DT 30551 (full review)

Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 30551

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 2^nd Mar 2024

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

Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and gentle Saturday puzzle from NY Doorknob that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and valuable feedback.

I learnt from the net that the idiom ‘smell a rat’, the answer to the clue of 26a, has its origin in ‘The Image of Ipocrysy’, a poem written by John Skelton, an English poet of the 16^th century, in which he penned “But then beware the catte; For yf they smell a ratt, They grisely chide and chatt.” The notion of a cat hunting a rat gave rise to this very saying. Just as a cat can smell that there is a rat nearby, so it can be sensed that something is not quite right. The word ‘rat’ is a metaphor for something bad and this should not surprise us, given the plagues and other diseases associated with this rodent. Again, a person in a group who secretly gives information to the authorities or an enemy is also known as a ‘rat’. Sometimes, ‘to smell a rat’ can also mean to suspect of the presence of an informer in the group. Another competing theory lays more stress on dead rats as they stink a lot. This saying originates from the fact that one can quickly find the source of the foul smell coming from a dead rat and get rid of it immediately, even if the dead body is not within our sight in the first place.

From the net, I also learnt that in North American parlance, ‘side’ is a dish served as subsidiary to the main course vis-à-vis ‘side order’, the answer to the clue of 14d.

‘Mad as a hatter’, the answer to the 8d/19d-combined clue, brought back memories of my childhood when I was Class VIII. I recalled an extract from ‘Alice in Wonderland’ of Lewis Carroll that was entitled ‘A Mad Tea-Party’ and served as one of the chapters of ‘New Radiant Readers’, edited by T.C. Collocott, M.A. I cannot recollect who the host was but what I remember is that the invitees were Alice, the sleepy Dormouse, the March Hare and the Hatter. In fact, the Hatter was described as Mad-Hatter. Now I learnt from the net that the ‘Mad Tea-Party’ in the classical adventures of Alice was inspired directly by the tea parties held in asylums as ‘therapeutic entertainments’ which the author learnt from his uncle, Robert Wilfred Skeffington Lutwidge, Commissioner in Lunacy and also a barrister. His close relationship with his uncle was, in fact, owing to his profession in the first place. Skeffington was responsible for inspecting lunatic asylums and many of his psychiatric colleagues also became friends of Carroll. His professional contacts provided Carroll with the opportunity to witness professional practices first hand. The influence of Skeffington and his profession subsequently found their way into his nephew’s writing. That the types of insanity of the tea-party’s members draw on popular imagery of insanity through their plots and characters is made explicit at the earliest instance when the Cheshire Cat informs Alice they are ‘both mad’. Carroll was also very aware of the class and wealth distinctions between ‘lunatics’ and ‘pauper lunatics’, which had so much bearing on where and how a Victorian patient was treated. He played an important role in raising public awareness of psychiatry. Thus, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ is far more than just a children’s novel since the character Alice stands in dialogue with both psychiatric practice and popular perceptions of insanity.

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Across

1a          See 4 Across

4a          , 16 & 1 Across Both frolicking with a feather duster in dramatic style (7,2,3,6)
THEATRE OF THE ABSURD: An anagram (frolicking) of BOTH and (with) A FEATHER DUSTER leads to the definition of a style of drama that emphasises the absurdity of human existence by employing disjointed, repetitious and meaningless dialogue, purposeless and confusing situations and plots that lack realistic or logical development

9a          An unpleasant duty guarding silver in port (9)
ANCHORAGE: AN from the clue followed by CHORE (unpleasant duty) as an unpleasant or tedious task keeping inside or protecting (guarding) AG (silver) as the chemical symbol for silver takes to the definition of a sheltered port where ships can take on or discharge cargo

10a        Detective Sergeant consuming beer in tourist area (5)
DALES: DS (Detective Sergeant) as the abbreviation for Detective Sergeant taking in (consuming) ALE (beer) as a usually full-bodied beer that has been fermented at a relatively warm temperature guides to the definition of a tourist area in Yorkshire that is famous for having several valleys through each of which a river flows

