Listener Crossword 4799: Solution Notes
Don’t Get ’Em Wrong by Ploy
Puzzle explanation
The indexed letters in clues spelt “isolated system; conservation”. Treating the whole puzzle as an “isolated system” with the principle of conservation to be obeyed, the letters of MASS were “conserved” by removing them from some clues and adding them to other clues’ answers to make the grid entry. Conversely, the letters of ENERGY needed to be inserted into clues and omitted from answers. The conservation requirement resolved possible ambiguities in the grid entries for 5ac and 28dn. The puzzle’s title referred to the symbols E = energy and m = mass (given in their conventional case).
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Letter [added]/ |
Answer, letter [added]/ |
Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | TARIFF | TIFF around (A + R) | |
| 5 | PAL[M]ATE | PALATINE − IN | |
| 11 | SP(R)ANGLE | GENERAL-PURPOSE * − EUROPE * | |
| 13 | (S)uppers | SNAB | BANS < |
| 14 | [Y]ore | ETEN | (secr)ET EN(clave) |
| 15 | LEXIS | IS after (L + EX) | |
| 16 | UNIO | (j)UNIO(r) | |
| 17 | Tub[E] | SLEEVE | SLE(epy) + EVE |
| 19 | OSCULA | (OSCULA + SET) * = (LOST CAUSE) * | |
| 20 | C(E)RISE | CERE around IS | |
| 22 | ENEWS | (brav)E + NEW + S | |
| 24 | prim[E] | ASHLER | HAS * + (f)LE(u)R |
| 26 | REDRESSAL | (LASS + HERDER − H) < | |
| 29 | ERRAND | ERR + AND | |
| 32 | OMASA | O + MASA | |
| 34 | dance(S) | ACNED | DANCE * |
| 37 | CHI[S]EL | C + (s)HIEL(d) | |
| 38 | PHLEGM | LAMPLIGHTER * − TRAIL * | |
| 39 | ESDA | (Hu)E’S DA(rkened) | |
| 40 | VISTO | VISITO(r) − I | |
| 41 | [G]rowers | AÇAÍ | (s)A(c)C(h)A(r)I(n) |
| 42 | REEL | RE + E(wel)L | |
| 43 | SINITIC | (I + ISN’T) * + I/C | |
| 44 | BARISTA | B + ARISTA | |
| 45 | C(Y)ANINE | ANY * in CINE | |
| Down | |||
| 1 | be(A)st | TSESSEBE | ESSE in BEST * |
| 2 | APTLY | (A + PLY) around T | |
| 3 | INNERWEAR | (w)INNER + WE AR(e) | |
| 4 | FLEERER | FLEER + E + R(oute) | |
| 6 | late[R] | AGIOS | ADIOS with G for D |
| 7 | LISSES | SESSIL(e) < | |
| 8 | ANNUAL | NU in ANAL | |
| 9 | TAILLES[S] | ILL in SEAT < | |
| 10 | E-BOAT | (TO BE A) * | |
| 12 | EXCITEDNESS | (DECENT SIXES) * | |
| 18 | EG(G)ER | (bootl)EGGER | |
| 21 | CHAMPLAIN | PLAIN after CHAM | |
| 23 | NORTH SEA | HORNETS * + A | |
| 25 | REARMICE | REARM + ICE | |
| 27 | SCEPTIC | PECS < + TIC | |
| 28 | LA(N)CE | (g)LANCE | |
| 30 | (M)any | RAIDER | I’D in REAR < |
| 31 | ski[N] | NAEVUS | NAE + V + US |
| 33 | ACERB | ACE + BR < | |
| 35 | CLI(E)NT | CT around LIEN | |
| 36 | [A]GAIN | 2 meanings | |