Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3389
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 4th October 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice, straightforward Sunday puzzle of Dada that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and important feedback.
Rugby as a ‘try sport’, as mentioned in the clue at 22 Across, was an interesting one. In rugby, a try is one of the principal methods of scoring points and often represents the successful conclusion of a team’s attacking effort. After completing the puzzle, I explored the internet and learnt more about this method of scoring points. A try is scored when a player grounds the ball in the opponents’ in-goal area, either by pressing it down on the ground or by applying downward pressure on it while holding it. In rugby union, a try is worth five points, whereas in rugby league it is worth four points. After scoring a try in rugby union, the team is awarded an opportunity to take a conversion kick, which can earn an additional two points if successful. The conversion is taken from a position in line with where the try was scored, allowing the team to choose a suitable distance and angle. Scoring a try requires speed, strength, teamwork, tactical awareness and the ability to exploit gaps in the opposition’s defence. Thus, the try is not merely a means of gaining points; it is also a central feature of rugby’s attacking strategy and competitive excitement.
I-Spy, the answer to the clue at 3 Down, is a classic guessing game, particularly popular among children in Britain, which encourages observation, concentration and logical thinking. It is usually played by two or more people who take turns to choose an object that everyone can see. The player who chooses the object gives a clue, traditionally beginning with the words, “I spy with my little eye, something beginning with …”, followed by the first letter of the object’s name. The other players then try to identify the object by suggesting different possibilities. For example, if the chosen object is a table, the clue would be ‘something beginning with T’. The player who guesses correctly wins the round, becomes the next player to spy an object and selects a new one. The game is particularly suitable for long car journeys, family outings and other occasions when people need a simple form of entertainment. Besides being enjoyable, I-Spy helps children develop their vocabulary, spelling, observational skills and ability to think systematically. Its simplicity makes it an engaging game for people of different ages.
Rhea, the answer to the clue at 24 Down, is a large, flightless bird native to South America and is one of the largest birds found on the continent. It bears a resemblance to an ostrich but is generally smaller. It has a long neck, powerful legs and three toes on each foot, which help it run swiftly across open ground. Unlike flying birds, rheas have small wings that are not suitable for flight, although they may use them for balance and display while running. They inhabit grasslands, open plains and shrublands, particularly in Argentina, Brazil and neighbouring countries. Their diet consists mainly of grasses, leaves, seeds, fruits and insects, making them omnivorous. Rheas belong to a group of large, flightless birds known as ratites, which also includes ostriches, emus and cassowaries. Male rheas play a significant role in reproduction, as they build nests, incubate the eggs laid by several females and care for the chicks after hatching. These remarkable birds are important members of South America’s natural ecosystems.
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Across
1a Smart activity of sprinter (7)
DASHING: Double definition; the second being a noun and gerund meaning sprinting or running rapidly i.e. the activity of a sprinter that takes to the first an adjective meaning smart and lively or elegant in appearance and manner e.g. ‘She looks very dashing in her new clothes’
5a Plain bag for PM once (7)
BALDWIN: A charade of BALD (plain) as an adjective meaning plain, direct, unadorned or blunt e.g. a bald or plain statement and WIN (bag) as to acquire or secure as a result of a contest, conflict, bet or other endeavour, an example of which is to bag i.e. to succeed in securing or winning something leads to the definition of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on three occasions, from May 1923 to January 1924, from November 1924 to June 1929 and from June 1935 to May 1937, whose full name was Stanley Baldwin; once here denoting not one time, but formerly or having been formerly
9a Short of money, beaten as a professional? (8,3,4)
STRAPPED FOR CASH: The definition of a phrase denoting having very little money or having less money than one temporarily needs is arrived at from STRAPPED (beaten) as a verb in the participle form denoting flogged, whipped or beaten with a strip of leather used in flogging and FOR CASH (as a professional) as expecting cash in return for the services rendered by any professional i.e. one who works in their own field for money or cash
