Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3376
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 5th July 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. Dada has given us an enjoyable solve this Sunday and now I present to you a full review of his puzzle. Hope to have your valuable feedback and comments.
I knew Gabon, the answer to 11a, only as a country on the west coast of Central Africa and perhaps little more. After solving the puzzle, I searched the internet to learn more about it and update my knowledge. The name ‘Gabon’ is believed to derive from the Portuguese word ‘gabão’, meaning a hooded cloak. Early Portuguese explorers in the fifteenth century are said to have given this name to the broad estuary of the Komo River because its shape resembled the hood and cape of such a garment. Bordered by Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo, with a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, Gabon covers an area of about 268,000 square kilometres but has a population of only around 2.5 million, making it one of Africa’s least densely populated countries. Its capital and largest city is Libreville. Formerly a French colony, Gabon gained independence in 1960 and has retained French as its official language, although numerous indigenous languages are also spoken. The country is renowned for its rich biodiversity, with dense equatorial rainforests covering much of its territory and supporting elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, leopards and a remarkable variety of birdlife. Around one-tenth of the country has been designated as a network of national parks, reflecting Gabon’s commitment to conservation. The economy has long depended on petroleum, which has made Gabon one of the wealthier countries in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of income per head, though wealth remains unevenly distributed. Manganese, timber and other natural resources also contribute significantly to the national economy, while efforts are being made to encourage sustainable forestry, tourism and economic diversification. Politically, Gabon has experienced prolonged periods of rule by the Bongo family, interspersed with episodes of constitutional change and, most recently, a military takeover in 2023 that ended more than five decades of the family’s dominance. Culturally, Gabon is distinguished by its diverse ethnic communities, traditional music and dance, elaborate wooden masks and spiritual practices such as the Bwiti religion, which continues to play an important role in the country’s cultural heritage.
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Across
7a Wave of foam has run inside cup (7)
BREAKER: The definition of a wave that breaks or dashes into foam on the shore is got from R (run) as the abbreviation for run or runs scored in cricket placed inside (inside) BEAKER (cup) as a large drinking cup with a wide mouth
8a First chance (7)
OPENING: Double definition; the second being a noun meaning a chance or opportunity, especially for employment or promotion in a business concern that takes to the first an adjective denoting first, maiden, beginning or introductory
10a Everyday routine ending in disappointment, study works (9)
TREADMILL: The definition of a work, situation or way of life that is tiring, boring or unpleasant that makes one tired because it involves always doing the same things, an example of which is everyday routine i.e. a set of customary, repeated activities one does daily, usually in the same order is produced from the ending or terminal letter (ending) in [DISAPPOINTMEN]T followed by READ (study) as to study or make a study of something and MILL (works) as a works or place where things are made or where an industrial process takes place
11a Good, a good French country (5)
GABON: G (good) as the abbreviation for good followed by A from the clue and BON (good French) as the adjective meaning good in French and used with masculine singular noun leads to the definition of a country lying on the west coast of Africa, astride the Equator that was once a French colony
12a School closed if yard’s fenced off (5)
EDIFY: The definition of a verb meaning to school, instruct or improve someone morally or intellectually is got from part of or hidden inside (fenced off) [CLOS]ED IF Y[ARD’S]
13a Shriek in alarm, perhaps? One may have hives (9)
BEEKEEPER: EEK (shriek) as an expression of worry or slight fear, an example of which is shriek i.e. a short, loud, high cry, especially one produced suddenly as an expression of a powerful emotion placed inside (in) BEEPER (alarm, perhaps) as an electronic device or pager that beeps or vibrates to alert the person carrying it that someone is trying to contact by telephone that is a type of alarm leads to the definition of someone who manages bee hives and extracts honey
15a Throw dummy on floor, initially (7)
FLUMMOX: The definition of a verb meaning to confound, fuddle or throw is arrived at from LUMMOX (dummy) as a colloquial term for a stupid, clumsy person, an example of which is a dummy i.e. a dumb person preceded by or coming after in the across clue (on) the initial or starting letter (initially) of F[LOOR]
17a Party mischief maker ultimately lost power (7)
CONTROL: CON (party) as the abbreviation for Conservative that is referring to the Conservative Party followed by TROL[L] (mischief maker) as an ugly, supernatural mischievous dwarf or giant in traditional Scandinavian and Nordic folklore having its ultimate or last letter (ultimately) removed (lost) takes to the definition of the power to influence or direct people’s behaviour or the course of events
18a Shout now if ordering fish (9)
YELLOWFIN: YELL (shout) as to shout or scream followed by an anagram (ordering) of NOW IF leads to the definition of a large type of tuna, Thunnus albacares, having yellow fins
20a Popular place for advice (5)
INPUT: A charade of IN (popular) as an informal term for popular, fashionable or trendy and PUT (place) as to set or place something in a specified location guides to the definition of advice, comment or opinion that helps someone make a decision
21a Relative on Sunset Boulevard, say, wife (2-3)
