ST 3213 (full review)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3213

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 21^st May 2023

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A superb Sunday puzzle of Dada that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of the same for your kind perusal and important feedback.

‘Vie’, part of the wordplay to the clue of 19a, is probably derived from Old French envier meaning ‘to challenge’ or from Latin invitare meaning ‘to invite’ as to invite a challenge.

‘Dressage’, the answer to the clue of 6d, is adapted from French and pronounced dresäzh. It is defined as a sport by the equestrian governing body called the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). The net enlightened me more on it. I learnt that dressage is the highest expression of horse training, where both the horse and rider have to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements. The competitions comprise a series of individual tests with an increasing level of difficulty. The most accomplished duo of the horse and rider teams perform the tests written by FEI. In the four to six lower levels that are regulated in individual nations by their respective national federation, the horses are asked for basic gaits, relatively large circles and a lower level of collections. Laterals movements are not required in the lower levels and movements like the leg yield, shoulder-in, haunches-in etc are gradually introduced as the horse progresses, until the point at which the horse is qualified to compete in the different FEI levels ranging from ‘small tour’ to ‘big tour’. The highest one is at the Grand Prix level, which is the level test ridden in the prestigious international competitions such as the Concours de Dressage International, the Olympic Games, Dressage World Cup and World Equestrian Games.

Furthermore, I was serious to know more about the function of the stunner, the ‘Taser’, the answer to the clue of 24d. I learnt from the net that the energy device can shoot only one pair of dart-like electrodes that stay connected to the main unit by a thin insulated copper wire before the firing cartridge that clips to its front is changed. The cartridge is replaced after each use. However, some Taser models can hold two or even three cartridges, allowing for more shots before reloading. Once shot, the probes travel at 55 m per second, spread 300 mm apart for every 2.1 m they travel and must land at least 100 mm apart from each other to complete the circuit and channel an electric pulse into the body of the targeted miscreant. They deliver a modulated electric current designed to disrupt voluntary control of muscles, causing neuromuscular incapacitation. Still, despite its effective features, a Taser cannot be outright labelled as non-lethal, since the possibility of serious injury or death also exists when used, although, in general, its effect may only be localised pain or strong involuntary long muscle contractions, based on the mode of use, connectivity and location of the electrodes. However, it can also act directly on the nervous system of the victim and trigger a heart rhythm disturbance or cardiac arrest. So Tasers are, as usual, perfectly marketed as less-lethal. In fact, the first Taser conducted energy weapon was introduced in 1993 as a less-lethal force option for police to subjugate fleeing, belligerent or frenetically hazardous people. The use of a Taser device has a greater deployment range than batons, pepper spray or empty hand techniques, allowing police to maintain a greater distance. However, despite all its popularity and increasing demand over the years by more and more law enforcement and military agencies around the world, various studies have concluded that pepper spray is still a safer intervention option.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a    Chap regularly knocked back beer in plant (6)
CATNIP: The alternate letters (regularly) of ChAp is followed by PINT (beer) as an informal contraction for a pint of beer coming from the other side (knocked back) as a reversal in the across clue, leading to the definition of a strong-scented perennial mint-like labiate plant Nepeta cataria that has whorls of small pale flowers in terminal spikes and contains a substance attractive to cats

5a    Fair energy attributed to dormice when excited (8)
MEDIOCRE: The definition of an adjective meaning middling or average in quality is arrived at from E (energy) as an abbreviation of energy as in physics preceded by or assigned to (attributed to) an anagram (when excited) of DORMICE

9a    Tie cross in part of castle (10)
DRAWBRIDGE: A charade of DRAW (tie) as a game or contest that ends undecided, without winning or losing or with the score even and BRIDGE (cross) as to cross, go or pass over something guides to the definition of a type of moveable bridge typically at the entrance to a castle or tower surrounded by a moat

10a    Domestic thanks yours truly (4)
TAME: The definition of an adjective pertaining to an animal meaning domesticated or having lost native wildness and shyness is arrived at from a charade of TA (thanks) as the colloquial interjection denoting ‘thank you’ used to or by young children, or affectedly by others and ME (your truly) as the setter of this crossword referring to himself or as used by any other speaker referring to themselves as the object of a verb or preposition

11a    Target surrounded by genuine defence (8)
REBUTTAL: BUTT (target) as a target in archery or riflery enclosed (surrounded) by REAL (genuine) as not imitation or artificial, especially of a thing leads to the definition of a noun meaning refutation or defence through counter-argument

12a    Short amount of time on shoulder of leader? (6)
SECOND: Double definition; the first being a noun meaning a very short time or the basic unit of time, equivalent to one-sixtieth of a minute and the second an adjective denoting coming next after the first in position or a leader

13a    Turn and trip (4)
SPIN: Double definition; the first being a verb meaning to turn or cause to turn or whirl round quickly and the second a noun referring to a short trip in a motor car

15a    Rating so shocking for player (8)
ORGANIST: An anagram (shocking) of RATING SO guides to the definition of a musician who plays any type of organ, especially professionally or at religious services in churches and cathedrals

18a    Escape, off on holiday (5,3)
BREAK OUT: The definition of a phrasal verb meaning to flee or escape from prison is arrived at from OUT (off) as not at home or at one’s place of work or away from the place in question preceded by or coming after (on) BREAK (holiday) as a short holiday

19a    Challenge wife, in scene (4)
VIEW: A charade of VIE (challenge) as to strive in competition and emulation or to compete eagerly with someone in order to do or achieve something and W (wife) as the genealogical abbreviation for wife guides to the definition of a scene or vista that is visible from a certain point

21a    Three months for accountant? (6)
SUMMER: Double nounal definition: the second being a person who sums or casts up an account that leads to the first referring to a period of three months that comprises the season of the year between spring and autumn during which the weather is the warmest

