Listener Crossword 4802: Solution Notes
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Puzzle explanation
The letters swapped in clues spelt out FAIR (for FOUL) and FOUL (for FAIR) three times (where F was “swapped” with F, it was the sole F in the clue), representing the line “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” from Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The letters missing from clues spelt DAMNED SPOT twice, for Lady Macbeth’s cry, “Out, damned spot!”. Reflecting the events at the play’s climax, the letters of BIRNAM WOOD were moved to the columns beside DUNSINANE, MACBETH was changed to (“vanquished” by) MACDUFF, and letters were moved to the top row to show MALCOLM elevated (hailed as king). The puzzle’s title was an anagram suggesting the moving TREES of Birnam Wood.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Letter removed (−) or swapped (×) | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| c(×A)sh | ABBA | 2 meanings; ref. ABBA song Money, Money, Money |
| dam(−S) | AMASSED | (SEA DAMS) * |
| AMLAS | (SAL(t) + MA(p)) < | |
| m(×U)ddle | ANTSY | SYNTA(x) * |
| (−S)pot | AORTA | (M)A(s)O(n) R(i)T(u)A(l) |
| AUK | KEA < with (em)U for E | |
| (×F)ew | AUTOSOMES | AUTOS around SOME |
| bid(−E) | BADDIE | (D + BIDE) * around A |
| Stan(−D) | BLEAR | L in BEAR |
| (×F)ruit | BOAB | BOB around A |
| BOTHER | ROB < around THE | |
| p(×U)t | CANBANK | CAN + BANK |
| T(×I)ns | CANTONS | CANS around ((mal)T + ON) |
| Fou(×L) | CHAS | HACKS * − K; ref. Chas & Dave |
| D(×A)n | DEARE | DARE around E |
| (×F)unny | DILATES | (SAIL + TED) * |
| (×L)aunch | ENTERTAIN | ENTER + TAIN(t) |
| b(×I)llion | ERN | BERN − B |
| ro(−O)k | FEVER | F + EVE + R |
| b(×L)ood | FIBRO | (FIB + O) around R |
| g(×U)n | HARM | H + ARM |
| f(×A)rm | HEELERS | HE + LEE * + RACES − ACE |
| IBO | (Swahil)I BO(y) | |
| INANER | IN AN ER | |
| (−P)Art | KARAT | (Da)KAR A T(rade) |
| b(×R)and | LABIALS | (I + A) in (LABEL − E) + S(tory) |
| (×F)at | LANDLORD | (OLD N)) < in LARD |
| (−A)dam | MAN | 2 meanings |
| (−N)Eat | MIRTH | TRIM < + H |
| (×F)oreign | MOSSAD | ((hel)D AS SOM(e)) < |
| dr(×I)nk | MOU’ | MO + U |
| (×R)ight | MUSSEL | (LESS RUM) < − R |
| Do(−P)e’s | OAF | (l)OAF |
| lo(−A)th | OLD-HAT | (D + LOATH) * |
| uni(−T) | ONLINE | NIL < in ONE |
| Plan(−T)s | OWSEN | (s)OWS + (p)EN |
| (×R)and | PROVERBS | (PROVE + BS) around R |
| ban(−D) | RIPEST | STRIPE with letters cycled |
| Her(×O) | ROE | (HERO − H) * |
| an(−N)us | SABURRA | S(oreness) A(round) + BURR + A |
| ca(−M)p | SALAT | SA(id) + LAT |
| go(−O)ds | SERMON | (MORES − (go)O(ds)) < + ON |
| Flak(−E) | SLAYER | LAYER after S |
| a(−M)id | SOBBED | BB in (SO + ED) |
| SOCLES | SOCRATES with L for RAT | |
| L(×O)w | SOPRANO | (L)O(w) after (SOP + RAN) |
| (×F)ish | SQUAT | SQUID + A + T − ID |
| bri(−D)e | SUS | (mis)SUS |
| P(×O)t | TEA | (s)TEA(l) |
| (−D)inky | TUNDUNS | (s)TU(n) + NUNS around D(inky) |