Listener Crossword 4427: Solution Notes
Shut That Door! by Bandmaster
Puzzle explanation
The initial letters from extra words spelt out “Advent calendar not opened”. The thematic cells contained possible items for Advent calendar windows, starting with the letters A to W, for which the corresponding number from to 1 to 23 was entered. The central two cells represent double-sized windows for Christmas Eve, typical of Advent calendars.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Extra word | Answer (object) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| (CANDLE)FISH | (LANDS CHIEF) * | |
| I(MAGI)NARY | I + (GINA in MARY) | |
| (VIRGIN) (GOLD) | GOLD after VIRGIN; ref. Witwatersrand goldfield | |
| (LAMB)’S EARS | (S(tone) + AS MARBLE) * | |
| accountant’s | COY | 2 meanings |
| RETA(KING) | KATE < in RING | |
| (PRESENT)-DAY | (PRAYERS TEND) * − R | |
| Dorset | EARL | (cl)EARL(y) |
| verges | HALFA | HALF + A |
| (WREATH)EN | WREN around (A + THE) | |
| EV(ANGEL)S | EVAN + GELS | |
| escapology | DIN | (Hou)DIN(i) |
| nostalgic | YELPS | YE + LPS; ref. HMV dog Nipper |
| tasting | DOYENS | DO + YENS |
| chairman | TYRE | 2 meanings |
| (ELF)-CHILD | (FILCHED + L) * | |
| (JOSEPH)INITE | IT in JOSEPHINE | |
| SEA (STAR) | SAR around EAST | |
| SNARE (DRUM) | SNARED + RUM | |
| Abnormal | UTERI | (ca)UTERI(sed) |
| S(TREE)K | homophone of STREAK | |
| BAR(BELL) | BARBEL with last letter repeated | |
| ST(IVY) | ST + IVY | |
| lost | FREIT | I in FRET |
| DE (QUINCE)Y | DEY around QUINCE | |
| SEA (ROBIN) | (ROB + I) in SEAN | |
| (FIR)EBUG | FIG around REBU(s) | |
| ends | EEA | (th)E EA(rth) |
| NOCT(URN)S | “NOC TURNS” = CON | |
| W(HOLLY) | homophone of HOLY | |
| HARD (NUT)S | (TUNDRA in SH) < | |
| B(OX)-BED | BOXED around B | |
| Down | ||
| (CANDLE)-TREE | (CLEAN-TIMBERED − (I + M(ay) B(e))) * | |
| F(LAMB)É | FLAMBE(au) | |
| Notary’s | SEAL | 2 meanings |
| Dad | ORCHIS | OR + CH + IS |
| (MAGI)CALLY | (I CALL A GYM) * | |
| NOT FOR (JOSEPH) | (PROF JONES HOT) * | |
| awake | AYE-AYE | AYE + AYE |
| RE(PRESENT) | REP + RE + SEN + T(ransaction) | |
| rhapsody | YODELS | (LY(dian) + ODES) * |
| (VIRGIN)IAN | VIRGINIA + (lagoo)N | |
| (GOLD)EYES | GO + LED * + YES | |
| STR(ANGEL)Y | (R + AS GENTLY) * | |
| Nudists | SCANT | SCAN + T(errible) |
| (KING)ED | KING ED; ref. Edward I’s nickname | |
| ostrich | AVOCET | OVA < + CET |
| (WREATH)ES | (present)S after WEATHER * | |
| Trawlermen | SEI | SEI(zed) |
| PETER (QUINCE) | PENCE around (R + QUITE) * | |
| D(ELF)T | D + LEFT * | |
| RE(D RUM) | MURDER < | |
| order | DECREED | DEC + REED |
| peace | NAB | (whe)N AB(road) |
| eye | DETACH | ETA in DCH |
| PR(IVY) | IVY after PR | |
| nuclear | SIFTER | STRIFE * |
| ARECA-(NUT) | ARE + (TUNA + C) < | |
| (STAR) SIGN | NIT-GRASS * | |
| S(TREE)TBOY | BE(s)ET * in STORY * | |
| RAEB(URN) | RAN around RUBE < | |
| eight | UNSEW | U(senet) + N, S, E, W |
| KE(FIR) | KIR around (E + F(rontiers)) | |
| (BELL)Y-GOD | ELL in BY GOD | |
| SEA (HOLLY) | (HAS + YELLO(w)) * | |
| DET(OX) | TO in DEX | |
| (ROBIN)IA | ROBIN + I + A | |
| desire | USE | (Famo)US E(xplorer) |