Listener Crossword 4829: Solution Notes
Bigfoot by Dysart
Puzzle explanation
The puzzle was based on the myth of Oedipus, dramatised by Sophocles in Oedipus Rex, set in THEBES (in the grid’s bottom row). In the top row, SPHINX was replaced by MAN (and three blank cells), the correct answer that Oedipus gave to the Sphinx’s riddle. In the leftmost column, TIRESOME was changed to TIRESIAS, the blind seer who knew answers to Oedipus’s questions but declined to answer him. OEDIPUS alternating with his mother JOCASTA formed an ellipse, in which only OEDIPUS was required to be highlighted, but highlighting including JOCASTA as well was accepted. In the middle of row 4, SUILA was highlighted, being a jumble of Oedipus’s father LAIUS, whom Oedipus unknowingly killed. Oedipus’s self-blinding was symbolised by the removal of EYE (meaning “sight”) in 28ac, leaving the protagonist as O–DIPUS. Entries with the empty E cell highlighted or not were accepted. The puzzle’s title was a somewhat literal translation of “Oedipus” (swell-foot).
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 1 | SET BY | Y after BETS * |
| 5 | RASP | R(ebuke) + (w)ASP(y) |
| 12 | ALOETIC | A + L + (CITE + O’) < |
| 13 | AGAPAE | AE around (GAP + A) |
| 14 | LANDSMÅL | L + AND + SMAL(l) |
| 15 | ADORN | ROD < in AN |
| 16 | EGIS | LEG − L + LIS − L |
| 17 | ADDIO | ADDITION − (TI, N) |
| 18 | PIÙ MOSSO | PIUM + SO < + SO |
| 21 | MESAL | ME + (u)S(u)A(l)L(y) |
| 24 | FARE | homophone of FAIR |
| 27 | ILL-USE | BULLIES * − B(oy) |
| 28 | EYEING | YE in EIN + G |
| 31 | IDEA | (M)I(d)D(l)E(m)A(n) |
| 33 | ESTOP | E + POTS < |
| 34 | EAU DE NIL | (LINED + UAE) < |
| 37 | SCRUB | 2 meanings |
| 41 | AMYL | AMY + L |
| 42 | ORATE | OATER with R(eagan) moving |
| 43 | PLEXURES | P + (SEX RULE) * |
| 44 | MORTAL | (faul)T in MORAL |
| 45 | ESERINE | EE around RINSE * |
| 46 | HEAT | 2 meanings |
| 47 | HEBES | SHE BE with S moving |
| Down | ||
| 1 | SALOP | SLOP around A |
| 2 | ELAEIS | (EASIL(y) + E) * |
| 3 | TONGUELET | (ON + GU) in TELE + (exi)T |
| 4 | BEDIM | IMBED with BED moving to the front |
| 5 | RIMU | (p)RIMU(s) |
| 6 | AÇAI | CA in AI |
| 7 | SALLOWED | SOWED around ALL |
| 8 | HADDEN | HEN around ADD |
| 9 | IPOD | DOPI(ng) < |
| 10 | NARIAL | IRAN < + A + L |
| 11 | XENOLOGY | ((h)OL(d) + OXYGEN) * |
| 19 | OAST | (r)OAST |
| 20 | SEPIA | PI in SEA |
| 22 | SKINNY-RIB | (IN SINK) * around YR + B |
| 23 | TIRESOME | (RES + O’) in TIME |
| 25 | REPEOPLE | (POP around E + L) in REE |
| 26 | TYED | Y in TED |
| 29 | ESCROW | (WORSE around C) < |
| 30 | COUTTS | C(hicag)O U(ndercu)T T(hi)S |
| 32 | SILENE | SILEN + E; the OED confirms the spellings “silen” and “Silenus” are both used for the lion-tailed macaque. |
| 35 | EMURE | DEMURE − D |
| 36 | LOSES | E in LOSS |
| 38 | RARE | (came)RA RE(tail) |
| 39 | ILEA | E in ALI < |
| 40 | JEST | JUST with E for U |