Listener Crossword 4679: Solution Notes
Basic Fact by Opsimath
Puzzle explanation
The highlighted parts in the grid were a traditional description of an acid-alkali neutralisation reaction: ACID + ALKALI = SALT & WATER. The preamble specified three different symbols, so SALT + WATER was not accepted.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | AS NOW | A + SNOW |
| 5 | PREMIER CRU | (CUP + MERRIER) * |
| 12 | CAESAR | homophone of SEIZER |
| 13 | EPHEMERON | EN around (HER POEM) * |
| 14 | PLUSHLY | PLY around LUSH |
| 18 | DRUNKS | RUN in DK’S |
| 20 | ONION DOME | ONION + DOME |
| 24 | COEQUALS | SQUEAL * after CO |
| 25 | WIDOWER | WI + DOWER |
| 26 | ROTOLOS | (SO + LOT + OR) < |
| 27 | ITS | (v)I(s)T(a)S |
| 28 | EARLINESS | EAR + LINES + S |
| 30 | TAMANDUA | (A MAD AUNT) * |
| 34 | CLIO | CLI + O |
| 35 | KERMESITE | (MEET SKIER) * |
| 36 | ATTUNE | A + TT + UNE |
| 37 | SLENDEREST | (ELDERS SENT) * |
| 38 | OTTAR | (t)RATTO(ria) < |
| Down | ||
| 1 | ACID FREAKS | AF around CID + REAKS |
| 2 | SAIR | SA + IR |
| 3 | NE PLUS ULTRA | SUPERNATURALLY * − RAY * |
| 4 | WALK | W + A + L(oo)K |
| 5 | PRY | PRIVACY − (I + VAC) |
| 6 | RENO | ONER < |
| 7 | MHO | M(ilitary) H(ousehold) O(fficers) |
| 8 | EMENDS | EM + ENDS |
| 9 | RED DOG | DODGER * |
| 10 | ROAMED | (c)OMRADE * |
| 11 | UNDERWATER | ’UN + DERWENTWATER − WENT |
| 15 | UNEQUALS | QU in (NE + AL) in US |
| 16 | MOIST | MAOIST − A |
| 17 | DOWN-AND-OUT | (ODD AUNT NOW) * |
| 19 | SCONE | SC + ON + E |
| 21 | BOATEL | (n)OTABLE(s) * |
| 22 | SOLEMN | SOL + EMIN − I |
| 23 | ALIPED | (I PEDAL) * |
| 27 | ISA | 3 meanings |
| 29 | SUES | (tenni)S after SUE |
| 31 | ALTO | ALT + O |
| 32 | ULNA | (painf)UL NA(ils) |
| 33 | MIR | MIR(in) |
| 34 | CAT | CA + T; ref. Van cat variety |