Listener Crossword 4457: Solution Notes
Polo by Apt
Puzzle explanation
The misprints (wrong letters) in clues spelt out “Hofstadter’s Law”, which was stated as “It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law” in Douglas Hofstadter’s 1979 book Gödel, Escher, Bach. The paraphrase used here is infinitely recursive: “It will take longer than you think, even if you take into account that it will take longer than you think, even if you ...”. The puzzle’s title refers cryptically to Hofstadter’s sequel I Am a Strange Loop.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Misprint | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 7 | TOILET | TOIL + E(minen)T | |
| 10 | (F)asten → H | TIE UP | (nigh)T + IE + UP |
| 11 | HILLO | CHILL OUT − CUT (on the outside) | |
| 13 | NORMA | NORMA(n) | |
| 14 | (C)ut → O | SIRLOIN | (LO + IN) after SIR |
| 16 | (W)orth → F | RATE | 2 meanings |
| 17 | BODGE | BOD + G + E | |
| 18 | CSÁRDÁS | CARD around S + AS | |
| 19 | MATLO | MATLO(ck) | |
| 21 | CESSER | C + LESSER − L | |
| 23 | mar(K) → S | ACCENT | ACCIDENT − ID |
| 27 | ONIONS | ONS around ION | |
| 28 | en(C)rusted → T | CRUSTA | CA around RUST |
| 30 | TARDY | TAR + D(eadly) Y(orkers) | |
| 33 | DECROWN | (f)E(n)C(e)R in DOWN | |
| 36 | NIECE | NIE + CE | |
| 37 | Dr(I)nk → A | COLA | ALCO(hol) * |
| 38 | ENERGID | EN(t)ER + GID | |
| 39 | BANTU | BAN + TU | |
| 40 | KAABA | (KA + BA) around A | |
| 41 | (P)awn’s → D | SIRIH | IRISH * |
| 42 | (J)ested → T | YORICK | YORK around I/C |
| Down | |||
| 1 | ITEMED | (n)IT(s) + (r)EMED(y) | |
| 2 | WIPERS | WIS around PER | |
| 3 | I’LL SAY | ILLS + AY | |
| 4 | LEVITY | (LEV + Y(east)) around IT | |
| 5 | (C)ars → E | TAILBACK | TAIL + BACK |
| 6 | AIRERS | FAIRER − F + S | |
| 8 | OUAKARI | (f)O(r)U(m) A(s)K (s)A(u)R(o)I(d) | |
| 9 | (W)oman → R | KLOOTCH | (S)TOCKHOL(m) * |
| 10 | (L)atin → S | TOGA | GOT < + A |
| 12 | LIDLESS | MESS with LIDL for M(arketing) | |
| 15 | USEDN’T | T(o) N(u)D(i)E (i)S(s)U(e) < | |
| 20 | ONE-TWO | (HB)O NETWO(rk) | |
| 22 | SCIAENA | (IN A CASE) * | |
| 24 | MORCEAU | homophone of MORSE O (ie, –––) | |
| 25 | UNDER-BOY | (UN + DERBY) around (t)O(p) | |
| 26 | (B)itter → L | ACERBIC | BIC after ACER |
| 29 | URANIN | (sulph)UR AN IN(ert) | |
| 31 | re(E)dy → A | TOITOI | homophone of (TOY + TOY) |
| 32 | ALDERN | DERN after AL | |
| 33 | DASSIE | (AS SIDE) * | |
| 34 | Ke(N) → W | CLARKE | (LACK + E(lderflowe)R) * |
| 35 | OATH | (f)O(r) (b)ATH(s) | |