Figure It Out solution
by Kegler
Two letters are removed from each of the ten overlong entries; when connected in clue order, they spell PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER.
Across
| 1 | C + HOW |
| 4 | PO + P(UL)ARITY |
| 10 | O(H)AR + A |
| 12 | PAV(AN)E |
| 13 | RO(TAR)Y (RAT rev) |
| 14 | COR(N)EA |
| 15 | P(R)ETTY |
| 17 | SE(A)TS |
| 18 | EROtICA |
| 21 | ROoSTERS |
| 23 | AREN + A (NEAR anag) |
| 25 | SHOW OUT (hidden) |
| 27 | LI(MI)TER |
| 31 | DEN + O(V) + O |
| 33 | T + A(I)GA |
| 35 | PEST (hidden) |
| 37 | AN + E + MIA |
| 38 | SPAN + I + ELS |
| 39 | END TABLE ("TEND ABEL" spoonerism) |
| 40 | A[N/r]NIE |
| 41 | PET(NAM)E'S (MAN rev) |
| 42 | GrADS |
|
Down
| 1 | COW + pORKERS |
| 2 | H,H + OUR |
| 3 | W(R)AP + I + TUP (rev) |
| 4 | PARR ("PAR" hom) |
| 5 | LA(C)Y |
| 6 | R + ARE |
| 7 | INTO + NATE |
| 8 | TEE + T,H |
| 9 | Y + EAST |
| 11 | ATHOS (OATHS anag) |
| 16 | EAGERL + Y (REGALE anag) |
| 17 | S(W)AM |
| 19 | A(S)IDE |
| 20 | P[R/a]INTING |
| 22 | E + TNA (rev) |
| 24 | ARTHOUSES (USE A SHORT anag) |
| 26 | ORIENT (TENOR I anag) |
| 28 | T(OK)EN (NET rev) |
| 29 | ST + AMP (MAP anag) |
| 30 | RAN + EE |
| 32 | V(AL)ID |
| 34 | GERMAN (hidden) |
| 35 | PAL + M |
| 36 | SPASm |
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