ST 3373 (Full Review)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3373

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 14^th June 2026

BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****

Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and gentle puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your meticulous observation and valuable feedback.

I was interested in the etymology of ‘paprika’, the answer to clue 12a, so after finishing the puzzle I searched the internet and found some information about it. ‘Paprika’ entered English in the late nineteenth century from Hungarian ‘paprika’, the word for both the spice and the pepper from which it is made. The Hungarian term is a diminutive form of ‘papar’, an older word for pepper, which was borrowed from South Slavic languages, especially Serbian and Croatian ‘papar’. Ultimately, these forms trace back to Latin ‘piper’, meaning pepper, itself derived from Greek ‘peperi’, which came from Sanskrit ‘pippalī’ i.e. long pepper. Although the chilli peppers used to make paprika originated in the Americas, the name reflects the older European word tradition for pepper rather than a New World origin.

‘Lesotho’, the answer to clue 27a, took me down memory lane. I developed a keen interest in quizzing during my twenties. Not only did I participate in many quiz competitions and win prizes in some of them, but I also served as a quizmaster at numerous events organised by various institutions and companies, including the bank where I worked for thirty-nine years. I went a step further and undertook a mission to provide free coaching in the English language, clerical aptitude, quantitative aptitude and reasoning tests for seven hours every Sunday. For a period of one year and three months, I taught young people from the city and its suburbs who aspired to secure jobs in central and state government departments, the railways and banks. I also welcomed local students to spend some time in my free quiz sessions to improve their general knowledge. I remember that in one of the quiz sessions, I asked the participants a question about Lesotho: “Besides English, what is the other official language of Lesotho?” Although none of them could give the correct answer, they burst into laughter when I told them that it was ‘Sesotho’.

Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.

Across

1a           Awful, as could be proclamation after gagging order? (11)
UNSPEAKABLE: The definition of an adjective meaning awful, dreadful, abominable or shockingly bad is cryptically arrived at from the fate of the proclamation or situation about a subject (as could be proclamation) once a legal gagging order i.e. an order not to speak has been issued (after gagging order)

9a           Straighten right angle I bent (7)
REALIGN: The definition of a verb meaning to straighten, line up or adjust is got from R (right) as the abbreviation for right followed by an anagram (bent) of ANGLE I

10a         Titan given time, finally (2,4)
AT LAST: ATLAS (Titan) as the Titan who held up the heavens on his shoulders in Greek mythology followed by (given) T (time) as the symbol for time in physics guides to the definition of a phrase denoting after a considerable length of time or finally

12a         Cocktail held back by father – it’s spicy (7)
PAPRIKA: KIR (cocktail) as a drink consisting of dry white wine or champagne flavoured with crème de cassis coming from the other end (back) as a reversal in the across clue taken inside (held) by PAPA (father) as an informal or a children’s word for father yields the definition of the Hungarian red pepper, a species of Capsicum or a hot spice derived from it

13a         Erase minor injury (7)
SCRATCH: Double definition; the second being a noun referring to a slight or minor injury on the skin that takes to the first a verb meaning to erase, obliterate or delete a text etc

14a         “Hot”, with initial in yellow on tap? (5)
HANDY: H (hot) as the abbreviation for hot, especially with reference to water on a faucet, AND (with) as a conjunction used to connect grammatically coordinate words, phrases or clauses denoting with, as well as or in addition to, the leading or initial letter (initial) in Y[ELLOW] together lead to the definition of an adjective denoting close at hand, conveniently accessible or readily available, an example of which is the idiom ‘on tap’ meaning continuously and readily available

15a         Tiptoe with certain measure past tiger’s relative (9)
PUSSYFOOT: The definition of a verb meaning to move or walk stealthily or cautiously, an example of which is to tiptoe i.e. to walk or move quietly on one’s toes is reached from FOOT (certain measure) as a unit for measuring length, equal to 12 inches preceded by or coming after (past) PUSSY (tiger’s relative) as an informal name for a cat that’s a tiger’s relative

17a         Money that is concerning supporter (9)
BRASSIÈRE: A charade of BRASS (money) as a slang term for money, IE (that is) as the abbreviated form of the Latin phrase ‘id est’ meaning ‘that is’ and RE (concerning) as a commercial jargon used to indicate ‘with reference to’, ‘about’ or ‘concerning’ guides to the definition an undergarment worn by women to support their breasts and hence cryptically a supporter

20a         End of discussions, don’t say a word! (5)
SHUSH: The end or final letter (end) of [DISCUSSION]S followed by HUSH (don’t say a word) as used as a command to be silent or quiet, an example of which is “Don’t say a word!” leads to the definition of another interjection used as a command to be silent or quiet in this all-in-one clue

22a         Soothing thing, party backing male when on edge (3,4)
LIP-BALM: The definition of a soothing product used to relieve dry or cracked lips is arrived at from a combo of LAB (party) as the abbreviation for the Labour Party coming from the other end (backing) as a reversal in the across clue and M (male) as the genealogical abbreviation for male preceded by or coming after (when on) LIP (edge) as any edge or rim

24a         Rebuke – why? (4,3)
WHAT FOR: Double idiomatic definition; the second denoting “For what reason?” or “Why?” that guides to the first indicating a scolding or strong reprimand or rebuke e.g. “He gave them what for”

25a         Buddy, doll in pieces (6)
BROKEN: A charade of BRO (buddy) as the abbreviation for brother, an example of which is the American term buddy denoting a brother, friend, pal or one’s most constant companion and KEN (doll) as referring to a toy fashion doll produced by Mattel and introduced in 1961 as the male counterpart to Barbie takes to the definition of an adjective meaning smashed or in pieces

