Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3370
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 24th May 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty **** – Enjoyment ***
Greetings from Kolkata. Dada has given us a really tough puzzle this Sunday and now I present to you a full review of his puzzle. Hope to have your valuable feedback and comments.
Sinai, the answer to the clue at 13a is one of the most significant regions in the world because of its geographical, historical and religious importance. The name ‘Sinai’ is closely associated with Mount Sinai, a sacred mountain revered by the three major Abrahamic religions, namely, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. According to religious traditions, it was on Mount Sinai that Moses received the Ten Commandments from God, making the mountain a symbol of divine revelation and spiritual guidance. Mount Sinai is commonly identified with Jabal Musa, which means “Mountain of Moses” in Arabic. Jabal Musa is located in the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula, a triangular landmass that connects Africa and Asia. The peninsula lies between the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the south, serving as an important geographical bridge between the two continents. Jabal Musa rises to an elevation of approximately 2,285 metres (7,497 feet) above sea level. It is part of the rugged mountain range of southern Sinai, an area known for its dramatic granite peaks, deep valleys, and desert landscapes. The mountain range contains several high summits, including Mount Catherine, the highest peak in Egypt, which reaches about 2,629 metres (8,625 feet). The Sinai mountain region is famous not only for its natural beauty but also for its religious and cultural heritage. Pilgrims and tourists from around the world visit the area to climb Mount Sinai, especially to witness the spectacular sunrise from its summit. At the foot of the mountain stands Saint Catherine’s Monastery, one of the oldest continuously functioning Christian monasteries in the world. Today, Sinai remains a place of great spiritual significance and historical interest. Its sacred mountains, unique desert environment, and connections to Moses and the Abrahamic faiths make it one of the most remarkable regions on Earth.
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Across
1a Keen on pattern of fine threads, looking back – lovely! (10)
BEWITCHING: ITCHING (keen) as of, relating to, or having a longing or desire to do or have something preceded by or coming after in the across clue (on) WEB (pattern of fine threads) as a type of trap for flies etc made of fine silk threads, spun by a spider in a back mode (looking back) as a reversal in the across clue that leads to the definition of an adjective denoting lovely, pretty or attractive
6a Opening letters (4)
POST: Double nounal definition; the second denoting letters, packages etc or mail, collectively that are transported and delivered by the Post Office that takes to the first referring to a job vacancy or an official opening for employment
9a Builder just like that punches valet, say (5)
MASON: The definition of a skilled builder or worker in stone or brick is obtained from SO (just like that) as an adverb denoting ‘just like that’ or ‘in the state or manner expressed or implied’ pierces or gets inside (punches) MAN (valet, say) as an adult male human, as is a valet i.e. a male servant who attends to the personal needs of his employer, as by taking care of clothing and thus by example is a man
10a Meat and drink kept, as pickled (4,5)
RUMP STEAK: The definition of a cut of beef from behind the loin is got from RUM (drink) as a strong alcoholic liquor or spirit distilled from sugar-cane residues or molasses and an anagram (pickled) of KEPT, AS
12a Published page, improbable (7)
OUTSIDE: A charade of OUT (published) as into public circulation e.g. ‘the book is out’ to mean ‘the book is published’ and SIDE (page) as a page in an essay, book etc as in lithography, printing or bookbinding guides to the definition of an adjective meaning slim or unlikely or small in degree, especially of probability
13a Fault found with perfect mount (5)
SINAI: A charade of SIN (fault found) as serious fault or offence found of someone and (with) AI (perfect) as first-rate, first class, excellent or perfect takes to the definition referring to Mount Sinai, a 2,285-metre mountain near the city of Saint Catherine in the region known today as the Sinai Peninsula
15a Reportedly, where apples found for agent (7)
INSIDER: A homophone heard by the audience (reportedly) of IN CIDER (where apples found) as referring to where apples can be found as a drink leads to the definition of a person who has special knowledge or access to confidential information or an agent or informant within an organisation
