Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3315
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 4th May 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A very pleasant 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.
After solving the puzzle, I became inquisitive to know about the etymology of the idiom ‘by hook or by crook’, the answer to the clue of 16a and so took to the net, where I learnt that while the exact origin is debated, a common theory links it to the practice of commoners gathering firewood in royal forests, allowing them to take branches they could reach with a shepherd’s crook or a billhook.
I was aware that the word ‘élan’, the answer to the clue of 26d, is a borrowed French noun meaning energetic style, enthusiastic flair or spirited self-assurance, but still explored the net to arrive at the entire history of etymology of the word. I learnt that it traced back to the Middle French word ‘eslan’ meaning a rush, dash or sudden movement. This in turn came from the verb ‘eslancer’ denoting to dart, throw or cast a lance. Ultimately, ‘eslancer’ is derived from the Latin preposition ‘ex’ meaning out or from and the noun ‘lancea’ referring to a light spear for throwing, possibly of Gaulish or Spanish origin.
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Across
9a Parasite in US general attending church (5)
LEECH: The definition of a parasite or a person who clings to another for personal gain, especially without giving anything in return is reached from a charade of LEE (US general) as referring to the Confederate general known for his role in the American Civil War, whose full name was Robert Edward Lee and going or getting attached to (attending) CH (church) as the abbreviation for church
10a Stew this spicy, might one closely observe the matter? (9)
PHYSICIST: An anagram (stew) of THIS SPICY guides to the definition of a scientist trained in physics that is the science of matter and energy and their interactions
11a Fail to understand where sidearm malfunctioning (7)
MISREAD: The definition of a verb meaning to fail to interpret, understand or read accurately is arrived at from an anagram (malfunctioning) of SIDEARM
12a Greener shade ultimately in tree on meadow (7)
LEAFIER: The definition of an adjective in the comparative degree meaning greener or more verdant is obtained from the ultimate or final letter (ultimately) of [SHAD]E placed inside (in) FIR (tree) as any of various evergreen trees that have flat needles and bear cones preceded by or coming after (on) LEA (meadow) as a meadow or a tract of open ground, especially grassland
13a Part of amount I exchanged for free (5)
UNTIE: A fraction of or hidden inside (part of) [AMO]UNT I E[XCHANGE] leads to the definition of a verb meaning to undo or loosen a knot or to free from something that binds or restrains
14a Brute originally inspired by dance, wild beast rising up (9)
REBELLION: The original or starting letter (originally) of B[RUTE] taken inside (inspired by) REEL (dance) as a lively dance, especially Highland or Irish and followed by LION (wild beast) as a large wild animal of the cat family with yellowish-brown fur that lives in Africa and southern Asia gets to the definition of a revolt or an uprising
16a Two ways to describe a bend, somehow (2,4,2,2,5)
BY HOOK OR BY CROOK: A literal description of two types of bends i.e. a ‘hook’ or a sharp bend or curve, in a geological formation, especially a river and a ‘crook’ or a bend, curve or turn or something bent, for example, a shepherd’s crook i.e. a long and sturdy stick with a round, often graceful bend, used by shepherds to manage and guide their flocks that cryptically takes to the definition of an idiom meaning ‘somehow’ or ‘by any means necessary’, even if it is unfair or unconventional
19a Trousers benefit certain figures (4,5)
PLUS FOURS: The definition of a pair of short wide trousers fastened below the knees which people used to wear when hunting or playing golf is reached from a charade of PLUS (benefit) as an informal term extra, advantage or benefit and FOURS (certain figures) as the plural form of the number between three and five
21a Quieter music initially, duet played (5)
MUTED: The definition of an adjective meaning softened or quieted, especially of sound is got from the initial or first letter (initially) of M[USIC] followed by an anagram (played) of DUET
23a List: I seem confused by it (7)
ITEMISE: The definition of a verb meaning to list, name or enumerate is deduced from an anagram (confused) of I SEEM preceded by or coming after (by) IT from the across clue
25a Newsreader’s machine: stick on wheels (7)
AUTOCUE: The definition of a device showing a television speaker or newsreader the text of what they have arranged to say is obtained from CUE (stick) as a long tapered stick with a leather tip used to strike the cue ball in billiards and pool preceded by or placed after (on) AUTO (wheels) as a colloquial term for a personal transport and often referring to simply ‘wheels’, e.g., “Nice wheels!” denoting “Nice car!”
