Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3288
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 27th October 2024
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A straightforward, friendly puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind reading and necessary feedback.
I wanted to know more of the capital and most populated city of Muscat, the answer to the clue of 10a, and so after solving the puzzle, took to the net. The metropolitan are spans approximately 3,500 square kilometres and includes six provinces, making it the largest city in the Arabian Peninsula by area. The city lies on the Arabian Sea along the Gulf of Oman and is in the proximity of the strategic Straits of Hormuz. The Hajar Mountains dominates its landscape. It is known since the early 1st century AD as an important trading port between the west and the east. At various points in its history, Muscat was ruled by various indigenous tribes as well as foreign powers such as the Persians, the Portuguese Empire and the Ottoman Empire. In the 18th century AD, it was a regional military power and its influence extended as far as East Africa and Zanzibar. It attracted foreign traders and settlers like the Persians, Balochs and Sindhis. Since the accession of Qaboos bin Said as Sultan of Oman in 1970, Muscat has experienced rapid industrial development that made it a vibrant economy and a multi-ethnic society. Its economy is dominated by trade, petroleum, liquified natural gas and porting. An inhabitant of Muscat may be called as a Muscatter, Muscatian, Muscatite or Muscatan.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Sensational news channel? (6,5)
GUTTER PRESS: A cryptic definition of that part of the press which specialises in sordid sensationalistic journalism
9a Hindu queen east of India, an Asian (7)
IRANIAN: RANI (Hindu queen) as, historically, a Hindu queen placed on the eastward side (east) of I (India) as the letter represented by India in the NATO phonetic alphabet and followed by AN from the clue leads to the definition of a native or inhabitant of Iran that is in Asia and hence Asian
10a Retreat of total dude in Middle Eastern capital (6)
MUSCAT: SUM (total) as total or whole seen coming from the other end (retreat) as a reversal in the across clue followed by CAT (dude) as informally referring to a man, especially among jazz enthusiasts in North America, an example of which is dude, an informal term for a man from the city holidaying out West takes to the definition of the capital and largest city of Oman, a country in the Middle East
12a Potential road hazard, but caught by beam (7)
POTHOLE: The definition of a depression or hollow in a road surface deemed as a potential hazard is reached from THO’ (but) as, poetically, representing the conjunction ‘though’ that is synonymous with yet or but taken in (caught by) POLE (beam) as a rod, post or beam
13a Final points defended by better ministers (7)
TERMINI: The definition of the plural of an end point of a bus or railway route is part of or hiding inside (defended by) [BET]TER MINI[STERS]
14a Best heading on cartridge paper (5)
CREAM: The definition of the very best or finest of a group of people or things is obtained from the leading or first letter (heading) on C[ARTRIDGE] followed by REAM (paper) as a large quantity of paper
15a Clueless when blindfolded? (2,3,4)
IN THE DARK: Double adjectival phrasal definition; the second referring to a situation of having the eyes bandaged so as not to be able to see and everything seems dark that takes to the first denoting ignorant, unaware or clueless
17a Current broadcast, class (9)
AIRSTREAM: The definition of a current of air is arrived at from a charade of AIR (broadcast) as to broadcast a programme on radio or television and STREAM (class) as one of the classes into which children of the same age are divided according to ability, as in a school
20a Middle alongside other half (5)
HUBBY: A charade of HUB (middle) as the middle or main part of something where there is most activity and BY (alongside) as alongside or indicating location of a physical object beside a place or object takes to the definition of an informal term referring, in an affectionate way, to a person’s husband, who is also informally called as the ‘other half’
22a Joy in English language filled with love (7)
ELATION: The definition of a noun denoting joy, happiness or exhilaration is reached from E (English) as the abbreviation for English followed by LATIN (language) as the language of ancient Rome and its empire having inside (filled with) O (love) as love or the score of zero in a game of tennis
24a Enrol as orderly in Italian port (7)
SALERNO: An anagram (orderly) of ENROL AS leads to the definition of the Italian port that is one of the most active of the Tyrrhenian Sea, handling about 10 million tons of cargo per year
25a Gear number, one found in the litter? (6)
KITTEN: A charade of KIT (gear) as a gear or a set of articles or equipment needed for a specific purpose and TEN (number) as the cardinal number one above nine takes to the definition of a young or baby cat that can be found in the litter i.e. a number of young animals born to the same mother at the same time
