Listener Crossword 4624: Solution Notes
World-beating by Kea
Puzzle explanation
Five thematic entries were examples of “the best” form of their clue answers. Four were from proverbs or sayings: “HONESTY is the best POLICY”, “EXPERIENCE is the best TEACHER”, “LAUGHTER is the best MEDICINE” and “ATTACK is the best form of DEFENCE”. The fifth came from the American Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, who wrote in Other People’s Money (1914): “Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases. SUNLIGHT is said to be the best of DISINFECTANTs; electric light the most efficient policeman.” The unclued entry was YET TO COME; The Best is Yet to Come is the title of several songs etc. The puzzle’s title referred to “six of the best” (highlighted in the grid) in the senses of both excellence and corporal punishment.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|
| BALTIS | (SIT + LAB) < |
| BAVINS | VIN in BAS |
| BISSON | SIB < + SON |
| CHIGOE | GO in CHIE(f) |
| DEFENCE | DEF + ENC + E |
| DISINFECTANT | (FINE * + C) in DISTANT |
| EGG BOX | GB in EGO + X (chess notation for capture) |
| ÉTAGÈRES | SEGREGATE < − G |
| EYE TO EYE | (ar)E + YE + TOEY + E |
| GHATS | STAG < around H |
| HEAUME | SHE ASSUMES − all occurrences of S |
| HECK | 2 meanings |
| HIRED | HI + RED |
| HOO-OO | HOODOO − D |
| INBYE | homophone of (INN + BUY) |
| LADOOS | DO in LAOS |
| MEDICINE | I in ENDEMIC * |
| MOPES | MO + PES |
| NAIAD | ND around AIA |
| NGAIO | ((sequ)OIA GN(arled)) < |
| OKTA | (r)O(c)K(e)T (m)A(n) |
| OVERT | O + VERT |
| PAIR-HORSE | PARSE around (I’ + RHO) |
| POLICY | PRICY with (O + L) for R |
| RESTY | TYRES with letters cycled |
| SANE | REASON * = (OR + SANE) * |
| SNASTE | (ET SANS) < |
| TEACHER | ACHE in TER |
| TESSERA | (ARES + SET) < |
| TEVET | T + EVET or (T + EVET) < |
| TREF | TREFOIL − OIL |
| TRIVET | T + RIVET |
| TUT-TUT | (cap)TU(red) (spo)TT(ier) (yo)UT(hs) |
| TWIST | S(peed) in TWIT |
| URBI ET ORBI | UR + B + IE + TOR + BI- |
| USAGE | USAGE in SP = PEGASUS < |
| YESTER | POLYESTER − POL |