11a        Mother keeps a small vehicle — it sometimes runs! (7)
MASCARA: MA (mother) as a childish contraction for mamma or mother has inside or retains (keeps) a combo of A from the clue, S (small) as the abbreviation for small and CAR (vehicle) as a four-wheeled road vehicle that is powered by an engine and is able to carry a small number of people takes to the definition of a substance used as a cosmetic to colour the eyelashes and eyebrows that sometimes runs or spreads or releases colour when rubbed

12a        Smile after tea shows anything but delight (7)
CHAGRIN: GRIN (smile) as to give a broad smile placed after or preceded by (after) CHA (tea) as a slang term for tea displays the definition of a noun denoting a feeling of vexation, annoyance or embarrassment that is obviously no delight

13a        Hopeless repositioning tree with spade (9)
DESPERATE: An anagram (repositioning) of TREE and (with) SPADE leads to the definition of an adjective meaning hopeless or in a state of despair

16a        See 4 Across

17a        Club with advantage (5)
WEDGE: The definition of an iron-headed golf club with much loft, used for approaching is arrived at from a charade of W (with) as the abbreviation for ‘with’ and EDGE (advantage) as a colloquial term for advantage

18a        A poor actor backing Sunak as guru? (9)
MAHARISHI: A combo of A from the clue and HAM (poor actor) as a colloquial term foran actor who rams and overacts coming from the other end (backing) as a reversal in the across clue followed by RISHI (Sunak) as the forename of the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom takes to the definition of a leading instructor in the Hindu faith

21a        Idea found in but little time (7)
THOUGHT: The definition of a concept, opinion or idea is established from a charade of THOUGH (but) as a conjunction indicating ‘but’, used in introducing something opposed to or qualifying what has just been said and T (little time) as time in its abbreviated form and serving as the symbol for time in Physics

22a        Prince at last with Cinders in best restaurant (3,4)
TEA SHOP: A combo of the final or ultimate letter (at last) of [PRINC]E and (with) ASH (cinders) as the dust or remains of anything burnt taken inside (in) TOP (best) as the best or finest part of anything leads to the definition of a small restaurant where tea, coffee, cakes, sandwiches and light meals are served

25a        Murphy perhaps included in balanced diet (5)
EDDIE: Part of or hidden inside (included in) [BALANC]ED DIE[T] leads to the definition of probably the popular name of the American comedian, actor and singer who shot to fame on the sketch comedy show ‘Saturday Night Live’, whose birth name was Edward Regan Murphy, but became more popular by the name Eddie Murphy

26a        Fish devouring fantastic bat — suspect treachery? (5,1,3)
SMELL A RAT: SMELT (fish) as any marine or freshwater salmanoid food fish of the family Osmeridae, having a long silvery body and occurring in temperate and cold northern waters eating or taking in (devouring) LARA (fantastic bat) as referring to Brian Lara, the fantastic West Indian cricketer who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen of all time takes to the definition of a verbal phrase meaning to suspect an instance of betrayal, deception or treachery

27a        Disorder puts Emergency Room in endless peril (7)
DERANGE: The definition of a verb meaning to disarrange or to throw into disorder is arrived at from ER (Emergency Room) as the abbreviation for Emergency Room placed inside (in) DANGE[R] (peril) as the state of being vulnerable to harm, loss or injury that is devoid of its terminal or end letter (endless)

28a        & 17 Down Utterly perplexed, news noted as it breaks (2,4,4,3)
AT ONE’S WITS END: The definition of an adjectival phrase meaning completely puzzled and perplexed and not knowing what to do is reached from an anagram (breaks) of NEWS NOTED AS IT

Down

1d          Capone with gun making you frightened? (7)
ALARMED: A charade of AL (Capone) as referring to Alphonse Gabriel Capone, the American gangster and businessman who attained notoriety and who was more popularly known as Al Capone and ARMED (with gun) as using or carrying a weapon, especially a gun takes to the definition of an adjective meaning frightened or concerned that one may be in danger or that something undesirable will happen

2d          Coal packed into these fires? (5)
SACKS: Double definition; the first being a noun referring to large bags made of a rough woven strong material such as hessian, used for storing and carrying goods, such as coal etc and the second a verb in the present tense third person singular form meaning dismisses someone suddenly from a job or employment

