Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3378
A full review by Rahmat Ali
+ – + – + – + – + – + – + – +
This puzzle was published on 19th July 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. Dada has given us a really enjoyable solve this Sunday and now I present to you a full review of his puzzle. Hope to have your valuable feedback and comments.
Afro, the last clue of this puzzle, interested me greatly. After solving the puzzle, I went online to update my knowledge of it and was enlightened by a wealth of information. An Afro is a distinctive hairstyle characterised by a rounded shape formed by naturally curly or tightly coiled hair growing outward from the scalp. It became especially prominent during the 1960s and 1970s among people of African descent, particularly during the civil rights and Black cultural movements, when it came to represent pride in natural hair, cultural identity and resistance to pressures to conform to European beauty standards. Rather than being merely a fashion choice, the Afro often carried social and political significance, celebrating African heritage and encouraging acceptance of natural hair textures. The style gained visibility through musicians, artists, activists and public figures, helping it become an enduring symbol of confidence and self-expression. Creating an Afro usually involves allowing tightly curled hair to grow naturally and shaping it into a rounded form, often with the help of a wide-toothed comb or an Afro pick to lift and separate the curls. Although traditionally associated with large, rounded styles, modern Afros vary greatly in size, shape and presentation. Some people wear smaller, carefully shaped Afros, while others combine the style with fades, twists or other contemporary adaptations. Maintaining an Afro often requires proper moisture care, gentle handling and protection against dryness or breakage, as tightly coiled hair can be more prone to damage. Today, the Afro remains a celebrated hairstyle across the world, representing individuality, cultural heritage and the beauty of natural hair.
Please leave a comment telling us what you thought.
Across
1a Most original point, one having ditched love earlier (6)
NEWEST: The definition of an adjective in the superlative degree denoting most original, fresh or novel is arrived at from WEST (point) as a cardinal point of the compass, 90° to the left of north preceded by or coming after (earlier) [O]NE from the clue having removed (ditched) O (love) as love or the score of zero in a game of tennis
4a Ship loaded with ice, not melted pieces (8)
SECTIONS: SS (ship) as the abbreviation for steamship having inside (loaded with) an anagram (melted) of ICE, NOT guides to the definition of the plural of a part or piece of something that fits together with the other pieces to constitute a whole object
9a Half of lire in money for buyer (6)
CLIENT: Half or 50% of LI[RE] from the clue placed inside (in) CENT (money) as an informal term for a small sum of money takes to the definition of a buyer or customer who pays for goods or services
10a Error is made initially after fish caught (8)
SOLECISM: The definition of a grammatical error or mistake in speech and writing is deduced from a combo of IS from the clue followed by the initial or first letter (initially) of M[ADE] is preceded by or coming after (after) another combo of SOLE (fish) as an elliptical flatfish of the genus Solea and C (caught) as the abbreviation for caught by as in cricket
12a Restriction of time lag I sorted out (3,5)
AGE LIMIT: The definition of a restriction of placed on an activity based on the lower or higher limit of the age of the participants is arrived at from an anagram (sorted out) of TIME LAG I
13a Naming names, our uncle named all liars, first of all (6)
NOUNAL: The definition of an adjective used to describe something related, resembling or functioning exactly like a noun, an example of which is naming, an adjective used to describe the act of giving or assigning a specific name is arrived at from each of the first letters (first of all) of N[AMES,] O[UR] U[NCLE] N[AMED] A[LL] L[IARS]
15a Rubbish seen under a bag, lower (8,5)
ABERDEEN ANGUS: An anagram (rubbish) of SEEN UNDER A BAG leads to the definition of a type of black cow, cryptically a lower i.e. an animal that lows, that was originally bred in Scotland and is kept for its high-quality meat
18a Over my dead body then? (3,2,4,4)
NOT ON YOUR LIFE: The definition of an idiomatic expression of refusal meaning ‘certainly not’ or ‘absolutely not’ is cryptically suggested by the idiom ‘over my dead body’, an emphatic expression of refusal meaning ‘only after my death’ or ‘not while I am alive’ and adding ‘then?’ prompts the synonymous, though in a sense also converse, idiomatic response
20a Evicted, feeling angry (3,3)
PUT OUT: Double definition; the second being an idiom denoting angry, annoyed, offended or irritated that takes to the first meaning evicted someone or forced someone to leave
22a Outlet for a giant, bellow rattles round house (8)
BLOWHOLE: The definition of either of two nostrils or spiracles or a single one, at the top of the head in whales, dolphins etc, through which they breathe and hence an outlet for the giant animals is reached from an anagram (rattles) of BELLOW placed about (round) HO (house) as the abbreviation for house
24a Chilli in the cat’s pyjamas? (3,5)
HOT STUFF: Double definition; the second denoting something or someone highly enjoyable, desirable or impressive, especially in a fancy or elaborate way, an example of which is the cat’s pyjamas or the cat’s whiskers i.e. someone highly admirable, excellent or impressive that takes to the first denoting a hot food item, an example of which is chilli i.e. the hot-tasting pod of one of the varieties of capsicum, extremely pungent and stimulant, used in sauces, pickles etc and dried and ground to form cayenne pepper
