Forgetful solution
by Kegler
Ten answers contain synonyms for “space” (shown in {}), and require the solver to “draw a blank” in lieu of
that synonym when entering the answer in the grid, as indicated by the center entry: COMING UP EMPTY.
The first letters of the ten affected clues (shown as X:) describe what the solver is entering: WHITE SPACE.
Across
| 1 | MAS + SAGE + D |
| 8 | TUBA (ABUT rev) |
| 12 | AP + PEND (PA rev) |
| 14 | DEsIGNED |
| 15 | SP(R)Y |
| 17 | TEA ("TEE" hom) |
| 18 | W: ME{GAP}HO(N)E (HOME PAGE anag) |
| 19 | B(L)AH |
| 20 | LLANO (hidden) |
| 21 | REAP (PEAR anag) |
| 24 | H: D{RIFT}WOOD (ODD WIT FOR anag) |
| 25 | COMING UP EMPTY |
| 29 | W + HOOPS |
| 31 | N + APE |
| 32 | I: C{(HO)LE}RIC |
| 34 | kETCH |
| 35 | LOOS + EST (SET anag) |
| 38 | NO + R |
| 40 | FAIR (2 defs) |
| 41 | MO(SELL)E |
| 42 | T: {B(LANK}E + T)ING (ANKLE anag) |
| 43 | E: A{V(O)ID} + ED |
| 44 | ESTRANGE (SERGEANT anag) |
|
Down
| 1 | MAS + T (SAM rev) |
| 2 | APPA + LOO + SA (PAPA anag; AS rev) |
| 3 | SP + READ |
| 4 | AN + GEL |
| 5 | EDAM (DAME anag) |
| 6 | DEF + END (FED rev) |
| 7 | S: S(IN{GA + P})ORE |
| 9 | UN + DOES |
| 10 | B(E)AN |
| 11 | ADZE ("ADS" hom) |
| 13 | DIALOG (GOAL I'D anag) |
| 16 | S(H,R)IMPER |
| 17 | P: TH{RIFT}INESS (FINE T-SHIRTS anag) |
| 19 | BACON (2 defs) |
| 22 | ATT + ACHING |
| 23 | PSYCH (1st letters) |
| 26 | NACLE + L,E (CLEAN anag) |
| 27 | A: P(OINT{B)LANK} (TOBIN anag) |
| 28 | S(P)OUSE |
| 29 | C: W{H(OLE}S)ALE (s/OLE/S) |
| 30 | ST(R)AIN |
| 33 | C + OWER |
| 35 | L + AMA |
| 36 | E: OBO{VOID} (BOO OVID anag) |
| 37 | TIES (SITE anag) |
| 39 | URG + E (RUG anag) |
|