23a    Left stuck in one revolving door, let out (8)
ELONGATE: L (left) as the abbreviation for left caught inside (stuck in) an anagram (revolving) of ONE followed by GATE (door) as a barrier like a door that is used to close an opening in a fence or a wall outside a building takes to the definition of a verb meaning to enlarge or make something longer, especially unusually so in relation to its width

25a    Fruit that will never take off? (4)
KIWI: Double nounal definition; the second being a flightless New Zealand bird with hairlike feathers, having a long downcurved bill with sensitive nostrils at the tip that leads to the first an oval fruit with brown, hairy skin, bright green flesh and black seeds

26a    Make every effort to see bonds broken (2,4,4)
DO ONE’S BEST: An anagram (broken) of TO SEE BONDS leads to the definition of a phrase meaning to do as well as one possibly can at something or try as hard as one can to do something

27a    Separate bags in any event for minister (8)
REVEREND: REND (separate) as to split or tear asunder with force takes inside (bags) EVER (in any event) as at any time or at all times guides to the definition of a honorific title prefixed to the name of a member of the Christian clergy or minister

28a    Politician punched by that man — possible explanation? (6)
THEORY: TORY (politician) as a member or supporter of the Conservative Party which evolved from Royalist politicians in Great Britain entered (punched) by HE (that man) as the third person singular pronoun referring to a male person takes to the definition of a possible explanation or system of anything

Down

2d    A grassy area cut for match (5)
AGREE: A from the clue is followed by GREE[N] (grassy area) as a grassy plot, especially that is common to a village or town, or for bowling, drying of clothes etc that is having its last letter removed (cut), leading to the definition of a verb meaning to be consistent with

3d    Large island freshly minted old coin? (3,6)
NEW GUINEA: A charade of NEW (freshly minted) as very recently made or produced and GUINEA (old coin) as the sum of £1.05 or 21 shillings in pre-decimal currency and now used mainly for determining professional fees and auction prices takes to the definition of a large island to the north of the Australian mainland, south of the equator

4d    Constant speed for raider (6)
PIRATE: A charade of PI (constant) as a mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, approximately equal to 3.14159 and RATE (speed) as the speed with which something moves or happens guides to the definition of a person who, without authority, attempts to capture ships at sea or a robber or marauder operating at sea

5d    Pedestrian — where one shouldn’t be? (6-2-3-4)
MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROAD: Double definition: the second being a noun referring to a place on a road where the traffic is the most and expectation of safety is the least that should be avoided by any person who is walking rather than travelling in a vehicle that leads to the first an adjective meaning mediocre or lacking inspiration or excitement

6d    Shift time for equestrian event (8)
DRESSAGE: A charade of DRESS (shift) as a one-piece garment that covers the body and extends down over the thighs or legs, worn typically by women and girls and AGE (time) as the time of life reached or of being old takes to the definition of the training of a horse in deportment and response to controls as an equestrian discipline practised in competition

7d    Eye, tongue, but not head (5)
OPTIC: [C]OPTIC (tongue) as the language of the Copts, which represents the final stage of ancient Egyptian and is now surviving only as the liturgical language of the Coptic Church that is devoid of its head or topmost letter C (but not head) in the down clue guides to the definition of a humorous term for an eye

8d    Wicked crimes in evidence initially, look to more innocent times? (9)
REMINISCE: An anagram (wicked) of CRIMES IN followed by the initial or first letter (initially) of E[VIDENCE] leads to the definition of a verb meaning to indulge in enjoyable recollection of old times or past experiences, especially of childhood

14d    Animal hiding gold vessel in tree (9)
PORCUPINE: The definition of an animal with many long, thin, sharp spikes on its back that stick out as protection when it is attacked is arrived from a combo of OR (gold) as the tincture gold in heraldry and CUP (vessel) as an open usually bowl-shaped drinking vessel staying inside (hiding) in PINE (tree) as an evergreen coniferous tree which has clusters of long needle-shaped leaves

16d    Terrible man climbing over part of wall — safe to go through? (9)
NAVIGABLE: IVAN (terrible man) as the Russian tsar of the sixteenth century who was infamous for his brutality toward his enemies is going upwards (climbing) as a reversal in the down clue placed upon (over) GABLE (part of wall) as the triangular part of an exterior wall of a building between the top of the side-walls and the slopes on the roof, leading to the definition of an adjective meaning deep, wide and safe enough for ships and boats to go through, especially of a river, channel etc

17d    Dish served to convict? (8)
PORRIDGE: Double definition; the second referring to a prison sentence or time to be spent in prison that is served as a punishment to a convict that leads to the first a dish usually prepared by slowly stirring oatmeal or rolled oats in boiling water or milk

20d    Concealed, cryptic over there partially completed (6)
COVERT: Part of or hidden inside (partially completed) [CRYPTI]C OVER T[HERE] guides to the definition of an adjective meaning hidden, disguised, concealed or secret

22d    US state cardinal discussed? (5)
MAINE: MAIN (cardinal) as chief in importance or extent serving as a homophone heard by the audience (discussed) takes to the definition of the easternmost state in the New England region of the northeastern United States

24d    A little beaut, a serious stunner! (5)
TASER: Part of or hidden inside (a little) [BEAU]T, A SER[IOUS] brings out the definition of a small gunlike device which fires electrified darts or barbs, used to immobilise or stun an attacker

There were several clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 9a, 18a, 25a, 28a, 2d, 4d, 5d, 14d, 16d and 17d; the topper of all being 14d. Thanks once again to BD for the encouragement, to Dada for the entertainment and to Gazza for the assistance. Looking forward to being here again. Have a nice day.