Listener Crossword 4898: Solution Notes
Contrasting Directions by Demoniacal
Puzzle explanation
The initials of the normal clues spelt “Moksha Patam”, the Indian game that was westernised as Snakes and Ladders. The diagonal bars in the grid formed three ladders (pairs of parallel straight lines) and five snakes (single lines, sometimes bent). Letters from the initial grid (shown here) were moved up the ladders and down the snakes to form SNAKES AND LADDERS, which was highlighted.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer (unclued letter) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | BADASS | BASS around DA(b) |
| 5 | ADDOOM | (Oper)A + (MOOD + ’D) < |
| 10 | RE(A)DOPTIONS | OPTIONS after RED |
| 12 | AS NOW | ((Kne)W ON SA(turday)) < |
| 13 | BOB(A)CS | BOB + C(onsume)S |
| 15 | I(N)STAR | ISHTAR − H |
| 16 | TES(T)OON | TE + SO + ON |
| 19 | KALE | 2 meanings |
| 21 | NAMAB(L)E | NAM + ABE |
| 23 | STO(R)IED | ST + I in OED |
| 26 | PI(N)T | PICT − C |
| 27 | COSSET(S) | COST around S(eepag)E |
| 29 | LIDDED | L + (r)IDDED |
| 32 | C(L)ONIC | (C + TONIC) − T |
| 33 | O(L)IVE | O’ + I’VE |
| 34 | LITTLE-E(A)SES | LEES in TITLES * |
| 35 | SYNCED | S(m)Y(r)N(a) + CE + D |
| 36 | TRAMPS | P in SMART < |
| Down | ||
| 1 | BRATTY | (Any)B(ody) + RATTY |
| 2 | DANI(S)K | KIND < around A |
| 3 | SOW(S) | SOW |
| 4 | S(P)ET | (T(he) E(qually) S(ceptical)) < |
| 6 | DIOR(A)MA | DIRECTOR − (REC + T) + AM < |
| 7 | O(N)AN | OA(f) + N(aphtali) |
| 8 | OSCI(L)LATIVE | (ACE VIOLIST) * |
| 9 | MISSEE | MISS + EE |
| 11 | ESSENTI(A)LLY | (V)ESSE(l) + CHANTILLY − CHA |
| 14 | B(E)KAHS | AH in BKS |
| 17 | TAR(T)AN | TAR + AN |
| 18 | ONE | OE around N |
| 20 | T(I)LLITE | T(he) L(owest) L(evel) I(n) T(he) E(arth) |
| 22 | AD(O) | A + D |
| 23 | SPI(C)AS | SAIS < around P |
| 24 | MED(I)SM | S(inking) M(acedonia) after MED |
| 25 | (A)SSESS | (musician’)S SESS(ions) |
| 28 | (J)OIN | O(r)I(gi)N(al); ref. triangular numbers |
| 30 | DIET | (TEPID − P) < |
| 31 | DO(E)R | ROD(e) < |