Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3197
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 29th Jan 2023
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. An amicable and straightforward Sunday puzzle of Dada that I greatly enjoyed solving and now present to you a full review of the same and would be delighted to have your precious feedback.
I wanted to enrich myself with more information on the phrase ‘behind bar’, the answer to the clue of 1a, particularly as far as the first definition was concerned and went on to explore the net. While getting to know about the role of the landlords and other bar staff in serving their customer, I also came across a time period that is tagged as a ‘lock-in’. It is the period when an owner or a landlord of a pub that is a public house allows patrons to continue drinking in that pub after the legal closing time, on the theory that once the doors are locked, it becomes a private party rather than a pub. Patrons may put money behind the bar before official closing time, and redeem their drinks during the ‘lock-in’ period, so as to make possible that no drinks are technically sold after the closing time. The origin of the British lock-in was a reaction to the changes that happened in 1915 in the licensing laws in England and Wales, which curtailed opening hours to stop factory workers from turning up drunk and harming the war effort. From then until the start of the twenty-first century, the licensing laws of the United Kingdom changed very little, retaining these comparatively early closing times and the tradition of the ‘lock-in’ system.
I also learnt that the word ‘asterisk’, the answer to the clue of 12a and a typographical symbol, has come from Late Latin asteriscus and from Ancient Greek asteriskos, meaning ‘little star’. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a heraldic star.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Where landlords serve captive (6,4)
BEHIND BARS: Double definition; the second meaning captured and confined to prison that leads to the first referring to behind the counters in pubs, restaurants or cafes where landlords and other bar staff stand when serving their customers
6a Repeat every one without a zero (4)
ECHO: E[A]CH (every one) as every one of two or more people or things, regarded and identified separately having removed (without) the letter A from it followed by O (zero) as the letter that resembles a zero takes to the definition of a verb meaning to repeat someone’s words or opinions, typically to express agreement
10a Within earshot, approach lord’s house (5)
MANOR: MANNER (approach) as a way in which a thing happens or is done serving as a homophone heard by the audience (within earshot) guides to the definition of the landed estate of a lord including the house on it
11a Less sensitive figure, me (6,3)
NUMBER ONE: The definition of an informal phrase used in reference to oneself or myself is arrived at from a charade of NUMBER (less sensitive) as cryptically something that numbs or diminishes power of feeling or sensation and one (figure) as the lowest cardinal number
12a Star, a sister played lead in ‘Kismet’ (8)
ASTERISK: An anagram (played) of A SISTER followed by the first or leading letter (lead) in K[ISMET] leads to the definition of a star as vocalised by computer scientists and mathematicians or a little star as a typographical symbol
13a Calculate when child out of bed (3,2)
TOT UP: The definition of a verb meaning to calculate the sum of a number of numbers or quantities is arrived at when a combo of TOT (child) as a very young child and UP (out of bed) as no longer in bed, especially after sleep is over appears as a charade
15a Affectionate call after a party (7)
ADORING: RING (call) as to call someone by telephone preceded by or following (after) a combo of A from the clue and DO (party) as an informal term for a party or other social event in parts, arriving at the definition of an adjective meaning feeling or showing great affection and devotion
17a African country airing broadcast about capital of Ethiopia (7)
NIGERIA: An anagram (broadcast) of AIRING placed around (about) the capital letter (capital) of E[thiopia] guides to the definition of the most populous country in the African continent and the sixth-most populous country of the world
19a Presents finished off, wrapped up by teachers (7)
DONATES: ATE (finished off) as completely consumed something, especially food surrounded (wrapped up) by DONS (teachers) as university teachers, especially senior members of a college at Oxford or Cambridge, arriving at the definition of a verb for third person singular meaning gives money or goods for a good cause, for instance, to a charity
21a It gets quieter for wild dogs (7)
DINGOES: DIN GOES (it gets quieter) as a loud, unpleasant and prolonged noise that is no longer there leads to the definition of tawny-coloured wild dogs of Australia
22a Entanglement in Scottish dance (5)
FLING: Double nounal definition; the second referring to a lively country dance of the Scottish Highlands, also known as Highland fling that leads to the first denoting a short, spontaneous sexual relationship
24a Plant transporting meat is shown (8)
REVEALED: REED (plant) as a tall, slender-leaved plant of the grass family, which grows in water or on marshy ground is carrying or having inside (transporting) VEAL (meat) as flesh of calf as food, taking to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning caused or allowed something to be seen
27a Bats I let on ark, large ship (3,6)
OIL TANKER: An anagram (bats) of I LET ON ARK guides to the definition of a large ship specifically designed for transporting crude oil in bulk across the oceans
28a Country like Siberia, we hear? (5)
CHILE: CHILL (like Siberia) as shivering with cold like the vast Russian province encompassing most of Northern Asia that is known worldwide primarily for its long, harsh winters with a January average of −25 °C or −13 °F serving as a homophone heard by the audience (we hear), guiding to the definition of a country in the western part of South America that is also the southernmost country in the world
29a Scottish location that’s heaven, by the sound of it? (4)
SKYE: SKY (heaven) as the literary term for heaven or heavenly power serving as a homophone heard by the audience (by the sound of it) guides to the definition of the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland
30a Nationals entertained by particular gent in Eswatini (10)
ARGENTINES: Part of or hidden inside (entertained by) [PARTICUL]AR GENT IN ES[WATINI] leads to the definition of natives or inhabitants of Argentina or persons of Argentine descent
Down
1d Large quantity of cash, mine? (4)
BOMB: Double nounal definition; the second being a device that is hidden in the ground or in water and that explodes when people or things touch it that takes to the first an informal term for a large sum of money
