Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3350
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 4th January 2026
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 reading and valuable comments.
What’s the big idea, the answer to the clue at 5d could have been better enumerated as (4’1,3,3,4)
I was inquisitive to learn more about San Marino, the answer to the clue at 16d. After solving the puzzle, I explored the internet and gathered a lot of information on it. San Marino, officially called the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, is the world’s fifth smallest and probably the oldest republic, a microstate completely surrounded by Italy and perched dramatically on the slopes of Mount Titano. Founded, according to tradition, in AD 301 by a Christian stonemason named Marinus, it prides itself on being the oldest surviving sovereign state with a continuous republican government. Despite its tiny size of just over 60 square kilometres, San Marino has a strong sense of identity, expressed through its own constitution, institutions and cultural traditions. The historic centre of the capital, also called San Marino, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its medieval architecture, narrow streets and the iconic Three Towers that crown Mount Titano and dominate the landscape. Politically, the country is notable for its unique system of government: it is ruled by two Captains Regent, elected every six months, a practice designed to prevent the concentration of power and rooted in medieval communal traditions. Although not a member of the European Union, San Marino maintains close economic and cultural ties with Italy, on which it relies heavily for trade and access. Tourism is a major pillar of the economy, with visitors drawn by the state’s history, panoramic views, museums, and reputation for tax-free shopping. San Marino also enjoys a high standard of living, low crime rates and strong civic participation among its citizens. Culturally, it reflects a blend of Italian influences and distinct local customs, including festivals, cuisine and a deep reverence for its long-standing independence. In international affairs, San Marino plays a modest but symbolic role, its continued sovereignty often cited as a testament to diplomacy, adaptability, and the enduring appeal of republican ideals on a very small scale. The official language is Italian, the currency is the Euro that it uses by agreement and it is a popular tourist destination for its history, culture and stunning views of medieval walled towns, cobblestone streets and iconic defensive towers.
A mother is the most important person in our lives. Her passing leaves a profound void that is deeply felt. The day this review is published will mark the third anniversary of my mother’s interment. There has not been a single day on which I have failed to pray for her well-being in the Hereafter. As in previous years, her death anniversary will be observed with the complete recitation of the Holy Qur’an by a group of ḥuffāẓ, followed by special prayers for her soul to attain Jannat al-Firdaus and the distribution of food among the poor.
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Across
1a Proposal – behave listlessly about it being rejected (6)
MOTION: The definition of a proposal put forward at or before a meeting is arrived at from MOON (behave listlessly) as to act, wander or behave listlessly, abstractedly or dreamily placed around (about) IT from the clue that is coming from the other side (being rejected) as a reversal in the across clue
5a Direction to safeguard chief campaign fund (3,5)
WAR CHEST: WEST (direction) as the direction towards the point of the horizon where the sun sets to take inside (safeguard) ARCH- (chief) as a prefix with a hyphen denoting first or chief that guides to the definition of a fund reserved or collected for a particular purpose such as a political or election campaign
9a Stress clutching side for old puffer? (5,5)
STEAM TRAIN: STRAIN (stress) as a great or excessive demand stress on one’s mind or body holding inside (clutching) TEAM (side) as a group of players forming one side in a competitive game or sport produces the definition of a type of railway locomotive that produces its pulling power through a steam engine rather than diesel or electricity, an example of which is an old puffer i.e. a colloquial term usually referring to a steam-powered vessel or locomotive and essentially anything that puffs steam
10a Trek announced in capital city (4)
ROME: A homophone heard by the audience (announced) of ROAM (trek) as to trek, rove or move about or travel aimlessly or unsystematically, especially over a wide area leads to the definition of the capital city and most populated commune of Italy
11a Former minister, boring goody-goody (8)
PREVIOUS: The definition of an adjective meaning former, earlier or no longer alive is reached from REV (minister) as an abbreviation for Reverend that is an informal term for a cleric or minister getting inside (boring) PIOUS (goody-goody) as devotional or expressive and used in religious devotion, an example of which is goody-goody i.e. weakly benevolent or pious
12a Number Ten’s leader left before end of May (6)
TWENTY: The definition of a number one more than nineteen is got from the leading or first letter (leader) of T[EN] (Ten’s) followed by WENT (left) as a verb in the past tense meaning left one’s residence and the ending or terminal letter (end) of [MA]Y
13a Mother at home for cardinal (4)
MAIN: A charade of MA (mother) as a childish contraction for mamma or mother and IN (at home) as at or inside one’s home takes to the definition of an adjective meaning most important, influential or significant, an example of which is cardinal i.e. paramount or of foremost importance
15a Big and hot (8)
HANDSOME: Double adjectival definition; the second denoting hot, attractive, gorgeous or good-looking that brings to the first meaning big, bounteous or liberal in amount
18a Arm other ranks in film and be prepared (8)
FORELIMB: The definition of one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping or arm i.e. from shoulder to hand is reached from OR (other ranks) as the abbreviation for other ranks that describe the military personnel who are not commissioned officers placed inside (in) an anagram (prepared) of a combo of FILM and BE
19a Extract from journo’s exclusive feature (4)
NOSE: Part of or hidden inside (extract from) [JOUR]NO’S E[XCLUSIVE] takes to the definition of a facial feature positioned in the middle of the face
