A Puzzle by Rahmat Ali
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The puzzle is available by clicking on the above grid.
A huge welcome to Rahmat Ali who makes his debut in the NTSPP spot with a fine puzzle. A couple of things didn't quite work for me but didn't detract from the enjoyment. Many thanks to him
Across
1a Doctor said to the French, “It’s dilatation of the heart” (8)
DIASTOLE: SAID* (doctor) plus TO from the clue and a definite French article
5a Delicate shade over Spanish article (6)
PASTEL: Over/done plus a Spanish definite article. Personally I wouldn't have two consecutive clues using foreign articles but nothing wrong with it of course
9a Softly prattle about English introduction (8)
PREAMBLE: The musical abbreviation for Softly plus prattle/babble around the abbreviation for English
10a Sponsor two short fellows (6)
PATRON: Two abbreviated given names
12a Father and university student follow holy person to Minnesota’s capital (2,4)
ST PAUL: Abbreviated father plus abbreviations for University and student follow the usual good/holy person. I would prefer “to see” rather than to on its own here
13a View of Robin, for example, of primrose? (5,3)
BIRDS EYE: View/espy follow something of which a robin is an example and the possessive S.
15a In different ways, wonder about flight attendant (7)
STEWARD: Wonder/admiration reversed and inserted into two abbreviated ways/routes. Very nice
16a Metal unknown in Cuba (4)
ZINC: Abbreviation for unknown plus IN plus abbreviation for Cuba
20a Greek hero essentially dreaded Trojans’ scary nexus (4)
AJAX: The middle letters of the four words following “essentially”
21a Phrases articulated by Himalayan mountaineers (7)
SHERPAS: PHRASES* (articulated by) Not keen on articulated by as an anagram indicator, to me it's more a homophone indicator. I think something like “altered” works better
25a Returning one weapon left youth leader in a sleepy manner (8)
DROWSILY: The letter representing one and a hand-held weapon reversed, the abbreviation for Left and the first letter of Youth. Sorry to be picky but I think we need youth’s leader or leader of youth here
26a Gravedigger’s burying beetle (6)
SEXTON: Double definition
28a Beast from Uzbekistan I maltreated (6)
ANIMAL: Hidden (from)
29a Nawabs to tour country (8)
BOTSWANA: NAWABS TO* (tour). I'm not sure “tour” here quite works. Something like “Nawabs to set out for country” definitely would
30a Goddess protecting soldier coming back to Rwandan city (6)
KIGALI: A Hindu goddess “protects” a reversal of an American soldier
31a 3D figure for gas container? (8)
CYLINDER: Double definition
Down
1d Torture so deep and dismiss from office (6)
DEPOSE: SO DEEP* (torture)
2d Drink very quietly with organisational supremo in Syrian urban centre (6)
ALEPPO: An alcoholic drink, the abbreviation for very quietly plus the initial letter of Organisational
3d Tim joins The Good Earth writer to report on far-flung destination (8)
TIMBUKTU: Tim from the clue and homophones of the surname of the writer mentioned and TO from the clue. I don't think “report on” works grammatically as an indicator here. Also it's not ideal to clue “Tim” as Tim!
4d Composer Schifrin emerging from gondola, lonely (4)
LALO: Hidden (emerging from)
6d Advertisements covering battle honours (6)
AWARDS: The usual abbreviated advertisements around battle/struggle.
7d Almost turn to married man to get curry ingredient (8)
TURMERIC: Turn from the clue minus its last letter, the abbreviation for Married plus a male given name. I know that you see it but try to avoid random names as it's unfair to the solver.
8d Nicely working around measure to display tolerance (8)
LENIENCY: NICELY* (working) around a printer’s measure
11d Sign above railway’s reading room (7)
LIBRARY: A star sign and an abbreviated RailwaY
14d Language spoken widely, Africans happily initiate learning Italian first of all (7)
SWAHILI: Initial letters of the seven words following the definition
17d Animal leaving others behind inside lexicon? (8)
AARDVARK: This animal appears first in the dictionary! That's very neat
18d Nice pretty name accountant generally adopts for coaxing (8)
CAJOLING: The French word (Nice) for pretty plus abbreviation for Name is “adopted by”, I'm guessing an abbreviation for accountant and generally
19d Risk a wet trip during aquatic sport? (5-3)
WATER-SKI: RISK A WET* (trip). Nice idea but for trip to work the fodder would have to be seen as plural. “Splashing” would overcome this.
22d Is old king back here? (6)
ISRAEL: Is from the clue and a reversal of a Shakespearian king.
23d Bear crosses river beach (6)
STRAND: Bear/tolerate around R
24d Head removed from amusement park? Just the opposite (6)
UNFAIR: Remove the first letter from an amusement park. Very clever but to me the question mark should be at the end of the clue to indicate the unusual wordplay, it's not needed where it is
27d European consumed by delight to see baby kangaroo (4)
JOEY: The abbreviation for European inserted into delight/happiness
A very enjoyable puzzle that was fun to solve. I didn’t know the Rwandan city but it was gettable from the clue. However, I did check Mr. G. to see if my answer was correct. I stupidly entered “mind” at 13a, which held me up for a while. My COTD because I use it a lot when cooking is the married man at 7d.
Thank you for a terrific puzzle, Rahmat. I always enjoy your offerings and am surprised you do not compile for the DT. Of course, you may well do so under a nom de plume.
