DT 30437 (full review)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30437

A full review by Rahmat Ali

+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +

This puzzle was published on 21^st Oct 2023

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

Greetings from Kolkata. A very friendly and straightforward Saturday puzzle from Cephas that I highly enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and valuable feedback.

Polyunsaturated, the answer to the clue of 3d, made me inquisitive and I turned to the net to know more about all the types of fats. Basically, there are two types of fats – saturated and unsaturated. A saturated fat does not have any double bond in its chemical structure whereas an unsaturated fat has one or more double bonds. If a fat molecule has one double bond, it is called a monounsaturated fat, but in case it has more than one double bond, it is called a polyunsaturated fat. Unsaturated fats, where monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, are, in fact, healthy fats, since they tend to reduce risk of heart disease, more particularly when substituted for saturated fats. Both animal and plant foods include dietary fats that are a blend of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in different proportions. For instance, most of the fat in butter is saturated, but it also contains some monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Fats supply calories, help the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K and provide the essential nutrients that the body needs to function. All foods rich in fat contain a mix of different fats, one of which is polyunsaturated fat. Polyunsaturated fats are referred to as oils. They are found mostly in fatty fish, plant-based oils, seeds and nuts. The two major classes of polyunsaturated fats are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which the body requires for brain function and cell growth. These fatty acids are obtained from the diet as the body, despite capable of making most of the fatty acids, cannot produce the linolenic acid, an essentially fatty acid that include omega-6 fatty acids. Some foods provide a higher percentage of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fats than others. The best source of omega-3 acids is fatty fish, despite the fact they do not produce them on their own. Rather, they accumulate them by eating algae and small, microscopic organisms called plankton. Fish such as salmon, herring, sardine, mackerel, trout and bass can add omega-3 fatty acids to one’s diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in algae oil, canola oil, flaxseed oil and soyabean oil, but they give a less active form of the fat than do the fish. Omega-6 fatty acids are in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds. The oils highest in polyunsaturated fats include safflower oil, grapeseed oil, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil, poppy seed oil, canola oil and soybean oil. These oils are liquid at room temperature because the double bonds allow the fat to bend and fold. Oil-based condiments like mayonnaise and salad dressings, as well as margarines, are also high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fats. Nuts such as Brazil nuts and walnuts are also rich in omega-6 fatty acids.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a    Mean little devil in blue (6)
SKIMPY: IMP (little devil) as a little devil or wicked spirit placed inside (in) SKY (blue) as a shade of blue colour or literary the blue or light blue, referring to the colour of the sky guides to the definition of an adjective meaning excessively thrifty, mean or stingy, especially of clothes

4a    Break in journey south to prove chaotic (8)
STOPOVER: S (South) as the abbreviation for South followed by an anagram (chaotic) of TO PROVE takes to the definition of a break in a journey, especially a short stay overnight in the course of a journey

9a    Harass the man about deer making a comeback (6)
HECKLE: The definition of a verb meaning to interrupt or harass a public speaker, performer etc with impertinent questions, gibes or the like is arrived at from HE (the man) as the third person singular pronoun referring to a male person, C (about) as the abbreviation for the Latin word circa meaning ‘about’ or ‘around’ and ELK (deer) as a deer of Northern Europe and Asia, identical or closely related to the moose of North America coming from the other end (making a comeback) as a reversal in the across clue

10a    Our Tom is terribly fearful (8)
TIMOROUS: An anagram (terribly) of OUR TOM IS leads to the definition of an adjective denoting fearful, timid or apprehensive

12a    Reveal article shown before news has little weight (8)
ANNOUNCE: The definition of a verb meaning to make a formal public statement about a fact, occurrence or intention is reached from A (article) as one of the indefinite articles displayed in front of (shown before) NN (news) as news, where N is the abbreviation for new and N repeated to represent ‘news’ that is cryptically formed as the plural of ‘new’ that is singular and (has) OUNCE (little weight) as a unit of weight of one sixteenth of a pound avoirdupois or approximately 28 grams

13a    Pain again developed about noon (6)
ANGINA: An anagram (developed) of AGAIN placed around (about) N (noon) as the abbreviation for noon that represents the midday or twelve o’clock in the daytime yields the definition of a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart

15a    Statement showing how to undo seat belt? (5,7)
PRESS RELEASE: The definition of an official statement of report supplied to the press is arrived at from the press and release retractable seat belt that allows the operator to manually adjust the tightness of the belt itself to a more comfortable level (showing how to undo seat belt)

18a    Determined men did fancy following astronaut without weapon (6-6)
STRONG-MINDED: The definition of an adjective meaning resolute, determined or having a vigorous mind is arrived at from an anagram (fancy) of MEN DID preceded by or coming after (following) [ARM]STRONG (astronaut) as referring to Neil Armstrong, the American astronaut and the first person to walk on the moon that is devoid of (without) ARM (weapon) as a weapon or a means of offence or defence

21a    Rumour regarding Romeo getting into marijuana (6)
REPORT: RE (regarding) as a commercial jargon used to indicate ‘referring to’, ‘regarding’, ‘on’ or ‘about’ followed by R (Romeo) as the letter represented by Romeo in the NATO phonetic alphabet going inside (getting into) POT (marijuana) as the drug cannabis in any of its forms, including marijuana and hashish leads to the definition of a rumour, gossip or a statement made known

22a    Entering, is naive about welcoming first of visitors (8)
INVASIVE: An anagram (about) of IS NAÏVE taking inside (welcoming) the beginning or initial letter (first) of V[ISITORS] gives rise to the definition of an adjective meaning encroaching, infringing another’s rights, entering or penetrating

