Listener Crossword 4770: Solution Notes
Arrangement by Tringa
Puzzle explanation
The extra letters in wordplay of down clues spelt out words that were paired with across entries to give wildflower names that are all in Chambers: LADY(’s-mantle), GOAT(’s-beard), PHEASANT(’s-eye), SHEPHERD(’s-purse). Another such wildflower is Venus’s looking-glass, so LOOKING-GLASS was highlighted and VENUS entered twice in the blank cells. Connecting these letters of Venus formed the symbol of Venus (♀), which some say represents the goddess’s hand-mirror. The puzzle was published on National Meadows Day, a celebration of wildflower meadows in the UK.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Answer | Explanation [extra letter] |
|---|---|
| Across | |
| STARE | STAR + (routin)E |
| MANTLE | MALE around NT |
| SCORE | SORE around C |
| ANIMUS | I’M in (AN + US) |
| CLEARS | (CHARLES − H) * |
| OOM | O + O + M |
| REMERGE | EMERGE after R |
| ARKS | MARKS − M |
| DETAIL | ET in DAIL |
| BEARD | BEAR + D |
| MAIDAN | D(elt)A in MAIN |
| DEBTS | ((mu)ST BE D(iscreetly)) < |
| SKEGS | SEGS around K(iteboard) |
| SCHLEP | PLACES * with H for A |
| CHAIN | CHA + IN |
| UNSUBTLE | (BLUNT SUE) * |
| EYE | (g)EY(s)E(r) |
| LOGAN | LOG + AN |
| TEE-TEE | TEE + TEE |
| PURSE | S in PURE |
| LAIRD | LARD around I |
| SET-TOS | SETS around TO |
| Down | |
| ASCRIBES | ESSA[Y] * around CRIB |
| SCLERENCHYMA | (HER CYCLAMEN [H]AS) * − A |
| ARAME | A in ARME[D] |
| REREAD | DAR[E] < around ERE |
| ENIGMA | GAME * around NI[T] |
| ÂME | A(nd) M(otown) [A](rtists) E(xcel) |
| NUNATAK | NUN + AT[T]ACK − C |
| LOOKING-GLASS | (LOO + (restin)G + LASS) around KING[S] |
| ELMS | (r)E[A]LMS |
| ICED | [H]IED around C |
| SORA | S(ervice) + OR[R]A |
| CAD | C(h)A(n)[G](e)D |
| RIM | [P]RIM |
| LISTENER | ENT[A]ILS * + E(ito)R |
| RELIER | RE + [H]AULIER − AU |
| ISMS | (rabb)I’S M[E]S(sage) |
| NEWT | NEWTO[N] − O |
| TENES | TEN + [D]ES |
| SCULPT | ST around (LP after CU[E]) |
| HAET | [P]HAETON − ON |
| PUT | [S]PURT − R |
| ABOUT | [L]OUT after AB |
| CELL | CELL[O] |
| NED | DE[A]N < |