Listener Crossword 4883: Solution Notes
Contactless by Tringa
Puzzle explanation
The corrections to clue misprints spelt out “mark court; link Os; circle C”. Joining all the Os in the grid with straight lines and semicircles and drawing a circle around the one C formed a diagram of a netball court. The C and the six clashes in the top half of the grid gave the standard abbreviations for players in a netball team in their starting positions. The other clashes were resolved to show NETBALL TEAM. The puzzle’s title referred to the fact that netball is supposed to be a non-contact sport.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Misprint | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | char(M)s | BLANDISHMENTS | BLAND + MEN in (HITS * + S) |
| 11 | (A)ir | NEON | (co)NE ON(e) |
| 13 | PROXIMO | XI in PROMO | |
| 15 | OUTWELL | OUT + WELL | |
| 16 | EDGER | (ANGERED − AN) * | |
| 18 | ke(R)nels | GRAINY | R in GAIN + Y |
| 19 | pea(K) | SUMMIT | 2 meanings |
| 20 | GOTHIC | GOT + HIC | |
| 23 | SOSS | SOS + S(ong) | |
| 26 | LABEL | (fictiona)L + ABEL | |
| 27 | for(C)e | TELERGY | T + R(ecorder) in ELEGY |
| 29 | p(O)rk | PIGMEAT | (s)P(y)I(n)G + ME + AT |
| 32 | AWETO | AWE + TO | |
| 34 | mo(U)th | ORAL | (h)ORAL |
| 37 | ISOMER | IR around SOME | |
| 38 | TERATA | RA in TATE * | |
| 39 | (R)at | SQUEAK | 2 meanings |
| 41 | s(T)unning | BEAUT | BEAU + (i)T |
| 43 | BRIGADE | B + RIDE around GA | |
| 45 | C(L)oak | GALABEA | AB in GALEA |
| 46 | MAIR | AIR after M | |
| 47 | UNMITIGATEDLY | (GET UNTIDY MAIL) * | |
| Down | |||
| 1 | BOOGALOO | BOO + GALOO(t) | |
| 2 | tap(I)r | ANTA | TA after AN |
| 3 | DOE | DOE(s) | |
| 4 | i(N) | INLY | (ma)IN LY(ric) |
| 5 | SPLINE | (stamp)S + L in PINE | |
| 6 | MODULE | U(nusua)L in MODE | |
| 7 | reta(K)es | EXAMS | SEAM * around X |
| 8 | NIE | N + IE | |
| 9 | SOOT | S + O(zzy) O(sbourne) T(ributes) | |
| 10 | BURKA | (A RUB) < around K | |
| 12 | rew(O)rding | EDITED | DITE in ED |
| 14 | En(S)ues | RESULTS | LUSTRES * |
| 17 | (C)aper | RIG | 2 meanings |
| 21 | OBIA | O(ne) B(elieving) I(n) A(n) | |
| 22 | ITERANT | ITE(m) + RANT | |
| 24 | OGEE | EGO < + E | |
| 25 | SPOOKERY | (SPOKE around O) + R(ivalr)Y | |
| 28 | M(I)nor | RAMULI | MURAL * + I |
| 30 | Sac(R)ed | MOTETT | MOT + E(stablishmen)T + T |
| 31 | AIRING | (v)AI(n) + (T)RING(a) | |
| 33 | (C)raft | TRADE | ART < + D(ebat)E |
| 35 | REB | RE + B(ooklet) | |
| 36 | LANAI | ((Hawai)IAN AL(so)) < | |
| 38 | (L)izard | TEGU | GET < + U(ther) |
| 39 | SA SA | SA twice | |
| 40 | EARD | HEARD − H | |
| 42 | Tr(E)e | ELM | (lov)E (wil)L (blosso)M |
| 44 | (C)ash | LAT | 2 meanings |