21a Italian city lacking sleep, briefly? (6)
NAPLES: The definition of the regional capital of Campania and the third-most populous city of Italy is reached from NAPLES[S] (lacking sleep) as without a period of sleep, especially one taken during daytime shortened or made brief with the removal of the last letter (briefly)
23a Excited again to welcome Harrow’s principal, an African (8)
GHANAIAN: An anagram (excited) of AGAIN to take inside (welcome) the principal or first letter (principal) of H[ARROW] (Harrow’s) followed by AN from the clue leads to the definition of a person from or relating to Ghana, a country in the continent of West Africa and hence African
25a Heart ripped from wild animal in row (4)
TIER: The core or the inner letter (heart) taken away or removed (ripped) from TI[G]ER (wild animal) as a large wild animal of the cat family, with a striped coat takes to the definition of a rank, order or row
26a Shift capital letter, finally, in flier (10)
BUDGERIGAR: BUDGE (shift) as to move or stir slightly, an example of which is to shift i.e. to move or cause to move from one place to another, RIGA (capital) as the capital of Latvia, a country in Northern Europe and the final or ultimate letter (finally) of [LETTE]R guides to the definition of a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot and the most common type of parakeet, found throughout the drier parts of Australia
27a Old man taking care, unfortunately – being shot? (2,6)
ON CAMERA: O (old) as the abbreviation for old, followed by an anagram (unfortunately) of a combo of MAN alongwith (taking) CARE that fetches the definition of a phrase meaning being shot or filmed or being televised
28a Great unwashed get washed! (6)
SHOWER: Double definition; the second being a verb instructing to get washed under a device with a nozzle to for spraying to wash the body that takes to the first a noun denoting a disparaging term applied to any particular big group of people considered as being slack, untidy etc and one disapproves of
Down
2d Route slightly altered, most remote (5)
OUTER: ROUTE from the clue having its last letter rotated to the first position (slightly altered) takes to the definition of an adjective meaning at the extreme edge or most remote, especially in place names
3d Where steps may have been taken having arrested first of villains earlier (2,7)
IN ADVANCE: IN A DANCE (where steps may have been taken) as the obvious answer to where steps may have been taken as a dance involves a sequence of steps and rhythmic movements, usually to music, having held or taken inside (arrested) the first or uppermost letter in the down clue (first) of V[ILLAINS] that leads to the definition of an adjectival phrase meaning ahead in or of time, beforehand or earlier
4d One overwhelmed by unthinkable concept (6)
NOTION: I (one) as the Roman numeral for one engulfed or covered (overwhelmed) by NOT ON (unthinkable) as an informal adjectival phrase meaning unthinkable or not a good or acceptable way to behave guides to the definition of a concept or idea
5d He has widget a bit askew – why was that necessary? necessary? (5,3,3,4)
WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA: An anagram (askew) of HE HAS WIDGET A BIT takes to the definition of an idiomatic expression meaning why did he do that?, what was the point? or why was that necessary?
6d One pursuing jewellery thief initially alert? (8)
RINGTONE: ONE from the clue preceded by or coming after (pursuing) a combo of RING (jewellery) as an item of jewellery and the initial or first letter (initially) of T[HIEF] guides to the definition of a telephone tone indicating to the caller that a telephone is ringing at the number called, alerting the caller that the number is being reached i.e. not engaged or disconnected and hence, the ringtone is a sort of alert
7d Pipe accessed by plumber in the end – draught, could it be? (5)
HORSE: HOSE (pipe) as a flexible pipe for conveying water etc so called from its shape entered (accessed) by the ending or terminal letter (in the end) of [PLUMBE]R takes to the definition by example of a draught animal i.e. one used for drawing heavy loads
8d Occasionally it seems different with order maintained (9)
SOMETIMES: The definition of an adverb meaning now and then, from time to time or occasionally is arrived at from an anagram (different) of IT SEEMS having inside (with … maintained) OM (order) as the abbreviation for Order of Merit that is a British decoration conferred on civilians and servicemen for eminence in various fields
14d Love in effect in a regular supply (9)
ADORATION: The definition of a deep love or esteem is obtained from DO (effect) as a verb meaning to effect or to have a specified effect on placed inside (in) a combo of A from the clue and RATION (regular supply) as an amount of food supplied on a regular basis, especially to members of the armed forces during a war
16d Oarsman in strange country (3,6)
SAN MARINO: An anagram (strange) of OARSMAN IN leads to the definition of a mountainous microstate in Europe and completely surrounded by Italy
17d Attractive bike lass customised? (8)
KISSABLE: The definition of an adjective denoting having qualities that invite a kiss, an example of which is attractive i.e. inviting affection or desire or making one desirous of kissing the other is obtained from an anagram (customised) of BIKE LASS
20d Some bread products used in Barnet after half of baps (6)
BAGELS: The definition of the plural of a hard leavened ring-shaped roll originating in the Jewish communities of Poland is reached from GELS (Barnet) as the plural of a thick wet substance that is used in beauty or cleaning products e.g. hairgel, Barnet being Cockney rhyming slang for hair from ‘Barnet Fair’ and hair gelled preceded by or coming after (after) 50% or half of the letters (half of) BA[PS]
22d Developing creature crushed by muscular vampire (5)
LARVA: The definition of an insect at the stage of its life after it has developed from an egg and before it changes into its adult form e.g. a caterpillar which will eventually become a fully mature butterfly is part of or hidden inside (crushed by) [MUSCU]LAR VA[MPIRE]
24d A card cut by first of players quickly (5)
APACE: A combo of A from the clue and ACE (card) as a playing card or a die face bearing a single pip or spot having inside (cut by) the first or initial letter of P[LAYERS] guides to the definition of an adverb denoting quickly or with rapid movements
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 5a, 11a, 12a, 21a, 26a, 28a, 3d, 5d, 6d and 20d; 20d 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.