Listener Crossword 3992: Solution Notes
Tour de France by Pilcrow
Puzzle explanation
Solvers were required to highlight “La Tour Eiffel” in the completed grid. Clue answers are given in the table below. Publishing the puzzle on the penultimate day of (LE) Tour de France was, of course, a deliberate red herring, as was the clue gimmick used.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 2 | INHALATOR | LA in (IN + ROTA <) about H |
| 9 | URDÉ | RUDE* |
| 12 | JESTS | (bandi)T in JESS |
| 13 | CONVALLARIA | ARIA after ((O + N + V) in CALL) |
| 14 | AVID | (D)AVID |
| 15 | ARGUE | ARE about GU |
| 17 | FLECK | FECK about L |
| 19 | DOR | ROD (as measure) < |
| 20 | RORTS | ROTS about R |
| 21 | PER | REP < (PER = A) |
| 22 | SALAD | SAL + AD (Dame of the Order of Australia); reference Dame Edna Everage |
| 24 | ALLOT | A LOT about L |
| 27 | RICY | R + ICY |
| 29 | FIFTH COLUMN | Location of the entry 11dn |
| 30 | DIANA | NAIAD* |
| 31 | LIAS | SAIL < |
| 32 | COLLEAGUE | COL + LE + AGUE |
| Down | ||
| 1 | OVULE | OLÉ about UV < |
| 2 | DUNG-HUNTERS | HUN TRUDGES* about N |
| 3 | DÁIL | DAIL(y) |
| 4 | LATTE | Homophone (T) in LATE |
| 5 | TRACTOR | CART < + TOR |
| 6 | IBIS | I + BIS |
| 7 | CLANJAMFRAY | CLAN + JAM + FRAY |
| 8 | LEECH | LEE + CH |
| 10 | VEADAR | RAVED* about A |
| 11 | FIELD GRAY | LED* in FIG + RAY |
| 12 | LIFESAVER | (LES + AVER) about IF |
| 16 | SLANDER | (I)SLANDER |
| 18 | SKETCH | S(harp) K(nife) + ETCH |
| 22 | PLAID | Two definitions; PLAID is Welsh for “party” |
| 23 | HOURI | OUR in HI |
| 25 | IGLOO | GI < + LOO |
| 26 | MAUD | Two definitions; see meaning of Matilda = Maud |
| 28 | TALC | Hidden |