2d Fingers touching floor easily (5,4)
HANDS DOWN: When one’s fingers are touching the floor or fingers touching floor, one’s hands are down or HANDS DOWN, arriving at the definition of a phrase meaning easily and decisively or without much effort
3d Language adopted by Zambian or Senegalese (5)
NORSE: Part of or hidden inside (adopted by) [ZAMBIA]N OR SE[NEGALESE] leads to the definition of the Norwegian language, especially in an ancient or medieval form, or the Scandinavian language group
4d Exclude sovereign in finance (7)
BANKING: A charade of BAN (exclude) as officially prevent someone from doing something and KING (sovereign) as the male ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth takes to the definition of a financial institution licensed to receive deposits and make loans
5d Dish goddess and god briefly served up (7)
RAMEKIN: A combo of NIKE (goddess) as the Greek goddess of victory and MAR[S] (god) as the Roman god of war that has its last letter removed or is in brief (briefly) is taken upwards (served up) as a reversal in the down clue, leading to the definition of a straight-sided dish for baking and serving an individual portion of food
7d European king dressed for cold weather? (5)
CROAT: R (king) as the abbreviation for rex, the Latin word for king embraced or covered by (dressed) COAT (for cold weather) as any of various types of outer clothing that are worn over other clothes, usually open in the front, and are often used for warmth take to the definition of a native of inhabitant of Croatia or a person of Croatian descent and hence a European
8d Flatter pair, ever so distorted (10)
OVERPRAISE: An anagram (distorted) of PAIR EVER SO guides to the definition of a verb meaning to flatter or praise more highly than is warranted
9d Take down label on figure (8)
PENTAGON: PEN (take down) as to use a pen to write or draw something with ink, TAG (label) as a label attached to someone or something for the purpose of identification or to give other information and ON from the clue lead to the definition of a plane figure with five straight sides and five angles
14d Sugary stuff also entering unfilled cavity, clean teeth (10)
CANDYFLOSS: The definition of an item of sweet food in the form of a mass of pink or white fluffy spun sugar wrapped round a stick is arrived at from AND (also) as a conjunction meaning along with or in addition to going inside (entering) C[AVIT]Y having its inner letter taken out (unfilled) followed by FLOSS (clean teeth) as to clean between one’s teeth with a soft thread of silk or similar material
16d Whole tin smashed, giant flipped (8)
INTEGRAL: An anagram (smashed) of TIN is followed by LARGE (giant) as an adjective denoting of considerable or relatively great size, extent or capacity that has turned over (flipped) as a reversal in the down clue, guiding to the definition of an adjective meaning necessary and important as a part of a whole or contained within it
18d Old African with sore hand I treated (9)
RHODESIAN: An anagram (treated) of SORE HAND I guides to the definition of a native or inhabitant of the former southern African territory of Rhodesia
20d Forward, one out (7)
STRIKER: Double definition; the second being a person among the many on strike that is a concerted stopping of work or withdrawal of services by the workers and remaining out of the working premises so as to compel their employer to accede to their demands or in protest against some harsh terms or conditions imposed upon them by their employer that leads to the first a forward, attacker, especially one whose task is to attempt to score goals in football
21d Separate underwater swimmer, say, surfacing (7)
DIVERGE: The definition of a verb meaning to separate from one direction and go in a different direction, especially of a road, route or line is arrived at from DIVER (underwater swimmer) as a person who swims under water using special breathing equipment and EG (say) as the abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia meaning ‘for example’ that is rising or coming up (surfacing) as a reversal in the down clue
23d Island, place somewhere in the Inner Hebrides (5)
ISLAY: A charade of IS (island) as the common abbreviation for Island or Islands as usually found on maps and LAY (place) as to put something down gently or carefully takes to the definition of an island off the West coast of Scotland: the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides
25d A Highlander, perhaps, that’s in Berkshire (5)
ASCOT: The definition of a town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead that is in Berkshire and most notable for Britain’s most valuable race meeting is arrived at from A from the clue and SCOT (Highlander, perhaps) as a native of Scotland or a person inhabiting the Scottish Highlands
26d Muddle in canteen (4)
MESS: Double nounal definition; the second being a building or room providing meals and recreational facilities for members of the armed forces that leads to the first a situation that is confused and full of problems
There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 11a, 21a, 24a, 30a, 2d, 5d, 7d, 21d and 23d; 21a being the best of the lot. Thanks to BD for the encouragement, to Dada for the entertainment and to Gazza for the assistance. Looking forward to being here again. Have a splendid day.
Thank you for your entertaining review, Rahmat. I do love reading them. In your preamble you mention a “lock in” in which landlords would close the doors and continue serving. I recall a visit I made to the north of Scotland with a friend back in the 70s. We just wanted a couple of drinks because we were travelling on to John O’Groats the next day and wanted an early start. However, we were made very welcome by the locals and we spent a very pleasant evening with them. Come closing time, many customers left but a few, including my friend and I, remained at the invitation of the landlord. Once the doors were closed, he turned the lights off and told everyone to be quiet. After a few minutes, footsteps were heard outside and a flashlight shone through the windows. The torch searched for a while then the footsteps receded. At this point, the landlord put the lights back on and began serving drinks. After about five minutes there was a knock on the door and, when opened, the village policeman came in and ordered a whiskey. He had gone though the motions of checking that the licensing laws had not been violated so could now relax with everyone else and have a drink.
It was a great night and the drinks flowed. However, not a penny changed hands but the next morning a glass of water cost £5 – no questions asked. 😎
Thank you once again, Steve, for liking my review. Your experience of a ‘lock in’ feast was very interesting. Indeed, it was a night for you to remember. You must have been a teenager then.
3*/3*….
liked 22A “Entanglement in Scottish dance (5)”