27a Vice ended after corruption proven (9)
EVIDENCED: An anagram (after corruption) of VICE ENDED leads to the definition of an adjective meaning proven or established beyond doubt
28a Greek character, big on love (5)
OMEGA: The definition of the twenty-fourth letter of the Greek alphabet is reached from MEGA (big) as very big or unusually large coming after or preceded by (on) O (love) as love or the score of zero in a game of tennis in the across clue
Down
1d Fruit, something highly-sought (4)
PLUM: Double nounal definition; the second referring to something choice that may be extracted such as one of the prizes of a career or a government office as a reward of services etc that takes to the first denoting an oval drupe or stone fruit with juicy, sweet-tasting yellowish flesh and typically and purple skin when ripe
2d Black gem ready for wealthy lot (3,3)
JET SET: A charade of JET (black gem) as a black gemstone and SET (ready) as an adjective meaning completely prepared or ready guides to the definition of a wealthy social group whose members frequently travel for pleasure to fashionable resorts around the world
3d Upset – by fare brought to the board? (7,3)
CHEESED OFF: A not great cryptic definition based on the fact that cheese (fare) is arranged on (brought to) a (cheese)board for diners to select from
4d Potter’s tool, spinner (6)
SPIDER: Double nounal definition; the second being a kind of small creature or insect with eight legs and no wings and which spins a web and hence, cryptically, a spinner that leads to the first referring to a rest for a cue in snooker and billiards, specifically one with legs arched wide and offering several cueing positions to a potter or player sinking balls into pockets
5d Dessert in party served up, terribly busy eating it (8)
SYLLABUB: The definition of a cold dessert made with sweetened cream thickened with gelatine and beaten with wine, spirits or fruit juice is reached from BALL (party) as a large formal party for dancing going upwards (served up) as a reversal in the down clue taken inside (eating it) by an anagram (terribly) of BUSY
6d Princess keen to ascend (4)
DIVA: The definition of a great female singer, especially an operatic prima donna, an example of which is a princess i.e. a woman who is pre-eminent in her field or class is obtained from AVID (keen) as very keen, ardent or enthusiastic to go up (ascend) as a reversal in the down clue
7d Asian type of pastry cases I fix (8)
FILIPINO: The definition of a native or inhabitant of the Philippines that is in Asia and hence an Asian is got from FINO (type of pastry) as type of pastry made in thin sheets encloses or takes in (cases) a combo of I from the clue and PIN (fix) as to fix or fasten
8d As a nudist, bet clothing horribly rank! (5-5)
STARK-NAKED: The definition of an adjective meaning in a complete nude or bare condition, as referring to a person is reached from STAKED (bet) as a verb in the past tense meaning wagered or bet taking inside (clothing) an anagram (horribly) of RANK
13d Convert in Budapest not officially Christian? (10)
UNBAPTISED: An anagram (convert) of IN BUDAPEST guides to the definition of an adjective denoting not officially Christian i.e. not having undergone the Christian ritual of baptism that involves immersion in or sprinkling with water as a religious ceremony
15d Ridiculous proposal for travel (10)
LOCOMOTION: A charade of LOCO (ridiculous) as a slang term for mad, crazy or ridiculous and MOTION (proposal) as a formal proposal to be discussed and voted on in a debate, meeting etc in a parliamentary procedure takes to the definition of the movement or the ability to move from one place to another, an example of which is travel i.e. the power or action of going from one place to another
17d Watch home, river running through this unfortunately (5-3)
HOUSE-SIT: The definition of a verb meaning to look after a house by living in it while the owner is away, on holiday etc, an example of which is to watch home or stay in and take care of someone’s house while they are away is fetched from OUSE (river) as a river in North Yorkshire, England having around (running through) an anagram (unfortunately) of THIS
18d Luxury cryptic clue? Nope! (8)
OPULENCE: The definition of a noun meaning wealth, splendour or luxury is arrived at from an anagram (cryptic) of CLUE? NOPE!
20d Drink that’s small within reach? (6)
SHANDY: The definition of an alcoholic drink made of beer and ginger beer or lemonade is reached from a charade of S (small) as the abbreviation for small and HANDY (within reach) as conveniently or easily within reach
22d By the sound of it, diplomatic skill nailed down (6)
TACKED: A homophone heard by the audience (by the sound of it) of TACT (diplomatic skill) as a diplomacy or diplomatic skill guides to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning fastened with or nailed down something, e.g., carpets
24d I had each flash of inspiration (4)
IDEA: A charade of I’D (I had) as a contraction of ‘I had’ or ‘I would’ and EA (each) as the abbreviation for each yields the definition of a flash of inspiration or an arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
26d A little angel, angelic style! (4)
ÉLAN: Part of or hidden inside (a little) [ANG]EL, AN[GELIC] produces the definition of a noun denoting dash or style
There were some clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 10a, 16a, 19a, 4d, 5d, 15d, 17d and 20d; 15d 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.
2*/3* …
liked 20D “Drink that’s small within reach ? (6)”