10a Zero writing fluid – pen sound? (4)
OINK: A charade of O (zero) as the letter that resembles a zero and INK (writing fluid) as a fluid or viscous substance used for writing or printing takes to the definition of the sound made by a pig and hence cryptically the sound or noise coming out of a pigpen that serves as an enclosure for pigs
11a Song priest sang at Latin Mass, originally (5)
PSALM: The definition of a sacred song or hymn is arrived at from the original or first letters (originally) of P[RIEST] S[ANG] A[T] L[ATIN] M[ASS]
12a Some trains to Paddington station (4)
STOP: Part of or hidden inside (some) [TRAIN]S TO P[ADDINGTON] leads to the definition of a railway station where a train pauses briefly before resuming its journey or terminates at a station where trains make a scheduled halt
15a Green French sea secured by new deal (7)
EMERALD: The definition of a strong yellowish green colour is reached from MER (French sea) as the French word for ‘sea’ placed inside (secured by) an anagram (new) of DEAL
16a Twist user, and terpsichorean (7)
DANSEUR: An anagram (twist) of USER, AND guides to the definition of a male ballet dancer, an example of which is a terpsichorean i.e. a trained dancer who is a member of a ballet company
17a Potential killer in scare on the loose? (7)
ARSENIC: The definition of a notoriously lethal metalloid element frequently utilised in poisons, weedkillers and insecticides and hence a potential killer is arrived at from an anagram (on the loose) of IN SCARE
19a Case of gunge found on comb, curse! (7)
SCOURGE: The outermost letters (case) of G[UNG]E preceded by in the across clue (found on) SCOUR (comb) as to comb, hunt or make a thorough and rigorous search of something leads to the definition of a curse or bane or a major cause of widespread suffering or harm
21a Theological studies in the morning paper (4)
REAM: A charade of RE (theological studies) as the abbreviation for religious education i.e. studies based on theology and religious scriptures and AM (in the morning) as the abbreviation for the Latin phrase ante meridiem meaning before noon, that is, in the morning takes to the definition of a large quantity of paper, formerly 480 sheets, now 500 sheets or, in a printer’s ream, 516 sheets
22a Try sport with red boxing gloves, initially (5)
RUGBY: The definition of a try-scoring sport in which a ‘try’, the principal method of scoring, is awarded when a player grounds the ball in the in-goal area of the opposition and hence cryptically a try sport is arrived at from RUBY (red) as an intense purplish-red colour taking inside (boxing) the initial or first letter (initially) of G[LOVES]
23a Sound of cat turning up, Rover disheartened (4)
PURR: The definition of a soft, vibrant sound made by a cat is fetched from UP from the clue coming from the other end (turning) as a reversal in the across clue followed by R[OVE]R from the clue that is devoid of its heart or inner letters (disheartened)
26a Jolly good in orchestra, blowing a little? (6,3,6)
BRIGHT AND BREEZY: The definition of an idiom meaning cheerful, confident and full of positive energy, an example of which is jolly, an adjective denoting happy, cheerful and full of high spirits is reached from RIGHT (good) as good, just, fair or morally admirable placed inside (in) BAND (orchestra) as an orchestra composed chiefly of brass, woodwind and percussion instruments and followed by BREEZY (blowing a little) as an adjective denoting windy or blowing a little, especially of a gentle wind
27a Cultivating land, all I get’s rubbish (7)
TILLAGE: The definition of a noun denoting the operation, practice or art of tilling or cultivating land is reached from an anagram (rubbish) of ALL I GET (all I get’s)
28a Crooked senator’s crime (7)
TREASON: An anagram (crooked) of SENATOR (senator’s) leads to the definition of a crime of betraying a state, sovereign or government to which one owes allegiance
Down
1d Strip beds or otherwise, one tucked in (7)
DISROBE: The definition of a verb meaning to strip, undress or unclothe is reached from an anagram (otherwise) of BEDS OR having brought inside (tucked in) I (one) as the Roman numeral for one
2d Dog jumper on poodle! (8,7)
SPRINGER SPANIEL: The definition of a dog of either of two medium-sized breeds of spaniel, the English springer spaniel and the Welsh springer spaniel, having long ears and a soft black, liver or red and white coat is arrived at from SPRINGER (jumper) as someone who or something that springs, leaps or jumps placed upon in the down clue (on) SPANIEL (poodle) as a servile, fawning or cringing person, an example of which is a poodle i.e. a lackey or a person who is servile
3d Lead lost in fine game (1-3)
I-SPY: [W]ISPY (fine) as an adjective meaning fine, frail or thin that is devoid of its leading or initial letter (lead lost) guides to the definition of a classic, turn-taking guessing game typically played by families and young children
4d Thought visitor expressed audibly? (7)
