Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3303
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 9th February 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and very friendly puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and valuable feedback.
Llama, the answer to the clue of 21a, was known to me in my childhood, but this time I became inquisitive to learn more about this animal and hence explored the net. I learnt that it is a domesticated South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since the pre-Columbian era. Now the camelids are members of the biological family ‘Camelidae’ and the seven extant members of this group are dromedary camels, Bactrian camels, wild Bactrian camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos. The llamas are social animals and live with others as a herd. Their woold is soft and contains only a small amount of lanolin. They can carry about 25 to 30 percent of their body weight for 5 to 8 miles. The ancestors of llamas are believed to have originated on the Great Plains of North America many million years ago and subsequently migrated to South America about three million years ago. Lamoids are another name for llamas, who consist of the Suri alpacas, Huacaya alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos and the domestic llamas. Vicuñas and guanacos dwell in the wild, while llamas and alpacas exist only domesticated animals. Early writers used to compare llamas to sheep, but their similarity to the camel was soon recognised. A DNA analysis has confirmed that the guanaco is the wild ancestor of the llama, while the vicuña is the wild ancestor of the alpaca. Llamas are important beings according to the Aymara mythology. The Heavenly Llama is said to drink water from the ocean and urinates as it rains. Their eschatology predicts that llamas will return to the water springs and ponds where they come from at the end of present time or world.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
8a Folding paper note, a cheque rejected earlier (7)
ORIGAMI: The definition of the art or process, originating in Japan, of folding paper into shapes representing flowers, birds, animals etc is reached from MI (note) as the third note of the scale in sol-fa notation preceded by or coming after (earlier) a combo of A from the clue and GIRO (cheque) as a cheque or payment by a system of electronic credit transfer, especially a social security payment in a returning order or coming back (rejected)
10a A job ends in final service for preacher (7)
APOSTLE: A from the clue, POST (job) as a position of paid employment or a job and the ending or final letters (ends) in [FINA]L [SERVIC]E takes to the definition of a person sent to preach the gospel or the teaching of Christ
11a American score in crazy golf, ideal (5,4)
FIELD GOAL: The definition of a goal scored from normal play in American football or basketball is arrived at from an anagram (crazy) of GOLF IDEAL
12a Live in the lap of luxury, daughter next door (5)
DWELL: The definition of a verb meaning to live or stay as a permanent resident is fetched from WELL (in the lap of luxury) as an adjective meaning comfortable or an adverb denoting ‘with some degrees of luxury’ placed after or preceded by (next door) D (daughter) as the genealogical abbreviation for daughter
13a Colour green’s back on top (5)
BROWN: The definition of a dark, woody or dusky colour, tending towards red or yellow is obtained from the back or last letter (back) of [GREE]N (green’s) coming after (on) BROW (top) as the jutting top of a hill in the across clue
14a Religious claim is bizarre (7)
ISLAMIC: The definition of an adjective meaning relating to or characteristic of Islam that is a monotheistic religion characterised by the doctrine of absolute submission to God, an example of which is the adjective religious meaning having or showing belief in and reverence for religion and God or a deity is reached from an anagram (bizarre) of CLAIM IS
17a Allotment getting harder to dig? Curiouser and curiouser! (3,4,8)
THE PLOT THICKENS: A charade of THE PLOT (allotment) as referring to the small piece of ground marked out for a purpose such as building or gardening, an example of which is allotment that is a plot of land rented by an individual for growing vegetables or flowers and (getting) THICKENS (harder to dig) as becoming thicker or solidifying and thus harder to dig takes to the definition of a situation or series of events that has become more complex, mysterious or difficult to understand, a somewhat similar example of which is another phrase ‘curiouser and curiouser’ meaning more and more curious or increasingly strange
19a Protein shakes for dog (7)
POINTER: An anagram (shakes) of PROTEIN produces the definition of a dog of a breed developed in Europe to point game, having a smooth, short-haired coat that is often white with black or browning markings
21a Animal originally looking like another: maybe alpaca? (5)
LLAMA: The definition of a South American transport animal of the camel family, a domesticated guanaco is arrived at from the original or initial letters (originally) of L[OOKING] L[IKE] A[NOTHER:] M[AYBE] A[LPACA?]
