Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3335
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 21st September 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A truly, wonderful Sunday puzzle from Dada that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and precious comments.
During my school days, I was very familiar with the various types of polygons, one of which was ‘nonagon’, the answer to the clue of 25a. A nonagon, also known as a nine-sided polygon, is bedecked with several characteristic features. It is a geometric figure characterized by nine straight sides and nine interior angles. It has 27 diagonals. In its regular form, all sides and angles are equal, with each internal angle measuring 140 degrees, leading to a total interior angle sum of 1,260 degrees, calculated using the formula (n−2) × 180°, where n is the number of sides. The exterior angles of a regular nonagon each measure 40 degrees, summing to 360 degrees. A nonagon can be classified as either regular or irregular; in a regular nonagon, symmetry is present, and it is both equilateral and equiangular, whereas an irregular nonagon lacks uniformity in side lengths and angles. It can also be convex or concave; convex if all interior angles are less than 180 degrees and no sides cave inward, and concave if at least one angle exceeds 180 degrees. A regular nonagon has nine axes of symmetry and can be inscribed in a circle, meaning all its vertices lie on a common circle, with each central angle measuring 40 degrees. Nonagons are less common in practical applications compared to other polygons like triangles or squares, but they appear in art, design, architecture and coin shapes due to their aesthetic appeal and symbolic significance in some cultures. Constructing a regular nonagon using only a compass and straight edge is not possible with classical Euclidean tools, as 9 is not a product of distinct Fermat primes, but approximate constructions exist. Nonagons also possess rotational symmetry of order 9, meaning they map onto themselves at 40-degree intervals of rotation. In coordinate geometry, a nonagon can be plotted using trigonometric functions for precise construction. The nonagon, though relatively uncommon, showcases the rich mathematical structure of polygons, bridging elements of geometry, algebra and symmetry. Its properties make it an intriguing subject in both theoretical math and aesthetic design, reflecting the complexity and beauty found in polygonal forms. Whether in mathematical exploration or artistic representation, the nonagon stands out as a compelling example of geometric diversity and precision.
Marinade, the answer to the clue of 5d and dressing, the answer to that of 20d are not exactly the same. While a marinade is a seasoned liquid used to soak raw meat, fish, tofu or vegetables before cooking, a dressing is a sauce, usually cold, added to salads or cooked vegetables just before serving. While the goal of a marinade is to tenderise, especially meat, flavour the food more deeply and sometime begin the cooking process, that of a dressing is to add flavour and moisture and sometimes serve as a binding agent in salads. The common ingredients used in marinade are vinegar or citrus juice, oil, herbs and spices and sometimes sugar, soy sauce etc, those used in dressing are oil and vinegar, blue cheeses, mustard, herbs and spices. Marinade is used before cooking and often discarded or boiled if reused, but a dressing is served with food and typically not cooked. A marinade is not a dressing, although they can appear similar. If marinade is poured over a salad, it wouldn’t be ideal, but possibly unsafe if it was used on raw meat.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
7a Clear bail due for release? (7)
AUDIBLE: An anagram (for release) of BAIL DUE takes to the definition of an adjective denoting clear, distinct or able to be heard
10a Running leg – as performer may be? (2,5)
ON STAGE: A charade of ON (running) as functioning or in operation, especially of an electrical appliance or power supply and STAGE (leg) as a section of a journey or race, an example of which is leg i.e. a distinct part, section or stage of a process, course or journey guides to the definition of an adverb meaning in the position of performing or appearing typically in front of an audience, especially as a performer, actor etc
11a Infant’s held close – very soon (7)
TONIGHT: Infant’s held close can be taken as ‘Infant has held close’ where TOT (infant) as referring to an infant or a small or young child has taken inside (held) NIGH (close) as an adverb meaning near or close, guiding to the definition of an adverb meaning on this night, the night of today, later today or very soon