17a Resort said to come into view – here? (7)
SEASIDE: The definition of the land along the sea or any area bordering on the sea, especially one regarded as a resort is cryptically arrived at from an anagram (resort) of SAID placed inside (to come into) SEE (view) as to view or attend as a spectator in this semi-&lit. clue
19a Surprisingly, Belgian is from Asia (7)
BENGALI: An anagram (surprisingly) of BELGIAN guides to the definition of an adjective denoting relating to Bengal or a noun meaning the people and language in Bengal that is of India and hence from Asia
21a Dawn in short, except if dark (7)
SUNLESS: The first or beginning letter (dawn) in S[HORT] followed by UNLESS (except if) as a conjunction meaning except if or if not, used to introduce the case in which a statement being made is not true or valid takes to the definition of an adjective meaning dark or overcast or being without sunlight
22a Playboy finds love east of capital city (5)
ROMEO: The definition of an attractive, passionate male seducer or lover, an example of which is a playboy i.e. a wealthy male person who spends his time enjoying himself, especially one who behaves irresponsibly or has many casual sexual relationships is got from O (love) as denoting love or the score of zero in a game of tennis placed on the right hand side or east (east) of ROME (capital city) as the capital and largest city of Italy
24a Finely shave old man gripping end of blade (7)
FEATHER: The definition of a verb meaning to shorten and taper hair by cutting and thinning or finely shave is got from FATHER (old man) as a respectful term of address for an old man holding inside (gripping) the end or terminal letter (end) of [BLAD]E
27a Feast in celebration on a cake (9)
ABUNDANCE: The definition of a noun meaning an extremely plentiful or over-sufficient quantity or supply, an example of which is feast i.e. any rich or abundant meal or anything extremely pleasing or sumptuous is obtained from DANCE (celebration) as a social gathering for dancing or a festive celebration placed after or preceded by in the across clue (on) a combo of A from the clue and BUN (cake) as a type of small round sweet cake
28a Under examination, eat ham sandwiches (5)
NEATH: The definition of a poetic, literary contraction of the preposition beneath denoting below, lower or under is part of or hidden inside (sandwiches) [EXAMINATIO]N, EAT H[AM]
29a Check out starter in trattoria, food consumed (4)
DIET: DIE (check out) as an informal term for a verb meaning to check out and the starting or initial letter (starter) in T[RATTORIA] leads to the definition of the sum of food consumed by a person
30a Testing wheel? That’s too bad (4,6)
HARD CHEESE: Double definition; the second being an idiom for bad luck or tough luck or an expression of no sympathy e.g. “It’s hard cheese that you lost, but there’s nothing I can do” or “That’s too bad” that takes to the first referring to a literal block or wheel of dairy cheese that is testing, firm or solid in texture e.g. Parmesan or Cheddar cheese
Down
1d Killer, a killing made? (4)
BOMB: Double nounal definition; the second referring to a large sum of money e.g. to make a killing in business is to make a massive amount of money in business that takes to the first denoting a weapon that is designed to explode in order to injure or kill people or to damage or destroy property
2d State is onto criminals, land invaded (9)
WISCONSIN: The definition of a state in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions of the United States is reached from IS from the clue placed upon in the down clue (onto) CONS (criminals) as the plural for the short version for a convict or prisoner together having surrounded (invaded) by WIN (land) as to acquire or secure as a result of a contest, bet etc, an example of which is to land i.e. to succeed in achieving or obtaining something desirable, especially in the face of competition e.g. She landed a starring role in a new film
3d Opener for England in pavilion followed rule (5)
TENET: The opening or first letter (opener) for E[NGLAND] placed inside (in) TENT (pavilion) as a marquee or pavilion used for sports or events guides to the definition of a principle, belief or rule that is maintained or followed
4d Runner, flier and hunter (7)
HARRIER: Triple definition; the third referring to one of a breed of medium-sized hounds similar to a foxhound but smaller and used, usually in packs, especially in hunting hares and therefore a hunter that leads to the second denoting a diurnal birdy of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail and therefore a flier and to the first pointing out to a cross-country runner
