Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3307
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 9th March 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A straightforward and gentle 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.
Vegan, the answer to the clue of 9a, is a person who practises veganism that is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products and the consumption of animal source foods. I explored the net and learnt that it is also an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. The foundations of veganism include ethical, moral, environmental, health and humanitarian arguments. Veganism excludes all forms of animal use, whether in agriculture for labour or food like meat, fish and other animal seafood, eggs, dairy products such as milk or cheese, and honey, in clothing and industry like wool, leather, fur and some cosmetics, in entertainment like zoos, exotic pets and circuses or in services like guide dogs, police dogs, hunting dogs, working animals and animal testing, including medical experimentation and the use of pharmaceuticals derived from or tested on animals. A person who practices veganism may do so for personal health benefits or to reduce animal deaths, minimise animal suffering or minimise their ecological footprint. The term ‘veganism’ was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson with the sole aim of differentiating it from vegetarianism that excludes meat like beef, pork, poultry, fish etc, but may still include animal products like eggs, dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt etc and sometimes honey. There are different types of vegetarians, such as lacto-vegetarians who eat dairy but not eggs and ovo-vegetarians who eat eggs but not dairy products. During my childhood and youth and further right up to my middle age, I heard and saw people being either a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian. Then eggetarian as a portmanteau of egg and vegetarian came into use. The term was used to describe someone who ate eggs, but was otherwise a strict vegetarian, avoiding meat and fish. In India, particularly, the term became more celebrated as a huge population had this food habit. With the passage of years, the term ‘veganism’ also came to be frequently used and more and more people began to understand the exact differences between a vegetarian and a vegan. I learnt from the net that interest in veganism increased significantly in the 2010s.
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Across
1a Description of unfinished cake, perhaps, spotted (7)
NOTICED: NOT ICED (description of unfinished cake, perhaps) as referring to a plain cake that doesn’t have any frosting or icing on top of or around it and hence lacking a decorative finish, guiding to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning spotted, discerned or detected
5a Place for patient with bad plague (7)
BEDEVIL: A charade of BED (place for patient) as the main equipment among other associated facilities comprising a place for a patient in a hospital and (with) EVIL (bad) as profoundly immoral or wicked directs to the definition of a verb meaning to torment or harass someone, an example of which is plague, another verb meaning pester or harass someone continually
9a Careful eater, say, in vehicle (5)
VEGAN: The definition of a careful eater or strict vegetarian who doesn’t consume food that comes from animals like meat, eggs or dairy products is reached from EG (say) as the abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia meaning ‘for example’ or ‘say’ placed inside (in) VAN (vehicle) as a covered motor vehicle for transporting goods etc by road
10a Adopting change, more than one friend thinks deeply (9)
MEDITATES: MATES (more than one friend) as a plural noun meaning friends, buddies or companions accepting or taking inside (adopting) EDIT (change) as a change or correction made leads to the definition of a verb in the present tense third person singular form meaning contemplates or thinks deeply about something
11a State where African oil spilled (10)
CALIFORNIA: The definition of a state in the Western region of the United States that lies on the Pacific Coast is reached from an anagram (spilled) of AFRICAN OIL
12a Exam welcomed by professor, always (4)
ORAL: The definition of a spoken examination or test is fetched from part of or hidden inside (welcomed by) [PROFESS]OR, AL[WAYS]
14a More than one problem arises with banter that’s out of order (12)
BRAINTEASERS: The definition of an informal term for the plural of a problem or puzzle, typically one designed to be solved for amusement is obtained from a combo of ARISES and (with) BANTER that’s subject to an anagram (out of order)
18a Developing rebel missing at the front (12)
EVOLUTIONARY: The definition of an adjective meaning developing or relating to the gradual development of something is arrived at from [R]EVOLUTIONARY (rebel) as a rebel or a person fighting against a government or invading force that is having its front or initial letter missing (missing at the front)
21a Red not often seen (4)
RARE: Double adjectival definition; the second denoting not done, found, seen etc very often that takes to the first referring to beef, especially steak, that is served partly raw or not completely cooked, so that the inside is still red
22a Two possibilities served with notice, roughly (4,2,4)
GIVE OR TAKE: Two words (two possibilities) linked with (served with) the word ‘notice’ to make two different phrases i.e. ‘give notice’ involving informing someone of something in advance and ‘take notice’ denoting being aware of or paying attention to something or acknowledging something that appropriately describe a situation where two sides exchange things that leads to the definition of a phrase meaning roughly, about or approximately
25a Poor work adding chicken to pan (9)
POTBOILER: The definition of a literary or artistic work of poor quality, produced quickly for profit is obtained from BOILER (chicken) as a chicken suitable for cooking only by boiling preceded by or following (adding … to ) POT (pan) as a rounded or cylindrical container, typically of metal, used for cooking, an example of which is a pot
26a Dark element encapsulating minimum of levity (5)
UNLIT: The definition of an adjective meaning dark, having no lights or with the lights switched off is reached from UNIT (element) as any group or individual, especially when regarded as a basic element of a larger whole taking inside (encapsulating) the minimum number of letters (minimum) of L[EVITY]
27a Inhalation’s ending with a rush – snuff taken like that (7)
