Listener Crossword 4649: Solution Notes
Get Weaving by Paddock
Puzzle explanation
Column 3 in the filled grid contained contained ARACHNE, a mortal who won a weaving contest with MINERVA (Athene), who appeared opposite in column 10. The enraged goddess attacked Arachne, who hanged herself, and Minerva changed her into a SPIDER.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | Hated spending rule charged | |
| ACCUSED | ACCURSED − R | |
| sham cuts following number one in such circumstances | ||
| FACTS | ACT in (F + S(uch)) | |
| 11 | Gun abruptly — FBI agent firing close to in part of head | |
| BREGMA | BRE(n) + G-MAN − (i)N | |
| smokes vehicles catches US soldier back | ||
| CIGARS | CARS around GI < | |
| 12 | Japanese geeks on reflection are to acclaim deleting DOS | |
| OTAKU | (A + TO) < + KUDOS − DOS | |
| bound upmarket store last trace of from computers | ||
| DELIMIT | DELI + (fro)M + IT | |
| 13 | about after skin on enormous turned dry | |
| SERE | RE after E(normou)S < | |
| Complaining fashionable clothes her bust | ||
| SHREWISH | SWISH around HER * | |
| 14 | declines stalls and initially pews | |
| SEATS | SETS around A(nd) | |
| African predicant priest’s cape, conceding over case for expensive | ||
| DOMINEE | DOMINO − O + E(xpensiv)E | |
| 15 | One local caught recently casting line — hooked | |
| UNCATE | UN + C + LATE − L | |
| spot fish occupied by Paddock nothing | ||
| COMEDO | COD around ME + O | |
| 16 | Top EU had leader for non-flammability revised | |
| UNHEAD | (EU HAD + N(on-inflammability)) * | |
| fragrance withdrawn left wanting standards | ||
| AMORAL | AROMA < + L | |
| 17 | makes engineers new fuel carriers for locomotives without number | |
| RENDERS | RE + N + TENDERS − TEN | |
| Closing lines resent giving up year to lubricate almost | ||
| ENVOI | ENVY − Y + OI(l) | |
| 18 | set of tables containing English pine hardest up | |
| NEEDIEST | NEST around (E + DIE) | |
| Clear except for 50 to stack | ||
| BANK | BLANK − L | |
| 19 | drug error involving salesman enzyme found in gut | |
| EREPSIN | (E + SIN) around REP | |
| Compound extreme lying about bottling that is | ||
| DIENE | END < around IE | |
| 20 | Ancient ascetic defended essentially see novel holding Sabbath | |
| ESSENE | ((def)EN(ded) + SEE) * around S | |
| support for ball liberal hosts as alternative to gig | ||
| TEASEL | (TEE + L) around AS | |
| 21 | injures aged served bubbly obscuring taste of Viagra | |
| DERES | SERVED * − V(iagra) | |
| Endless bonking duke drinking partner drugged | ||
| SEDATED | (SE(x) + D) around DATE | |
| Down | ||
| 1 | ASSURE | (ASS + MANURE) − MAN |
| BOUNED | E in BOUND | |
| 2 | CREESE | C + SERENE * − N |
| TENNER | RENNET < | |
| 3 | CACHES | CATCHES − T |
| EARNER | ARNE in ER | |
| 4 | STAINS | (A STAND-IN − DNA *) * + S |
| MUSSES | MUSES with middle letter repeated | |
| 5 | EDDIES | D(rainpip)E < + DICES − C |
| ADHERE | HAD * + ERE | |
| 6 | DECANT | ANT & DEC in the opposite of the usual order |
| CROSSE | ORC < + SS + (fishing-lin)E | |
| 7 | FILMED | FILED around M |
| EMOTED | (farc)E + MO + TED; ref. Father Ted | |
| 8 | CAMERA | CAME + R(ankings) + A |
| INVEST | IN + VET around S | |
| 9 | TISANE | ’TIS AN E |
| REDONE | ON in (RED + E) | |
| 10 | STOLID | (IS TOO OLD − OO) *; ref. pair in cricket |
| SHEKEL | S(harjah) + (HEEL around K) | |