12a Hot and suffering – having a cold shower? (7)
HAILING: A charade of H (hot) as the abbreviation for hot, especially with reference to water on a faucet and AILING (suffering) as a verb in the continuous form denoting suffering or being ill or unwell takes to the definition of a verb in the continuous form denoting showering vigorously or abundantly or figuratively, having a cold shower
13a Nude tutor embarrassingly expelled (6,3)
TURNED OUT: An anagram (embarrassingly) of NUDE TUTOR leads to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning ejected or expelled someone from a place
15a Allow relative little time (5)
GRANT: The definition of a verb meaning to agree to give or allow something requested to is deduced from GRAN (relative) as a short for granny and both gran and granny are colloquial terms for one’s grandmother followed by T (little time) as time in its abbreviated form and also serving as the symbol for time in Physics
16a Some expansion of the corporation? (6-3,6)
MIDDLE-AGE SPREAD: A cryptic definition of the extra weight many people gain (some expansion) around the abdomen (of the corporation) as they start to reach middle age; corporation being a humorous euphemism for especially a pot-belly
21a Dessert mine, I said! (5)
BOMBE: The definition of a dessert, usually ice-cream frozen in a round or melon-shaped mould is arrived at from a homophone heard by the audience (I said) of BOMB (mine) as an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions, an example of which is mine
23a Excellent cakes put back inside heater (5-4)
FIRST-RATE: The definition of an adjective denoting excellent or of the best class or quality is obtained from TARTS (cakes) as the plural of an open pastry case containing a sweet or savoury filling, akin to cakes that are items of savoury food formed into a flat round shape and typically baked or fried, seen coming from the other end (put back) as a reversal in the across clue placed inside (inside) FIRE (heater) as a heating appliance
25a Shape in question on a gondola (7)
NONAGON: The definition of a flat shape with nine straight sides is obtained from part of or hidden inside (in) [QUESTIO]N ON A GON[DOLA]
26a Taxing figure, ours in error (7)
ONEROUS: The definition of an adjective denoting taxing or needing a lot of effort is arrived at from ONE (figure) as the lowest cardinal number followed by an anagram (in error) of OURS
27a Help fool through audition? (7)
SUCCOUR: The definition of a verb meaning to aid or help in distress is arrived at from a homophone heard by the audience (through audition) of SUCKER (fool) as a noun denoting a foolish person, especially one who believes everything they are told and is therefore easy to deceive
28a Boy touched by feline tongue (7)
CATALAN: ALAN (boy) as a male given name placed adjacent to or preceded by (touched by) CAT (feline) as a domesticated feline mammal that typically has soft fur and lacks the ability to roar guides to the definition of the Romance language spoken especially in Catalonia, Andorra and the Balearic Islands
Down
1d Servant in truth, stomach fed nothing (8)
FACTOTUM: The definition of a handyman or servant, especially employed to do all sorts of work for another is reached from a combo of FACT (truth) as truth or reality and TUM (stomach) as a colloquial or childish term for a stomach having taken inside (fed) O (nothing) as the letter representing naught or nothing
2d Soft material sensed (4)
FELT: Double definition; the second being a verb in the past tense meaning sensed or ‘was aware of’ that takes to the first a noun referring to a soft fabric formed without weaving, filaments pressed together using the natural tendency of the fibres of wool and certain kinds of hair to interlace and cling together
3d Possible covering for pig’s ears? That doesn’t impress me much! (2,4)
SO WHAT: A cryptic formation of a HAT as a hypothetical though possible covering for pig’s ears i.e. ears of the pig or SOW, that is, HAT for SOW or precisely SOW HAT leads that to the definition of a phrase denoting ‘That doesn’t matter’ or ‘That doesn’t impress me much’
4d Enquiring – in the capacity of sovereign? (6)
ASKING: The definition of a verb in the continuous form meaning enquiring or making a request of something is arrived at from a charade of AS (in the capacity of) as in the capacity, character, condition or role of something and KING (sovereign) as a male sovereign or monarch
5d 20 Down rani, made shifts (8)
MARINADE: An anagram (shifts) of RANI, MADE takes to the definition of a savoury usually acidic sauce in which meat, fish or a vegetable is soaked to enrich its flavour or to tenderise it, an example of which is 20 Down
6d Measure up cube after first of hexagons (6)
