Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3322
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This puzzle was published on 22nd June 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ***
Across
1a Invitation to drink where barrels might be lowered into cellar? (4,3,5)
DOWN THE HATCH – An informal expression used when about to drink something or where barrels might be lowered into a cellar
9a Youth excursion covered by supporter (9)
STRIPLING – TRIP (excursion) ‘covered’ by SLING (supporter)
10a Vehicle almost filled with fuel – there you have it! (5)
VOILA – Almost all of a VAn (vehicle) ‘filled’ with OIL (fuel)
11a Lot had moved out of the ark (3,3)
OLD HAT – An anagram (moved) of LOT HAD
12a Ridiculous shot put ball in pocket? (8)
CRACKPOT – CRACK (shot) POT (put ball in pocket)
13a Charmlistener on purpose (6)
ENDEAR – EAR (listener) on or after END (purpose)
15a Drive with GP, maniac unfortunately (8)
CAMPAIGN – An anagram (unfortunately) of GP MANIAC
18a Herb, sailor managed to secure leave (8)
TARRAGON – TAR (sailor) RAN (managed) to ‘secure’ GO (leave)
19a Sent back, a percentage of deposit I sacrificed, the same (2,2,2)
AS IT IS – Hidden in reverse (sent back) in a percentage of depoSIT I SAcrificed
21a Coffee, say – and a cracker? (3,5)
HOT STUFF – A coffee is an example of a hot liquid; an informal term for a very attractive person (cracker)
23a Pick up where stream meanders (6)
MASTER – An anagram (meanders) of STREAM
26a Part of rose, but navy (5)
THORN – THO (but) RN (Royal Navy)
27a Narrow piece of wood not narrow enough, first of planks brought in (9)
TOOTHPICK – TOO THICK (not narrow enough) with the first letter of Planks ‘brought in’
28a Loco fan faked ten portraits (12)
TRAINSPOTTER – An anagram (faked) of TEN PORTRAITS
Down
1d Ditch where five hundred posies scattered (7)
DISPOSE – D (Roman numeral for 500) and an anagram (scattered) of POSIES
2d Earth for example revolved, reportedly? (5)
WORLD – A homophone (reportedly) of WHIRLED (revolved)
3d Leader in split? (3,6)
TOP BANANA – the top item in a banana split?
4d Wrong wire upside down (4)
EVIL – A reversal (upside down) of a LIVE wire
5d African airplane after loss of power diverted around capital of Ghana (8)
ALGERIAN – An anagram (diverted) of AIRpLANE without the P (loss of Power) goes around G (the capital of Ghana)
6d However you look at it, it’s from a big town (5)
CIVIC – This adjective meaning relating to a big town is a palindrome (however you look at it)
7d Error, race in the fast lane? (8)
MISPRINT – An MI (motorway, fast lane) SPRINT (race)
8d Box where Tory has kept sculptures etc (6)
CARTON – CON (Conservative, Tory) has ‘kept’ ART (sculptures etc)
14d Due shortly, allocated amount – how much time taken? (8)
DURATION – Truncate (shortly) DUe and follow with RATION (allocated amount)
16d Seed coat I ship abroad (9)
PISTACHIO – An anagram (abroad) of COAT I SHIP
17d Thrown sweets or paper etc, if not scattered (8)
CONFETTI – An anagram (scattered) of ETC IF NOT
18d Island a success in this, oddly (6)
TAHITI – A HIT (a success) inserted into the old letters of ThIs
20d Footballer, one refusing to put shift in? (7)
STRIKER – Double definition
22d Singer with some number one, tanked up (5)
TENOR – Hidden in reverse (up) in numbeR ONE Tanked
24d Unexpected turn in story for Dickens character (5)
TWIST – An unexpected turn in a story or Oliver, the Dickens character
25d Policemen in woodland area, reportedly? (4)
COPS – A homophone (reportedly for the second time) of COPSE (woodland area)