Listener Crossword 4731: Solution Notes
Whatsername by Ifor
Puzzle explanation
The extra words in clues were three synonyms each of {graces, tans, field, thin, gummy, bob}, referring to Gracie Fields (née Grace Stansfield) and her song The Thing-Ummy-Bob (That’s Going to Win the War). Items highlighted in the grid were some of the things described in the song’s lyrics:
- the thing that drills [DRILL]
- the hole that holds the ring [HORINGLE]
- that drives the rod [ROD moved from 17ac to 18ac]
- that turns the knob [BONK]
- the thing that holds the oil [OILCUP]
- the ring that takes the shank [RISHANKNG]
- that moves the crank [KNARC]
Another line ends “… that works the thing-ummy-bob that makes the engines roar”. The extra letters in remaining clues spelt out “What can her generation make?”, an anagram clue for THE ENGINE ROAR.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra word/ |
Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 2 | (W)ill | ESPADRILLE | (ILL SPREAD) * + E |
| 9 | t(H)ree | REIS | (h)IKERS * − K |
| 13 | refrain [bob] | AUTHOR | AUTO with HR around the last letter |
| 14 | (A)part | INGLE | SINGLE − (Oate)S |
| 15 | s(T)aying | SCAWTITE | TITE after SAW around C |
| 17 | favours [graces] | HOT ROD | HO + TROD |
| 18 | functions [tans] | CORE | 2 meanings |
| 19 | (C)leaner | ALLERGEN | (LEANER + L(ivin)G) * |
| 21 | meagre [thin] | KNOB | (tic)K NOB(ody’s) |
| 22 | toothless [gummy] | PUMAS | (SUP around AM) < |
| 24 | st(A)y | NEPENTHE | NETHE(r) around PEN |
| 27 | divide(N)d | SHARK OIL | SOIL around (AR in HK) |
| 28 | narrow [thin] | CUP | (oc)CUP(ying) |
| 29 | (H)as | NANISM | N + (AS + MIN) * |
| 32 | to(E) | LIANE | (TOENAIL − TO) * |
| 33 | Pardons [graces] | IRISH | FISHERIES * − FEES * |
| 36 | P(R)int | PINTO | PINT + O |
| 37 | (G)lory | EORL | (LOR(y) + E(merge)) * |
| 38 | dock [bob] | CRAN | C- + RAN |
| 39 | sticky [gummy] | KARSEYS | SKY * around ARSE |
| THE ENGINE ROAR | (HER GENERATION) * | ||
| Down | |||
| 1 | Tacky [gummy] | TRASHY | ART < + SHY |
| 3 | h(E)ard | SITATUNGA | (IS THAT A GNU) * − H |
| 4 | Speciality [field] | ADO | DO after A(uditorium) |
| 5 | browns [tans] | DARI | ARID * |
| 6 | (N)arrow | INNER | (w)INNER(s) |
| 7 | titles [graces] | LOGLOG | (GOOGL(e) + L) * |
| 8 | competitors [field] | ELEVENS | LEVE in ENS |
| 10 | (E)motion | SHWA | (WAS + H(eard)) * |
| 11 | Battle [field] | SITREP | PRIEST * |
| 12 | (R)each | ELODEA | EA around LODE |
| 16 | beats [tans] | COHOSH | HO in COSH |
| 18 | poor [thin] | CLEEKS | SLACKENED * − AND * |
| 20 | (A)typically | LIPOMATA | (C)OMPLAI(n) * + T(ypically) + A |
| 21 | (T)own | BOSNIA | (AIN + SO + B) < |
| 23 | l(I)ability | UNLIKES | (USE LINK) * |
| 25 | shilling [bob] | HUNGRY | HUNGARY − A |
| 26 | rode(O) | ÉPÉE | (rod)E + PEE |
| 28 | Ma(N)y | CANOE | CAN + O(ffshor)E |
| 30 | alar(M) | ARAR | (al)AR AR(boretum) |
| 31 | p(A)in | NIPA | (A + PIN) < |
| 34 | ris(K)ing | SIN | RISING − RIG on the outside |
| 35 | than(E) | NOR | N + OR |