HEIGHT: The definition of a measure of vertical distance, encompassing both the vertical extent i.e. how tall an object or person is and vertical position i.e. how high a point is relative to a reference level, is arrived at from EIGHT (cube) as the third power or cube of 2 in mathematics placed after (after) the first letter (first) of H[EXAGONS]
8d Mafioso, otherwise generous type (5)
DONOR: A charade of DON (mafioso) as the head of a crime family or mafia boss, an example of which is a Mafioso i.e. a member of the Mafia and OR (otherwise) as a conjunction denoting ‘or else’ or otherwise takes to the definition of a benefactor or a generous person who voluntarily donates something of value to another person or any organisation, especially a charity
9d Massive commercial transaction? 3 Down! (3,4)
BIG DEAL: A charade of BIG (massive) as something large in size or importance and DEAL (commercial transaction) as a commercial transaction i.e. an agreement, especially in business or trade guides to the definition of an informal phrase used to express one’s contempt for something regarded as impressive or important by another person, as in “What the big deal?” or “So what?” as in 3 Down
14d Eggs on vegetarian’s agenda, for starters (3)
OVA: The definition of the biological term for eggs of a woman or female animal is reached from the starting or initial letters (for starters) of O[N] V[EGETARIAN’S] A[GENDA]
17d A swimmer given a lift around small country (8)
DOMINICA: A combo of A from the clue and COD (swimmer) as a large marine fish of the genus Gadus having a small barbel on the chin taken upwards (given a lift) as reversals in the down clue and placed about (around) MINI (small) as a prefix denoting very small or minor of its kind, e.g. minicab takes to the definition of a mountainous Caribbean island country with natural hot springs and tropical rainforests
18d Feature on head, trimmed beard (3)
EAR: The definition of either of the two organs, one on each side of the head, by which people or animals hear sounds is reached from [B]EAR[D] from the clue having the outermost letters removed (trimmed)
19d One packing plain case (7)
PATIENT: I (one) as the Roman numeral for one getting inside (packing) PATENT (plain) as an adjective meaning plain, clear or easily recognisable leads to the definition of a person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment or care, an example of which is a case i.e. a person or their particular problem requiring or receiving medical or welfare attention
20d Saucy thing getting into gear (8)
DRESSING: Double definition; the second being a verb in the continuous form meaning putting on clothing or gear that takes to the first a noun referring to a sauce for salads, typically one consisting of oil and vinegar with herbs or other flavourings
21d Bar raised in dividing party (6)
BANISH: The definition of a verb meaning to drive away or expel someone from a place, especially by an official decree as a punishment, an example of which is to bar i.e. to prevent or hinder is reached from IN from the clue in an upward direction (raised) as a reversal in the down clue placed in between (dividing) BASH (party) as a party or social event
22d Warming drink for example with honour served up (6)
EGGNOG: The definition of a traditional rich warming drink made with eggs, milk or cream, sugar and hot beer, spirits etc, typically served around Christmas is reached from EG (for example) as the abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia meaning ‘for example’ and (with) GONG (honour) as a slang term for a medal or award that is an honour taken upwards (served up) as a reversal in the down clue
23d Hot clothes ending on queen, expensive regalia (6)
FINERY: FIERY (hot) as flaming or extremely bright, hot or of a red colour like fire has inside or covers (clothes) the end or terminal letter (ending) on [QUEE]N, leading to the definition of expensive or ostentatious clothes or decoration, an example of which is the regalia i.e. the emblems or insignia of royalty, especially the crown, sceptre and other ornaments used at a coronation
24d A payment for coral island (5)
ATOLL: A from the clue and TOLL (payment) as a payment or tax for the privilege of using a road or bridge takes to the definition of a coral island consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon
26d Giant predator casually bites (4)
ORCA: The definition of a black-and-white toothed whale of the killer-whale genus Orca, often called the ‘giant of the sea’ is seen part of or hidden inside (bites) [PREDAT]OR CA[SUALLY]
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 15a, 16a, 23a, 27a, 3d, 4d, 6d, 17d, 19d and 20d; 3d being the top 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.