OOOOPPPP by Raich

Puzzle explanation

Extra letters spelt “highlight container — twenty-nine letters — use Parkinson’s Law”. In accordance with the law coined by Cyril Northcote Parkinson (born July 30, 1909) work expands to fill the time available for its completion (see The Chambers Dictionary). The letters of “work”, thus expanded fourfold in each row, are contained in a spirally-written “time available for its completion”, which was to be highlighted. The title, OOOOPPPP, represented another fourfold horizontal expansion of “work” in the form of the abbreviation OP.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra
letter
Answer Explanation
Across
1 H TRANSPLANTING T’ + R + ANS + PLAN + THING
11 I METATHORAX TIME * + A + THOR + A + X
13 G AZALEA GAZON – ON + A + LEA
14 H PIETÀ I in PATHE *
15 L HEREROS HERE + ROLE, E to S
17 I LOADED (P)L(ut)O(cr)A(t) + DIED
18 G RIPPLET GRIP + PLEAT – A
20 H IONIC I + ON + ICH
23 T MIME MIT + ME
24 C AVATAR A + VC + A + TAR
25 O NATO NOA(h) + TO
27 N ILEAC NIL + E + A/C
28 T OLDEN LOT < + DEN
29 A TURF FAR-OUT < – O
31 I RATED IRATE + D
35 N ONST SONNET * – E(roticism)
37 E BALE BEA + LE
38 R SHAPIRO SHARP + IRO(n)
43 T ELDER TENDER, L for N
44 W PILAF (FAW + LIP) <
45 E PENANG PENANCE, G for C
46 N ALLYL ALLY + NL
47 T REATTAIN RET about A + ’TAINT
48 Y DAY Hidden
49 N SEES S + E + ENS
50 I REESTY IT’S EERY *
Down
2 N RECEIVAL RECENT RIVAL – TR
3 E NAZE NE + AZ + E(vacuate)
4 L STARLIT RATS < + LILT
5 E PHLOEM (HOME + (h)ELP) *
6 T ARALIA A LARIAT *
7 T NAPOO NAP + TOO
8 E INEDITED I + NEED + IT + ED
9 R NOTE Two definitions (NOTRE)
10 S GRADGRINDERY GRAD + GRINDS + E(lectric) + RY
12 U PHRENITIS H in PRE + UNIT + IS
16 S STEW Two definitions (STEWS)
19 E PATERNALLY PATE + RN + ALLEY
21 P NAIL NAP + IL
22 A CASE CA + SEA
26 R OAFS RAF in OS
30 K STIFLE ST + IF + ELK <
32 I ABLATE A + BLAI(n) + T(o)E
33 N TAD T + AND
34 S ELEGIT ’E’S + LEG IT
36 O KENTE KEYNOTE – Y
39 N HILA HI + LAN
40 S RARE LARES, L to R
41 L OPES LOPES
42 A FEAR FA about EAR
44 W PAD PAW + D
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