24a Cricketing approach has joke backfiring on rugby (3-2)
RUN-UP: The definition of a literal and figurative term for an approach in cricket, in addition to athletics and golf, is reached from PUN (joke) as a type of joke where the meaning of words is interchanged, usually using a similar sounding word in place of another coming from the back (backfiring) as a reversal in the across clue preceded by or placed after (on) RU (rugby union) as the abbreviation for Rugby Union
26a Where ball is placed for penalty, immediately (2,3,4)
ON THE SPOT: Double phrasal definition; the first being the obvious answer to the question where ball is placed for penalty in football, the spot more specifically called the penalty spot, from where the penalty kick is taken which is twelve yards from the goal line and centre between the touch lines and the second an adverb denoting without any delay, at once or immediately
27a Forward, person taking action (7)
STRIKER: Double nounal definition; the second being someone who strikes or resorts to certain action, such as an employee on strike against an employer that leads to the first referring to a forward, attacker, especially one whose task is to attempt to score goals in football
28a Book that man prepares (7)
HEBREWS: The definition of one of the books of the New Testament is arrived at from a charade of HE (that man) as the pronoun used to refer to a man, boy or male animal previously mentioned or easily identified and BREWS (prepares) as a verb in the simple present tense and third person singular form meaning prepares or makes a drink like tea or coffee by soaking, boiling and fermentation
Down
1d Party followed by wonderful talk (6)
CONFAB: A charade of CON (felon) as in the context of party politics, a symbolic term for the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom and (followed by) FAB (wonderful) as an informal adjective denoting fabulous, wonderful or something great leads to the definition of a colloquial term for confabulation referring to a talk, chat or an informal private conversation or discussion
2d Wearing rose, item fashionable (8)
TIRESOME: An anagram (fashionable) of ROSE ITEM guides to the definition of an adjective meaning wearing or mentally or physically tiring
3d Incredible danger, even in low-level building (6,4)
GARDEN FLAT: An anagram (incredible) of DANGER followed by FLAT (even) as an adjective meaning even or smooth, without projections or depressions takes to the definition of a multiple-unit low-rise dwelling having considerable lawn or garden space
4d Mean to get a grip on a misfortune that may serve as a warning (4,5)
TAIL LIGHT: TIGHT (mean) as stingy, reluctant to spend or mean with money to have inside (get a grip on) a combo of A from the clue and ILL (misfortune) as misfortune or trouble leads to the definition of a red light on the back of a road vehicle that makes it possible for the vehicle to be seen in the dark by or that may serve as a warning to the vehicle that is immediately behind it
5d US president, cross (4)
FORD: Double definition; the second being a verb meaning to cross a river or stream at a shallow place, especially of a person or vehicle that takes to the first a noun referring to the 38th President of the United States, whose full name was Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr.
6d Current king in power (6)
STREAM: The definition of a current or a continuous flow of water is reached from R (king) as the abbreviation for rex, the Latin word for king placed inside (in) STEAM (power) as power or energy obtained from heating water
7d Clips are different – those appear to be the same (8)
REPLICAS: An anagram (different) of CLIPS ARE guides to the definition of the plural of a noun meaning copy that is not the original, though appearing to look the same
9d Resolute club (4)
IRON: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to a golf club with a metal head that guides to the first an adjective meaning resolute, resolved or determined
15d A close encounter? (5,5)
LOCAL DERBY: A cryptic definition of an encounter or match of two teams of two clubs located close to each other, an example of which can be a match between Liverpool Football Club and Everton Football Club, both of which are located in the city of Liverpool
16d Brilliant directors right in the main (9)
STARBOARD: A charade of STAR (brilliant) as an adjective meaning brilliant, pre-eminent or prominent and BOARD (directors) as referring to a board of directors or a group of persons chosen to govern the affairs of a corporation or other large institution guides to the definition of a noun referring to the right-hand side of or direction from a vessel in the main or sea, facing forward
17d Supporters in difficulty, standing for leaders (3,5)
TOP BRASS: BRAS (supporters) as the plural form of the short for brassière that is a form-fitting undergarment, used primarily to support and cover a woman’s breasts placed inside (in) SPOT (difficulty) as difficulty, dilemma or trouble in an upward direction (standing) as reversal in the down clue takes to the definition of the most important or high-ranking officials or leaders, as in politics, industry etc
18d Test paper at first requiring the French illustrations (8)
EXAMPLES: EXAM (test) as an official test that shows one’s ability or knowledge in a particular subject followed by the first or initial letter (at first) of P[APER] and LES (the French) as the definite article ‘the’ in French language used with plural, both masculine and feminine words leads to the definition of a plural noun meaning specimens, samples or illustrations
20d Pay no attention to a little anger, on giving up (6)
IGNORE: Part of or hidden inside (a little) [ANG]ER, ON GI[VING] in an upward direction (up) as a reversal in the down clue takes to the definition of a verb meaning to disregard or refuse to pay attention to someone or something
22d Prove most overweight, removing top (6)
ATTEST: The definition of a verb meaning to attest, certify or provide evidence for is achieved from [F]ATTEST (most overweight) as an adjective in the superlative degree meaning the most obese or overweight that is devoid of its topmost letter (removing top) in the down clue
23d Long playing area, cut at the outset (4)
ITCH: The definition of a verb meaning to long, ache or pine is got from [P]ITCH (playing area) as an area of ground marked out or used for play in an outdoor team game that is having its beginning letter (at the outset) stripped off or removed (cut)
25d By the sound of it, top dog (4)
PEKE: The definition of the colloquial short form of Pekinese or Pekingese, referring to a dwarf pug-dog of a breed brought from Peking is arrived at from a homophone heard by the audience (by the sound of it) of peak (top) as denoting the top of the mountain
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 13a, 17a, 28a, 3d, 4d, 15d, 16d, 17d and 25d; 17a 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.