Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3341
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 2nd November 2025
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and 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.
I felt it odd to see the three words ‘US city state’ as part of the clue at 10a.
While solving, I was convinced that ‘barber-shop’ was the only solution to the clue at 3d, though the hyphen between the two words troubled me, as I recalled always seeing a space instead. Later, while writing the review, I checked the BRB and was surprised to find it listed as both ‘barber-shop’ and ‘barbershop’, but not ‘barber shop’. The word ‘style’ also troubled me and I wondered how best to avoid attaching it to ‘singing’, since I did not want ‘requested here’ to serve only as the second definition. Online, I consulted as many dictionaries as possible until the Cambridge Dictionary came to my rescue. It defined ‘barber-shop’ as a type of singing without using the word ‘style’, and I heaved a sigh of relief.
I was aware of ‘turkey’, the answer to the clue at 20d, both as a country and as a bird, since childhood. I was very interested in quizzes. Regarding the bird, the question that immediately flashed into my mind was: Name the only country where wild turkey is native? Answer: The United States. This time, I searched the internet and found that the wild nature is native to the United States and part of México. I also learnt that the wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, is the ancestor to the domestic turkey, Meleagris domesticus, which was originally derived from a Mexican subspecies of the wild turkey. As for the country, the question that immediately came to my mind was: Who is the sick man of Europe? Answer: Turkey. I was also aware that most of Turkey’s land lies in West Asia. So this time, I became inquisitive and turned to the internet to learn why the country is still regarded as European. I learnt that Turkey is considered a European country for many reasons. The small part of Turkey that lies in Europe, called Thrace, west of the Bosporus Strait, includes Istanbul, Turkey’s largest and most influential city. Historically known as Byzantium and later Constantinople, Istanbul was one of Europe’s greatest cities for over a millennium. The Ottoman Empire, based in what is now Turkey, played a major role in European history for centuries, politically, militarily, and culturally. Since the founding of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the country has actively oriented itself toward Westernisation and Europeanisation viz. in law, education, dress and governance. Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe, NATO and it has long sought European Union membership, remaining a candidate country to this day. Its European part, small though it is, gives it a legitimate claim to being a European state, similar to how Russia is considered part of both Europe and Asia.
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Across
9a Radical soul traditionalist has masked (5)
ULTRA: The definition of an adjective denoting holding especially political views that deviate drastically and fundamentally from conventional or traditional beliefs i.e. extreme or fanatic is part of or held inside (has masked) [SO]UL TRA[DITIONALIST]
10a Frenchman’s certainly with Welsh girl in US city state (9)
LOUISIANA: A combo of OUI (Frenchman’s certainly) as an adverb meaning yes, certainly or of course in the French language and (with) SIÂN (Welsh girl) as a Welsh feminine given name meaning ‘God’s gracious gift’ and considered equivalent to the English Jane, Scottish Sheena or Irish Siobhán placed inside (in) LA (US City) as the abbreviation for Los Angeles that is a US city leads to the definition of a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States
11a Stuff hit transmission (7)
GEARBOX: A charade of GEAR (stuff) as equipment or apparatus that is used for a particular purpose, an example of which is stuff i.e. materials, supplies or equipment used in various activities and BOX (hit) as to hit with the hand or fist takes to the definition of a transmission, as of an automobile i.e. the gears that transmit power from an automobile engine via the driveshaft to the live axle
12a Spoil line having dug crookedly (7)
INDULGE: The definition of a verb meaning to allow someone to enjoy something desired i.e. to spoil or pamper someone is reached from an anagram (crookedly) of a combo of LINE and (having) DUG
13a Kind community of brothers, say (5)
