Listener Crossword 4013: Solution Notes
A Game of 1 by Glow-worm
Puzzle explanation
The game was HUNT THE SLIPPER (1dn). The eight “nonce” clues produced sixteen children’s names (Sophia, Lindsay, Imelda, Primrose, Patience, Elspeth, Rosemary, Yasmin, Cassandra, Ursula, Sebastian, Teresa, Olwen, Monica, Eamonn, Reginald) whose initials spelt out SLIPPERY CUSTOMER (Glow-worm’s title for the day). The misprints in the remaining clues spelt out a slightly edited version of the comment in Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, in the relevant article: “some … physical contact even if decorous”. The partial perimeter quotation was from “Aurora Leigh”, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The “pair of slippers” was to be highlighted in the grid.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Misprint | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 8 | S: (G)as | NEURON | NEON about UR |
| 9 | O: st(e)wed | BOUILLI | BILL about OU + I |
| 13 | MORSE SOPHIA, LINDSAY | Definition: Morse nonce: Kel[s]o, as Phi[lip] Daly’s in [Per]th | |
| 16 | M: (h)ouse | COT | Two definitions |
| 17 | E: P(u)g | SOUPING UP | PUG < after (SOUP + IN) |
| 18 | P: (D)enny’s | UNTILED | UNTIL + (Jun)E + (D)enny |
| 19 | MINORS IMELDA, PRIMROSE | Definition: Franciscans nonce: Rui[slip] mailed [p]rimer so p[er]emptorily | |
| 20 | H: (p)arry | REPOST | STOP ’ER * |
| 23 | Y: T(u)ne | AYR | Homophone (AIR) |
| 24 | S: po(n)ies | OPEN | PONIES * – I – S |
| 26 | I: Ne(a)l’s | TALENT | TT about NEAL * |
| 27 | ESPIAL PATIENCE, ELSPETH | Definition: Espial nonce: mue[sli p]et? Nice ap[p]lies the p[er]fect | |
| 29 | C: sau(t)é | UTES | Hidden |
| 31 | A: (O)dd | PSL | Alternate letters |
| 33 | L: (p)ast | PERMIT | P(ast) + E(xercise) + TRIM * |
| 34 | C: (D)ad | PIÑATA | PA about A TIN * |
| 36 | O: p(a)rt | SAND BAR | Hidden |
| 37 | N: (R)ev’s | REPUDIATE | RE(v’s) + PUD + I + ATE |
| 39 | T: So(w) | ELT | Hidden |
| 40 | IONIA ROSEMARY, YASMIN | Definition: Western Turkey nonce: beckon[s L]eo — army’s r[ipp]in’, say, m[er]cenaries | |
| 41 | A: M(o)ggie | TO | TOM – M |
| 42 | C: Logi(e) | ETESIAN | (Logi)E + SET < + IAN |
| 43 | T: (w)attle | DEWLAP | (PAL + WED) < |
| Down | |||
| 2 | E: hos(t) | ARMY | R in AMY |
| 3 | V: sha(p)ed | TOODLE-PIP | TO + ((leylandi)I + LOPPED) * |
| 4 | E: Po(p)’s | PASO DOBLE | PA’S + O + DOLE about (Fe)B(ruary) |
| 5 | ABE CASSANDRA, URSULA | Definition: Lincoln nonce: [sees lip] and scar, as [pe]r usual [r]edden | |
| 6 | N: (I)an’s | RUN IN | RUN + I(an’s) + N(ear) |
| 7 | I: B(e)ll | FLAGRANTE BELLO | BELL A TENOR * after FLAG |
| 10 | F: (t)aking | IGNORE | SIGNORE – S |
| 12 | D: du(p)e | TON-UP | TON + (d)UP(e) |
| 14 | E: P(a)t’s | SPITAL | PET’S ILL * – L |
| 15 | BUSY SEBASTIAN, TERESA | Definition: at work nonce: Baulk[s] at a sensib[l]e sea-tr[ip; per]haps | |
| 21 | STARSTONE OLWEN, MONICA | Definition: Ruby maybe nonce: [s]on wel[l i]n — I’m a co[pper] | |
| 25 | C: pa(r)king | HAPTIC | (CATH + I + P) * |
| 28 | O: P(u)p’s | PINUPS | PUP’S IN * |
| 30 | R: “a(l)t” | EXALT | E + X + ALT |
| 32 | SPEW EAMONN, REGINALD | Definition: Vomit nonce: obscure[s li]ne on ma[p — p]lane grid [er]ased | |
| 35 | O: d(a)rk | ADDIO | Hidden reversed; cross-reference for definition |
| 38 | U: N(o)rse | SAWN | (N + WAS) < |
| 40 | S: (P)ub’s | INN | Alternate letters |