Listener Crossword 4449: Solution Notes
Whoppers by Nutmeg
Puzzle explanation
The short answers had different types of fish added to make new words. The extra letters in the other clues spelt out “Are fishermen all liars? Or do only liars”, a fragment of a verse given by William Sherwood Fox in his 1954 book Silken Lines and Silver Hooks: A Life-Long Fisherman Recounts His Catch:
We ask a simple question
And that is all we wish:
Are fishermen all liars?
Or do only liars fish?
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra letter | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | tr(A)y | BATS | STAB < |
| 4 | FORTE | FORT + (edg)E | |
| 11 | score(R) | RIPPON | R + IPPON |
| 12 | quit(E) | AROUSAL | (c)AROUSAL |
| 14 | (F)air | IRMA | M in AIR * |
| 15 | ru(I)ns | STARE | STATE with R for second T |
| 16 | BARED | BARRED − R | |
| 17 | RETS | STER(n) < | |
| 19 | (S)car | MINIFY | MINI + F(ade) + Y(ou) |
| 21 | STAFF | S + TAFF | |
| 23 | W(H)inged | FLEW | homophone of FLU |
| 26 | Nil(E) | OTTO | OTT + O |
| 27 | FRANCE | F + RACE around N | |
| 31 | g(R)apes | GERNED | GREEN * + D |
| 32 | (M)ascot | SURCOAT | ASCOT * around (U + R) |
| 33 | BED | BEND − N | |
| 36 | c(E)asing | AULAS | U in ALAS |
| 37 | ge(N)t | ALDI | DIAL with letters “cycled” |
| 38 | (A)new | SLYNESS | (LYES around N) in SS |
| 39 | MEN | (a)MEN | |
| 40 | PORTAL | (PORT + L) around A | |
| 41 | b(L)ack | DUNG | GNU < after (elan)D |
| Down | |||
| 1 | (L)over | BRING OFF | BORING − O + OFF |
| 2 | b(L)uffer | AIRBAG | cryptic definition |
| 3 | SOW | 2 meanings (with different pronunciations) | |
| 4 | w(I)ring | FORCEPS | PS after FORCE |
| 5 | co(A)t | ON TO | ((c)OT NO(w)) < |
| 6 | RA | (Pha)RA(oh) | |
| 7 | sho(R)t | TRUEMEN | MUTINEER * − I |
| 8 | worker(S) | NUTANT | NUT + ANT |
| 9 | P(O)et | TARIFF | TIFF around (A + R) |
| 10 | (R)ode | ELEGY | LEG in YE < |
| 13 | jade(D) | SATIATE | (ETAS around AIT) < |
| 18 | so(O)n | SKINS | S + S after KIN |
| 20 | c(O)urse | DEER FLY | REED < + FLY |
| 22 | FOOT | 2 meanings; ref. Michael Foot | |
| 24 | are(N)a | MADRASA | A in DRAMAS * |
| 25 | cu(L)ts | SERCIAL | C in SERIAL |
| 26 | ORD | O + RD | |
| 28 | (Y)ear | REGULO | (LUG in O’ER) < |
| 29 | b(L)uff | ENFANT | ENT around FAN |
| 30 | Tur(I)n | SADDEN | DAS < + DEN |
| 31 | (A)gent’s | GRASP | G(ent) + RASP |
| 34 | Ma(R)c’s | OOSY | CHOOSY − CH |
| 35 | coa(S)t | ABBA | (B + B) in AA |