Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3329
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 10th August 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A lovely, entertaining 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.
While solving the clue for 10a, I became inquisitive to know other phrases similar in meanings to ‘dregs of society’, part of the wordplay to the clue. The phrase is a pejorative expression used to describe people who are considered the lowest, most degraded or undesirable in society. The term ‘dregs’ has originated from the sediment or dregs found at the bottom of a wine bottle, thus the kurta metaphorically refers to people viewed as having no social, moral or economic value. The other phrases I found from the net similar in meanings to ‘dregs of society’ are scum of the earth, the underbelly of society, low-lifes, the bottom of the barrel, human trash, gutter trash, the rabble, the unwashed masses, scoundrels and degenerates, the criminal elements, society rejects, outcasts, pariahs etc. Likewise, while solving the clue for 21a and getting the definition ‘in camera’ that meant in a judge’s private room, in secret, in private, I went down memory lane and reminisced that in school life, I came across a Latin, literary phrase known as ‘sub rosa’ and which meant in the literal scene ‘under the rose’ that is a traditional symbol of secrecy. Hence, the phrase ‘sub rosa’ also meant privately or confidentially. Besides, as I obtained from the net, more phrases can be accommodated to mean the same, such as behind closed doors, in private, off-the-record, under the table, in confidence, on the quiet, in secrecy, in the shadows, covertly, confidentially, clandestinely and privately.
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Across
1a Quick – as a crab? (5)
NIPPY: Double adjectival definition; the second referring to of an animal, particularly crab, having a tendency to nip, pinch or bite that takes to the first informally denoting quick, nimble or able to move fast
4a Fruit fool (5)
PRUNE: Double nounal definition; the second colloquially referring to a despised or silly person that leads to the first denoting a plum preserved by drying and having a black, wrinkled appearance
10a Dregs of society embodied by wrong’un, was he delinquent? (8)
UNWASHED: Part of or hidden inside (embodied by) [WRONG’]UN, WAS HE D[ELINQUENT] guides to the definition of a humorous or insulting way to refer to ordinary, uneducated or poor people, an example of which is ‘dregs of society’ i.e. a derogatory expression used to describe people who are considered the lowest or the most undesirable members of a community of social group
11a Wow! Almost nothing for bloke (6)
GEEZER: GEE (Wow!) as a North American interjection expressing surprise, sarcasm, enthusiasm etc followed by most of the letters (almost) of ZER[O] (nothing) as the letter representing naught or nothing leads to the definition of a slang term for a man, especially a strange elderly one, an example of which is a bloke i.e. a colloquial term for a chap or man
12a As some teams due to play, idiot brought in (6)
UNITED: The definition of an adjective used in names of football and other sports teams formed by amalgamation, for example, Oxford United Football Club or Manchester United Football Club is arrived at from an anagram (to play) of DUE having inside (brought in) NIT (idiot) as a colloquial term for a fool or idiot
13a Rude oath unfortunately written (8)
AUTHORED: An anagram (unfortunately) of RUDE OATH guides to the definition of a verb in the past tense or participle form denoting respectively wrote or written a book, article or any published text
14a Far-out mountains beyond street (7)
STRANGE: The definition of an adjective meaning a, surprising, way out, far-out or out of the way is reached from RANGE (mountains) as a line or series of mountains preceded by or coming after (beyond) ST (street) as the abbreviation for street that is a type of paved way in a city, town or village
16a Lancashire finally left with stable cricket team (6)
ELEVEN: The final or terminal letter (final) of [LANCASHIR]E followed by L (left) as the abbreviation for LEFT and EVEN (stable) as calm or stable, especially of a person’s temper or disposition leads to the definition referring to a team of eleven in cricket, association football etc
17a Like first of planes, direct (6)
PREFER: The definition of a verb meaning to like one thing or person better than another or others is fetched from the first letter (first) of P[LANES] followed by REFER (direct) as to direct the attention of someone or to direct to sit an examination again
19a Team in drink get things wrong (5,2)
SCREW UP: CREW (team) as a group or team of people with individual duties in charge of a bus, train or aeroplane placed inside (in) SUP (drink) as to drink or take a liquid into the mouth guides to the definition of a phrasal verb denoting to cause something to fail or go wrong
21a American camouflaged behind the scenes (2,6)
IN CAMERA: An anagram (camouflaged) of AMERICAN takes to the definition of a phrase meaning in private, in particular taking place in the private chambers of a judge, with the press and public excluded, an example of which is ‘behind the scenes’ meaning in private or a literary and figurative expression denoting away from the public view
22a Shrink by small measure after fuel emptied out (6)
FLINCH: The definition of a verb meaning to withdraw or shrink from or as if from pain is reached form INCH (small measure) as a small unit of measurement equal to one twelfth of a foot or 2.54 cm preceded by or coming after (after) F[UE]L from the clue having its inner letter taken out or removed (emptied out)
23a Gate opening and closing, behind which little sign (6)
