Resident by Hotspur

Puzzle explanation

The correct letters in clues spelt out “Located on the farther side / Where trains with other trains collide”, a clue to Transnistria (anagram of trains + trains). Moldova & Ukraine (the neighbours of Transnistria) appeared in symmetric diagonals, and were to be highlighted. The title is an anagram of Dniester, the river from which Transnistria derives its name. The unused letters in clashes spelt out OVER THE RIVER.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Correction Answer Explanation
Across
1 too(L)s AWLS (b)AWLS
4 (O)f RHOMBOIDAL (HOMALOID + (hy)BR(id)) *
12 (C)ad OIK Alternate letters
14 ch(A)p TAMANU MAN in TAU
15 Ma(T)e MARROWSKY MARROW + SKY; example of spoonerism
16 N(E)cks PETS T(endon) in PES
17 no(D) AGREE GREE after A(rmy)
18 fo(O)t TERTIA TRET < + T’ + A
19 (N)ext ANNEX Hidden
20 (T)ax ATRIP AIRSTRIP – IRS
22 (H)aunts DEIGNS GI < in DENS
25 fo(E) ANTI ANTIC – C
28 (F)ake ECHT (Albr)ECHT [Dürer]
30 f(A)st LENTI LENT + I
31 (R)un NO-ONE NOONER – R
32 s(T)ay SIST IS in ST
33 (H)ot LATH LAT + H
34 Irvin(E)’s RESETS STEERS *; “fence” = handle stolen goods, Irvine in Ayrshire
35 Numbe(R) SIZED SIZE (6 in dice) + D
36 (S)lips ICIER EPICIER – (k)EP(i); French words, hence “his”
41 no(I)ses ESSOIN NOISES *
44 Da(D)a ERNST N in (bold)ER ST(yles)
45 d(E)ad KEAS E in KAS
47 (W)ard AVERROIST ROIS in AVERT
48 s(H)oes UNBOOT BO in (UN + OT)
49 mal(E) HER R after HE; “her indoors” = wife
50 pie(R) ASSONANTAL AS + SON + ANTA + L
51 B(E)ss ESDA BETHESDA – BETH (Elizabeth)
Down
1 s(T)ones ALMANDINES (ALMA + DINES) about N; “hoofer” = dancer
2 pa(R)t LIVRAISON VR (film) in LIAISON
3 f(A)re SKRAN KR in SAN
5 b(I)nd HOWLET W in HOLE + T; “strix” is Latin for owl, see striges
6 Un(N)est OUST JOUST – J
7 ches(S) MAKEBATES BEAK * in MATES; reference checkmate
8 (W)et OAST First letters
9 d(I)sh DAE (sun)DAE
10 nea(T) ANTLIATE TAIL < in NEAT *
11 (H)ophead LUSH (f)LUSH
12 M(O)rals TAGS Hidden reversed
13 (T)art HOER HOOKER – OK
14 (H)ill TYRANTS ANTS after TYR
16 P(E)ter PITIERS IT in PIERS; reference old form of Peter
21 spu(R)ge POINSETTIA (IT + SAPONITE) *
23 no(T) GUNLESS UNLESS after (fi)G(ht)
24 (R)ent UNSHRIVEN HUNS * + RIVEN
26 qu(A)ds INTERNEES INTER + homophone (KNEES)
27 pa(I)ns MOLIMENS MOL + IS about MEN
29 (N)eck CATBOAT (BOA after (A + T)) in CT
34 Ma(S)s SCORIA (AI + ROCKS – K) <
37 S(C)ray TERN Homophone (TURN)
38 well-(O)iled EVOHE EVE about OH (my)
39 Ta(L)i OSSA FOSSA – F
40 (L)ilts SKUA U in SKA
42 t(I)me SOON SOLON – L
43 Sno(D) NEAT A(concagua) in NET
46 S(E)aman’s ABS Two definitions (muscles)
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