26a         Stamp particularly rare originally, I make money collecting it (7)
IMPRINT: The definition of a noun meaning a characteristic mark, indication or stamp is obtained from a combo of the original or initial letters (originally) of P[ARTICULARLY] and R[ARE] taken inside by (collecting it) a combo of I from the clue and MINT (make money) as to make coin or money by stamping metal

27a         Muck about and put down tarot card? (4,3,4)
PLAY THE FOOL: Double definition; the second being a verb meaning to put down on the table physically a well-known tarot card called ‘The Fool’ so as to play the game that takes to the first an idiom meaning to muck about i.e. to behave in a silly or irresponsible way in order to amuse other people

Down

2d           One visiting is only misbehaving in raucous manner (7)
NOISILY: I (one) as the Roman numeral for one going inside (visiting) an anagram (misbehaving) of IS ONLY takes to the definition of an adverb meaning with much loud or unpleasant sound or in raucous manner

3d           Fruit that may go off? (9)
PINEAPPLE: TDouble definition; the second referring to a military slang term for a hand grenade or a device that may detonate, explode or go off that takes to the first denoting a large tropical fruit with thick rough skin and stiff leaves on top, that is sweet and yellow inside with a lot of juice

 

4d           Gather in a US state (5)
AMASS: The definition of a verb meaning to gather, collect or accumulate is reached from A from the clue followed by MASS (US state) as the abbreviation for Massachusetts, a state in the New England region of the North-eastern United States

5d           Intolerance in work unit covered up by colleague (7)
ALLERGY: The definition of a damaging immune response by the body to a substance, especially a particular food to which it has become hypersensitive, an example of which is intolerance i.e. inability to digest or metabolise a food, drug or other substance or compound or the abnormal sensitivity or allergy, as to heat or to a food or drug is arrived at from ERG (work unit) as a unit used to measure energy or work, equal to the force of one dyne over a distance of one centimetre surrounded or contained by (covered up by) ALLY (colleague) as a colleague, associate or partner

6d           Lose out, however, in country (7)
LESOTHO: An anagram (out) of LOSE followed by THO (however) as the US or poetic spelling for ‘though’, meaning however or but and used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or seems to contradict something that has just been said takes to the definition of a mountainous, landlocked country in Southern Africa and entirely surrounded by South Africa

7d           Trip and attempt rugby score? (4,3,4)
DROP THE BALL: Double verbal definition; the second meaning to try to score a specific type of goal in a rugby match by kicking a dropped ball that takes to the first an idiom indicating to make a mistake, blunder etc or to fail to do something important or carry out a responsibility, an example of which is to trip i.e. to make a slip, error or mistake, as in conversation or conduct

8d           Wet water barrier by enclosure (6)
DAMPEN: The definition of a verb meaning to wet or moisten is reached from a charade of DAM (water barrier) as a barrier of concrete, earth etc built across a river to create a body of water for a hydroelectric power station, domestic water supply etc having alongside (by) PEN (enclosure) as a small enclosure, especially for animals

11d         Heretic converted under the aforementioned Conservative (11)
THATCHERITE: An anagram (converted) of HERETIC placed, in the down clue, below (under) THAT (the aforementioned) as a demonstrative pronoun meaning the one mentioned above leads to the definition of an advocate or devotee of Thatcherism i.e. the political policy of Margaret Thatcher, the late Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who belonged to the Conservative Party

16d         Stitch cut by knife primarily, little bit wonky (4-5)
SKEW-WHIFF: SEW (stitch) as to stitch something together or to fasten by stitches made with needle and thread separated with the insertion of (cut by) the primary or initial letter (primarily) of K[NIFE] and followed by WHIFF (little bit) as a slight amount or little bit leads to the definition of an adjective meaning wonky, crooked, cockeyed or askew

18d         Clothes line found after a power cut (7)
APPAREL: The definition of a noun denoting clothes, attire or garment is reached from LINE (L) as the abbreviation for line preceded by or placed after (found after) a combo of A from the clue, P (power) as the symbol for power in physics and PARE (cut) as to cut small bits

19d         Clever fencing off recreation area – brilliant! (7)
SPARKLY: SLY (clever) as clever or cunning, especially in the practice of deceit covering or taking inside (fencing off) PARK (recreation area) as a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area guides to the definition of an adjective meaning brilliant i.e. having brief brilliant point or shining brightly with flashes of light

20d         Cleaner has mop working on floor in studio (7)
SHAMPOO: The definition of a cleaner i.e. a washing substance or liquid cleansing agent for washing the hair is arrived at from an anagram (working) of HAS MOP followed by the lowest-placed or bottommost letter in the down clue (on floor) in [STUDI]O

21d         Not just a place for entertainment without roof (6)
UNFAIR: The definition of an adjective meaning unjust, cruel or not kind or considerate is deduced from [F]UNFAIR (a place for entertainment) as a place of outside entertainment where there are machines for riding on and games that can be played for prizes devoid of the head or topmost letter in the down clue (without roof)

23d         Feast upon artist (5)
MUNCH: Double definition; the second referring to the surname of the celebrated Norwegian expressionist artist best known for painting ‘The Scream’ whose full name was Edvard Munch that takes to the first a verb meaning to feast upon i.e. to chew or eat steadily or with a crunching noise

There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 14a, 15a, 17a, 20a, 24a, 27a, 5d, 11d, 16d, 18d and 21d; 15a 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.