Listener Crossword 4522: Solution Notes
August Break by Aedites
Puzzle explanation
Corrections to the clue misprints spelt out “explain the grid; highlight eleven letters”. Answers hitting the right edge of the grid continued at the diagonally opposite point, suggesting a twist like a Möbius strip. The puzzle marked the 150th anniversary of the death of August Möbius, who died on September 26, 1868.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Misprint | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 5 | b(E)at | SMITE | MITES with letters cycled |
| 9 | bo(X)ing | FAST-DAYS | FA + STAYS around D |
| 13 | chi(P)py | LOLITA | ((glitter)ATI LOL(lop)) < |
| 14 | (L)ow | BASE | 2 meanings |
| 15 | Se(A) | HAIR-TAIL | HAIR + TAIL |
| 16 | T(I)n-glazed | MAIOLICA | (MC + A) around AÏOLI |
| 19 | shu(N) | TRUANTS | TANTRUMS * − M |
| 20 | cul(T) | RASTAS | (SAR after SAT) < |
| 21 | c(H)anging | ORNITHOSAURS | AUTHORS * in IRONS * |
| 24 | mal(E) | MILKSOP | MILKS + OP |
| 28 | chan(G)ed | NUMNAH | HUMAN * after N |
| 29 | Spa(R)king | AGLITTER | LITTER after (r)AG(e) |
| 31 | Ab(I)de | OBEY | O + BEY |
| 32 | her(D) | RENT-A-MOB | RE + TAM in NOB |
| 33 | fis(H) | PLATYS | PLAYS around T; the plural is confirmed in Collins and the OED |
| 34 | l(I)ctor | EDILE | ELIDE < |
| 35 | (G)ets | UNPLUMBS | PLUM in SNUB * |
| Down | |||
| 1 | (H)arm | UNANNOTATED | (TAUNTON DEAN) * |
| 2 | ma(L)e | MAMBAS | (SAMBA with first letter moved down) after M |
| 3 | d(I)n | BOOM | BOO + M’ |
| 4 | (G)amble | SEBAT | BE(t) < in SAT |
| 5 | Was(H) | SUBIRRIGATE | U in (SBIRRI-GATE) |
| 6 | Pe(T)’s | MIAOU | M + (I, A, O, U) |
| 7 | plan(E)s | TOE-IN | (S)T(r)O(b)E (s)I(g)N |
| 8 | c(L)one | ELECTROTYPE | ELECT + ROW with TYPE for W |
| 10 | f(E)ver | ATABRIN | A + TAB + R + IN |
| 11 | de(V)oted | SAIVA | SALIVA − L |
| 12 | f(E)od | THRASH METAL | (OLD FATHER THAMES) * − FEOD * |
| 17 | (N)ote | LASKI | LA + SKI |
| 18 | (L)ist | HASTILY | LIST * in HAY |
| 22 | fl(E)sh | TURNIP | (PIN + RUT) < |
| 23 | Star(T) | ALAPA | ((Alexandr)A PALA(ce)) < |
| 25 | sho(T) | LLOYD | DOLLY * |
| 26 | brac(E) | STEEL | 2 meanings |
| 27 | (R)eckless | PERDU | PRUDE * |
| 30 | (S)top | REIN | homophone of RAIN |