IN-LAW: The definition of a relative by marriage is arrived at from IN LA (Sunset Boulevard, say) as an example of a major street in western Los Angeles that runs through Hollywood followed by W (wife) as the genealogical abbreviation for wife
23a See the setter by mostly calm wildlife sanctuary (9)
SERENGETI: A combo of GET (see) as to see, sense or understand and I (the setter) as the setter referring to themselves preceded by or coming after (by) most of the letters (mostly) of SEREN[E] (calm) as calm, peaceful or unaffected by disturbance leads to the definition referring to Serengeti National Park in north-central Tanzania that is considered as one of the world’s most famous and significant wildlife sanctuaries
24a Spanish article is back in Spanish city (7)
SEVILLE: A combination of EL (Spanish article) as the Spanish term for masculine singular definite article ‘the’ and LIVES (is) the third person present tense singular form of the verb ‘to live’ i.e. ‘to be’, the corresponding third person singular of the verb is ‘is’, for example, ‘he lives’ can mean ‘he is’ coming from the opposite direction (back) as reversals in the across clue takes to the definition of the capital and largest city of the Andalusia region that is in south-western Spain
25a About right, a treat roughly chopped and served raw (7)
TARTARE: An anagram (roughly) of A TREAT placed around (about) R (right) as the abbreviation for right produces the definition of an adjective denoting finely chopped and served raw, typically seasoned and shaped into small cakes, especially of fish
Down
1d A lute Elvis played on screen (10)
TELEVISUAL: An anagram (played) of A LUTE ELVIS guides to the definition of an adjective denoting relating to, shown on or suitable for production on television screen
2d Greasy head of slippery child (6)
SKIDDY: The definition of an adjective denoting coated or soiled with grease is got from the head or topmost letter in the down clue (head) of S[LIPPERY] followed by KIDDY (child) as an informal term for a small or young child
3d Genius‘s supporter getting emails here? (8)
BRAINBOX: The definition of a person who is very intelligent, an example of which is a genius i.e. an extraordinary intelligent person or one with exceptional skill in a particular area of activity is reached from a charade of BRA (supporter) as a short for brassière and a woman’s undergarment worn to support the breasts and hence cryptically a supporter and INBOX (getting emails here) as referring to an electronic folder for incoming emails
4d Dog that’s mine short of tracks (6)
COLLIE: The definition of a long-haired, intelligent breed of sheepdog, originating in Scotland is obtained from COLLIE[RY] (mine) as a coal mine together with its physical plant and outbuildings without (short of) RY (tracks) as the abbreviation for Railway and hence referring to the railway tracks
5d Peerage upset with new colour (3-5)
PEA-GREEN: An anagram (upset) of PEERAGE followed by (with) N (new) as the abbreviation for new produces the definition of a moderate, strong or brilliant yellow green colour
6d Soar having clipped the first wing (4)
LIMB: [C]LIMB (soar) as to soar, ascend or fly up having removed (clipped) the first or initial letter (first) takes to the definition of one of the jointed appendages of an animal, such as an arm, leg or wing
7d Caress and stroke US glam rock band (9,4)
BUTTERFLY KISS: The definition of a caress consisting of fluttering the eyelashes against one’s partner’s skin is reached from a charade of BUTTERFLY (stroke) as referring to butterfly stroke, often abbreviated ‘fly’, that is a swimming stroke swum on the chest, with both arms moving symmetrically and with an undulating movement of both legs together with the hips and KISS (US glam rock band) as the American glamorous rock band formed in New York City in 1973 by Paul Stanley
9d Protest action for all Greeks, I learnt, misguided (7,6)
GENERAL STRIKE: The definition of a protest action of the working class in which workers across several industries stop work together in an organised effort to achieve economic or political objectives is reached from an anagram (misguided) of GREEKS, I LEARNT
14d Men’s clothing accessory, something fabricated that needs no introduction (4-3,3)
PORK-PIE HAT: The definition of men’s headwear with a flat crown and a brim turned up all round arrived at from a charade of PORK-PIE (something fabricated) as a humorous Cockney Rhyming slang for lie that is something fabricated followed by [T]HAT from the clue without its introductory or beginning letter (needs no introduction)
16d Poor woman OK about dismissal, finally steps back? (8)
MOONWALK: An anagram (poor) of WOMAN OK placed around (about) the final or ultimate letter (finally) of [DISMISSA]L leads to the definition of a backward-gliding dance that involves creating the illusion of walking forward while actually stepping backward one foot at a time
17d Real company on centre ground (8)
CONCRETE: The definition of an adjective denoting real or being or occurring in fact or actuality is arrived at from CO (company) as the abbreviation for company placed upon in the down clue (on) an anagram (ground) of CENTRE
19d Set off wearing cooler tie (6)
FASTEN: An anagram (off) of SET covered or surrounded by (wearing) FAN (cooler) as an apparatus with rotating blades that creates a current of air for cooling or ventilation guides to the definition of a verb meaning to tie, bind or lace
20d Blank design or embroidery’s framed (6)
IGNORE: The definition of a verb meaning to disregard intentionally or refuse to pay attention to or take notice of someone, an example of which is to blank i.e. an informal verb denoting to deliberately ignore someone is part of or hidden inside (framed) [DES]IGN OR E[MBROIDERY’S]
22d O sugar! (4)
LOVE: Double nounal definition; the second used as a term of endearment for a person for whom one has strong feelings of affection, an example of which is sugar i.e. a slang term for sweetheart or used as a term of endearment that takes to the first representing a score of zero in tennis
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as and 13a, 15a, 18a, 21a, 23a, 24a, 3d, 4d. 7d, 14d and 16d; 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. Have a nice day.