Listener Crossword 4443: Solution Notes
Not the Rockies by Kruger
Puzzle explanation
The extra letters in wordplay spelt out “answers containing N to the top and S to the bottom”. Each clue pair had one answer with N (but not S) and one with S (but not N), partitioned into the North and South parts of the grid respectively. The circled letters were a jumble of “Watford”, which is often cited as the boundary for the UK’s North-South Divide. The title refers to the Rocky Mountains, part of the Great Divide or Continental Divide of North America.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Answer | Explanation [extra letter] |
|---|---|
| INEQUALITIES | ((M[A]IN + QUALITIES) around E) − M |
| ENCAGE | (h)EN(s’) + CA[N] + EG < |
| FRIS | FR + [S]IS |
| CRUSE | CRE[W] around US |
| INYALA | (LAY IN) * + [E]A |
| STIPES | ST[R]IPES |
| ERNANI | ([S]IRE around NAN) < |
| UNIT | (pi)N in [C]UIT |
| THISTLE | (THEI(r) + L[O]ST) * |
| EO IPSO | POISO[N]E(d) * |
| GENUINE | GEN[T] + EQUINE − EQ |
| CTENE | C[A]T + E(njoy) N(ew) E(lectric) |
| SERAI | [I]SRAELI * − L(ocked) |
| STIRP | PRI[N]TS < |
| ANCHOR | AN + [I]CHOR |
| NITRIC | (CR + [N]I + TIN) * |
| OECIST | E[G]O < + CIST |
| ISAAC | (Par)IS A[N] AC(claimed) |
| ARRAN | RA[T] < + RAN |
| AWARNED | A + WAR +[O]NE + D |
| OAST | [T]OAST |
| OBSESS | (BOSS S[H]E) * |
| YULAN | YUAN around L(arg)[E] |
| EVINCED | VIN in E[T]C + E(ducation) + D |
| CESTUS | (SC[O]UT + SE(en)) * |
| CUNEATE | (EATEN U[P]) * after C |
| IMSHI | ((Helsink)I H[A]S MI(grants)) < |
| VILLOUS | VILLA[N]OUS − (llam)A |
| ELENCHI | ELCHI around EN[D] |
| OCEANIC | (CAN ICE + [S](h)O(w)) * |
| DAISIES | DAIS + [T]IE(r) + (ailanthu)S |
| IYNX | (BR[O]NX − BR) after I(ndecenc)Y |
| ASHMOLE | MOLE after [T]ASH |
| GAYNOR | GAY + [H]ORN * |
| DASHPOT | ASH in D[E]POT |
| DYNAMO | ([B]OND MAY) * |
| TUSCHE | S in T[O]UCH + E(nhances) |
| RERUN | RE + [T]URN * |
| EASIER | EAS[T]ER around (Apr)I(l) |
| BURSCH | B[O]UCH(e) around RS |
| ELTON | [M]ELTON |