Listener Cross word 4058

[starwalker]

This week's offering is Whirly-Birly by Sabre.

After a run of fairly straightforward puzzles, we have what at first glance looks like a typical Sabre offering - not an "unch" in sight.

So, head down and away we go. Let's hope that there are not too many early cries for help. I have always found Sabre to be very logical and fair, and often surprisingly generous.

[jamesah]

I agree that there is no doubt about the answer to 26ac. However, if X is a synonym of Y and Y is a synonym of Z it does not mean that X is necessarily a synonym of Z, e.g if X = cowardly, Y = yellow and Z = golden. No one could say that cowardly and golden are synonymous! In this case, Y = clear but I don't believe X and Z are synonymous either. Just a quibble, I suppose, as many of the other clues are wonderful.

[perseverer]

Butting in again - as has been said, if you look up the definition word from the clue, Chambers gives the answer as one of the meanings and if its good enough for Chambers......

[7lattens]

23A - any hints gratefully received !!!

[Mysterons]

It's an encoded theme word (6-6)

[x_word_fan]

re 23a - read my posts on the previous page 15.22

[shelouse]

7lattens: you should be able to decode the 2nd 3rd and 4th letters. This may give you an idea of what the first letter might be in a thematic word.

[7lattens]

Thanks SHELOUSE - had mis-encoded one letter !

[rabet]

I've completed the puzzle but still have no idea of the meaning or relevance of the title.

[cruciverbali]

Check the second part in the Big Red Book rabet

[rabet]

Right ~ but a bit arbitrary, I think.

[Eaglet]

Regarding 26 Across and the answer which is defined as "liquid". The answer is in Chambers but I wonder if it really is a definition of "liquidated", as in liquidated damages, which are specified in a contract and therefore cannot be subsequently contested or "d******d". Strangely Chambers does not give this definition of liquidated. I believe it is possible to speak of liquid damages as well as liquidated damages.

[Archie1962]

I think it's more like "liquid assets", i.e. "real"

[Speravi]

A tour de force, I thought. In retrospect, I may have been rather slow, but I think this was a function of some clever cluing whereby surface meanings were difficult to throw off. The consequence for me was that some straightforward clues, the solutions to which were plainly visible, or nearly so, took an age to yield their pearls. I do agree that his was a welcome return to the high standards of the Listener that we have missed in some of the recent offerings. Many thanks to Sabre for keeping me entertained over the past week.