Listener Crossword 4400: Solution Notes
Three Steps to Heaven by Dysart
Puzzle explanation
The puzzle marked the 20th anniversary of the death of Timothy Leary and the 50th anniversary of his catchphrase “turn on, tune in and drop out”. The treated answers had ON turned (eons, onset, onus, ions), a tune inserted (for(tune)a, sa(melody)le, s(air)ted, di(strain)able) or OUT dropped (outlet, loutish, outher, outdid).
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|
| DEF | FED < |
| FORA | OF < + RA |
| INSURER | RE in RUINS * |
| RÖSTI | S in ROTI |
| SOT | (Tis)SOT |
| ASSAM | MASSA < |
| TSAR | ’S in TAR |
| SIS | 2 meanings |
| OUTLET | O + CUTLET − C |
| RENIED | DENIER with outer letters switched |
| STRUT | 2 meanings |
| AÎNÉE | TRAINEE − TR |
| CAR | RAC < |
| LOUTISH | (LI(e) + SHOUT) * |
| ISOSPIN | SO in (I SPIN) |
| SOPHY | SHY around OP |
| NEUKS | homophone of NUKES |
| BRUTAL | RUT in BAL(l) |
| SALE | 2 meanings |
| BRAD | BAD around R(usty) |
| DECO | homophone of DEKKO |
| LITRE | LIT + RE |
| IONS | IO’S around N |
| OUTHER | O’ + UTHER; ref Uther Pendragon |
| EMMY | (j)EMMY |
| STED | T in SED |
| DIABLE | (D(uck) B(reast) + I + ALE) * |
| EONS | ONE * + (mu)S(ic) |
| FURRIES | FURIES around R |
| ÖRE | (maj)OR E(nterprise) |
| TRISTAN | STARTIN(g) * |
| URALS | (r)URAL + S |
| ONSET | SETON with parts switched |
| ATAP | A + TAP |
| TIMOTHY | TI + MOTHY |
| TAN | (débu)TAN(te) |
| OUTDID | OU + D in TID(e) |
| STRIP | S + TRIP |
| SEEP | PEES < |
| ISEGRIM | (IS + GRIM) around E |
| ONUS | (UN in SO) < |
| CIMELIA | I’M in (C + ELIA) |
| LOUDEST | LOUT around DES(k) |
| HALOED | (OLD H(e)A(t)E(r)) * |
| SMEES | (SEEM + ’S) < |
| BLINI | BELLINI − EL |
| TYCHE | YT < + CHE |
| LEARY | EARLY with (riva)L moved up |
| ADRY | AWRY with D for W |
| ODOR | DO in OR |