5d Might those identify pages in book? (7)
NUMBERS: Might those or possibly the things that are more numb or lacking sensation cryptically leads to the definition of those used to identify specific pages in a book
7d Oblique cone filled with a large quantity of water (5)
OCEAN: An anagram (oblique) of CONE taking inside (filled it) A from the clue guides to the definition of the entire body of salt water that covers more than 70 per cent of the earth’s surface
8d Veg out, eat that with a piece of cake (4,2,4)
TAKE IT EASY: The definition of an idiom denoting to relax, avoid over exertion, an example of which to veg out i.e. to spend time idly and passively is arrived at from a charade of TAKE IT (eat that) as to tell someone to eat or consume a specific food item and (with) EASY (a piece of cake) as with little effort, an example of which is a piece of cake i.e. an informal adjectival phrase meaning easy
11d Mark has trapped American bear (7)
SUSTAIN: STAIN (mark) as a mark of discredit or disgrace, as on one’s good name has held inside (trapped) US (American) as the adjectival abbreviation for the United States or belonging to the United States, leading to the definition of a verb meaning to bear a burden or a charge etc or to bear the weight of something
14d Where planks cut, right length, bet I’m wrong initially (6,4)
TIMBER YARD: The definition of a place where timber is deposited, processed or cut into planks of wood and sold is arrived at from a combo of R (right) as the abbreviation for right and YARD (length) as a unit of length equal to 0.9144 metre is placed after or preceded by (initially) an anagram (wrong) of BET I’M
16d Brilliant place to play baseball (7)
DIAMOND: Double definition; the second being the infield or the whole playing field in baseball that is shaped like a diamond that takes to the first referring to a colourless, exceptionally hard mineral used as a gemstone, an example of which is a brilliant i.e. a precious gem, especially a diamond, fine cut in any of various forms with numerous facets
18d Boozer, where beer ain’t drunk after one (9)
INEBRIATE: The definition of an intoxicated person, especially a habitual drunkard or boozer is arrived at from an anagram (drunk) of BEER AIN’T placed after or preceded by (after) I (one) as the Roman numeral for one
20d Princess at home with lover, much appreciated (7)
INFANTA: The definition of any of the legitimate daughters of the kings of Spain and Portugal, except the heiress-apparent or to anyone married to an infant i.e. a prince or a legitimate son of the Spanish or Portuguese king, except the heir-apparent is deduced from IN (at home) as at or inside one’s home and FAN (lover) as a buff, devotee or lover who is an ardent follower and admirer followed by TA (much appreciated) as an informal interjection denoting thank you or much appreciated, used especially by or to young children
21d We see a funny little bit of dulse – here? (7)
SEAWEED: The definition of any of numerous leafy or branching marine algae that grow on the seashore, an example of which is dulse i.e. a dark red seaweed native to the cold is cryptically arrived at from an anagram (funny) of WE SEE A from the clue followed by the first letter (little bit) of D[ULSE] from the clue (here) in this semi-&lit. clue
23d Small animal, minute value (5)
MOUSE: The definition of a small rodent usually having a pointed snout, rounded ears and a long narrow tail is reached from a charade of MO (minute) as the abbreviation for moment that is a very short time, an example of which is a minute e.g. ‘in just a moment’ can be ‘in just a minute’ and OUSE (value) as a noun indicating value or advantage, often in questions or with negatives e.g. Is this coat of any use to you?
25d Feeling nice, oddly, what about that? (5)
HUNCH: The definition of an intuitive feeling or a premonition is arrived at from the oddly-placed letters (oddly) of N[I]C[E] which is surrounded by (about that) HUH (what) as an interjection denoting surprise, disbelief, contempt or interrogation, an example of which is ‘what’, an interjection used to express surprise, incredulity or other strong and sudden excitement
26d Article on middle of shelf for you (4)
THEE: THE (article) as the definite article in the English language placed upon in the down clue (on) the middle or central letter (middle) of [SH]E[LF] guides to the definition of an old word for ‘you’ only when addressing one person, especially God, as the object of a verb
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 9a, 13a, 15a, 19a, 30a, 1d, 2d, 5d, 8d, 16d, and 25d; 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. Have a nice day.