26a Clear vent (7)
EXPRESS: Double definition; the first being an adjective denoting clear or stated explicitly and not merely implied and the second a verb meaning to vent or convey a thought or feeling in words or by gestures and conduct
27a Creative intrigued at lack of appreciation (11)
INGRATITUDE: An anagram (creative) of INTRIGUED AT leads to the definition of a discreditable lack of gratitude or appreciation
Down
2d The same peacekeepers, I figure (7)
UNIFORM: The definition of an adjective meaning the same, not changing or different in any other way is reached from UN (peacekeepers) as referring to the United Nations, an international organisation established in 1945 after World War II whose main goal is to maintain international peace and security, I from the clue and FORM (figure) as physique, figure or a person’s bodily shape
3d Brown and one in green turned orange (9)
TANGERINE: TAN (brown) as to brown by exposure to ultraviolet rays, as of the sun followed by (and) I (one) as the Roman numeral for one placed inside (in) an anagram (turned) of GREEN guides to the definition of a small citrus fruit with a loose skin, especially one of a variety with deep orange red skin
4d Post marked for US university (5)
REMIT: The definition of a verb meaning to send, mail or post is arrived at from a charade of RE (marked for) as marked for or as a reference to something and MIT (US university) as referring to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that is in the state of Massachusetts in the United States, for example RE: MIT
5d Lack of warmth in book (7)
RESERVE: Double definition; the first being a noun denoting a lack of warmth or openness in manner or expression and the second a verb meaning to book or arrange for a room, seat, ticket etc to be kept for use of a particular person
6d Grit in mat as rough (7)
STAMINA: The definition of an adjective meaning grit or the ability to sustain prolonged physical or mental effort is arrived at from an anagram (rough) of IN MAT AS
7d Wallowing type has cases for old physician (11)
HIPPOCRATES: A charade of HIPPO (wallowing type) as a shortened form of hippopotamus that is a large semiaquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa and known for wallowing that is to roll about or lie in mud or water, especially to keep cool or avoid biting insects as its skin is too sensitive with (has) CRATES (cases) as the plural of a slatted wooden case used for transporting goods takes to the definition of the Greek physician and philosopher of the classic period who is traditionally referred to as the ‘Father of Medicine’
8d Man building with battlements (6)
CASTLE: Double nounal definition; the first being a piece in the game of chess that looks like a castle tower, an example of which is man that is one of the pieces in a game like chess or checkers and the second referring to a large building, typically of the medieval period, fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers etc
11d Lightweight character that’s animated (6-5)
MICKEY-MOUSE: Double definition; the second being an American animated cartoon character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks that takes to the first an adjective meaning insignificant, trivial, lightweight or of little importance
16d Record item with these erroneously (4,5)
TIME SHEET: The definition of a record of the hours worked by employees is arrived at from an anagram (erroneously) of a combo of ITEM and (with) THESE
18d Right angle I bent, put straight (7)
REALIGN: R (right) as the abbreviation for right followed by an anagram (bent) of ANGLE I leads to the definition of a verb meaning to put in a line or arrange so as to be parallel or straight
19d Chuckle keeps wife in state of excitement (7)
TWITTER: TITTER (chuckle) as a short, half-suppressed laugh retains or has inside (keeps) W (wife) as the genealogical abbreviation for wife guides to the definition of a phrase meaning in a state of agitation or excitement
20d Nerve held by leader, landing place (7)
HELIPAD: LIP (nerve) as an informal term meaning impudence or impertinence, as is nerve that is another informal term denoting impudence or audacity kept inside (held by) HEAD (leader) as a director or leader takes to the definition of a landing and take-off area for helicopters
21d Snack citizen discussed? (6)
BURGER: A homophone heard by the audience (discussed) of BURGHER (citizen) as a citizen of an English borough takes to the definition of a sandwich consisting of a fried cake of minced beef served on a bun, often with other ingredients such as cheese, onion slices, lettuce or condiments eaten as a snack
23d Musician group a fraction of twenty-seven, one third! (5)
NONET: The definition of a group of nine people, especially musicians is fetched from part of or hidden inside (a fraction of) [TWENTY-SEVE]N, ONE T[HIRD]
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 9a, 20a, 25a, 5d, 7d, 11d, 21d and 23d; 1a being the best of the lot. My prayers to the Almighty for the eternal rest and peace of BD and my thanks to Dada for the entertainment and to Gazza for the assistance. Looking forward to being here again. Have a nice day.
3*/3* …..
liked 11D “Lightweight character that’s animated (6-5)”