3d          Wine I love cracked jar contains (5)
RIOJA: The definition of a table wine, especially a dry red wine, produced in La Rioja, an autonomous community and province in northern Spain is arrived at from a combo of I from the clue and O (love) as the score for zero in a game of tennis that an anagram (cracked) of JAR has inside (contains)

4d          Sweet thing in Electra complex? (7)
TREACLE: An anagram (complex) of ELECTRA leads to the definition of a thick sweet sticky liquid

5d          Labour aim always to be heard (9)
ENDEAVOUR: END (aim) as an intention or aim and a homophone heard by the audience (to be heard) of EVER (always) as an adverb meaning always or at all times takes to the definition of a verb meaning to labour, strive or to exert oneself to do or effect something

6d          Bears are in two groups turning northward (9)
TOLERATES: The definition of a verb in the present tense third person singular form meaning bears or endures, especially with patience or forbearance is arrived at from ARE from the clue placed between (in) SET and LOT (two groups) as two groups, the former being a group with common habits, occupation, interests etc and the latter a set or group of things or people, all bound upward or northward as reversals in down clue

7d          German city church in vital part (7)
ESSENCE: A charade of ESSEN (German city) as a city in Western Germany and CE (church) as the abbreviation for the Church of England leads to the definition of the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience

8d          & 19 Down Out to lunch — like Tea Party member? (3,2,1,6)
MAD AS A HATTER: The definition of a phrase in this all-in-one clue meaning completely insane or crazy is cryptically arrived at from MAD (out to lunch) as mentally disturbed that can be also expressed as ‘out to lunch’ meaning temporarily not in command of one’s mental faculties, AS (like) as a conjunction denoting ‘like’ that is used to indicate by comparison the way that something happens or is done and A HATTER (Tea Party member) as one of the invitees present in the Tea Party in the novel ‘Alice in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll

14d        Less ambitious presentation to the board? (4,5)
SIDE ORDER: A cryptic definition of a dish (presentation) that is subsidiary (less ambitious) to the main course that is set on the table (board)

15d        Unfading Queen good with soldiers in uniform (9)
EVERGREEN: A combination of ER (Queen) as the abbreviation for Elizabeth Regina, the name taken on by Queen Elizabeth upon ascending the throne, the word ‘regina’ being the Latin name for ‘queen’, G (good) as the abbreviation for good and (with) RE (soldiers) as the abbreviation for Royal Engineers who are trained multi-skilled soldiers, combat engineers and tradesmen placed inside (in) EVEN (uniform) as uniform or having no variations or fluctuations guides to the definition of an adjective meaning having green leaves throughout the year, especially of trees, shrubs, plants etc or remaining fresh and vital and not fading

17d        See 28 Across

18d        French artist entertained by diplomat is Seurat (7)
MATISSE: Part of or hidden inside (entertained by) DIPLOMAT IS SEURAT guides to the definition of the surname of the French visual artist, who was known for both his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship and whose full name was Henri Émile Benoît Matisse

19d        See 8 Down

20d        Time’s up disastrously for Momentum (7)
IMPETUS: An anagram (disastrously) of TIME’S UP leads to the definition of the momentum of a moving body, especially with reference to the cause of motion

23d        Give out scores on radio? (5)
ALLOT: A homophone heard by the audience (on the radio) of A LOT (scores) as a large number or amount takes to the definition of a verb meaning to give, dole or hand out or apportion something to someone

24d        Champion: name for tall winger (5)
HERON: A charade of HERO (champion) as a champion or someone who fights for a cause and N (name) as the abbreviation for name takes to the definition of a large long-legged, long-necked wading bird, commonly grey or white in colour

Some of the clues that I liked in this puzzle were 9a, 11a, 12a, 17a, 18a, 26a, 1d, 2d, 18d and 24d and the combined 4a-16a-1a and 8d-19d; 26a being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to NY Doorknob for the entertainment and to Gazza for the assistance. Looking forward to being here again. Have a nice day.