ORDER: Double definition; the second referring to a rank or class of persons in a community, an example of which is a community of brothers i.e. a religious order or fraternity of monks or friar that takes to the first denoting a kind or a class defined by the common attributes of its members
14a Ragin’ storms, month ending in deluge – check for that? (4,5)
RAIN GAUGE: An anagram (storms) of RAGIN’ followed by AUG (month) as the abbreviation for August, the eighth month of the year and the end or final letter (ending) in [DELUG]E guides to the definition of ann instrucment for measuring rainfuland the end or final letter instrument for measuring rainfall i.e. the definition is indeed something one checks for rain
16a Temporarily refitting home, be versatile (3,3,4,5)
FOR THE TIME BEING: The definition of an adverb meaning temporarily or for the moment is reached from an anagram (versatile) of REFITTING HOME, BE
19a Hint with proof flawed – lower mark could it be? (9)
HOOFPRINT: An anagram (flawed) of a combo of HINT and (with) PROOF takes to the definition of a mark made by an animal’s hoof on the ground, an example of which can be that of a lower i.e. an animal that lows
21a Twerp, mind, oddly apathetic (5)
TEPID: The oddly-placed letters of TWERP, MIND guides to the definition of an adjective denoting relatively unenthusiastic or apathetic
23a Custodians in offices at times of conflict? (7)
WARDENS: The definition of the plural of a person responsible for the supervision of a particular place or activity or for enforcing the regulations associated with it, an example of which are the custodians i.e. persons who have the responsibility for taking care of or protecting something is reached from DENS (offices) as the colloquial term for the plural of a private domestic room or office for work or pleasure preceded by or coming after in the across clue (at) WAR (times of conflict) as denoting times of conflict or representing a period of fighting
25a Bond takes drink after sharp blow (7)
RAPPORT: The definition of a noun meaning bond, understanding or harmonious relationship between people is arrived at from PORT (drink) as a strong, sweet, dark red, occasionally brown or white, fortified wine, originally from Portugal, typically drunk as a dessert wine preceded by or coming after (after) RAP (sharp blow) as a sharp blow or knock
27a Cute rival unfortunately bringing in a bomb? (9)
LUCRATIVE: An anagram (unfortunately) of CUTE RIVAL leads to the definition of an adjective meaning profitable or producing wealth, an example of which is bringing in a bomb i.e. producing or generating a lot of money
28a Powder and explosive originally recalled in striking effect (5)
ÉCLAT: A combo of TALC (powder) as referring to usually-scented talcum powder that is a toilet powder made of purified talc i.e. a fine grained mineral having a soft soapy feel and the original or initial letter (originally) of E[XPLOSIVE] coming from the other end (recalled) as reversals in the across clue takes to the definition of a striking, brilliant or conspicuous success, effect etc
Down
1d Plug for hush money (4)
BUNG: Double nounal definition; the second denoting a slang term for a gratuity, tip or bribe, an example of which is a hush money i.e. money paid to someone to prevent them from disclosing embarrassing or discreditable information that takes to the first referring to a plug or stopper used to close a hole in a barrel or flask
2d Stomach into which fed right thread (6)
STRAND: STAND (stomach) as to stomach, bear or tolerate having inside (into which is fed) R (right) as the abbreviation or right produces the definition of a fibre or thread twisted or plaited into cord, string etc
3d Singing style requested here? (6-4)
BARBER-SHOP: Double definition; the second referring to a place where people go for a haircut, shave or beard trim and to request a particular hairstyle that takes to the first denoting a type of singing in which four, usually male, voices in close combination perform popular romantic songs, especially from the 1920s and 1930s
4d Team in anger rising up in essence (6)
ELIXIR: IX (team) as the Roman numeral for eleven indicating a team of eleven players as in cricket, football, hockey etc taken inside (in) RILE (anger) as to annoy or irritate someone or to make them angrily excited going in an upward direction (rising up) as a reversal in the down clue guides to the definition of a particular type of medicinal solution, an example of which is essence i.e. an alcoholic solution of a volatile or essential oil
5d Fighting dog is seen in picture, without lead (8)
