Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3364
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 12th April 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. An entertaining Sunday puzzle from Dada which I thoroughly enjoyed and I now present a full review of it. Your valuable feedback and comments in this regard are most welcome.
Until now, I had very little knowledge about a gigolo, the answer to the clue at 5d. But this time, after solving the puzzle, I searched the internet to find some detailed information about the term, and more particularly about the profession. Having done so, I really learnt a lot and concluded that my knowledge of the profession of a gigolo was even poorer than I had thought. A gigolo is a man who is financially supported, either partially or entirely, by a woman, or sometimes multiple women, in exchange for companionship and, in some cases, a romantic or sexual relationship. The term is most often used in a social rather than legal context and carries a range of connotations depending on tone and setting. Traditionally, the role of a gigolo centres on providing companionship rather than formal employment. This may include accompanying a client to social events, dining out, travelling, or simply offering conversation and emotional attention. In some arrangements, intimacy may be part of the relationship, but it is not an absolute defining feature in every case. The emphasis is generally on the personal relationship, which is often transactional in nature, with financial or material support flowing from the benefactor to the gigolo. Unlike conventional employment, the arrangement is typically informal and privately negotiated, without contractual protections or institutional oversight. Because of this, the nature of the relationship can vary widely from short-term companionship to longer-term dependency. The balance of power may also shift depending on financial arrangements, expectations and emotional involvement. Culturally, the term ‘gigolo’ often carries a somewhat negative or judgemental undertone, implying dependency, opportunism or a lack of conventional career ambition. However, in modern contexts, particularly in larger cities, similar arrangements may be framed more neutrally as ‘companionship services’ or ‘sugar dating’, though the latter term is broader and includes both men and women in mutually agreed financial relationships. It is important to distinguish between consensual adult arrangements of this kind and any form of exploitation or coercion, which would fall outside this definition. In essence, the role of a gigolo revolves around providing companionship within a financially supported relationship, rather than engaging in traditional employment or professional service work.
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Across
1a Leave empty venue in which a mouser resides (6)
VACATE: The definition of a verb meaning to leave a place that one previously occupied is reached from V[ENU]E from the clue subject to the taking out or removal of the inner letters (empty) and bringing inside (in which … resides) a combo of A from the clue and CAT (mouser) as a small domesticated carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout and retractable claws, an example of which is mouser i.e. an animal that catches mice, especially a cat
4a Demonstration of arrogance in song a bit misplaced (8)
BOASTING: The definition of the act of speaking with excessive pride, exaggeration or self- satisfaction about one’s own possessions, achievements or abilities i.e. demonstration of arrogance is reached from an anagram (misplaced) of SONG A BIT
9a Quite hot after temperature in back turns (6)
RATHER: The definition of a verb meaning quite or to a significant or noticeable extent is got from H (hot) as the abbreviation for hot, especially with reference to water on a faucet placed after (after) T (temperature) as the symbol for temperature in physics and the combo taken inside (in) REAR (back) as denoting the back or hind of something, as distinguished from the front coming from the other side (turns) as a reversal in the across clue
10a Remarkable man joins band, shortly (8)
STRIKING: The definition of an adjective denoting conspicuously attractive, impressive or remarkable is arrived at from KING (man) as the principle chess piece that can move one square in any direction placed after or preceded by (joins) STRI[P] (band) as a band or a flat, thin strip or loop of material, used as a fastener for reinforcement or as decoration that is cut short with the removal of the last letter (shortly)
12a Logs cut, fine bark (4)
WOOF: WOO[D] (logs) as logs, kindling or fuel subject to the removal of the last letter (cut) followed by F (fine) as an abbreviation for fine takes to the definition of the characteristically deep, gruff bark of a dog
13a Groom up for marriage, bride uncertain, all ending (5)
PREEN: The definition of a verb meaning to groom or dress oneself with elaborate care is arrived at from all of the end or terminal letters (all ending) of [U]P [FO]R [MARRIAG]E, [BRID]E [UNCERTAI]N
14a Stagger as if drunk, gaze when falling back (4)
REEL: The definition of a verb meaning to stagger, lurch or away as from dizziness or drunkenness is reached from LEER (gaze) as to gaze or look with a sly, immodest or malign expression when seen returning (falling back) as a reversal in the across clue
17a Coming together, instruments clashing (7,5)
LOCKING HORNS: A charade of LOCKING (coming together) as coming together, as in interlocking or joining and HORNS (instruments) as instruments, specifically musical brass or woodwind instruments guides to the definition of clashing, quarrelling or engaging in conflict
20a Is man on battlefield drawing on literary work? (12)
FRONTISPIECE: A combo of IS from the clue and PIECE (man) as any chessman other than a pawn placed after or preceded by in the across clue (on) FRONT (battlefield) guides to the definition of a picture or drawing at the very beginning of a book that is a literary work
23a Show hosted by Essex politician (4)
EXPO: The definition of a large international exhibition or show is part of or hidden inside (hosted by) [ESS]EX PO[LITICIAN]
24a Dundonian, for example, backs a Home Counties town (5)
ASCOT: SCOT (Dundonian, for example) as a native or inhabitant of Scotland, an example of which is a Dundonian i.e. a native or inhabitant of the city of Dundee that is in Scotland and hence a Scot preceded by or coming after in the across clue (backs) A from the clue that takes to the definition of a town in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, in the county of Berkshire, England
25a Bet placed, nothing originally pocketed … (4)
PUNT: The definition of a bet or gamble is arrived at from PUT (placed) as a verb in the past tense denoting set or placed having inside (pocketed) the original or initial letter (originally) of N[OTHING]
28a … and I bet differently after nothing acquired! (8)
OBTAINED: An anagram (differently) of AND I BET preceded by or placed after (after) O (nothing) as letter representing naught or nothing takes to the definition of a verb in the past tense meaning acquired, got or gained possession of something
29a Einstein I observed in rank below family (6)
GENIUS: The definition of a person who has an exceptionally high intelligence quotient, typically above 140, an example of which is Einstein, a noun denoting genius, mastermind or a person who uses the mind creatively is arrived at from I from the clue seen inside (observed in) GENUS (rank below family) as a taxonomic category or a group of organisms ranking below a family and above a species
30a Terrific explosive (8)
DYNAMITE: Double definition; the second referring to a powerful explosive used in blasting and mining that takes to the first an adjective denoting something exceptionally exciting, wonderful or terrific
31a Rule about ammunition ultimately for big gun (6)
CANNON: CANON (rule) as an ecclesiastical law or code of laws established by a church council placed around (about) the ultimate or terminal letter (ultimately) of [AMMUNITIO]N leads to the definition of a type of large gun used formerly, mounted on a carriage, for firing heavy projectiles
Down
1d Certainly in the pink (4,4)
VERY WELL: Double phrasal definition; the second meaning in very good health or satisfactory state or condition, an example of which is ‘in the pink’ i.e. in the best of health or condition that takes to the first denoting an expression of agreement normally occurring at the beginning of a sentence e.g. ‘Certainly!’ or ‘Fine!’
