Listener Crossword 4056: Solution Notes
ROC by Loda
Puzzle explanation
The theme was the constitutional incident on January 4, 1642 when King Charles I breached privilege and entered Parliament to arrest five MPs. Forewarned, the five left early and the king declared “I see all the birds are flown”, spelt out, with “King Charles I”, by the corrected misprints; see the table below. All birds were removed from theme answers, also shown in that table. To represent the flight of the birds, scray, egret, ariel, goose and raven were to be replaced by a simple curved line-drawing to depict a bird in flight; other curved drawings were accepted. The title is an abbreviation for Royal Observer Corps and the name of a fabled (ie, unseen) bird.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Correction | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | INDETER(MINA)TENESS | (IT + S(ome) + D(izziness) + MEN ARE INTENSE) * | |
| 9 | W(I)llow | OSIERY | R after (OS + IE) + Y |
| 10 | ri(S)e | REVOLT | (LOVE in TR) < |
| 12 | Ass(E)rting | DECLARING | CLEAR * in DING |
| 14 | po(E)t | GERE | GEE about R(acing) |
| 15 | VI(A) | THRU | THE RUG – (E + G = eg) |
| 17 | wo(L)d | MOOR | M’ + ROO < |
| 18 | S(TERN)ITE | IT after STERN + (spin)E | |
| 20 | (KA)MSIN | SICK MAN * – C(hamomile) | |
| 22 | (HAWK)-EYED | (W + KEY + ED) after (H + (tr)A(il)) | |
| 23 | (JACK)-SLAVES | JACK + LAVE in SS | |
| 26 | JUNIOR (BANTAM)WEIGHTS | J + IN OUR * + BAN + (W + EIGHT) in TAMS | |
| 27 | (L)ong | TIRADE | DE after (A + RIT) < |
| 32 | sof(T) | OOSE | GOOSE – G |
| 35 | (H)im | SVEN | Every third letter |
| 36 | k(E)no | RENO | ONER <; Reno renowned for gambling |
| 37 | KNEE-(TREMBLER) | KNEE + T’ + RAMBLER, E for A | |
| 39 | CORN(COB) | CO + R + N(ew) + CO(tton) + B(ud) | |
| 40 | Clu(B) | IRON | (NO + RI) < |
| 42 | w(I)res | SPREADERS | SP + READERS |
| 43 | (R)ise | EROTIC | RICE * about OT |
| 44 | An(D)y | IRVINE | Two definitions; reference Andy Irvine, now retired as player: see Chambers Biographical Dictionary |
| 45 | LAND(SCAPE)-PAINTINGS | LAND + SCAPE + PAIN + STING, S to end | |
| Down | |||
| 1 | do(S)e | IODISE | I + ODE about IS |
| 2 | I(A)n’s | DICHTS | (C(ondimen)T + DISH) * |
| 3 | Hu(R)t | TRAUMA | U in (A MART) < |
| 4 | b(E)ast | EYRA | EY(e) + RA |
| 5 | (F)ix | TENON | ON after NET < |
| 6 | NO(SE-RIN)G | NO + SERING(a) | |
| 7 | Wai(L) | ELEGY | ELY about EG |
| 8 | SLEND(ERNE)SS | SENDER about L + NESS | |
| 11 | (MACAW)-TREE | MACE about WATER * | |
| 13 | h(O)ckey | GOAL | O in GAL |
| 16 | (W)orm | REDIA | AIDER < |
| 17 | so(N) | MIDWIVE | Middle of WIVE is IV = four |
| 19 | ban(K)er’s | IJUI | Hidden |
| 21 | f(I)rm | SURE | SU(tu)RE |
| 23 | (N)ot | SELE | Hidden, reversed |
| 24 | Sna(G)s | AGGRO | AG + GROT – T |
| 25 | (C)ollar | ETON | NOTE < |
| 26 | J(ANI)TORIAL | (I + ORAL) after (JAN + IT) | |
| 28 | DE(CROW)NS | (SCORNED + W) * | |
| 29 | (H)and | UNCART | CAN RUT * |
| 30 | p(A)per | HEREIN | HIN about ERE |
| 31 | (DOVE)-HOUSES | SUE SHOVED * about O(pen) | |
| 33 | g(R)umpy | OGRE | ERGO < |
| 34 | c(L)ipped | SHORN | ’S + HORN |
| 35 | Fin(e) | SEPIA | APE IS *; cut = hurt, as anagram indicator |
| 38 | (S)low | REIN | (pictu)RE + IN |
| 41 | h(I)nt | NOD | NOD(e) |