Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3356
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 15th February 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice, brilliant puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and subsequently writing a full review of the same for your meticulous reading and valuable feedback.
I was aware of DEE, the name of the river to part of the wordplay in the clue at 17a. In fact, I have come across DEE as the solution for a river quite many times while solving crosswords. However, this time I wanted to learn about it in detail. So, after solving the puzzle, I turned to the internet and found a lot of information about it. There are five notable rivers named the River Dee within the British Isles: two in Scotland (Aberdeenshire and Galloway), one in Wales (flowing into England), one in Cumbria, England and one in the Republic of Ireland. The details are as follows: (1) River Dee, Aberdeen, Scotland: Scotland’s River Dee, Uisge De, rises on the plateau of Braerioch in the Cairngorm Mountains, beginning as the Wells of Dee and travelling eighty-seven miles to its estuary at Aberdeen Harbour on the North Sea; its tributaries include the Rivers Muick, Gairn and Lui, Quoich Waters and Coy, Clunie and Geldie Burns and it features the Chest of Dee waterfall near the Geldie Burn, flowing through heathland and Caledonian pinewood forests in the Cairngorms National Park and the Cairngorms National Nature Reserve, past Aboyne, Braemar, Banchory, Ballater and the City of Aberdeen, encompassing Strathdee (Royal Deeside) near Balmoral Castle, and crossed by bridges such as the Victoria Bridge at Torry, King George VI Bridge, Queen Elizabeth II Bridge in Aberdeen, Maryculter Bridge, the 1527 Bridge of Dee built of Elgin sandstone and St Devenick’s suspension footbridge (1837). (2) River Dee, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland: Also called the Dee / Ken System, it rises at Loch Dee in the Galloway Mountains, runs thirty-eight miles through Clatteringshaws Loch, Loch Ken and the Water of Ken to the Solway Firth at Kirkcudbright Harbour, passing Bridge of Dee, Crossmichael, Glenlocher, Kelton, Kirkcudbright, Parton and Tongland, where Thomas Telford built a stone arch bridge in 1806 and a 1930’s hydroelectric dam stands; tributaries include Tarff Water, the Water of Ken, the Water of Deugh and Shirmer’s Burn and it is known for salmon and sea trout. (3) River Dee, Cumbria, England: A tributary of the River Lune, it begins at Dent Head on the Dales Way National Trail, flows about ten miles through Dentdale to meet the River Rawthey at Catholes near Sedbergh, passing Cowgill, Dent, Gawthrop and Stonehouse and crossed by Abbot Holme Bridge at Sedbergh, Bridge End at Stonehouse, Church Bridge at Dentdale, Tommy’s Bridge and a footbridge at Cowgill. (4) River Dee, Republic of Ireland: A thirty-mile tributary of the River Glyde, it rises at Bailieboro in County Cavan, flows through Nobber, Whitewood Lake and Kilmainhamwood, then through Ardee (home to St Ledger’s Castle) and Annagassan in County Louth, joining the River Glyde before entering Dundalk Bay with the River Fane and the Castletown River; tributaries include the River Killary, the Gara River and the White River, noted for Brown Trout, Sea Trout and Atlantic Salmon. (5) River Dee, Wales and England: The River Dee (Afon Dyfrdwy) rises at Llanuwchllyn in Snowdonia, flows sixty-eight miles into England, then north to its estuary between North Wales and The Wirral Peninsula, draining into Liverpool Bay on the Irish Sea, passing Berwyn, Corwen, Llangollen, Wrexham, Connah’s Quay, Farndon and the City of Chester; tributaries include Afon Alun, Afon Alwen, Afon Ceiriog, Afon Clywedog, Afon Meloch, Afon Mynach, Afon Tryweryn and the Wych Brook and it is crossed by Llangollen Bridge (1345), Old Dee Bridge in Chester (c.1387), Flintshire Bridge (1999), Chain Rail Bridge (1814), a medieval sandstone bridge at Farndon and the UNESCO-listed Pontecysyllte Aqueduct carrying the Lllangollen Canal. Needless to add, the name of the River Dee has its etymology in the Roman word ‘deva’, meaning goddess. Surprisingly, in Hindi, the word ‘deva’ refers to a god, while the term for a goddess is ‘devi’.
Maria, part of the wordplay and truncated to arrive at the solution at 25a, took me down memory lane. I was reminded of a Hindi song from the 1985 film ‘Saagar’: “O Maria, o Maria, o Maria ho ho ho / O Maria, o Maria, o Maria ho ho ho / Arre Johny jab bola tha tujhse / Shaadi karegi mujhse / Kaise kaha tha yeh bata aaaa aaaaa aaaa aaaaaaa …” (“O Maria, o Maria, o Maria ho ho ho / O Maria, o Maria, o Maria ho ho ho / Hey, when Johny said to you / ‘Will you marry me?’ / How did he say it? [Show me the way he asked you] aaaa aaaaa aaaa aaaaaaa …”).
