Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3367
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 22nd May 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A slightly tough yet entertaining Sunday puzzle from Dada that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review for your kind perusal and valuable feedback.
‘Writer,’ used as a synonym for ‘author’ in the wordplay to the clue at 10a, may be a far-fetched homophone of ‘rider’ to the British, but not to Americans. In American English, when a ‘t’ is between two vowel sounds and not at the beginning of a stressed syllable, it becomes a flap. The tongue makes a quick tap behind the upper teeth, similar to how a ‘d’ is formed, but much softer. The ‘d’ sound is technically a flap ‘t’. The most common word used by Americans that turns a ‘t’ into a ‘d’ sound is ‘water’, which often sounds like ‘wahder’. Other extremely common examples where this d-like flap happens include better as ‘bedder’, ‘little’ as ‘liddle’, ‘city’ as ‘cidy’, ‘matter’ as ‘madder’, ‘computer’ as ‘compuder’ and ‘beautiful’ as ‘beaudiful’. Pairs like ‘latter’ and ‘ladder’ or ‘metal’ and ‘medal’ often sound exactly the same in casual American conversation.
I learnt from the internet that ‘fictional plantation’, the wordplay to the clue at 1d leading to the name ‘Tara’ that guided to the actual answer, is the creation of Mitchell who received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for the book in 1937 that was adapted into the 1939 film of the same name, which is considered to be one of the greatest films ever made and also received the Academy Award for Best Picture during the 12th annual Academy Awards ceremony. Incidentally, ‘Gone with the Wind’ is the only novel by Mitchell published during her life.
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Across
1a Haul over the coals, and develop a liking for job? (4,2,4)
TAKE TO TASK: Double definition; the second cryptically denoting take to as to become fond of or develop a liking for a task or job that takes to the first meaning to censure angrily or criticise for something done wrong, an example of which is to haul over the coals i.e. to reprimand or to rebuke severely, especially in a formal or official way
6a Part of leg observed in medical, femur (4)
CALF: The definition of the thick fleshy part of the back of the leg between the ankle and the knee is part of or hidden inside (observed in) [MEDI]CAL, F[EMUR]
10a Equestrian author mentioned by American? (5)
RIDER: The definition of a person who rides a bicycle, an example of which is an equestrian i.e. one who rides a horse or performs on horseback is arrived at from WRITER (author) as an author or one who writes books, stories, articles or the like as a profession serving as a homophone serving as a homophone heard by the audience to an American speaker (mentioned by American)
11a Substitute certain to miss end, or back in front of crowd (9)
SURROGATE: The definition of a substitute or someone who takes the place of another person is reached from SUR[E] (certain) as without the end or last letter (to miss end) followed by OR from the clue in a backward fashion (back) as a reversal in the across clue placed before (in front of) GATE (crowd) as the crowd or the number of people admitted to a sporting event or entertainment
12a Fuel pipe on drive, as fills up (8)
GASOLINE: The definition of the ordinary word for petrol in North America is arrived at from LINE (pipe) as a pipe or hose or a system of pipes used to transport liquids or gases preceded by (on) GO (drive) as the drive, energy, spirit or vigour and having AS from the clue getting inside (fills up)
13a Turn and depart (2,3)
GO OFF: Double verbal definition; the second meaning to depart or move away from a place that takes to the first denoting to turn, resort or look to when in need
15a A page consumed by fire – resulting in a little ash, say (7)
SAPLING: A combo of A from the clue and P (page) as the abbreviation for page taken inside by (consumed by) SLING (fire) as an informal verb meaning to fire or dismiss someone leads to the definition of a botanical term for a young tree, an example of which is a little ash, that is any of various deciduous pinnate-leaved ornamental or timber trees of the genus Fraxinus
17a Hitherto, fur hats in need of repair (4,3)
THUS FAR: The definition of an adverb meaning hitherto, so far, until now or heretofore is reached from an anagram (in need of repair) of FUR HATS
19a Criminal enters a grave (7)
EARNEST: An anagram (criminal) of ENTERS A guides to the definition of an adjective meaning grave, solemn or seriously important
21a Side in future needing wingers from Arsenal (7)
LATERAL: The definition of an adjective meaning side, flanking or edgeways is obtained from LATER (in future) as an adjective denoting at some eventual time in the future having alongside (needing) the outer letters (wingers) from A[RSENA]L
22a Paradise, ecologically diverse, backsliding somewhat (5)
IDYLL: The definition of a paradise or an extremely happy, peaceful scene is part of or hidden inside (somewhat) [ECOLOGICA]LLY DI[VERSE] coming from the other end (backsliding) as a reversal in the across clue
24a Conservative outfit has changed this time (8)
RIGHTIST: The definition of a Conservative or who supports the political right or conservative ideologies is obtained from RIG (outfit) as an outfit or costume followed by an anagram (has changed) of THIS and T (time) as the symbol for time in physics
27a Gives up, cutting back financially (4-5)
KICK-START: A charade of KICKS (gives up) as a verb in the third person singular present tense meaning desists from, discontinues or ceases a habit like giving up alcohol etc, an example of which is KICKS denoting gives up or breaks a drug addiction and TART (cutting) as an adjective meaning cutting, biting, sharp or caustic guides to the definition of a verb denoting to energise or revive, say a project i.e. to provide a sudden boost or funding to the project or, precisely, to back financially
28a Copy ripped apart by a US author (5)
TWAIN: TWIN (copy) as a duplicate or carbon copy or a thing that is exactly like another intervened or separated by (ripped apart by) A from the clue guides to the definition of the pen name of the US author, humourist and essayist whose actual name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens
