Listener Crossword 4224: Solution Notes
How to _____ by Colleague
Puzzle explanation
In the radio communication alphabet used before 1956 and the NATO alphabet used afterwards, the only words that didn’t change were CHARLIE, MIKE, VICTOR and XRAY. The following pairs of old and new words appeared in the grid, starting from the same cell: NAN and NOVEMBER, ABLE and ALPHA, TARE and TANGO, OBOE and OSCAR. The word for H changed from HOW to HOTEL, giving the puzzle’s title. Both full lists are in Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, under the entry for “Roger”, for which “received (and understood)” was a hint in the preamble.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | APOSTLE | A + ST in POLE |
| 6 | CARHOP | CARP around HO |
| 12 | CESTUI | C + S in ÉTUI |
| 14 | LATHY | LAY around T(houg)H |
| 15 | X-RAY | X + RAY |
| 16 | EASE | SAE < + E |
| 17 | EPOS | EP + OS |
| 18 | GLASS | (GAS + S) around L |
| 19 | KARNO | RANK * + O’ |
| 20 | BERETS | BERES around T(arpaulin) |
| 21 | BWANA | B(o)W(m)A(n) N(e)A(r) |
| 23 | SILURIST | SIST around LURI(d) |
| 25 | SHRANK | KNARS < around (Marc)H |
| 26 | ALPHASORT | (PASTORAL(e) + H) * |
| 28 | BASE | A in BSE |
| 30 | ONER | ONE + R(azorback) |
| 31 | EPISTOLET | (Di)EP(pe) + IS + TO LET |
| 32 | ANGOLA | A + ALONG * |
| 34 | DOULEIAS | (USED OIL + A) * |
| 35 | GATED | DE-TAG < |
| 37 | ENARMS | ENA + R + MS |
| 39 | TOSCA | CAST * around O |
| 42 | MARIE | (humdru)M ARIE(tta) |
| 43 | LUTE | (reso)LUTE |
| 44 | BICE | ICE after B |
| 45 | EKKA | (d)EKK(o) + A(uditors) |
| 46 | ROLES | ORLES with O moved to the right |
| 47 | LOAVES | L + OAVES |
| 48 | ANSWER | (A + R) around (N + S + W + E) |
| 49 | JAEGERS | S after JAEGER |
| Down | ||
| 1 | ACERB | ACE + R(ent-a-mo)B |
| 2 | PEAK | 2 meanings |
| 3 | OSSA | (AS + SO) < |
| 4 | STERNA | TERN + (os)SA; ref. 3dn |
| 5 | LIDO | LI + DO |
| 6 | CAPELLMEISTER | IMPRECATES * around ELL |
| 7 | ATOM | A + TOM |
| 8 | HYGEIAN | (HYENA + I + (do)G) * |
| 9 | PRAETOR | PRAEPOSTOR − POS |
| 10 | PASTORALE | (LAST OPERA) * |
| 11 | SYSSITIA | (ASS IT IS + Y(ou)) * |
| 13 | ULNA | L in UNA |
| 14 | LEVIABLE | LEVI + ABLE(t) |
| 22 | WHIP SNAKE | WHIPSNADE with K for D |
| 23 | SKEO | SKELETON − LET ON + O |
| 24 | UPSTARES | homophone of UPSTAIRS |
| 25 | SCENEMEN | EMINENCES * − I |
| 27 | HOAS | HO(r)AS |
| 28 | BIDARKA | BID + ARK + A |
| 29 | STUMERS | STURMER’S − R |
| 33 | GASBAG | GAB around S(terling) + AG |
| 35 | GOBO | GOO around B |
| 36 | DRESS | REDRESS − RE |
| 38 | MULE | MURE with L for R |
| 39 | TALA | TA + LA; ref. Apia in Samoa |
| 40 | CIVE | V in CIE |
| 41 | ACER | ACE + (rubbe)R |