NASALLY: The end or terminal letter (ending) of [INHALATIO]N (inhalation’s) followed by (with) A from the clue and SALLY (rush) as a verb meaning to rush out suddenly guide to the definition of an adverb denoting in a way that sounds through the nose, such as by inhaling something through the nose like snuff, drugs etc
28a Awfully dry heat – add water (7)
HYDRATE: An anagram (awfully) of DRY HEAT takes to the definition of a verb meaning to supply water to a person in order to restore or maintain fluid balance
Down
1d Beginner can’t get a grip, it seems? (6)
NOVICE: NO VICE as a phrase that might suggest (it seems) not having a vice or tool with movable jaws for gripping an object that is being worked on (can’t get a grip) that takes to the definition referring to a tyro or a beginner
2d Fastener caught up on leg, unfortunately (6)
TOGGLE: The definition of a fastener consisting of a peg or pin or crosspiece that is inserted into an eye at the end of a rope or a chain or a cable in order to fasten it to something is attained from GOT (caught) as a verb in the past tense meaning got or was afflicted with in an upward direction (up) as a reversal and placed upon (on) an anagram (unfortunately) of LEG in the down clue
3d Tidied up of course, in describing “spruce” say? (10)
CONIFEROUS: An anagram (tidied up) of OF COURSE, IN takes to the definition of an adjective meaning of or relating to trees or shrubs that produce cones and evergreen leaves, one as an example is ‘spruce’
4d Object bird found in centre of Madrid (5)
DEMUR: The definition of a verb meaning to object or voice opposition is obtained from EMU (bird) as a large flightless fast-running Australian bird Dromaius novaehollandiae and the second-largest living bird by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich noticed inside (found in) the central or middle letters (centre) of [MA]DR[ID]
5d China supports offensive game (9)
BADMINTON: MINTON (China) as a well-known British company famous for producing fine china and porcelain and particularly famous for their work in bone china follows or has on its top in the down clue (supports) BAD (offensive) as offensive, unpleasant or disagreeable, leading to the definition of a game with rackets in which a shuttlecock is hit back and forth across a net
6d See a lover, fruity thing (4)
DATE: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to the sweet, edible, oblong or oval fruit of a kind of palm tree growing in the tropics that takes to the first a verb denoting to go out socially to meet or see a lover or the member of the opposite sex on a certain date, time and place after fixing an appointment beforehand
7d Group of religious followers changes around Old Testament (8)
VOTARIES: The definition of a noun in the plural form denoting a group of religious followers or a group of devoted adherents of a religion, cause, leader, pursuit etc is fetched from VARIES (changes) as a verb in the present tense third person singular form meaning changes from one condition, form or state to another placed about (around) OT (Old Testament) as the abbreviated form of Old Testament that is considered the predecessor of the New Testament that comprises the chief texts of the law, history, prophecy and wisdom literature of the ancient people of Israel that takes to the definition of an adverb meaning altogether, totally or entirely
8d Lethargic, having lost record? (8)
LISTLESS: The definition of an adjective meaning lethargic or characterised by a lack of energy or interest is reached from LESS OF (having lost) as having lost or without something and LIST (record) as an item-by-item record of names or things, usually written or printed one under the other, that is, LESS OF LIST or, precisely, LIST-LESS
13d Lawful position where one may be taken for a ride? (10)
FAIRGROUND: A charade of FAIR (lawful) as lawful, just or equitable and GROUND (position) as a position, area or viewpoint takes to the definition of a designated open space that is used for fairs or exhibitions where families, especially with children, may go to enjoy amusement rides among various forms of entertainment
15d At first not out of it? I join forces (9)
INITIALLY: The definition of an adverb meaning at first or in the beginning is arrived at from IN IT (not out of it) as denoting ‘not out of it’ followed by I from the clue linked to (join) ALLY (force)
16d Underwater creature, one fish in net hauled up (8)
TERRAPIN: The definition of any of various web-footed pond or river turtles of the family Emydidae, also called water turtles is derived from a combo of I (one) as the Roman numeral for one and PARR (fish) as a young salmon up to two years of age or the young of several other kinds of fish placed inside (in) NET from the clue all in an upward direction or raised position (hauled up) as reversals in the down clue
17d Great thinker thus requires a load of beer! (8)
SOCRATES: The definition of the Greek philosopher and great thinker from Athens who is credited as among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought is attained from a charade of SO (thus) as an adverb meaning in a way described or demonstrated to have beside (requires) CRATES (a load of beer) as the plural of a fairly large container, usually made of wooden slats or wickerwork, used for packing, storing or transporting goods like cans or bottles holding some products, an example of which can be beer
19d Spanish dish bound to be served up with half of lamb (6)
PAELLA: A saffron-flavoured Spanish rice dish made with varying combinations of chicken, rice, vegetables, seafood etc is reached from LEAP (bound) as a spring, jump or bound in an upward direction (to be served up) as a reversal in the down clue and (with) half or 50% of the letters (half) of LA[MB]
20d Sounding like iron, for example, steel (6)
METTLE: A homophone heard by the audience (sounding like) of METAL (iron, for example) as any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc, an example of which is iron takes to the definition of a noun denoting fortitude, courage or inherent quality of character, an example of which is steel referring to a quality suggestive of the alloy, especially a hard, unflinching character
23d Land in foxhole (5)
EARTH: Double nounal definition; the second denoting a fox’s earth or a military fortification of earth, mostly or entirely below ground that takes to the first referring to the land or solid part of the surface of the earth as distinct from seas, lakes etc
24d Reportedly single person (4)
SOUL: A homophone heard by the audience (reportedly) of SOLE (single) as an adjective meaning one and only guides to the definition of another noun denoting an individual person
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 5a, 9a, 14a, 18a, 22a, 25a, 1d, 5d, 8d, 17d and 20d; 17d 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*/4* …
liked 5A “Place for patient with bad plague (7)”