Comments on: Inquisitor 1148 – Trial by Schadenfreude – 16 October 2010

By: Ali

Ali — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 11:57:08 +0000

I’ve definitely seen the cat/vomit thing used before. Azed used it in his recent 2000 puzzle I think

By: Hi of Hihoba

Hi of Hihoba — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:38:02 +0000

I don’t know the origin of “cat” for vomit, but it occurs in the wonderful “Stalky and Co” by Kipling. I remember having to look it up at the time (a very long time ago!).
“Oh, Stalky, you are a fool!”
“Je cat, tu cat, il cat. Nous cattons! …. We’re a limited liability company payin’ four per cent. My father’s a shareholder, …”

By: HolyGhost

HolyGhost — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:36:40 +0000

As Duncan says, not too challenging a puzzle. (Or are we just getting better?)

Re 26A: Is it only Schadenfreude who uses “cat” to clue SICK or VOMIT? He’s done it before and I am aware of no others that have.

By: Mike Laws

Mike Laws — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:51:47 +0000

The first reaction to this puzzle was:

Mike, a quotation etched in the brain of every barrister of a certain age, along with (prosecuting counsel cross-examining truck driver in a drunken driving case) “Are you sure you didn’t have even the teeny-weeniest sherry before luncheon?” and (defence counsel’s closing speech to a Norfolk jury) “Be sure not to fall into the fallacy post hoc, ergo propter hoc”.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. Apart from the puzzle’s quality, it brought back memories of forking out 3/6 for the book at the time,aged 14!