ST 3375 (Full Review)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3375

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 28^th June 2026

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

Greetings from Kolkata. An excellent and straightforward puzzle from Dada this Sunday that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and valuable feedback.

Peafowl, the answer to 12a, caught my attention this time and after completing the puzzle, I searched the internet to refresh my knowledge of this bird. Peafowl are among the most magnificent and easily recognised birds in the world, admired for their striking appearance and graceful bearing. The term ‘peafowl’ refers collectively to three species belonging to the pheasant family, ‘Phasianidae’. Two of these species belong to the genus ‘Pavo’, the Indian or blue peafowl, native to the Indian subcontinent and the green peafowl of Southeast Asia, while the third, the Congo peafowl, belongs to the closely related genus ‘Afropavo’ and is found only in the Congo Basin of Central Africa. Although the correct collective name is peafowl, the word peacock is commonly used in everyday language to refer to the species as a whole. Strictly speaking, however, the male is called a peacock, the female a peahen and their young are known as peachicks. The peacock is renowned for its brilliant iridescent plumage and its spectacular train, which is often mistaken for its tail. In fact, the train consists of elongated upper tail covert feathers decorated with colourful eye-like markings. During the breeding season, the male fans out this magnificent display and performs an elaborate courtship dance, accompanied by loud, piercing calls, in an effort to attract peahens. Despite the train’s impressive size, peafowl are capable of short but powerful flights and usually roost in trees at night for protection from predators. They are omnivorous birds, feeding on seeds, grains, fruits, insects, small reptiles and other invertebrates, thereby helping to control certain agricultural pests. The Indian peafowl has long held an important place in the culture, religion and art of the Indian subcontinent and has been designated India’s national bird. Peafowl have also become popular ornamental birds in parks, gardens and country estates around the world because of their remarkable beauty and adaptability. While the Indian peafowl remains widespread, some other species, particularly the green peafowl, face threats from habitat loss and hunting. Continued conservation efforts are therefore essential to safeguard these splendid birds and ensure that their spectacular displays continue to enchant future generations.

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Across

9a           Influence strike (5)
CLOUT: Double definition; the second being a verb meaning to strike hard, especially with the fist that takes to the first a noun denoting power or influence, especially in politics

10a        On yer bike – or walk (4,1,4)
TAKE A HIKE: Double phrasal definition; the second meaning to take a walk or to go to take a walk that takes to the first denoting a rude way of telling someone to go away, to get out of here or to get lost, an example of which is ‘on yer bike’ i.e. to go away and stop being annoying

11a        Bit of a looker necks second wine (7)
RETSINA: RETINA (bit of a looker) as the part of the back of the eye that is a looker that receives the image of what is seen swallows or takes insides (necks) S (second) as the abbreviation for second guides to the definition of a Greek white or rosé wine flavoured with pine resin

12a        Bird in flap, we gathered, around duck (7)
PEAFOWL: The definition of a large crested pheasant found mainly in Asia is obtained from an anagram (gathered) of FLAP, WE placed about (around) O (duck) as a batsman’s score of nought or zero in cricket

13a        Discount, price finally secured by gentleman (5)
CHEAP: The definition of an adjective denoting relatively low in cost or comparatively inexpensive, an example of which is discount, an adjective meaning offering products or services for sale at low or reduced prices is worked out from the final or last letter (finally) of [PRIC]E taken inside by (secured by) CHAP (gentleman) as a man or boy, an example of which is a gentleman i.e. a polite name for a man

14a        Serious actor was furious, one caught by whip (9)
TRAGEDIAN: The definition of an actor especially noted for performing tragic roles is reached from a combo of RAGED (was furious) as denoting ‘was furious or violently angry’ and I (one) as the Roman numeral for one taken inside (caught by) TAN (whip) as to whip, flog or beat someone repeatedly as a punishment

16a        Common, and more penniless? Hit wealthy area (11,4)
STOCKBROKER BELT: STOCK (common) as an adjective denoting common, routine or usual followed by (and) BROKER (more penniless) as the cryptically formed comparative of ‘broke’ meaning penniless, bankrupt or having no money and BELT (hit) as to hit or strike forcefully guides to the definition of chiefly the suburban area outside London in which rich commuters live or generally any wealthy residential suburb

19a        Man spared blundering joiner? (9)
AMPERSAND: An anagram (blundering) of MAN SPARED leads to the definition of the character or sign ‘&’ representing the word ‘and’ that serves as a connector or a joiner

21a        Crime somewhat irregular, so negligible (5)
ARSON: The definition of the crime of intentionally starting a fire in order to damage or destroy something, especially a building is reached from part of or hidden inside (somewhat) [IRREGUL]AR, SO N[EGLIGIBLE] from the clue

23a        Sweet stream originally running through dry area … (7)
DESSERT: The definition denoting something sweet, such as cake, pie, fruit or pudding served as the final course of a meal is got from the original or starting letter (originally) of S[TREAM] pervading or getting inside (running through) DESERT (dry area) as a very dry area of land with very little rainfall and almost devoid of vegetation where few plants and animals can live

25a        … like this, I see, flowed beyond capital of Sudan (7)
SAHARAN: The definition of an adjective denoting of, resembling or characteristic of the Saharan desert in North Africa that is a dry area is reached from a combo of AHA (I see) as an interjection expressing pleasure by someone of having understood or found out something, an example of which is ‘I see’ i.e. an idiomatic expression used to indicate understanding or acknowledgement of what someone is saying and RAN (flowed) as a verb in the past tense meaning flowed or caused to flow, e.g. a liquid or a water body like a river or stream placed after or preceded by (beyond) the capital or initial letter (capital) of S[UDAN]

