Listener Crossword 4018: Solution Notes
In Clue Order, On and On by Loda
Puzzle explanation
All messages which follow are to be read in clue order. Misprints in down clues spelt “Advance the across misprints by six”. Moving by six alphabetical places (A=1,27, B=2,28 etc) yielded “read the clues’ end letters” which in turn led to “add down cap and answer end”. Adding numerical values of the first letter of the clue to the last of its answer then gave “DONEE RAGE shows unchecked letters” allowing completion of the unclued top and bottom rows and the central cell’s G. The message revealed in the top and bottom rows “See odd answers / centres to draw” then drew attention to the middle letters of all the entries of odd length. These spelt “Sign for infinity” and thus the standard infinity sign had to be drawn by solvers through these fifteen letters, the concept perhaps reflecting the seemingly long process required to reach the solution. (The precise typography for the sign is slightly unsymmetrical and solutions that reflected this were, of course, judged to be correct.)
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Correction | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 10 | (L)ives | NILGAI | AILING * |
| 11 | “Grav(Y)” | TRAINS | RATS IN * |
| 12 | st(U)ff | UPAS | UP + AS |
| 15 | fo(X) | CHASSEUR | (CRUISE – I) * about (H + AS) |
| 17 | sto(N)es | ONAGER | (GEAR + NO) * |
| 18 | (B)ig | EWER | (s)EWE(r) + R |
| 20 | (Y)ear | SORREL | SO + (L + ERR) < |
| 23 | (W)ash | BASIN | BRAINS * – R(hetoric) |
| 25 | hoo(F)ed | ORIBI | OR + IB + I |
| 26 | (O)ak | TREE | TRÈ(s) + E |
| 28 | da(Y)’s | FIESTA | F + (IS + TEA) * |
| 29 | (M)edic | EXTERN | EX(odus) + TERN |
| 32 | Bu(Y) | TAKE | STAKE – S |
| 36 | S(H)ot | INNER | WINNER – W (with) |
| 39 | bo(X)er | YAFFS | FF in (Y + (se)AS(on)) |
| 40 | (F)ull | TRISTE | (wen)T + SIR < + T(h)E |
| 41 | Hand(Y) | CUFF | Two definitions, “near to hand” |
| 43 | Mai(N)e | SAITHE | IS A * + THE |
| 47 | (N)ovel | RELEASED | LEASE in RED |
| 48 | Gre(Y) | EARL | PEARL – P; reference Earl Grey, ex-PM after whom tea was named |
| 49 | (L)ot | RACIER | (I + CAR) < + (t)E(st) + R |
| 50 | ho(M)e | IGUANA | I + GUYANA – Y (150) |
| Down | |||
| 1 | p(A)rt | SNUG | GUN < after S(ip) |
| 2 | (D)ash | ELAN | ELAN(d) |
| 3 | li(V)e | DANGER | AND * + GER(m) |
| 4 | b(A)le | DICE | Hidden; word for set of dice |
| 5 | pai(N) | ATHROB | (b)ATHROB(e) |
| 6 | (C)ruise | SASHAY | SAY about ASH |
| 7 | h(E)p | WISEST | (I + W) < + first letters |
| 8 | wa(T)er | ENEW | (WE + (e)N(t)E(r)) < |
| 9 | (H)oe | SERR | Anagram of last letters |
| 13 | br(E)ad | POORI | PO + OR + I |
| 14 | sp(A)ce | SAROS | O in SARS |
| 16 | (C)overs | AMBIENT | (pos)T after BEAM IN * |
| 19 | fai(R) | ENE | ERNE – R |
| 20 | m(O)sque’s | SOFTA | SO + F + TA |
| 21 | na(S)ty | REEK | REE + INK – IN |
| 22 | ha(S) | LIAISES | (SAILS + E + I) * |
| 24 | (M)ake | FENCE | (Xtia)N in (FE + CE) |
| 27 | O(I)l | RETS | RE + TABLES – ABLE |
| 30 | (S)ound | TRITE | (((z)IT after R) + E(ric)) after T |
| 31 | (P)rice | RATER | (T(amworth) + REAR) * |
| 33 | f(R)y | AYU | (l)AY-U(p) |
| 34 | w(I)n | EFFECT | (FEET + C(lif)F) * |
| 35 | concer(N) | AFFAIR | FAIR after AF |
| 37 | hoo(T)ers | NOSERS | (SO + first letters) * |
| 38 | (S)weet | ERINGO | Hidden |
| 41 | (B)east | CROC | CROC(k) |
| 42 | penn(Y) | FLAN | F + LAN(k) |
| 44 | pa(S)sage | ADIT | AD + (Tah)IT(ian) |
| 45 | m(I)st | HAAR | HAZARD – Z – D |
| 46 | Lyn(X)’s | CLAW | CLAM, W for M |