ST 3327 (Full Review)

Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3327

A full review by Rahmat Ali

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This puzzle was published on 27^th July 2025

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

Greetings from Kolkata. A gentle, lovely 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.

After solving the puzzle, I explored the net to know more about the phrase ‘pardon my French’, the answer to the clue of 1a. I learnt that the phrase emerged in the nineteenth century when French was considered the language of the educated and elite in England and using French words, even inappropriate ones, might have been seen in a way to appear cultured. English speakers would sometimes insert French words into their conversation and apologise for it, possibly out of fear that some listeners might not comprehend them. This literal apology eventually evolved into its modern, ironic usage to apologise for using bad or coarse language in a humorous way. Hence, it is a style to soften the impact of swearing or blunt remarks, prefacing a rude comment or mitigating the harshness of strong language, often with a touch of irony. The phrase is not an honest request for forgiveness for using French; rather, it is a light-hearted way to acknowledge that one has use inappropriate language.

I was also keen to know about the etymology of aloe vera, the answer to the clue of 16d and got to learn that it is derived from a combination of two words, the first being ‘alloeh’, an Arabic word meaning ‘shining bitter substance’ and the second ‘vera’, a Latin word meaning ‘true’. True to its etymology, aloe vera is a plant species known for its thick, fleshy leaves containing a gel-like substance prized for its medicinal and cosmetic properties. It has a long history of use for treating various ailments, particular in the healing of various skin conditions.

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Across

1a           Forgive the oath, eh? Well, some language (6,2,6)
PARDON MY FRENCH: The definition of a common expression used to excuse swearing or bad language or a phrase denoting a way of jokingly suggesting that the swear words or crude expressions are actually from the French language, implying a sophisticated, yet subtly insulting, foreign origin to the listener is arrived at from a charade of PARDON (eh?) as an interjection expressing an inquiry or exclaiming a request to a speaker to repeat something because one did not hear or understand it, an example of which is ‘eh’ i.e. an interjection expressing inquiry, failure to hear or slight surprise, MY (well) as another interjection used for expressing surprise, an example of which is ‘well’ i.e. an interjection expressing surprise, hesitation, resignation etc and FRENCH (some language) as the language of France, also used in parts of Belgium, Switzerland and Canada, in several countries of northern and western Africa and the Caribbean

9a           More inflated ego in smoker? (7)
PUFFIER: The definition of an adjective in a comparative degree meaning more inflated, bloated or distended is arrived at from I (ego) as the object of self-consciousness or the ego placed inside (in) PUFFER (smoker) as someone who puffs i.e. exhales or emits smoke in short bursts that can go on to also mean someone who smokes, especially in a puffing and rhythmic way

10a        Slight cut on back of dress, orangey-yellow (7)
SAFFRON: AFFRON[T] (slight) as an open or intentional offence, slight or insult devoid of its last letter (cut) placed after in the across clue (on) the last or terminal letter (back) of [DRES]S that takes to the definition of an orange to orange-yellow colour

11a        Visiting Oslo, student – in need of a map? (4)
LOST: Part of or hidden inside (visiting) [OS]LO, ST[UDENT] guides to the definition of an adjective denoting confused, disoriented or unable to find the way and hence, in other words, in need of a map

12a        Winter garment defective, locate elastic (6,4)
DUFFEL COAT: The definition of a coat made from a thick, coarse woollen cloth, designed with toggle-and-rope fastenings, patched pockets and a large hood, an ideal garment in a snowy, cold weather of winter is reached from DUFF (defective) as an adjective meaning defective, deficient or imperfect followed by an anagram (elastic) of LOCATE

14a        Terrible noise hitting item (6)
RACKET: Double nounal definition; the second referring to a bat consisting of an open network of nylon or other strings stretched in an oval frame with a handle, used to strike or hit the ball in tennis, badminton etc and therefore a hitting item or device that takes to the first denoting a terrible or loud distressing noise

15a        Leader in government would fail, not half useless – shocking! (3-5)
GOD-AWFUL: The leading or first letter (leader) in G[OVERNMENT] followed by an anagram (useless) of a combo of WOULD and FA[IL] (not half), the latter denoting without the use of 50% of its word that leads to the definition of an informal term for an adjective denoting shocking or extremely bad or unpleasant

17a        With due respect, Eliot busy in work (8)
POLITELY: The definition of an adverb meaning in a respectful and considerate manner or, in other words, with due respect is reached from an anagram (busy) of ELIOT placed inside (in) PLY (work) as to work steadily

18a        Extra time (6)
SECOND: Double definition; the second being a noun meaning a very short time or the basic unit of time, equivalent to one-sixtieth of a minute that takes to the first an adjective denoting additional or extra, for example, a second house in the country for somebody would mean their additional or extra house

21a        Choice note on piano (10)
PREFERENCE: The definition of a noun meaning choice, selection or something preferred is arrived at from REFERENCE (note) as a note in a publication referring the reader to another passage or source placed after in the across clue (on) P (piano) as an abbreviation for piano in a piece of music, denoting an instruction to play quietly

22a        Turn blunted needle (4)
SPIN: The definition of a verb meaning to turn, rotate or whirl is attained from SPIN[E] (needle) as a sharp, pointed object like a needle, prick, prickle or thorn, devoid of E, its end or last letter (blunted)