27a        Cut in rope and net is damaged (9)
INTERPOSE: The definition of a verb meaning to intervene, step in or cut in is reached from an anagram (damaged) of a combo of ROPE with (and) NET IS

28a        Famous, taken down! (5)
NOTED: Double definition; the second being a verb in the past tense meaning recorded or taken down something in writing that takes to the first an adjective denoting well known or famous

Down

1d           Mark, Susan, Carol and Richard, all leaders (4)
SCAR: The definition of a mark on the skin which is left after a wound has healed is arrived at from all the leading or head letters (all leaders) of S[USAN,] C[AROL] A[ND] R[ICHARD]

2d           Preserve courage (6)
BOTTLE: Double definition; the second being a noun denoting the courage or confidence needed to do something difficult or dangerous that takes to the first a verb meaning to preserve fruit or vegetables by placing them in glass jars with other ingredients

3d           Person nudging past landing area – revealing game? (5,5)
STRIP POKER: POKER (person nudging) as a person who nudges, pushes or pokes coming after or preceded by (past) STRIP (landing area) as referring to airstrip that is a cleared area for the landing and taking off of aircraft guides to the definition of a card game in which a player’s losses are paid by removing an article of clothing

4d           Found outside posh royal house (6)
STUART: START (found) as a verb meaning to found or establish placed around or surrounding (outside) U (posh) as a colloquial adjective meaning as used by or found among the upper social classes leads to the definition of a royal house that was originally of Scotland, England, Ireland and later of Great Britain

5d           Go Nine, Ten, Queen, King in fish? (8)
SKIPJACK: SKIP JACK (go Nine, Ten, Queen, King) as a sequential card play pattern where players bypass or jump or are instructed to bypass or jump over the missing structural values in an ascending sequence of playing cards viz. … Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen, King … i.e. to go or start with Nine, skip one of the cards and end with King that leads to the definition of a small tuna with dark horizontal stripes, widely distributed throughout tropical and temperate seas or particularly referring to a skipjack tuna or any of various fishes that jump above or are active at the surface of the water

6d           Indian sovereign has not shut up! (4)
RAJA: The definition for the historical term for an Indian ruler or monarch is got from AJAR (not shut) as an adjective denoting slightly open, especially of a door or other opening and hence not shut seen in an upward direction (up) as a reversal in the down clue

7d           Notice in criminal something toxic (8)
NICOTINE: An anagram (criminal) of NOTICE IN leads to the definition of a colourless oily acrid toxic liquid that turns yellowish-brown in air and light

8d           Old military leader going on foot? (10)
WELLINGTON: Double definition; the second cryptically referring to a rubber or water-repellent leather boot that is a footwear or worn on foot that takes to the first referring to Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1^st Duke of Wellington who was a British Army officer and statesman and one of the leading military and political figures in Britain during the early nineteenth century, serving twice as Prime Minister

13d        Clown’s prop pictured as funny (7,3)
CUSTARD PIE: The definition of a clown’s prop, especially in slapstick comedy, where a pie filled with custard or whipped cream is thrown at someone’s face for comic effect is arrived at from an anagram (funny) of PICTURED AS

15d        His anger out of control about graduate lecturing (10)
EARBASHING: An anagram (out of control) of HIS ANGER place around (about) BA (graduate) as the abbreviation for Bachelor of Arts that is a university degree conferred upon a student who has successfully completed an undergraduate course in the arts or humanities guides to the definition of a prolonged scolding or tedious lecture

17d        Polar station supports work two ways (8)
OPPOSITE: The definition of an adjective meaning facing the other way, moving or tending away from each other or placed or located directly across from something or from each other, an example of which is polar i.e. directly opposite in character or tendency or occupying or characterised by opposite extremes is arrived at from SITE (station) as to station or assign a location to someone supporting or having on the above in the down clue or preceded by (supports) a combo of OP and PO; OP (work) being the abbreviation for opus that refers to work, especially a musical composition in which one is numbered in order of publication and PO as work repeated but coming from the opposite direction and serving as a reversal in the down clue

18d        Response in a trice, surprisingly working (8)
REACTION: The definition of a response to some foregoing action or stimulus is reached from an anagram (surprisingly) of A TRICE followed by ON (working) as working or operating

20d        Sprinted – like Blankers-Koen or Joyner-Kersee? (6)
DASHED: Double definition; the second cryptically referring to the characteristics of the displayed surnames of the legendary athletes Fanny Blankers-Koen and Jackie Joyner-Kersee as hyphenated i.e. used a punctuation mark that resembles a dash to connect two words or names into one that takes to the first a verb in the past tense meaning sprinted or ran very fast

22d        Puck, priest in disguise (6)
SPRITE: The definite of an elf or fairy or a small imaginary person with wings, an example of which is the character Puck, a mischievous knavish sprite of Oberon, King of the Fairies in Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is deduced from an anagram (in disguise) of PRIEST

24d        Bag, container did you say? (4)
EARN: The definition of a verb meaning to gain, win or acquire by one’s efforts or actions, an example of which is to bag i.e. to gain or secure e.g. a contract is fetched from a homophone heard by the audience (did you say) of URN (container) as a large metal container with a spigot, used for making or serving tea or coffee in quantity

26d        Not a sausage a European cut up (4)
NADA: The definition of a slang term for nothing or zero, an example of which is ‘not a sausage’ i.e. a slang idiom meaning ‘nothing at all’ or ‘nothing whatsoever’ is got from a combo of A from the clue and DAN (European) as the abbreviated form (cut) for Danish meaning belonging to or relating to Denmark that is in Europe and hence European is taken upwards (up) as reversals in the down clue

There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 10a, 11a, 16a, 19a, 23a/25a, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d, 8d and 20d; 5d 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.