Listener Crossword 4742: Solution Notes
Short Seats by Yorick
Puzzle explanation
The grid represented a partial world map with letters in clashing cells forming four-letter capital cities, correctly placed. From top to bottom, these were OSLO, RIGA, KYIV, ROME, BAKU, DOHA, LOMÉ, JUBA, MALÉ. In clues to the clashing entries, the internal (ie, not initial) capital letters spelt out “three-letter country code”, so each clash cell was filled to complete the ISO 3166 code for its capital’s country. Letters that fell outide the grid’s perimeter formed the remaining four-letter capitals, whose real locations were outside the map’s bounds: APIA (Samoa), DILI (Timor-Leste), LIMA (Peru), SUVA (Fiji).
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Capital letters | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1S | GET ROUND | 2 meanings | |
| 2S | T | EVOKING | EVZONE − ZONE + (TO + KING) − T |
| 3W | H | YEARLONG | (AGER ONLY) * |
| 4S | R | TEACAKE | TAKE around (EACH − (Rico)H) |
| 5S | ALAE | À LA + (sw)E(et) | |
| 6S | SACRA | SACRAMENTAL − MENTAL | |
| 7W | A SALTI | (TAILS A) * | |
| 8E | E | AGGRAVATES | (GRAVE − E) in AGATES |
| 9W | GAPED | G + APE + D | |
| 10E | LAVA | AVAL < | |
| 11S | ROTAL | CROTAL − C | |
| 12W | AORTA | ((fl)AT ROA(d)) < | |
| 13W | CALANDO | (DOC + ALAN) with letters cycled | |
| 14W | NORI | NO + RICE − (C, E) | |
| 15N | PAGRI | P(rotects) A(gainst) G(amma) R(ays) I(f) | |
| 16W | E | CARVY | CAY around (R + V) |
| 17E | VERDI | (co)VER DI(d); ((d)ID REV(eal) < | |
| 18W | DIATOM | A in ((Schrö)DI(nger’s) + TOM) | |
| 19E | CADFAEL | C + (LEAF + DA) < | |
| 20N | LE | MANOAOS | (MAN + O’ + LAOS) − L |
| 20S | T | ROCK GUANO | (RANK + (T)UCO + GO) * |
| 21N | T | ADUKI | A + D + UKI(P); ref. 34S |
| 22W | E | GATEAU | ATE in GAU |
| 23E | R | TABU | TAB + U |
| 24S | SUGAR-LUMP | SUGAR PLUM with P moved down | |
| 25W | C | HOSEA | CHOSE + A − C |
| 26E | CONCAVE | CONCLAVE − L | |
| 27S | OCEANUS | (NO CAUSE) * | |
| 28E | TUNKU | (UK + NUT) < | |
| 29S | NITRIC | N + CITRIC − (first) C | |
| 30N | KHEDIVAL | (KHEDA + L) around IV | |
| 31N | SATURDAY | SATAY around URD | |
| 31S | SCHERZI | SC + HER + ZI(p) | |
| 32W | CASSOCKED | CASED around SOCK | |
| 33S | O | COERCE | CHANCE with (R after OE) for HAN(d) |
| 34S | U | LEGUME | LEG + U + (t)E(a)M < |
| 35W | TEGULA | TEG + ULNA − N | |
| 36E | N | HATS | H + AT + S |
| 37W | T | ADUNC | (AND CUT IN A − TINA) * |
| 38E | EQUALS | QUA in ELS | |
| 39E | OVER-REV | REV after OVER | |
| 40S | VEINS | (li)VE IN S(tately) | |
| 41E | GUANINE | (IN + AUG) < + NÉ | |
| 42N | BONA VACANTIA | (BON + AIA) around VACANT | |
| 42E | BERLIN | 2 meanings | |
| 43N | R | REACTED | (R + ACTED) around E |
| 44N | TUQUE | TU + QUE; ref. 36E | |
| 45E | TURKIC | (CIT around KRU) < | |
| 46E | Y | LOGOS | OS after LOG; ref. 22W |
| 47N | STILTON | S + TILT + ON | |
| 47E | C | SUBZONE | SUB + Z + ONCE − C |
| 48N | O | JAUNSE | (Oak)S in JAUNE |
| 49N | D | LEANEST | LEAN + EST |
| 49W | E | MADMEN | MAD MEN (TV series) |