24a        Bigwig, unskilled? (7)
NOTABLE: The definition of an important, influential person, an example of which is a bigwig i.e. a slang term for a very important person is reached from NOT ABLE (unskilled) as an adjective meaning not having the necessary resources, power or skill

25a        Standard defeat in race, ultimately (7)
ROUTINE: The definition of an adverb meaning standard, normal or customary is reached from ROUT (defeat) as an overwhelming defeat followed by IN from the clue and the ultimate or final letter (ultimately) of [RAC]E

26a        Ordinary study in small hotel, say (5-3-6)
BREAD-AND-BUTTER: The definition of an adjective denoting ordinary, staple, routine is obtained from READ (study) as to study or learn by reading placed inside (in) B AND B (small hotel) as abbreviated as B&B denoting a type of small hotel with facilities limited to bed and breakfast and followed by UTTER (say) as a verb meaning to state, say or tell

Down

1d           In report, a rule virtually incomprehensible (7)
POPULAR: The definition of an adjective meaning famous, in demand or fashionable, an example of which is ‘in’, an informal term meaning currently fashionable is reached from POP (report) as a report, noise, crack or explosion, followed by an anagram (incomprehensible) of a combo of A and almost or most of the letters (virtually) of RUL[E]

2d           Mirror featuring clue so cryptic for council worker (6,9)
REFUSE COLLECTOR: REFLECTOR (mirror) as an optical telescope consisting of a large concave mirror that produces an image that is magnified by the eyepiece keeping inside (featuring) an anagram (cryptic) of CLUE SO guides to the definition of someone employed to collect and dispose of refuse, an example of which is a council worker

3d           God of demonic invention, nefarious primarily (4)
ODIN: The definition of the chief god and the god of war and death in Norse mythology is arrived at from the primary or first letters (primarily) of O[F] D[EMONIC] I[NVENTION,] N[EFARIOUS]

4d           Mutter when pair of drinks tipped up (6)
MURMUR: The definition of a verb meaning to mutter or say something in a low or indistinct voice is reached from a combo of RUM and RUM (pair of drinks) as twice mentioned of a strong alcoholic drink made from the juice of the sugar cane plant seen going upwards (tipped up) as reversals in the down clue

5d           Burgers, say, staff cooked: fine without starter (4,4)
FAST FOOD: The definition of a hot food that is cooked and served very quickly in special restaurants, an example of which are burgers, commonly considered as a fast food, typically prepared quickly and served ready to eat, often with minimal waiting time is arrived at from an anagram (cooked) of STAFF followed by [G]OOD (fine) as fine, great or superb, debarred of G, its starting or first letter (without starter)

6d           Fresh loaf exited shed (10)
EXFOLIATED: An anagram (fresh) of LOAF EXITED takes to the definition of a verb in the past tense denoting shed in flakes or layers, especially of skin, bark, rocks etc

7d           Complicated contraption for capturing boron, measurer of chemical’s use (6,9)
CARBON FOOTPRINT: An anagram (complicated) of CONTRAPTION FOR hiding inside (capturing) B (boron) as the chemical symbol for boron guides to the definition of a measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, organisation, event or product

8d           Put in bins tallish bags (6)
INSTAL: The definition of a verb meaning to put or place in a certain position is part of or hidden inside (bags) [B]INS TAL[LISH]

13d        Before a hat removed, neck warmer? (7,3)
FEATHER BOA: An anagram (removed) of BEFORE A HAT takes to the definition of a long, thin scarf made of feathers, worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration

16d        A paramour preserves energy with a cosmetic liquid (4,4)
ALOE VERA: A from the clue followed by LOVER (paramour) as a person who has a sexual or romantic relationship with another keeping inside (preserves) E (energy) as the symbol for energy as a quantitative property in physics and again followed by A from the clue leads to the definition of a liquid that is produced by a tropical plant with thick leaves that have sharp points and used in medicines, cosmetics etc

17d        Animal poked by sharp object, shrill of voice (6)
PIPING: PIG (animal) as any mammal of the family Suidae, typically having a long head with a movable snout, a thick bristle-covered skin intruded or got inside (poked) by PIN (sharp object) as a sharp, pointed piece of wire takes to the definition of a shrill, high-pitched sound

19d        And sure to perform – is he? (7)
DANSEUR: AND SURE from the clue subject to an anagram (to perform) takes to the definition of a male ballet dancer

20d        Was successful at football and made an impression? (6)
SCORED: Double verbal definition in the past tense; the second meaning made an impression i.e. leaving a memorable impact that takes to the first denoting expressed success at football after netting a goal

23d        Yankee’s successor, Southern African (4)
ZULU: ZULU (Yankee’s successor) as the Code in the Nato phonetic alphabet that represents the letter Z coming after YANKEE as the Code in the same phonetic alphabet that represents the letter Y, leading to the definition of a member of a people that form the largest ethnic group of South Africa

There were several clues that attracted me in this puzzle such as 10a, 12a, 14a, 17a, 24a, 26a, 2d, 4d, 7d, 16d and 23d; 26a 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 and to Gazza for the encouragement. Looking forward to being here again.