GUESSED: The definition of a verb in the past tense denoting thought, reckoned or supposed is fetched from a homophone heard by the audience (expressed audibly) of GUEST (visitor) as a visitor received in one’s house, in a hotel etc or a distinguished visitor to whom the hospitality of an institution, city or government is extended
5d Super uplifted, then suddenly left perplexed (7)
BAFFLED: FAB (super) as a short for fabulous meaning super, marvellous or excellent in an upward direction (uplifted) as a reversal in the down clue followed by (then) FLED (suddenly left) as a verb in the past tense denoting broke loose and left suddenly, as from confinement or from a difficult or threatening situation guides to the definition of an adjective meaning perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements
6d In speech, praise God (4)
LORD: A homophone heard by the audience (in speech) of LAUD (praise) as a verb meaning to praise, honour or extol someone takes to the definition of a title given to God or the Almighty
7d Reign supreme – and take strides to do it? (4,3,8)
WEAR THE TROUSERS: Double verbal definition; the second being an antipodean way of telling to wear the ‘strides’ that serves as a colloquial term for trousers in Australia and New Zealand that directs to the first denoting to be the dominant partner in a marriage, particularly of a wife i.e. to reign supreme in the household
8d Disappointment I see in agent on turning up (2-5)
NO-HOPER: The definition of a useless person from whom nothing can be expected, an example of which is a disappointment i.e. a noun used to describe a specific person who fails to be as good as hope is obtained from OH (I see) as an exclamation used to express sudden emotion on realising something new, an example of which is ‘I see’ i.e. I understand or comprehend what someone is telling me placed inside (in) a combination of REP (agent) as an informal term for a representative or one who is authorised to act as an official delegate or agent and ON from the clue all in an upward direction (turning up) as reversals in the down clue
13d Damp at home, some sunlight outside (5)
RAINY: The definition of an adjective meaning wet or showery or bringing rain, an example of which is damp i.e. an adjective denoting slightly wet is obtained from IN (at home) as at or inside one’s home covered by or having on its outside (outside) RAY (some sunlight) as referring to a ray of sunlight
14d Leave in different tin, gold block (5)
INGOT: GO (leave) as to leave a place or depart placed inside (in) an anagram (different) of TIN takes to the definition of a solid block or mass of gold cast into a convenient shape like a bar
17d Capital of Bangladesh toured by a European performer (7)
ACROBAT: B (capital) as the first and foremost letter or the capital letter seen in Bangladesh surrounded or went round by (toured by) a combination of A from the capital and CROAT (European) as a native or inhabitant of Croatia that is in Europe and hence a European leads to the definition of a performer of gymnastic feats requiring agility, balance and coordination, as tumbling or walking on a tightrope in a circus
18d Bottle about as old as us? (7)
COURAGE: The definition of a noun meaning bravery or a quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain etc without fear, an example of which is bottle, a slang term for nerve, guts or courage is obtained from a charade of C (about) as the abbreviation for the Latin word circa meaning ‘about’ or ‘around’ and OUR AGE (as old as us) as denoting the age of ourselves i.e. as old as us.
19d Check copy where debut is being reviewed (7)
SUBEDIT: The definition of the verb meaning to check, edit and correct a copy of written or printed material is got from an anagram (being reviewed) of DEBUT IS
20d Peer over that quickly (5,2)
EARLY ON: EARL (peer) as a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount placed upon in the down clue (over) YON (that) as a pronoun that or the thing you know of takes to the definition of an adverb denoting before the expected or usual time i.e. soon or quickly
24d One can’t take off number ultimately, try subtracting the end (4)
RHEA: The definition of a large, flightless bird native to South America i.e. it can’t take off or rise up in flight is reached from the ultimate or last letter (ultimately) of [NUMBE]R followed by HEA[R] (try) as to try someone in court i.e. examine evidence or a case by judicial process devoid of or removing (subtracting) the last or terminal letter (the end)
25d Cheese fly departs from shortly (4)
BRIE: The definition of a soft, cow’s milk cheese with a whitish rind and light yellow centre named after Brie, the French region from where it originated is deduced from FLY from the clue coming out of or removed from (departs from) BRIE[FLY] (shortly) as an adverb denoting shortly or in a concise manner or few words
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 9a, 10a, 22a, 26a, 28a, 2d, 7d, 13, 18d, 24d and 25d; 7d being the clear winner. 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.