25a Revolt is curbed by gang (6)
RISING: The definition of a noun meaning revolt, rebellion or insurrection is arrived at from IS from the clue placed inside or covered by (curbed by) RING (gang) as a gang of criminals, spies or terrorists
26a Garbage, musical decay (8)
TOMMYROT: The definition of a noun meaning garbage, trash or any worthless or nonsensical talk is arrived at from a charade of TOMMY (musical) as referring to Tommy, the iconic rock opera by The Who later adapted as a stage musical and ROT (decay) as moral, social or physical decay
27a US university attached to flag (6)
PENNON: A charade of PENN (US university) as the abbreviated name for University of Pennsylvania and ON (attached to) as an adverb meaning attached to or in contact with something leads to the definition of a distinctive flag in any of various forms, formerly one borne on the lance of a knight
Down
1d Dictator’s drunk a heavenly drink (6)
NECTAR: NECKED (drunk) as a verb denoting drunk quickly, especially an alcoholic drink subject to a homophone heard by the audience (dictator’s) followed by A from the clue leads to the definition of the life-giving heavenly drink of the gods as in Greek mythology
2d Monstrous bite with a small fish (9)
WHITEBAIT: An anagram (monstrous) of BITE WITH A takes to the definition of a small, young fish, especially the herring, considered a delicacy when fried
3d Star Asian banker receiving extra pay? Hear it’s a promising sector (7,8)
SUNRISE INDUSTRY: A combo of SUN (star) as the central star of our solar system and INDUS (banker) as referring to River Indus that is in Asia originating in the Tibetan plateau and passing through India and Pakistan and cryptically a banker that has banks taking in (receiving) RISE (extra pay) as denoting a pay rise or extra pay followed by TRY (hear) as to hear evidence in court in order to determine the guilt or innocence of an accused leads to the definition of an emerging and promising sector in its infancy that exhibits rapid growth rates, high innovation and significant long-term investment potential
5d God wounded, looking to the heavens? (4)
EROS: The definition of the Greek god of love and sex is fetched from SORE (wounded) as painful or aching, especially of a part of one’s body, an example of which is wounded i.e. inflicted with a wound or injured going up in the down clue (looking to the heavens) as a reversal in the down clue
6d Novel taste in wine, ahem, not bad! (3,5,2,5)
THE WOMAN IN WHITE: The definition of a classical mystery novel written by Wilkie Collins in 1860 is reached from WHIT (taste) as the smallest amount, an example of which is taste i.e. a small amount eaten, drunk or tried on the tongue or a small quantity tasted
7d Bulb lit, something charged (5)
ONION: The definition of a pungent edible bulb of the lily family is got from a charade of ON (lit) as lit or denoting a switched-on light and ION (something charged) as something charged i.e. an atom or molecule with a net electric charge
8d Most elementary forms misspelt (8)
SIMPLEST: The definition of an adjective in the past tense meaning most elementary, easy or uncomplicated is reached from an anagram (forms) of MISSPELT
11d House in Dumfries cleared out, around which terrace’s erected (7)
WINDSOR: The definition referring to the House of Windsor, the British royal house is derived from a combo of IN from the clue and D[UMFRIE]S with its inner letters removed (cleared out) and placed about (around) ROW (terrace) as a terrace of houses built in a similar style and having common dividing walls that is in an upward direction (erected) as a reversal in the down clue
14d Upset after winter month, very hot (7)
FEBRILE: RILE (upset) as to upset, annoy or provoke preceded by or coming after (after) FEB (winter month) as the abbreviation for February that is a winter month takes to the definition of an adjective denoting feverish or very hot
16d Type of chant, for example, or one embraced by relative (9)
GREGORIAN: The definition of a type of chant or plainsong formerly used in the ritual of the Roman Catholic Church is arrived at from a combo of EG (for example) as the abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia meaning ‘for example’, OR from the clue and I (one) as the Roman numeral for one surrounded or covered by (embraced by) GRAN (relative) as a short for granny and both gran and granny are colloquial terms for one’s grandmother
17d Crack after crack in photograph (8)
SNAPSHOT: SHOT (crack) as an informal noun meaning a crack, attempt or go e.g. ‘Have a shot/crack at it’ preceded by or placed after (after) SNAP (crack) as a sharp cracking sound or movement takes to the definition of an informal photograph, especially one taken by a hand-held camera
19d King’s daughter embracing a Republican leader once (6)
REAGAN: REGAN (King’s daughter) as referring to the second daughter of King Lear, a play written by William Shakespeare covering or taking inside (embracing) A from the clue guides to the definition of the Republican Party member who served as the 40th President of the United States from 1981 to 1989
21d Bear, male, Native American image (5)
TOTEM: A charade of TOTE (bear) as to bear on one’s person and M (male) as the genealogical abbreviation for male guides to the definition of an image of an animal or plant used as the badge or sign of a tribe, among North American Indians
23d Hairstyle pinned up by author, fabulous (4)
AFRO: The definition of a hairstyle of very curly or frizzy hair grown or cut into a full, bushy shape all over the head is part of or hidden inside (pinned … by) but in an upward direction as a reversal in the down clue (up) [AUTH]OR, FA[BULOUS]
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 10a, 15a, 18a, 20a, 22a, 26a, 28a, 3d, 6d, 11d, 14d and 16d; 11d 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 lovely day.