Listener Crossword 4428: Solution Notes
Classic FM Track by Aelfre
Puzzle explanation
“Nothing really matters to me” is the penultimate line of the Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody, which also mentions Scaramouche, Galileo and Figaro. The puzzle’s title refers to Freddie Mercury, who wrote the song.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Radials | ||
| 1 | REUSED | (DE + SUER) < |
| 2 | ENCODE | CO in ENDE |
| 3 | RAPHIA | RAP + HIA(tus) |
| 4 | LEGLIN | NIGELL(a) *; LEG + LIN |
| 5 | AVIARY | (V + I + (l)AR(k)) in AY |
| 6 | MALMAG | MALM + AG |
| 7 | ASIANS | AS + A in INS |
| 8 | HAMLET | LET after HAM |
| 9 | MALONE | 2 meanings; ref. TV show Cheers, novel Malone Dies |
| 10 | REFUND | RED around FUN |
| 11 | STIEVE | I in STEVE |
| 12 | MAGGOT | MAG + GOT |
| 13 | IGNARO | (campa)IGN ARO(used) |
| 14 | APTOTE | APT + (n)OTE |
| 15 | LESSON | LESS ON |
| 16 | ORCHEL | (LICHEN OR) * = (IN + ORCHEL) * |
| 17 | TRAMPS | T(hief) + RAMPS |
| 18 | HEROIC | HE + R + O + I/C |
| 19 | TO A MAN | (A + MA) in TON |
| 20 | ON SONG | “ON SONG” = RE + LAY |
| Arcs | ||
| 21 | ENID | END around I |
| 22 | ERAS | ERASE(e); (t)ERAS |
| 23 | ERNE | (Inv)ERNE(ss) |
| 24 | TORE | SUPERSTORE − PURSES * |
| 25 | TORR | homophone of TORE; (TORR + A + C) = CARROT < |
| 26 | ÉLAN | LA in EN |
| 27 | OPAL | (s)O(u)P (l)A(d)L(e) |
| 28 | IMAM | (Musl)IM A M(ullah) |
| 29 | BLUE | 3 meanings |
| 30 | GNAT | G + ANT * |
| 31 | SHMO | SH + MO |
| 32 | JASS | J + ASS |
| 33 | EDAM | MADE < |
| 34 | IVAN | VAIN with I moved to the front |
| 35 | AZAN | NAZA(reth) < |
| 36 | VAGI | V + A + GI |
| 37 | PEEP | PEE + P |
| 38 | IRON | 2 meanings |
| 39 | SNAG | 2 meanings; S + NAG |
| 40 | SHAM | S + HAM |
| 41 | DEMI | DEMI- |
| 42 | GALL | 3 meanings |
| 43 | SCAT | SC + AT; SCATHE − HE |
| 44 | ODER | REDO < |