |
| 28 | RUSSET | RUST around S(am)E |
| 29 | APPLET | APP-LET (fanciful term for little apple) |
| 30 | ASPORT | A(nchovie)S + PORT |
| 33 | ARISE | (Ph)ARISE(es) |
| 34 | BELAY | (k)EL(p) in BAY |
| 37 | FEOD | FED around O |
| 38 | EDGE | E(ach) (o)D(d) (ra)G(time) (tun)E |