Thank you so much, Steve Cowling, for finding my puzzle enjoyable as also for your other kind comments. I would love to compile for the DT and your words of encouragement have given me hope. As informed by you, I may well compile puzzles for the DT under a nom de plume. I would be happy to have ‘Anniversary’ as my nom de plume as suggested by Prolixic. Merry Christmas to you and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
I enjoyed this Q-less pangram despite my disappointment at having to identify three vague men.
I can’t find any justification for G = generally in 18d, nor does the definition make sense to me in 24d.
I had lots of ticks with 14d my favourite.
Many thanks, Rahmat, and well done on an accomplished debut in the NTSPP slot.
I had 24d as my favourite – what’s the opposite of one meaning of just?
Ah yes, of course. Thanks very much, Jane, for helping me to see that is in fact an excellent clue.
Thank you so much, Rabbit Dave, for finding my puzzle enjoyable and further your kind comment of an accomplished debut by me in the NTSPP slot. Merry Christmas to you and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Lots of fun, as always. Thank you Rahmat Ali. We thought it would be a pangram – but not this time! There is just one, 17d, where the penny hasn’t yet dropped 🤔 but we are sure we have the correct answer. Favourites are 3d and 7d. We look forward to your next one.
Thank you so much, Hilton, for liking my puzzle and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Quite an auspicious debut in the NTSPP slot, Rahmat, but beware of becoming too reliant on the use of GK to fill the grid.
Top clue for me was 24d with a wide smile for 27d – nice to see you injecting the odd bit of humour into a puzzle.
Thank you for sharing your first foray into the ‘big time’!
Thank you so much, jane, for liking my puzzle and your kind comment of quite an auspicious debut of my puzzle on the NTSPP slot. I note to avoid relying too much on GK to fill the grid, though I wasn’t aware of this earlier. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Grand fun for a Saturday afternoon, thank you Rahmat Ali. Note to self, there are other Goddesses than Greek ones! Once twigged 30a nearly made my cotd but it missed out to the excellent 17d with its shades of Blackadder three and the dictionary. Thanks again Rhamat Ali for some great entertainment.
Thank you so much, Prawn, for finding my puzzle a great entertainment and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Heartiest congratulations 🎊Sir, for starting this new journey.
Thank you so much, Sudipta, for your heartiest congratulations and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Excellent Sunday morning fun.
We’re still chuckling about the animal leading the others behind in 17d.
Many thanks Rahmat Ali.
Thank you so much, 2Kiwis, for finding my puzzle enjoyable and wish both of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
I thought the LHS was pretty chewy so a struggle to finish & resist a letter reveal. I’ve still one or two to parse so will have another look tomorrow after some kip. 17d was my clear fav & also liked 3d though I had to ask Mr G who wrote the book. Very much enjoyed the solve Rahmat & congrats on your debut in the slot.
Thank you so much, Huntsman, for congratulating me on my debut in the NTSPP slot. Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Saturday night fun for me, but with no time difference for a ‘being late’ excuse
The ‘primrose’, ‘Goddess’ and ‘Composer’ all needed checking out, but the wordplay led me to the answers. Favourites across were 9, 15 & 25; and favourites down were 14, 17 & 19. Like RD, I had question marks against one abbreviation in 18d and the definition in 24d – but Jane has enlightened us regarding 24d
My thanks to Rahmat Ali for a fine puzzle and to StephenL for his review.
Thank you so much, Spartacus, for finding it a fine puzzle and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Many thanks for the review, Stephen. A few more observations for Rahmat to take on board – I’m sure he’ll bear them in mind when he sets his next puzzle.
Thank you once again, jane, for your worthwhile comments after the excellent review by StephenL. I will definitely bear his observations in mind when I set my next or third puzzle since I have already sent my second puzzle to NTSPP even before the publication of this puzzle.
Finally, a big thank you to StephenL for your excellent review, for liking my puzzle, for your meticulous observations and for your kind comments which I take as a great learning. As I have already sent my second puzzle to this slot even before the publication of this puzzle, I note to keep your observations in mind while compiling my third puzzle. Further, I apologise to all here for my late reply as I was busy with my exams. First of all, on the 6th of this month, I supervised the Portuguese language test at Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture where I teach the language. I was engaged the next six days from the 7th to the 13th November as I had to appear for the six papers of my First Year M.A. (Education) examination. Again, I appeared for one of the papers of my M.Sc. (Environmental Science) examination of the Third Semester yesterday, the 24th December 2025. I will be appearing for the remaining three papers of this semester on the 3rd, 5th and 6th January 2026.
Finally, a big thank you to StephenL for your excellent review, for liking my puzzle, for your meticulous observations and for your kind comments which I take as a great learning. As I have already sent my second puzzle to this slot even before the publication of this puzzle, I note to keep your observations in mind while compiling my third puzzle. Wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Further, I apologise to all here for my late reply as I was busy with my exams. First of all, on the 6th of this month, I supervised the Portuguese language test at Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture where I teach the language. I was engaged the next six days from the 7th to the 13th November as I had to appear for the six papers of my First Year M.A. (Education) examination. Again, I appeared for one of the papers of my M.Sc. (Environmental Science) examination of the Third Semester yesterday, the 24th December 2025. I will be appearing for the remaining three papers of this semester on the 3rd, 5th and 6th January 2026.