The Best Policy

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Explanation only + Answers + Grid entries
Solution grid

Across

  • 1.
    SATE: SATE
  • 5.
    PARNELL: PARNELL
  • 10.
    TRALEE: TRALEE
  • 11.
    DIVISIVE: DIVISIVE → enter as D4IS4E
  • 12.
    RENAL: RENAL
  • 13.
    STALKED: STALKED
  • 14.
    INGRATE: INGRATE
  • 17.
    VERMIN: VERMIN
  • 18.
    GULLIVER: GULLIVER → enter as GULL4ER
  • 19.
    IVORY: IVORY → enter as 4ORY
  • 20.
    FOURSQUARE: FOURSQUARE
  • 24.
    DIVAS: DIVAS → enter as D4AS
  • 27.
    BUTTERY: BUTTERY
  • 29.
    DELIVER: DELIVER → enter as DEL4ER
  • 31.
    STEWART: STEWART
  • 32.
    STARTLE: STARTLE
  • 33.
    MOTIVE: MOTIVE → enter as MOT4E
  • 34.
    CAPTIVE: CAPTIVE → enter as CAPT4E
  • 35.
    REVIVER: REVIVER → enter as REV4ER
  • 36.
    ORPHEUS: ORPHEUS
  • 37.
    GELS: GELS

Down

  • 1.
    STRINGY: STRINGY
  • 2.
    ARENA: ARENA
  • 3.
    TANGELO: TANGELO
  • 4.
    TEL AVIV: TEL AVIV → enter as TELAV4
  • 5.
    PESTLES: PESTLES
  • 6.
    RIVALED: RIVALED → enter as R4ALED
  • 7.
    ESKIMO: ESKIMO
  • 8.
    LIVEWIRE: LIVEWIRE → enter as L4EWIRE
  • 9.
    LEDON: LEDON
  • 15.
    PRIVATE: PRIVATE → enter as PR4ATE
  • 16.
    ELUSIVE: ELUSIVE → enter as ELUS4E
  • 20.
    FIVESTAR: FIVESTAR → enter as F4ESTAR
  • 21.
    QUOTERS: QUOTERS
  • 22.
    RELATIVE: RELATIVE → enter as RELAT4E
  • 23.
    OYSTERS: OYSTERS
  • 25.
    ALCAPP: ALCAPP
  • 26.
    FESTIVE: FESTIVE → enter as FEST4E
  • 28.
    THEMES: THEMES
  • 29.
    DISCO: DISCO
  • 30.
    DRIVEL: DRIVEL → enter as DR4EL