PUGILISM: The definition of the skill, practice and sport of fighting with the fists is arrived at from PUG (dog) as a small compact breed of dog with a smooth coat, lightly curled tail and a short wrinkled nose followed by IS from the clue placed observed inside (seen in) [F]ILM (picture) as a movie or a motion picture i.e. a series of still photographs in reels projected onto a screen using light in rapid succession without the leading letter F (without lead)
6d Journalist from America applied (4)
USED: ED (journalist) the abbreviation for editor being in charge of the final content of a journal or a newspaper or magazine from US (America) as an abbreviation for the United States that is referring to the United States of America, that is ED from US, or precisely, US ED, taking to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning applied, employed or utilised
7d Bad smell I observed consuming everything with old cheese (8)
HALLOUMI: A combo of HUM (bad smell) as a slang term for an unpleasant odour and I from the clue seen taking inside (observed consuming) another combo of ALL (everything) as used to refer to the totality of things and O (old) as the abbreviation for old guides to the definition of a chewy, white, brined Cypriot cheese, traditionally made from sheep’s and goat’s milk, that is often served grilled or fried
8d Somewhat exposed, Belgrade e.g. embarrassed (10)
BARE-LEGGED: The definition of an adjective denoting having the legs uncovered by clothing or slightly or somewhat exposed i.e. uncovered to a moderate or limited extent is attained by an anagram (embarrassed) of BELGRADE E.G.
13d Where picture may be taken that’s quirky? (3,3,4)
OFF THE WALL: Double definition; the second being an idiom meaning unusual, eccentric or quirky that brings to the first denoting the obvious answer to the question, the literal place where a picture may be taken from i.e. off a wall where it is hanging at present
15d Sweet talker silenced by this? (10)
GOBSTOPPER: The definition of a very large hard round sweet for prolonged sucking is cryptically arrived at from gob as a slang term for the mouth i.e. talker or one which talks which might be silenced or stopped by a gobstopper that literally stops the mouth
17d Structure fixed to car, chamber unclosed, extract gas, say (4,4)
ROOF RACK: The definition of a frame attached to the roof of a car for carrying luggage or other loads is reached from ROO[M] (chamber) as an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling, an example of which is a chamber i.e. a room in a house, especially a bedroom or a room where a person of authority, rank or importance receives visitors devoid of its closing or last letter (unclosed) followed by FRACK (extract gas, say) as the abbreviated form of a heavily criticised process for extracting gas, say
18d Slip ain’t bad, it’s the uncontrollable fall (8)
TAILSPIN: An anagram (bad) of SLIP AIN’T guides to the definition of a rapid, high-rotation and uncontrollable descent of an airplane
20d Christmas favourite in Muslim country (6)
TURKEY: Double nounal definition; the second referring to a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe that takes to the first denoting a large bird grown for its meat on farms and is a popular food on festive occasions such as Christmas
22d Sheep dog? (6)
POODLE: Double definition; the second denoting a dog of a breed with a thick curly coat that is often ornamentally clipped and classified by size into standard, miniature and toy varieties that takes to the first referring to a person who is overly willing to obey another, an example of which is a sheep that is used with reference to people who are too easily influenced or led
24d Top undergraduate ultimately up for test (4)
EXAM: A combo of MAX (top) as an informal term for maximum, an adjective meaning as great, high or intense as possible or permitted, an example of which is top i.e. the highest in point, rank or degree followed by the ultimate or terminal letter (ultimately) of [UNDERGRADUAT]E in an upward direction (up) as reversals in the down clue guides to the definition of a short term for examination that is a formal test of a person’s knowledge or proficiency in a subject or skill
26d I disapprove of that posh skirt (4)
TUTU: A charade of TUT (I disapprove of that) as an exclamatory word used to express disapproval or annoyance and U (posh) as a colloquial adjective meaning as used by or found among the upper social classes takes to the definition of short skirt, often consisting of many layers of gathered sheer fabric, worn by ballerinas
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 10a, 11a, 14a, 19a, 25a, 3d, 5d, 13d, 15d and 17d; 5d 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. Looking forward to being here again.