Listener No 4224 How To ----- By Colleague

[Ruthrobin]

Another gentle grid fill to start off the year. We have just had the pdm and are happily checking the endgame in Brewer. Thank you, Colleague!

[IainGrace]

Agree that this was another gentle one for 2013. No harm in that but it would be good to get some that aren't dispatched in a single sitting. There is nothing wrong in the clue for 39dn.

[perseverer]

For 39d you need to investigate in detail the location given in the first BRB entry for the answer given by he wordplay.

[aldanna]

Aha! Grid-staring success. Not a subject about which I know very much, but just enough to have a pleasind pdm over lunch.

[angus]

Can anyone tell me - am i wasting my time looking for anything relevant in the 18th edition of Brewer's?

[contendo]

I have a full grid, though some of the wordplay escapes me. One word stands out for potential high-lighting, though as yet I haven't succeeded in relating it to the preamble & I've no clue as to the theme. I liked 12ac.

[midazolam]

The definition to 39 down is correct and an excellent definition too, however I still have one wordplay to work out. Relatively straightforward with the theme obtained from the usual resource that is wikipedia. Whether the Listener is easy or hard I invariably learn something new and this week was no exception. Thanks Colleague.

[Mesnilpat]

I have two clues that I simply cannot get, 43ac and 38dn. Is anybody else similarly stuck? I'm pretty sure what the answers may be but they are not to be found in my 2008 BRB. No pdm for me yet, but I have been tryng fit the crossword in between packing my goods and chattels for a house move.

[Mesnilpat]

....Aargh, I have just discovered that I have packed my Brewers, now it's in a box somewherere..........

[jim360]

Ah I see how 39d works now! Should have had more faith in the setter...

[tenflags]

Yes PDM on the correct parse on 39d. Angus 18th edition of Brewers is relevant.

[tilbee]

Unlike some others did not grasp the theme until grid almost complete. Thought there were some fairly tough wordplays which have taken me a little time to finally fully justify (e.g.49a, 39d, 26a, 23d). Also enjoyed 38d. Could not find theme in Brewers so had to use web, but have now taken tenflags' advice and have finally located. Good fun, so thanks to Colleague.

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, it's rather well hidden in all the versions of Brewer that are sitting on my shelf (a couple of them won in previous years) but you can find just as much on the Internet so I wouldn't worry if the Brewer is packed, lost, eaten by the dog. Most Brewer searches are pretty disastrous aren't they? I know it is its own index but it is a fairly esoteric one.

[TheBear69]

I have a filled grid, understand all the clues and know the theme and all the highlighting...still waiting for the penny to drop for the 5-letter word...feeling handicapped that I have no Brewers....

[Mesnilpat]

Finally got 38d (like that one) and 48a! Now for some grid staring.... at least it beats filling boxes and crates.

[borealis]

A nice crossword; found 49 hard but really enjoyed the preamble reference to Brewers. Brewers worth looking at mainly because it's a lot simpler than the internet references. 39d a gem! Thanks Colleague.

[Mesnilpat]

oh very clever! I enjoyed that, thanks Colleague.

[IainGrace]

The rubric gives pretty strong hints regarding the five letter word. Initially misled into thinking the theme was The Drifters! All finished, though. Email [email protected] for any nudges re wordplay, all of which we think we have correctly solved.

[Zabadak]

Late entrant this week, sailing through the grid fill with no issues except that I haven't clocked 39d yet, and equally dense on 49a, but neither can be anything else. Didn't try for the theme until the grid was full, recognising my least favourite brand of Listener - the easy grid (helped by being all real words) followed by the prolonged search for an unidentified if connected set of words. I rather think that being a tad grumpy about that really slowed my progress, ignoring the obvious and looking for the obscure. So, not so bad really, and mildly educational.

[fallster]

As with TheBear69, a complete grid and theme and highlighting all understood, but the 5-letter word that I can think of doesn't feel unambiguously right. Does consulting Brewers help? I don't own a copy.

[perseverer]

As RR suggested a few posts back, the Internet (eg relevant Wiki article) will confirm, as will the BRB.