29a Particular day, see (4)
DATE: Double definition; the second being a verb meaning to see or go out with someone in whom one is romantically interested that leads to the first a noun referring to the particularly day of the month or year as specified by a number
30a City loos requiring permit, though desperate? (10)
METROPOLIS: The definition of the capital city of a country or county is arrived at from an anagram (though desperate) of a combo LOOS and (requiring) PERMIT
Down
1d Fictional plantation, I bid you farewell (2-2)
TA-RA: TARA (fictional plantation) as the fictional plantation in ‘Gone with the Wind’, a novel by American writer Margaret Mitchell that was first published in 1936 takes to the definition of a common, informal way of saying ‘good-bye’ or denoting ‘I bid you farewell’ in Northern England, the Midlands and Wales, often considered a variant of ‘ta-ta’, more commonly used to express farewell
2d Child, one in bed – criminal! (9)
KIDNAPPER: A charade of KID (child) as an informal term for a child or a young person and NAPPER (one in bed) as cryptically a person who is napping or having a brief sleep and thus in bed takes to the definition by example of a type of criminal who unlawfully seizes and detains a person, usually for ransom
3d Chest more or less under head in truth (5)
TORSO: The definition of the part of the body between the neck and the abdomen, enclosed by the ribs and the breastbone, an example of which is chest or the entire central part of the body i.e. chest, abdomen and back but excluding the head, arms and legs is obtained from OR SO (more or less) as an adverb denoting more or less, just about, approximately of roughly placed below (under) the head or topmost letter in the down clue (head) in T[RUTH]
4d Difficult Redford/Newman film, hard to ignore (7)
TESTING: The definition of an adjective meaning difficult, trying, demanding or taxing is fetched from T[H]E STING (Redford/Newman film) as the 1973 American caper film starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman as two professional grifters from which H (hard) as the symbol for hard in lead pencils e.g. HB as hard black is removed or not taken into account (to ignore)
5d Traitor present, appearing sneaky? (7)
SERPENT: The definition of a subtle, sly or treacherous person, an example of which is a traitor i.e. a person who is guilty of treason or treachery, in betraying country, cause or trust etc is arrived at from an anagram (appearing sneaky) of PRESENT
7d Just like second mission (5)
ALAMO: À LA (just like) as a preposition meaning just like or in the style or manner of followed by MO (second) as an abbreviation for ‘moment’ denoting a slang term for a second or a very short time guides to the definition of a Franciscan mission in San Antonio, Texas, taken by Mexicans in 1836 during the Texan war for independence
8d Fight with no tickets on sale? (4-3-3)
FREE-FOR-ALL: The definition of a disorderly fight, argument or contest thrown open to all and usually without rules is arrived at from the obvious deduction that if an even has not tickets on sale, it is obviously ‘free for all’
9d Burn match, special quality (4,4)
LONG SUIT: A charade of LONG (burn) as a verb meaning to burn, desire or crave and SUIT (match) as another verb meaning to match, agree or tally takes to the definition of the personal quality or talent that is one’s strongest asset
14d Seek dirt, as out with a star (10)
ASTERISKED: An anagram (out) of SEEK DIRT, AS take to the definition of a passive infinitive form of a verb denoting to be marked with a star symbol, that is, * as the symbol
16d Romantic wood remains bordered by it (8)
IDEALIST: The definition of a noun denoting romantic, visionary or dreamer is reached from a combo of (wood) as wood from conifers such as pine or fir that is easy to saw and IS (remains) as remains or stays surrounded or covered by (bordered by) IT from the clue
18d One side of Nottingham, everyone in bar (9)
FORESTALL: A charade of FOREST (one side of Nottingham) as referring to Nottingham Forest F.C., one of the two major professional football sides or teams in the city of Nottingham, the other being Notts County F.C. and ALL (everyone) as a pronoun referring to everyone or everything leads to the definition of a verb meaning to bar, block, prevent or stop something from happening
20d Bank finding caterer in error (7)
TERRACE: The definition of a raised level bank or walk is deduced from an anagram (in error) of CATERER
21d Jerk when lid removed, easier to pick up (7)
LIGHTER: [B]LIGHTER (jerk) as a contemptible or irritating person, an example of which is a jerk i.e. a slang term for a foolish, rude or contemptible when devoid of its topmost letter in the down clue (lid removed) leads to the definition of an adjective in the comparative degree denoting less heavy and therefore easier to pick up, especially of something
23d Number from abroad in pursuit of unknown boat (5)
YACHT: ACHT (number from abroad) as the number eight in German language and that can be heard in Germany that is in the mainland Europe preceded by or coming after (in pursuit of) Y (unknown) as a variable, unknown or yet to be ascertained quantity or factor as used in mathematics, especially in algebra leads to the definition of a boat or small ship, usually with sails, often with an engine, built and used for racing or cruising
25d Work out if child out of bed (3,2)
TOT UP: The definition of a phrasal verb meaning to add or mount up or total, an example of which is to work out i.e. to calculate or add up in number or quantity is obtained from a charade of TOT (child) as anything little, especially a young child and UP (out of bed) as an adjective denoting awake or out of bed
26d Extra money, given loss of capital, duty (4)
ONUS: [B]ONUS (extra money) as extra money as a result of good individual or corporate performance devoid of (given loss of) the topmost or the head letter in the down clue (capital) guides to the definition of a duty, burden or responsibility
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 15a, 27a, 30a, 2d, 4d, 8d, 9d, 5d, 18d and 23d; 27a 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.