F, substituting strong, part of the wordplay in the clue at 21d, is also an abbreviation for the musical term ‘forte’ meaning loud. Other related abbreviations are ‘fortissimo’ meaning very loud, abbreviated as FF and ‘fortississimo’ meaning extremely loud, abbreviated as FFF. Similarly, P, PP and PPP are the respective abbreviations for ‘piano’ (soft), ‘pianissimo’ (very soft) and ‘pianississimo’ (extremely soft).
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Across
1a Pages he writes, where energy lost, tossed aside (5,7)
STAGE WHISPER: An anagram (tossed) of PAGES HE WRIT[E]S from which (where) E (energy) as the symbol for energy as a quantitative property in physics is removed (lost) that takes to the definition of an audible utterance conventionally understood by the audience that is also called ‘aside’ or words spoken by an actor which the others present on the stage are supposed not to hear
9a Cherry knocked over by vicious wind (7)
MEANDER: RED (cherry) as the colour of blood, an example of which is cherry i.e. a bright red colour turned around (knocked over) as a reversal in the across clue preceded by or coming after (by) MEAN (vicious) as an American and Canadian informal term meaning vicious or aggressive in behaviour leads to the definition of a verb meaning to twist, curl, wind or wind about in a circuitous course
10a US president in stretch limo, perhaps? (7)
LINCOLN: Double nounal definition; the second denoting a make of car from the luxury brand Lincoln Motor Company, a stretch limo or stretch limousine that could well serve as an example of a Lincoln that guides to the first referring to the 16th President of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865
11a Shaft left stuck in tool (4)
AXLE: The definition of a shaft on which a wheel rotates is reached from L (left) as the abbreviation for left trapped inside (stuck in) AXE (tool) as a tool for hewing or chopping, having its edge and handled in the same plane
12a Speed has me opt out! (5)
TEMPO: The definition of the speed at which a piece of music should be or is played is arrived at from an anagram (out) of ME OPT
13a Criminality, gripping thing (4)
VICE: Double definition; the second being a tool with movable jaws for gripping an object that is being worked on or a clamp for holding metal or wood in place that takes to the first referring to criminality, immorality or depravity
16a Crown, gold one in court (7)
CORONET: The definition of a small or relatively simple crown, especially as worn by lesser royalty and peers or peeresses is deduced from a combo of OR (gold) as the tincture gold in heraldry and ONE from the clue placed inside (in) CT (court) as the abbreviation for court
17a Mosquito for example on river, most voluminous (7)
DEEPEST: PEST (mosquito for example) as an insect that damages crops, spreads disease or causes economic harm that persistently annoys or causes trouble, an example of which is a mosquito i.e. a nuisance insect that can irritate, bite and transmit diseases such as malaria and dengue fever placed after or preceded by (on) DEE (river) as the river flowing through parts of Wales and England that takes to the definition of an adjective in the superlative degree meaning having the greatest depth or most voluminous
18a University degree difficult for dog! (7)
MASTIFF: A charade of MA (university degree) as the abbreviation for Master of Arts that is a university degree at the post-graduation level and STIFF (difficult) as an adjective denoting difficult, arduous or tough guides to the definition of a thick-set, powerful breed of dog, often used as a watchdog
21a Predict number and letter being read out? (7)
FORESEE: The definition of a verb meaning to predict, foretell, forecast or see or know in advance is arrived at from homophones heard by the audience (being read out) of a combo of FOUR (number) as a cardinal number one more than three and C (letter) as the third letter of the English alphabet
23a Legion inspired by popular myth (4)
ARMY: The definition of the military land forces of a nation, an example of which is a legion i.e. a division of the Roman army, usually comprising 3000 to 6000 soldiers of any large group of armed men is part of or hidden inside (inspired by) [POPUL]AR MY[TH]
24a Item of clothing occupying mind (5)
BRAIN: A charade of BRA (item of clothing) as a short for brassiere, an undergarment worn by women to support their breasts and IN (occupying) as an adjective meaning occupying or holding a position or office leads to the definition of a noun denoting mind, intellect or that which is responsible for one’s thoughts and feelings
25a Song, one of those from West Side Story without intro (4)
ARIA: The definition of an elaborate accompanied song for solo voice from a cantata, opera or oratorio is fetched from [M]ARIA, one of the songs (one of those) as “Maria … The most beautiful sound I have heard” from ‘West Side Story’, a 1961 American musical romantic drama film devoid of its introductory or beginning letter (without intro)
28a Small stream in Indian state for large animal (7)
GORILLA: RILL (small stream) as a small stream, brook or rivulet put inside (in) GOA (Indian state) as India’s smallest state by area on the south-western coast within the Konkan region takes to the definition of the largest anthropoid ape, Gorilla gorilla, of equatorial Africa, vegetarian and mainly terrestrial
29a Floret I gathered in clover (7)
