Listener Crossword 4642: Solution Notes
Music Box by tnap
Puzzle explanation
With the disc rotating anticlockwise, the music box’s “pegs”, consisting of all occurrences of G, A, B, and C in the grid, would play a version of Ring a Ring o’ Roses. The letters omitted from radial answers spelt “Atishoo, atishoo, we all fall down”. The unclued entries formed a ring of (types of) roses.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer (omitted letter) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Rings | ||
| 3 | ICE | DORMICE − DORM |
| 6 | DECCIE | D(o)E(s) C(o)C(a)I(n)E |
| 11 | CONSCIENCE | C(ousin) + ON + SCIENCE |
| 20 | UNCES | UNCLES − L |
| 24 | SCIROCCO | SCI + ROCOCO − O |
| 28 | ROBESON | ROBES ON |
| 29 | SKI BUMS | SUMS around KIB(e) |
| 30 | FOSSILISE | (I + LIS(t)) in FOSSE |
| 31 | HORTENSIO | (OR HE’S INTO) *; ref. The Taming of the Shrew |
| 32 | WORMING | WORKING with M for K |
| 33 | GUIRO | U in GIRO |
| 34 | RUGGY | RUGBY with G for B |
| 35 | UGGING | (b)UGGING |
| 36 | GIP | PIG < |
| 37 | DIPLON | DIPLO(matic) + N |
| Radials | ||
| 1 | COW(A)N | COW + A + N |
| 2 | RA(T)OO | RATIO with O for I |
| 3 | NIMB(I) | IN < around 1MB |
| 4 | CITE(S) | EXCITES − EX- |
| 5 | MENS(H) | MENSCH − C |
| 6 | GOOD-(O) | DO after GOO |
| 7 | SEGN(O) | ((s)ONG ES(pecially)) < |
| 8 | (A)SCUS | CAUSES * − E |
| 9 | (T)HICK | 2 meanings |
| 10 | BOW(I)E | (I’ + E(nemy)) after BOW |
| 11 | CRU(S)T | CRUS + T(oe) |
| 12 | HO-(H)UM | (H + HUM) around O |
| 13 | GO(O)NS | GO ON + S(olemnly) |
| 14 | FR(O)GS | S after (R in FOG) |
| 15 | CON(W)Y | CONY around W |
| 16 | SUIT(E) | (USE IT) * |
| 17 | OS(A)GE | (seri)O(usly) + SAGE |
| 18 | (L)YING | (jel)LY IN G(rease) |
| 19 | (L)INEN | LINE + (foundatio)N |
| 20 | GUL(F)S | F(ight) in SLUG < |
| 21 | GENO(A) | GEN + O’ + A |
| 22 | POU(L)E | homophone of POOL |
| 23 | (L)ARDS | (a)LAR(m) + DS |
| 24 | (D)ITTS | DIT + TS |
| 25 | EL(O)IN | ELECTIONS * − SECT * |
| 26 | (W)ORMS | 2 meanings |
| 27 | ONIO(N) | (ON + ON) around I |