2d Have little effect – as would blunted skate? (3,2,3)
CUT NO ICE: The definition of an idiom meaning to have no or little impact or effect, especially on one’s opinion is cryptically arrived at from the fate of an ice skate with a dull blade (blunted skate) that would cut no ice
3d Before winner at the death, draw level (4)
TIER: TIE (draw) as referring to a draw in a game preceded by or placed before (before) [WINNE]R as its dying or final letter (at the death) takes to the definition of a noun meaning layer, level or stratum
5d Just around the corner – as is setting sun? (2,3,7)
ON THE HORIZON: Double phrasal definition; the second denoting the position of the sun when setting i.e. it appears on the horizon that takes to the first meaning about or soon to happen or almost certainly going to happen, an example of which is the phrase ‘just around the corner’, meaning imminent, very near or soon to happen
6d Fielder in error? (4)
SLIP: Double nounal definition; the second being a slight error or oversight, as in speech or writing that takes to the first referring to a fielder who stands a little way behind and to the offside of the wicketkeeper in cricket
7d Bunch of flowers one takes off (6)
IRISES: The definition of a bunch of brightly-coloured flowers with sword-shaped leaves is obtained from a charade of I (one) as the Roman numeral for one and RISES (takes off) as a verb in the third person singular present tense denoting ascends, takes off or moves to a higher position
8d Player in concert, leader of orchestra, look! (6)
GIGOLO: The definition of a man who plays around romantically and supported by a woman for his companionship or attention is obtained from GIG (concert) as a live performance, especially used by musicians, an example of which is a concert, often implying a planned, ticketed musical performance and sometimes on a bigger scale followed by the leading or head letter in the down clue (leader) of O[RCHESTRA] and LO (look) as an interjection denoting ‘Look!’ or ‘See!’
11d Unfortunately, free agents do procrastinate (4,4,4)
DRAG ONE’S FEET: An anagram (unfortunately) of FREE AGENTS DO guides to the definition of a verb meaning to procrastinate or to postpone or delay needlessly
15d Sign initial on banknotes in Turkish currency (5)
LIBRA: The definition of the seventh sign of the zodiac in astrology is got from the initial or first letter of (initial on) B[ANKNOTES] placed inside (in) LIRA (Turkish currency) as the basic monetary unit of Turkey that is now officially Türkiye
16d From hiding place, shoot bird (5)
SNIPE: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to any of several wading birds of the genus Gallinago, breeding in marshes and having a long straight bill that leads to the first a verb meaning to shoot at someone from a hidden or concealed place
18d South American in rave-up, dancing (8)
PERUVIAN: The definition of a native or inhabitant of Peru that is in South America and hence South American is arrived at from an anagram (dancing) of IN RAVE-UP
19d Plane is not broken up for scrap (8)
JETTISON: JET (plane) as a jet-propelled aeroplane followed by an anagram (broken up) of IS NOT takes to the definition of a verb meaning to scrap, dispose of or throw overboard anything discarded as useless or no longer wanted, especially in times of danger
21d Next post filled by company (6)
SECOND: The definition of an adverb meaning next after the first is reached is obtained from SEND (post) as to post or mail getting inside (filled by) CO (company) as the abbreviation for company
22d Correct site working (4-2)
SPOT-ON: The definition of an adjective meaning absolutely correct or very accurate is got from a charade of SPOT (site) as a site, place or location and ON (working) as working or operating
26d Picture in bedroom lifted up (4)
FILM: The definition of a long, narrative movie or a motion picture is obtained from part of or hidden inside (in) [BEDROO]M LIF[TED] in an upward direction (up) in a reversal mode in the down clue
27d Head of mammoth in particular on a mammoth! (4)
MEGA: The head or the topmost letter in the down clue (head) of M[AMMOTH], followed by EG (in particular) as the abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia meaning ‘for example’ or one that is representative of a group as a whole or serving as a pattern of a specific kind, an example of which is ‘in particular’ denoting one individual item, fact or detail or a single definite person, thing etc thought of separately from all others placed upon in the down clue (on) A from the clue guides to the definition of something great or very large, an example of which is a mammoth i.e. something that is of great or gigantic size
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 12a, 17a, 20a, 29a, 30a, 2d, 5d, 6d, 8d, 11d and 19d; 20a 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. Have a nice day.