TREFOIL: An anagram (gathered) of FLORET I leads to the definition of a plant whose leaves are divided into three similar parts, for example, a clover i.e. a small wild plant that usually has three leaves on each stem and purple, pink or white flowers that are like balls in shape
30a Nothing to wear for a special occasion? (8,4)
BIRTHDAY SUIT: A cryptic definition of an informal term for a naked human body as people are on the the special occasion of their entry into this world i.e. at birth
Down
1d Penny invested in more outdated office equipment (7)
STAPLER: P (penny) as the abbreviation for new penny or new pence put inside (invested in) STALER (more outdated) as an adjective in the comparative degree denoting more antiquated, worn-out or outdated guides to the definition of an office instrument or machine that inserts staples into sheets of paper in order to fasten them together
2d A concept hasn’t finished second (4)
AIDE: A from the clue followed by IDE[A] (concept) as a noun denoting concept, thought or notion devoid of its terminal letter (hasn’t finished) leads to the definition of a noun meaning a second, assistant or helper
3d Attention given to resting place, grave (7)
EARNEST: EAR (attention) as sympathetic or favourable attention having alongside (given to) NEST (resting place) as a snug retreat, refuge or resting place takes to the definition of an adjective meaning grave, serious or determined
4d Where chopper lands, edge cuts top (7)
HELIPAD: The definition of a place where helicopter or chopper lands is got from LIP (edge) as the outside or upper boundary of a hollow container or an opening getting inside (cuts) HEAD (top) as referring to the head or the crown of the head
5d Number theorists on genuine claims (4)
SONG: The definition of a piece of music, usually employing a verbal text, composed for the voice, especially one intended for performance by a soloist, an example of which is a number i.e. a distinct performance within a show, as a song or dance is part of or hidden inside (claims) [THEORIST]S ON G[ENUINE]
6d Excitement primarily, reason for touching (7)
EMOTIVE: The primary or first letter (primarily) of E[XCITEMENT] followed by MOTIVE (reason) as ground, cause or reason takes to the definition of an adjective meaning touching, moving or heart-rendering
7d Mudslinging ruined Americans’ map, capital of Georgia covered (5,8)
SMEAR CAMPAIGN: The definition of a noun denoting a mudslinging or an attempt to destroy someone’s reputation is arrived at from an anagram (ruined) of AMERICANS’ MAP having taken inside (covered) the capital or first letter (capital) of G[EORGIA]
8d Completely drunk in secret (5,3,5)
UNDER THE TABLE: Double idiomatic definition; the second denoting ‘in secret’ or done illicitly and secretly that takes to the first meaning completely drunk or into a completely intoxicated state
14d Free relative having released head (5)
UNTIE: [A]UNTIE (relative) as an informal term for a person’s aunt or the sister of one’s father or mother is devoid of (having released) the topmost letter in the down clue (head) leads to the definition of a verb meaning free, unloosen or fasten from something that was restricting it
15d Cautious about bottom of mine being whacked! (5)
WEARY: WARY (cautious) as an adjective meaning cautious, prudent or careful placed around (about) the bottommost letter (bottom) of [MIN]E guides to the definition of an adjective denoting whacked, exhausted or worn out
19d Old warrior is holding a strange article up (7)
SAMURAI: The definition of a Japanese warrior who was a member of the feudal military aristocracy is got from IS from the clue keeping inside (holding) a combo of A from the clue, RUM (strange) as a slang term for an adjective meaning odd, strange or queer and A (article) as one of two types of an indefinite article all in a raised fashion (up) as reversals in the down clue
20d Attacker cross about fighting (7)
FORWARD: The definition of an attacking player in football, hockey or basketball or one who is part of the line of the offense is reached from FORD (cross) as to cross a river, brook etc over a shallow area from where one can wade placed around (about) WAR (fighting) as armed fighting or conflict between nations or factions within a nation
21d Somewhat strong, litany revised (7)
FAINTLY: The definition of an adverb meaning fairly, slightly, somewhat or to some extent is got from F (strong) as an abbreviation for forte, an adjective coming via Italian ‘forte’ from the Latin ‘fortis’ meaning strong followed by an anagram (revised) of LITANY
22d Arrange drink, or breaks (4,3)
SORT OUT: The definition of a verb meaning to arrange, classify or order is got from STOUT (drink) as a strong very dark heavy-bodied ale made from pale malt and roasted unmalted barley and often caramel malt with hops having OR from the clue getting inside (breaks)
26d Accidental, even (4)
FLAT: Double definition; the second being an adjective meaning even or smooth, without projections or depressions that takes to the first a musical term denoting an accidental that lowers the pitch of the following note by one chromatic semitone
27d Lover in possession of Eros, we hear? (4)
BEAU: The definition of a lover, sweetheart or escort of a girl or woman is reached from BOW (possession of Eros) as referring to one of the primary, iconic possessions of Eros, the Greek god of love, passion and desire, serving as homophone heard by the audience (we hear)
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 17a, 18a, 21a, 24a, 30a, 4d, 7d, 8d, 19d and 26d; 30a 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.