Listener Crossword 4877: Solution Notes
Way to Go by Vismut
Puzzle explanation
The answer parts omitted in wordplay could be represented by X. In the grid, X replaced types of lightning (sheet, bead, ball, forked, ribbon, spider). The outer letters of the extra words in clues spelt “taation” (“taxation” without X for a vote) and “tyranny”, relating to James Otis’s catchword “Taxation without representation is tyranny”. Otis was killed by lightning while standing in a doorway. The lines connecting Xes represented the lightning striking OTIS (highlighted) under a DOORWAY.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra word | Answer (unclued letters) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| 1 | SHEET ANCHORS | (SHE + ’S) around (NEAT * + CHOR(e)) | |
| 7 | (TIMES) | (definition only) | |
| 13 | BEADLEDOM | BEAGLE with D for G + DOM | |
| 15 | ENACT | E(very) N(ew) A(ge) C(ome) T(o) | |
| 16 | AYMARAN | (Frid)AY MA RAN(g) | |
| 19 | LOO(TEN) | LOO | |
| 20 | HOLMES | HOME’S around (crimina)L | |
| 21 | LLANERO | L + RENAL < + O | |
| 22 | ÅSAR | STRATA * − both Ts | |
| 23 | FORKEDNESSES | (FOR + KEN(t) + ESSES) around D | |
| 26 | RED RIBBON | (ROBIN DERBY) * − Y | |
| 27 | CARAT | CA + RAT | |
| 28 | WEIR | 2 meanings | |
| 29 | S(CHI)STS | SST + S | |
| 31 | EDDA | (ADD + (estat)E) < | |
| 32 | VIOLIN SPIDER | (PROVINCIAL SIDE) * − CA * | |
| 33 | RECOUP | P after (RECOUNT − NT) | |
| 35 | ORMERS | (d)ORMERS | |
| 39 | STEAMIE | AE < in ITEMS * | |
| 40 | SOLID | SOLDI(ers) * | |
| 41 | OSIERY | HOSIERY − H | |
| 42 | A(BY)SS | AS + S | |
| 43 | (KISS)ABLE | ELBA < | |
| Down | |||
| 2 | ARYBALLOSES | (A + RY + LOSES) around LAB < | |
| 3 | thermostat | CLAIM | CLIMATE * − T − E |
| 4 | ODALS | O + PALS with D for P | |
| 5 | RONE | ONE after R | |
| 6 | automatically | SMALLSAT | SAT around MALLS |
| 8 | INTONE | IE around (N + TON) | |
| 9 | MALTESE DOG | SEE * in (MALT + DO + G) | |
| 10 | auctioneer | ECU | (s)ECU(red) |
| 11 | S(TEN)OGRAPHER | ROSE * around GRAPH | |
| 12 | KATHAREVOUSA | KA + (AUTHORS + (h)AVE) * | |
| 14 | Tijuana | ERA | ARE < |
| 17 | TOAST | (cryptic definition) | |
| 18 | GLADSOMELY | (G + LADY) around (LEMONS − N) < | |
| 24 | Italian | NAINSOOK | NAIN + SOOK |
| 25 | FIDUCIAL | (CU in (LAID + IF)) < | |
| 27 | (CHI)RP | PR < | |
| 30 | on | CLEVIS | C + LEVI’S |
| 33 | ROTIS | RIOTS with I moved down | |
| 34 | CHARA | CHAR + A | |
| 36 | noisy | OSSI | (IS + SO) < |
| 37 | WEE | WEE(p) | |
| 38 | JOB | 2 meanings | |