Listener Crossword 4579: Solution Notes
Skywriting by Donarino
Puzzle explanation
The quotation, in columns 1, 3, 5, 9, 11 and 13 of the grid, was “It has been said that an [engineer] is a man who can do for ten shillings what any fool can do for a pound”, from Slide Rule, the autobiography of Nevil Shute Norway, who was an aeronautical engineer. Hence the puzzle’s title refers to “sky” writing. He wrote novels such as [A] Town Like Alice under the name of Nevil Shute, so that his engineering career wouldn’t be affected by reactions to his books. The other highlighted names were also engineers: Isambard Kingdom Brunel, John Logie Baird, Rudolf Diesel, Elisha Graves Otis and Alfred Bernhard Nobel.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | ESCHATOLOGIST | (LOOSE CHAT) * + GIST |
| 12 | HOTPOT | HOTSPOT − (Mis)S |
| 13 | HORMONE | HORSEWOMAN * − WAS * |
| 14 | CABS | CA’S around B |
| 16 | YAHWIST | Y + (IS WHAT) * |
| 17 | RATA | TARA * |
| 18 | FILL | IF < + L + L |
| 20 | INLAND | FINLAND − F |
| 23 | COOLS | COO + L(ie)S |
| 24 | INORBED | IN + OR + BED |
| 25 | PODIUM | OD in PIUM |
| 28 | BORIDE | BO + RIDE |
| 29 | LINDEN | END * after (KIN with L for the first letter) |
| 31 | WAFERS | W + FEARS * |
| 33 | ERGODIC | ERGO + CID < |
| 35 | NOYAU | (A(ddictio)N + YOU) * |
| 39 | NAUSEA | NA + USE + A |
| 41 | ARMY | (w)AR MY(stifies) |
| 43 | NOSH | NOS + H |
| 45 | RAETIAN | (NAI(l) + TEAR) < |
| 46 | HEED | (t)HE ED(ict) |
| 47 | CLINGER | (CLINGER + I PASS) * = (ALICE SPRINGS) * |
| 48 | FOLATE | FO(o)L + ATE |
| 49 | MEN OF THE WORLD | MEN + OF THE WORLD |
| Down | ||
| 1 | HABITS | HA’ + BITS |
| 2 | BUDGERO | BUDGE(rigar) + RO(ok) |
| 3 | TATH | (bu)T ATH(erton) |
| 4 | NACHO | CAN < + HO |
| 5 | PRESS ON | PRESS + ON |
| 6 | NOWT | 2 meanings |
| 7 | SIDLES | SIDES around L |
| 8 | HILLS | (HELLISH − HE) * |
| 9 | MILCH | FILCH with M for F |
| 10 | STOIC | O in STIC(k) |
| 11 | OAR | (sh)O(em)A(ke)R |
| 15 | ABRAID | A + BRAID |
| 19 | NOUP | NOT UP − (ma)T(ch) |
| 21 | SAIN | homophone of SANE |
| 22 | ALKIE | (mor)AL KIE(rkegaard) |
| 26 | PEISED | (I’ + SE) in PED |
| 27 | COLA | COL + A |
| 28 | SENE | SEEN * |
| 29 | FERRULE | TROUBLE-FREE * − (TO BE) * |
| 30 | BONE-OIL | ONE in BOIL |
| 32 | GOWANY | GO + W + ANY |
| 34 | TUSHED | TU(sk) + SHED |
| 36 | LUMEN | ((Capo)NE MUL(ls)) < |
| 37 | ROARY | (OR MARY) * − M |
| 38 | NOTER | NOTE + R |
| 40 | SWATH | SWAT + H(ouse) |
| 42 | CIEL | C + IE + L |
| 44 | FOND | OF < + ND |
| 45 | IDA | IDAHO − HO |