Listener Crossword 3960: Solution Notes
Misprinted Choice by Schadenfreude
Puzzle explanation
Misprinted words in clues were Across: 1 Nuts 14 Hold 16 went 17 lover 18 than 23 feed 25 showy 31 nobles 36 land 42 top 46 cattle 48 fighting 51 Bore; Down: 1 Roots 2 b/tanker 11 house 24 torch 29 nanny 34 hinders 40 Lens 47 bog. Misprints, with an ambiguity at 2dn, spelled out “The Lady’s not for b/turning”. One version is from a speech of Margaret Thatcher, the other a Christopher Fry play title. Clashing letters on one diagonal could be resolved to reveal either originator’s name. To determine which was required, solvers had to spot the other diagonal read “Birth Centenary” upwards, thus Christopher Fry (born December 18, 1907) was the correct choice.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Misprint correction |
Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACROSS | |||
| 1 | Nu(t)s | MAST | (A + ST) after M |
| 5 | PREACHIFY | (PARTY CHIEF – T)* | |
| 13 | OATEN | (O + ATE) for MA in MAN | |
| 14 | (H)old | NELSON | (Ernie) ELS in NON; reference to wrestling hold |
| 15 | COGENT | GEN in COT | |
| 16 | w(e)nt | GAED | GAD about E |
| 17 | (l)over | ISOLDE | IS + OLD + E; reference Tristan and Isolde |
| 18 | th(a)n | UNDER | UN + D + RE < |
| 19 | OVERSEE | VERSE in OE | |
| 21 | ENEMATA | MEN < in EAT + A | |
| 23 | fee(d) | STOOGE | STOGE(y) about O |
| 25 | show(y) | TATT | TTT about A |
| 28 | REJONEO | (ENJOY MORE – MY <)* | |
| 30 | SERAI | ’S + IRE < about A(mir) | |
| 31 | noble(s) | EARLS | EARLY – Y + ’S |
| 33 | PARNELL | PA + R + NELL; reference Charles Stewart Parnell | |
| 36 | la(n)d | ACRE | A + CRE(w) |
| 37 | AEOLIC | AE + O + C about (Po)LI(sh); reference computing language C | |
| 39 | TEASHOP | (E + HAS)* in TOP | |
| 42 | t(o)p | DREIDEL | D + RELIED*; “on”, as getting drunk, indicating anagram |
| 44 | AKITA | A + KIT + A | |
| 46 | ca(t)tle | POONAC | PO + ON + A/C |
| 48 | (f)ighting | MERI | MERIT – T(inder) |
| 49 | ORCHID | ORD about CHI | |
| 50 | PAINIM | P + A + MINI < | |
| 51 | B(o)re | DREED | D + REED |
| 52 | BROWN COAL | LOW CARBON* | |
| 53 | BRER | B + RE + (Ma)R(ch) | |
| DOWN | |||
| 1 | (R)oots | COCCOS | C in COCOS |
| 2 | (b/t)anker | AHOY | AY about HO |
| 3 | STRAE | STRAD + E – D | |
| 4 | INN SIGN | IN + N + SIGN | |
| 6 | RED-LETTER | RED SETTER, L for S | |
| 7 | ELUDE | Composite anagram: TACT + ELUDE → CLAUDETTE | |
| 8 | ASPEN | AS + PEN | |
| 9 | COQUETS | CROQUET – R + S | |
| 10 | IBADAT | (B + ADA) in IT; reference computing language ADA and euphemism for sex | |
| 11 | ho(u)se | FREE | F + EER < |
| 12 | YGDRASIL | GIRL SADLY* – L | |
| 17 | GROOLY | G + R + LOO < + Y(aws) | |
| 20 | ETEN | w(E) + TEN; reference honour as in high-value card | |
| 22 | THALI | THAI about L(ong) | |
| 24 | to(r)ch | TEADE | DATE* + (gentl)E; reference “Blind” as in drunk |
| 26 | ANHEDONIA | IN A HEAD-ON* | |
| 27 | RENOIR | ONER < + IR | |
| 28 | RENTAMOB | TWO BARMEN* – W | |
| 29 | (n)anny | TAHR | H in TAR, the H after A (= all) to distinguish from THAR |
| 32 | SAHARAN | S + A + H + ARAN | |
| 34 | h(i)nders | RETARDS | RD’S about RATE < |
| 35 | HAIRDO | HAIR + DO | |
| 38 | CLODDY | (ODDLY + C)* | |
| 40 | Le(n)s | OPTIC | TOPIC* |
| 41 | PORNO | POR + NO | |
| 43 | DEFER | (on)E in (DEF + R) | |
| 45 | KEIR | (IE < + R) after K | |
| 47 | bo(g) | MIRE | SIRE with M for S |