Listener Crossword 4371: Solution Notes
Our Announcer by Ploy
Puzzle explanation
Letters (indexed by the answer’s initial) from across clues spelt “thus, swindle, concerning, Ploy”, synonyms of SO, DO, RE, and ME, respectively. From down clues, the positions of words with the same initial as the answer (separated into quartets by clues with no matching word) were 2-4-3-1, 2-3-4-2, 4-2-3-1 and 1-3-4-2. Using 1 = so (the note below do, as the hints were given in ascending order of pitch), 2 = do, 3 = re and 4 = me, these give the chimes that precede the hour strikes of Big Ben (the Great Bell). The outline of Big Ben appears in the grid cells containing its letters.
The chimes may be heard here:
An incorrect version of the chimes is the basis of the Carillon de Westminster composed by Louis Vierne. At a recital in 1924, Henry Willis, who had built the Grand Organ of Westminster Cathedral, brought to Vierne a theme for improvisation, consisting of the Westminster chimes. Because of Vierne’s poor eyesight, Willis had to hum the theme to him, and in his nervousness he got parts of it in the wrong order, which is why Vierne’s music differs from the actual chimes.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | SWOOSH | SWOO(n) + SH |
| 7 | PAPPUS | PAUS(e) around PP |
| 12 | PUNGENTLY | PUN + GENTLY |
| 14 | MHO | IMHO − I |
| 16 | GHARRI | homophone of GARY |
| 17 | EL AL | (c)E(l)L (w)A(l)L(s) |
| 18 | FOREARM | EAR in FORM |
| 19 | TALBOTS | (STO(p) + BLAT) < |
| 20 | OVERFOLD | REV < in FLOOD * |
| 22 | STAG | ST(erling) + AG |
| 25 | RUN-UPS | PRUNUS with P moved to the right |
| 27 | THAE | HATE * |
| 29 | CASPAR | CAR around (S + PA) |
| 31 | I SAY! | IS(l)AY |
| 32 | SOLEUS | SO + L + SUE < |
| 35 | GOWL | GROWL − R |
| 39 | SMASH HIT | S + (H + HAMS IT) * |
| 41 | LIBRARY | (e)ARLY-BIR(d) * |
| 42 | FLATBED | FLA + B in TED |
| 44 | ET AL | LATE < |
| 45 | UPROAR | (RAP GROUP − PG) * |
| 46 | ARE | (f)A(i)R(i)E(s) |
| 47 | BEGINNING | BEG + INN + GIN * |
| 48 | TRASHY | ART < + SHY |
| 49 | YARTAS | ASTRAY * |
| Down | ||
| 1 | SAMFUS | SAM(e) + FUS(s) |
| 2 | WAHOO | (HOW + A(rsonists)) * + O |
| 3 | ODOR | ODO + (poo)R |
| 4 | SUGARY | ((so)Y + RAGU’S) < |
| 5 | AGAMOUS | AGA + MOUS(y) |
| 6 | PERTLY | PER + T(e)L(l)Y |
| 8 | ATILT | AT around TIL |
| 9 | PLEBE | (sim)PLE BE(rth) |
| 10 | PYLORUS | (SOUP + (hou)RLY) * |
| 11 | SALSAS | LASS * around SA |
| 13 | CAT’S-PAW | CAT + SPA + W |
| 15 | GEE-GEE | GEE + GEE; do = ditto |
| 21 | DRAP | PARD < |
| 23 | THORITE | homophone of (THAW + RIGHT) |
| 24 | LASS | (c)LASS(y) |
| 26 | NIGHTS | THINGS * |
| 28 | ALI BABA | ALIBI with ABA for I |
| 30 | PLAFOND | FAL < in POND |
| 32 | SPLENT | SPENT around L(eg) |
| 33 | SMYRNA | MASONRY * − O |
| 34 | DHARNA | (Jalan)DHAR NA(rratives) |
| 36 | LODENS | (b)LONDES * |
| 37 | ARLES | EARLS with first letter moved down |
| 38 | SAUGH | HAS < around (U(rban) G(lasgow)) |
| 40 | TERGA | (Wa)TERGA(te) |
| 43 | BAIT | I in BAT |