Listener Crossword 4795: Solution Notes
Greeting Cards by Lionheart
Puzzle explanation
The puzzle’s theme was the doorstep scene from the film Love Actually, released just over 20 years earlier. In it, Mark (played by Andrew Lincoln) silently declares his love to Juliet (Keira Knightley) by showing her a series of cards. His first card (the top one in the puzzle) contained only SAY IT’S CAROL SINGERS and the last (bottom) one said MERRY CHRISTMAS. The contents of the middle card in the puzzle (not the film) are shown here for information.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Across | |
| ABBAS | ABBA + ’S |
| TAMPA | TAMP + A |
| COACTED | COAC(h) + TED |
| HOARIER | (OAR + I’) in HER |
| SAVOR | SAVOR(y) |
| TAIRA | TA-RA around I |
| SUEDE | SUE + DE |
| GO APE | O in GAPE |
| ESCAPER | E(gg) S(alad) + CAPER |
| SWISHES | S + WISHES |
| SPAM | MAPS < |
| SCATOLE | CAT in SOLE |
| OKTA | T in (OK + A) |
| DANAE | A in DANE |
| SINIC | (shelve)S IN IC(eland) |
| LOONY | (ONLY + O) * |
| NOLAN | NO LAN |
| CLOAM | O in CLAM |
| AD-LIB | (BILD + A) < |
| DYING | DING around Y |
| DELTA | DEL + TA |
| RELAX | RE + LAX |
| OSTIA | (AIT + SO) < |
| TRIER | 2 meanings |
| Down | |
| ACUTE | AC + (m)U(s)T (b)E |
| BOG ASPHODEL | (BOHO + DEL(l)) around GASP |
| BASIS | I in BASS |
| ACCRA | (CARACAS − AS) * |
| STRAYS | R in STAYS |
| MESS | MESS(i) |
| REVERT | REV + VERT − V |
| YORE | (O(f) E(very) Y(ear) R(ing)) * |
| TANGIE | TANG + IE |
| ARGOT | ESCARGOT − ESC |
| MICAS | (Cos)MIC AS(h) |
| PERPETRATED | PER + PET + RATE + D |
| ARIES | I in ARES |
| AURAL | A + URAL |
| ODSOS | OD + SOS |
| SALARY | ALAS < + RY |
| MANIAC | (MANICURE + AC) − CURE |
| CONDOR | DOR after CON |
| LINGAM | MALIGN * |
| OGLERS | (G + ROLES) * |
| ASMARA | (A + RAM + SA) < |
| COLLY | homophone of GOLLY with /g/ → /k/ (unvoiced) |
| SLITS | LIT in SS |
| EOLIC | EPIC with (O + L) for P |
| OYS | (b)OYS |
| ANI | ((p)IN(t) (w)A(s)) < |