24a    Healing dog, one stops a vet cracking up (8)
CURATIVE: The definition of an adjective meaning healing or able to cure disease is arrived at from CUR (dog) as an aggressive or unkempt dog, especially a mongrel followed by I (one) as the Roman numeral for one that gets in or interrupts (stops) a combo of A VET that is subject to an anagram (cracking up)

25a    Heavenly guess (6)
DIVINE: Double definition; the first being an adjective meaning heavenly, celestial or of or like God or a god and the second a verb denoting to discover something by guesswork or intuition

26a    Status isn’t temporary (8)
STANDING: Double definition; the first being a noun referring to position, status or reputation in one’s profession or in society and the second an adjective meaning permanent, fixed, established or remaining in force or use

27a    Man on board reported period of darkness (6)
KNIGHT: NIGHT (period of darkness) as the period of time from sunset to sunrise or the period of darkness serving as a homophone heard by the audience (reported) leads to the definition of a piece in the game of chess, represented by a horse’s head and neck

Down

1d    Second companion is asleep, keeping quiet: that’s the drink (8)
SCHNAPPS: A charade of S (second) as the abbreviation for second denoting the basic unit of time, CH (companion) as the abbreviation for Companion of Honour and NAPS (is asleep) as a verb in the third person singular form meaning sleeps lightly or briefly, especially during the day holding inside (keeping) P (quiet) as the musical abbreviation for piano meaning soft or quiet brings the definition of any of various strong alcoholic drinks, especially Holland gin

2d    Angry since Ned changed (8)
INCENSED: An anagram (changed) of SINCE NED guides to the definition of an adjective meaning enraged, infuriated or extremely angry

3d    Type of fat parrot said to have room for more? (15)
POLYUNSATURATED: POLLY (parrot) as the classic name for a tame parrot serving as a homophone to the audience (said) followed by UNSATURATED (to have room for more) as an adjective meaning capable of dissolving still more of a substance or having room for more takes to the definition of a type of dietary fat that is usually liquid at room temperature and has a chemical structure that does not easily change into cholesterol because it contains two or more double bonds

5d    Decorate tapestry’s top edge (4)
TRIM: The definition of a verb meaning to decorate something, typically with contrasting items or pieces of material is arrived at from the uppermost or leading letter (top) of T[APESTRY] (tapestry’s) in the down clue and RIM (edge) as an edge, brim or margin, especially when raised or more or less circular

6d    Prophecy from pastor, incognito, going round (15)
PROGNOSTICATION: An anagram (going round) of PASTOR, INCOGNITO guides to the definition of a prophecy, forecast or prediction

7d    Its player takes a bow (6)
VIOLIN: A cryptic definition of stringed musical instrument of treble pitch that is played with a horsehair bow

8d    Rogue artist’s scrawl oddly ignored (6)
RASCAL: The definition of a mischievous or cheeky person, especially a child or man, typically used in an affectionate way is arrived at from RA’S (artist’s) as of or belonging to the Royal Academician, where RA stands for the abbreviation for Royal Academician, denoting a practising artist of the Royal Academy of Arts followed by the even letters (oddly ignored) of sCrAwL

11d    City area he left over level of command (7)
ECHELON: EC (city area) as standing for ‘East Central’ used to identify a specific postcode area within the city of London, followed by HE from the clue, L (left) as the abbreviation for left and ON (over) as a preposition denoting over, upon or above guides to the definition of a particular level in the hierarchy of an organisation

14d    Chemical engineers undermined by spy (7)
REAGENT: The definition of a chemical that is added to other chemicals in order to cause them to react or to detect a certain category of substance is arrived at from RE (engineers) as the abbreviation for Royal Engineers having beneath (undermined by) AGENT (spy) as a person who works secretly to obtain information for a government or other official body

16d    Having a high opinion of maid playing with band (8)
ADMIRING: An anagram (playing) of MAID and (with) RING (band) as a small circular band, typically of precious metal and often set with one or more gemstones, worn on a finger as an ornament or a token of marriage, engagement or authority produce the definition of a verb in the continuous form meaning having or expressing a high opinion of someone or something

17d    Fan that’s sticking (8)
ADHERENT: Double definition; the first referring to someone who supports a particular party, person or set of ideas and the second an adjective meaning sticking fast to an object or surface

19d    Reptile seen on American plant (6)
CROCUS: CROC (reptile) as an informal term for a crocodile that is a large long-tailed tropical reptile of the genus Crocodilus placed upon (seen on) US (American) as the adjectival abbreviation for the United States or belonging to the United States in the down clue leads to the definition of a bulbous iridaceous plant with brilliant yellow, purple or white flowers

20d    Actor’s role in South Africa or part of Greece (6)
SPARTA: PART (actor’s role) as a character or role taken by an actor in a play placed inside (in) SA (South Africa) as the abbreviation for South Africa takes to the definition of a city-state located in the southeastern Peloponnese region of ancient Greece

23d    A very old name for flower (4)
AVON: A from the clue followed by V (very) as the abbreviation for very, O (old) as the abbreviation of old as OT in Old Testament and N (name) as the abbreviation for name guides to the definition of a river in southwestern England rising in Gloucestershire and flowing through Bristol to empty into the estuary of the Severn

The clues that I liked in this puzzle were 1a, 9a, 12a, 15a, 18a, 1d, 3d, 6d and 11d; 3d being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to Cephas for the entertainment and to Gazza for the assistance. Looking forward to being here again. Have a nice day.