Listener Crossword 4924: Solution Notes
Two in One III by Sabre
Puzzle explanation
When all the clue answers were entered in the grid as shown here, the NW-SE diagonal contained the instruction RETAIN VOWELS. The extra words in each clue gave a definition for the corresponding final grid entry, with the same vowels (including Y, which was always vocalic in the answers) but with mostly different consonants.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Extra words (new entry) | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Across | |||
| protection (AEGIS) | AESIR | A + RISE < | |
| Perhaps Malcolm (ARNOLD) | AT COST | (A SCOT) * + ’T | |
| Old man’s listing (ASLOPE) | ANKOLE | ANKLE around O’ | |
| classical (ATTIC) | ASDIC | (D + IS A) * + (musi)C | |
| red early on (CREMSIN) | THEWLIS | (L(ook) E(mbarrassed) + WITH + S(ex)) * | |
| farm (CROFT) | PLODS | L(abour) in PODS | |
| imagined (DREAMED) | PLEADER | LEAD in PER | |
| tangle (ENMESH) | EXPEND | EX- + PEND | |
| runs (HARES) | HAVEN | HAVE + N | |
| in Baden-Baden I (ICH) | ILK | BILK − B | |
| exciting (MAGIC) | PARIS | RAP < + IS | |
| stars (MENSA) | TESLA | SLATE with letters cycling | |
| unit (OHM) | OKS | O + KS | |
| capital (PEACHY) | NEARBY | NEAR + BY | |
| poet’s paid for (PRYSED) | STYLES | (Lu)STY LES(bians) | |
| Ben’s search maybe (RANSEL) | NANSEN | N(ature) A(nd) N(ew) S(cientist) E(ach) N(ame); ref. ben = inner room (Scottish) | |
| joins (RAPHES) | VALSES | LESS * after VA | |
| Will’s progress (RID WAY) | DISMAY | DIS + MAY | |
| in China, clothing (SAMFOO) | TATTOO | TAT + TOO | |
| dances (STOMPS) | R MONTH | (M + NORTH) * | |
| one after another (TANDEM) | RATTED | 2 meanings | |
| foxes (VULPES) | JUNKET | J + UNKET | |
| Down | |||
| 1 | down further (SADDER) | RAPPEN | RAP + PEN |
| 2 | mace (TEAR-GAS) | MEAL-MAN | MEN around ALMA |
| 3 | towers (MINARS) | NICADS | IN < + C + ADS |
| 4 | like vibs etc (SOLED) | HOSES | SHOES * |
| 5 | Micro-organisms (ARCHAEA) | ALTHAEA | A + HA in LATE * |
| 6 | never (NOWAY) | TOKAY | T + OKAY |
| 7 | medium (ETHER) | ESKER | (ESK + R) around E |
| 8 | prudish (MIMSEY) | DISNEY | (I’S + NÉ) in DY |
| 9 | Approve (GREENLIGHT) | STEENKIRKS | KEEN * in STIRKS |
| 10 | preselected (FORECHOSEN) | DOVER SOLES | DOVERS + O’ + LES(s) |
| 11 | Plant (EPACRIS) | ELASTIN | ENTAILS * |
| 12 | Erinaceous (HÉRISSÉ) | BETITLE | (BET + LE) around IT |
| 13 | look up to (ADMIRE) | ALPINE | NEPALI * |
| 14 | Portsmouth (POMPEY) | LOW-KEY | LOW + KEY |
| 15 | sailor (SINBAD) | SISTAS | A in SISTS |
| 16 | Aid in navigating (TACAN) | MALAX | MAL + A + X |
| 17 | fencing position (SIXTE) | TILDE | DETAIL * − A |
| 18 | dowdy (FRUMP) | THUGS | GOT − GO + HUGS |