Listener Crossword 4276: Solution Notes
Fore and Aft by Poat
Puzzle explanation
Thirteen different letters can be prefixed to words in the Fore grid, and the rest suffixed to words in the Aft grid. The Fore grid uses V(ideophone), hence PAVO belongs there, while the Aft grid uses (lenti)C, matching the C of PACO.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra definition | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | swamp-dwelling (lenti-C) | ANAGRAMS | A + NAG + RAMS |
| Ruin (doo-M) | SARABAND | SARA + BAND | |
| 9 | rough (sandpaper-Y) | AEGEAN | ((w)E (m)ANAGE) * |
| GELATI | LEG < + A + TIER − ER | ||
| 10 | NOMA | NO + MA | |
| SLAM | SLALOM − LO | ||
| 11 | EARD | HE + HARD − H − H | |
| MANG | MAN + GONE − ONE | ||
| 12 | Dynasty (Q-ajar) | AIR | ALTAIR − ALT |
| DOO | DO + O(atcakes) | ||
| 13 | ESTER | CHESTER − CH | |
| LENTI | (LINE + T) * | ||
| 14 | IDEOPHONE | DEO in IPHONE | |
| PENNYWORT | Y in PORTWENN * | ||
| 17 | Convert to binary (digitalis-E) | ALPHA | LP in AHA |
| like quartz (J-asperous) | LEAST | ST after LEA | |
| 20 | PAS | 2 meanings | |
| Scots promise (hech-T) | POA | POAT − T | |
| 21 | ITCH | (chind)IT CH(indit) | |
| PYRE | YR in PE | ||
| 22 | moralistic (P-receptive) | EARL | (NY around EARL) = NEARLY |
| Itinerant (noma-D) | VAVS | VAS around V | |
| 23 | EPOCHA | EPO + CHA | |
| fruit (mang-O) | NATIVE | (NATIVE + G) * = VINTAGE * | |
| 24 | ASPEROUS | AS + PER + (m)OUS(e) | |
| glass ovenware (pyre-X) | TOHEROAS | TO + HERO + AS (indicated in the other order) | |
| Down | |||
| 1 | ASSAILING | SAILING after AS; ref. Rod Stewart song Sailing | |
| SANDPAPER | S + AND + PAPER | ||
| 2 | AJAR | RAJA < | |
| Oppose (B-eard) | ROMO | (f)ROM O(ld-time) | |
| 3 | scraping tool (Z-ester) | AGAIN | NIAGARA < − RA |
| size (gelati-N) | GAMBO | GAMBO(l) | |
| 4 | BELLYACHE | (LYE + BLEACH) * | |
| RECEPTIVE | R + DECEPTIVE − D | ||
| 5 | AGES | SAGE with first letter moved down | |
| a small sum (pennywort-H) | ALME | AL(l) + ME(n) | |
| 6 | Demonstration (proo-F) | MEAT | homophone of MEET |
| serving-boy (K-nave) | NAAN | ANNA with inner letters on the outside | |
| 7 | DIGITALIS | DIGS around (I + TALI) | |
| UNDRESSES | LAUNDRESSES − (c)L(e)A(n) | ||
| 8 | summer attire (S-undresses) | LOOE | LOO + (b)E |
| letter (A-itch) | OLID | O + LID | |
| 15 | fault-finder (bellyache-R) | HAVER | 2 meanings |
| Tree (U-pas) | WHEAR | WHARE with E moved up | |
| 16 | NAVE | N + AVE | |
| standards (G-ages) | RORY | R OR Y | |
| 18 | from a remarkable time (epocha-L) | ACTS | 2 meanings |
| PROO | PRO + O | ||
| 19 | HECH | HH around EC | |
| telecoms device (V-ideophone) | SHIP | -SHIP | |
| 20 | religion (I-slam) | PACO | P(ut) A(wful) C(urse) O(n) |
| singing carols (W-assailing) | PAVO | P + AVO | |