GEMINI: The first and last letters respectively (opening and closing) of G[AT]E from the clue followed by (behind which) MINI (little) as a colloquial adjective denoting small, little or a miniature version of something takes to the definition of the name of the third sign of the zodiac, meaning in Greek or referred to as ‘The Twins’
24a Place where old feline sheltered by its relative? (8)
LOCATION: The definition of a particular place or position is obtained from a combo of O (old) as the abbreviation for old and CAT (feline) as a domesticated feline mammal that typically has soft fur and lacks the ability to roar surrounded (sheltered) LION (its relative) as a larger relative of the cat in the animal kingdom; both cat and lion being members of the Felidae family
25a White present wrapped by secretary, padding unnecessary (5)
SNOWY: The definition of an adjective denoting white, like snow is arrived at from NOW (present) as at present or at this moment covered (wrapped) by S[ECRETAR]Y from the clue having its filled-up or inner letters (padding) removed i.e. not required (unnecessary)
26a Bed found in bedchamber, thankfully (5)
BERTH: Part or hidden inside (found in) [BEDCHAM]BER, TH[ANKFULLY] guides to the definition of a bed or bunk in a vessel or train, usually narrow and fixed to a wall
Down
2d Prize money skimmed for whole life (7)
INNINGS: [W]INNINGS (prize money) as something that is won as prize, especially money devoid of the topmost letter or that is removed from the surface of in the down clue (skimmed) leads to the definition of the idiomatic use of the term to mean a full or long life, for example, ‘He had a good innings’
3d Performing star applies for strong material for cast (7,2,5)
PLASTER OF PARIS: An anagram (performing) of STAR APPLIES FOR takes to the definition of a white powder made from gypsum that mixes with water to form a paste that hardens quickly and is used chiefly for casts, moulds and sculptures
5d Regulations reportedly interpreted on record (3,4)
RED TAPE: The definition of excessive or redundant regulations or bureaucratic procedures that create financial or time compliance costs is arrived at from a homophone heard by the audience (reportedly) of READ (interpreted) as a verb in the past tense denoting looked at and comprehended the meaning of any written or printed matter by interpreting the characters or symbols of which it is composed placed upon (on) TAPE (record) as to record speech, music etc in the down clue
6d Range offered with new pyjamas, say (9)
NIGHTWEAR: RANGE taken with (offered) WITH as a combo subject to an anagram (new) leads to the definition of a clothing suitable for wearing in bed at night, an example of which is pyjamas i.e. a set of loose-fitting, two-piece garments worn as nightwear or for lounging
7d Sound of impact day after day (4)
THUD: The definition of a heavy dull sound as made by impact of heavy objects is arrived at from D (day) as the abbreviation for day coming after (after) THU (day) as the abbreviation for Thursday that is the name of the day coming after Wednesday
8d Drink provides colour in Welsh stew I prepared (3,4,7)
WET ONE’S WHISTLE: The definition of a colloquial phrase meaning to take an alcoholic drink is reached from TONE (colour) as a colour or shade of colour, including black or grey placed inside (in) an anagram (prepared) of WELSH STEW I
9d Pacific wave seen around QE2, say? (6)
SERENE: The definition of an adjective denoting calm or peace, an example of which is pacific i.e. peaceful or inclining towards peace is fetched from an anagram (wave) of SEEN placed about (around) ER (QE2, say?) as the abbreviation for Elizabeth Regina, the name taken on by Queen Elizabeth II upon ascending the throne, the word ‘regina’ being the Latin name for ‘queen’
15d European in orange dances around wife (9)
NORWEGIAN: The definition of a native or inhabitant of Norway that is in Europe and hence an European is arrived at from an anagram (dances) of IN ORANGE from the clue placed about (around) W (wife) as the genealogical abbreviation for wife
18d Double clapper? (6)
RINGER: Double nounal definition; the second denoting a person or device that rings something, for example, a clapper or the tongue or striker of a bell i.e. a piece of metal that hangs inside a bell and causes it to ring when it strikes the sides that takes to the first meaning a person or thing that closely resembles another, also called a dead ringer, for instance, a double or someone who looks exactly like another person or an imposter
19d First of worms fed to yellow bird (7)
SWALLOW: The first or initial letter (first) of W[ORMS] taken inside (fed to) SALLOW (yellow) as an adjective denoting having a slightly yellow colour that does not look healthy, especially used about a person’s skin or face takes to the definition of a migratory swift-flying songbird with a forked tail and long pointed wings, feeding on insects in flight
20d Select spot (4,3)
PICK OUT: Double verbal definition; the second denoting to spot or distinguish someone or something from a group that takes to the first meaning to select or choose someone or something from a number of alternatives
22d Mug, one under bottom of shelf (4)
FACE: The definition of the front part of a person’s head from the forehead to the chin, an example of which is a mug i.e. an informal term for a person’s face is reached from ACE (one) as a noun meaning one, single or unity placed below (under) in the down clue the bottommost or terminal letter (bottom) of [SHEL]F
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 10a, 11a, 19a, 23a, 24a, 3d, 5d, 8d and 18d; 15a 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 encouragement. Looking forward to being here again.
2*/4* ….
liked 21A “American camouflaged behind the scenes (2,6)”