Listener Crossword 4859: Solution Notes
Forever by Twin
Puzzle explanation
The initials of the extra words in clues spelt out “clue initials other than these; highlight unchanged cells”. For each clue, the first letters of the (non-extra) words spelt an alternative grid entry and these entries together produced an alternative grid fill (shown here) including MATTHEW TWENTY FOUR THIRTY FIVE, a Bible verse that says “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (in the New International Version and others). HEAVEN (1ac) and EARTH (in 46ac) were at the top and bottom of the primary grid but not in the alternative one. The letters that were the same in both grids formed a diamond shape reading, clockwise from cell 6, MY WORDS WILL NEVER PASS AWAY. The puzzle’s title referred to the diamond shape, via the James Bond title Diamonds are Forever.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra word | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | cruel | HEAVEN | HEAV(y) + EN |
| 6 | losing | MIASMAS | ((tea)MS(ter) + AIM) < + AS |
| 11 | uniform | WARMLY | W + ARM + (Ne)L(son) + Y |
| 12 | eats | OYSTER | (YOUNGSTER − (f)UNG(i)) * |
| 13 | it | WREN | (o)WNER(s) * |
| 14 | Nixon | AS OF | A + SOF(t) |
| 15 | interment | STIE | SITE * |
| 17 | team | ZOOEAL | ZEAL around O,O |
| 18 | insisting | STAYSAIL | STAY + homophone of SALE |
| 22 | access | PSST | (OA)PS ST(olen) |
| 24 | Lego | NODDY | (u)N(l)O(a)D(s) D(r)Y |
| 25 | silent | SOFI | SO + IF < |
| 26 | only | SMITH | SH around MIT |
| 28 | throughout | RYAS | RAYS * |
| 30 | hop | PAINT | PA + IN + (easyJe)T |
| 33 | Eh | SHWA | WHA’S * |
| 36 | regarding | CASTEISM | ETACISMS * |
| 37 | They | SCARRE | SCAR + RE |
| 40 | honing | TATI | (visi)TATI(on) |
| 41 | artist | REAL | 2 meanings |
| 42 | nearing | RHEA | R + HEA(d) |
| 43 | teaching | GENEVA | (VEGAN + E) * |
| 44 | he’s | NUDELY | N + RUDELY − R |
| 45 | Expert | SYNAPTE | (TYPES + N(ot) + AS) * |
| 46 | silicone | DEARTH | (D + (e)T(c)H) around EAR |
| Down | |||
| 2 | elm | EARN | (y)EARN |
| 3 | hubs | ARENAS | AR(e) + SANE < |
| 4 | increasing | ELAPSES | (v)E(t) + LAPSES |
| 5 | G-men | NYSTAGMIC | (STING YMCA) * |
| 6 | hummed | MOONIE | MOONE(d) around I |
| 7 | Laurel | ASWOON | AS + WOON |
| 8 | investigating | METER | MET + ER |
| 9 | grime | ARIA | (p)ARIA(h) |
| 10 | harbour | SKELLY | KEL(t) in SLY |
| 13 | tearing | WISPS | WIS + SP < |
| 16 | up | WYTING | WING around (YET − E) |
| 19 | near | LOTUS-LAND | LOTS around U + LAND |
| 20 | crop | MORSEL | MOR + (chickpea)S (ar)E (loca)L |
| 21 | hits | ADAW | WADA < |
| 23 | ate | SOAP | S + OAP |
| 27 | numbs | HOT FLUE | LOFT * in HUE |
| 29 | guide | SAMBA | SAMBA(l) |
| 30 | entrepreneur’s | PASTIS | PASS around TI |
| 31 | Did | THREEP | THREE P (3p + 2 × 3p = 9p) |
| 32 | coil | PALEAE | LAP < + EA + E |
| 34 | engineers | HIGHER | homophone of HIRE; 2 meanings |
| 35 | lead | PATEN | PATEN(t) |
| 38 | labels | CAGY | CA + G(u)Y |
| 39 | specialist | DELT | homophone of DEALT |