Sunday Telegraph Cryptic No 3392
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 25th October 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A nice and entertaining Sunday puzzle of Dada that I enjoyed solving and thereafter penning a full review of his puzzle for your kind perusal and significant feedback.
This time, after finishing the puzzle, I turned to the internet to learn more about Cumbria, the answer to the clue at 20 Down and discovered a lot of interesting information about it. The county of Cumbria is a geographic and ceremonial region located in the far North West of England, bordering Scotland. Established in 1974 by merging the historic counties of Cumberland and Westmorland with parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire, the name itself stems from the ancient Celtic word meaning ‘fellow-countrymen’. Architecturally and administratively, the local governance of Cumbria underwent a fundamental restructuring. On 1 April 2023, the long-standing two-tier system, consisting of the Cumbria County Council and its six distinct districts, was officially abolished. In its place, the region was divided into two independent unitary authorities: Cumberland Council in the north and west and Westmorland and Furness Council in the south and east. To coordinate regional strategic initiatives, the local authorities established the unified Cumbria Combined Authority. Despite these administrative structural shifts, Cumbria remains legally intact under the Lieutenancies Act 1997 as a singular ceremonial county, sharing a unified cultural identity, emergency infrastructure, Lord-Lieutenant and community flag. Spanning an impressive 6,768 square kilometres, Cumbria stands as England’s third-largest ceremonial county by area. It is primarily characterised by a rural landscape and plays host to the spectacular Lake District National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site containing England’s highest peak, Scafell Pike and its largest natural lake, Windermere. Historically, this dramatic scenery served as a creative incubator for major literary figures, including William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Economically, the region relies heavily on its booming tourism sector. However, it also accommodates major industrial assets, including naval shipbuilding at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness and complex nuclear fuel processing at Sellafield.
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Across
1a Old PM buried behind parliamentary house (11)
CHAMBERLAIN: The definition of an Old PM, referring to Arthur Neville Chamberlain who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 to 1940, is reached from LAIN (buried) as a verb in its participle form meaning remained buried in a grave or rested in a horizontal position and preceded by (behind) CHAMBER (parliamentary house) as a single legislative hall or house within a parliament or congress
9a Try getting almost an entire football team in lift (7)
HEARTEN: HEAR (try) as a verb meaning to try someone in court of law i.e. examine evidence or a case by judicial process followed by (getting) TEN (almost an entire football team) as a number that is one short of a full association football lineup consisting of eleven players leads to the definition of a verb meaning to lift, encourage or cheer up someone’s spirits, mood, or confidence
10a Cook is entering Scottish bank (6)
BRAISE: The definition of a verb meaning to cook food, usually tough cuts of meat or dense vegetables, using a specific combination of dry and moist heat is arrived at from IS from the clue getting inside (entering) BRAE (Scottish bank) as a Scottish word for a hillside, a slope or specifically the steep bank bounding a river valley
12a Italian men press US soldiers after revolution (7)
SIGNORI: SIGNORI: The definition of a plural noun meaning Italian men or gentlemen is reached from a combination of IRON (press) as to press or smooth clothes and linen with an electrically heated appliance with a flat metal bottom and GIS (US soldiers) as the plural for GI that is an informal term for a soldier in the United States armed forces, especially the army, reinterpreted as ‘government issue’ or ‘general issue’ both coming from the other side as reversals in the across clue
13a Appealing, have a little success? (7)
WINSOME: WINSOME: The definition of an adjective meaning appealing, charming or attractive in appearance or character is reached from WIN (have … success) as a verb denoting to have a success and SOME (a little) as a determiner or pronoun indicating not much but somewhat less or a little
14a Still in theatre, nice doing a turn (5)
INERT: INERT: The definition of an adjective meaning still, motionless or lacking the ability or strength to move is reached from part of or hidden inside (in) [THEA]TRE, NI[CE] coming from the other end (doing a turn) as a reversal in the across clue
15a Odious, born with heart that’s wicked (9)
ABHORRENT: The definition of an adjective meaning odious, obnoxious or loathsome is reached from an anagram (that’s wicked) of a combination of BORN and (with) HEART
17a In all sincerity, home visits in the morning? (9)
EARNESTLY: The definition of an adverb meaning in all sincerity or in a serious manner is reached from NEST (home) as a home that a group of insects or other creatures make in order to live in and give birth to their young going inside (visits in) EARLY (in the morning) as an adverb denoting before the expected or usual time or in the early part of the morning or the day
20a Pink Panther ultimately within carbonaceous rock (5)
CORAL: The definition of a deep pink to yellowish-pink colour is reached from the ultimate or terminal letter (ultimately) of [PANTHE]R placed inside (within) COAL (carbonaceous rock) as a combustible compact black or dark-brown carbonaceous rock formed from compaction of layers of partially decomposed vegetation
22a A bit uncomfortable with men in the background (7)
AMBIENT: An anagram (uncomfortable) of a combination of A BIT and (with) MEN provides the definition of an adjective denoting of or relating to the immediate surrounding area or environment or in the background of something
24a Change more switches, directed backwards (7)
REMODEL: The definition of a verb meaning to change or alter the structure, style or form of something is reached from an anagram (switches) of MORE followed by LED (directed) as a verb in the past tense denoting directed or commanded an army or other large organisation coming from the other side (backwards) as a reversal in the across clue
25a Angry speech, invasion of Bangkok reported? (6)
TIRADE: The definition of an angry speech, usually consisting of a long string of violent, emotionally charged words is arrived at from homophones heard by the audience (reported) of THAI (of Bangkok) as an adjective meaning of or belonging to Thailand or any place in Thailand, an example of which is Bangkok, the capital of Thailand and RAID (invasion) as an invasion, incursion or inroad
26a Beginning on structure, framework inspiring a composer (7)
STRAUSS: The beginning or initial letter (beginning) on S[TRUCTURE] followed by TRUSS (framework) as a structural framework of wood or metal, especially one arranged in triangles, used to support a roof, bridge etc breathing in or taking inside (inspiring) A from the clue that leads to the definition of a German composer and conductor known for his tone poems and operas, whose full name was Richard Georg Strauss
27a Specifically, the aforementioned statement should be spoken out loud? (4,2,2,3)
THAT IS TO SAY: The definition of an idiom denoting specifically, explicitly or more precisely is cryptically arrived at from THAT (the aforementioned statement) as referring to the specific statement previously expressed and IS TO SAY (should be spoken out loud) as denoting the manner in which it is to be or should be repeated, perhaps voiced aloud for more clarity, emphasis or extra focus
Down
2d Stolen pay, without delay! (7)
HOTFOOT: A charade of HOT (stolen) as a slang term denoting recently stolen, illegal or otherwise dangerous to possess, especially of goods or money and FOOT (pay) as a verb meaning to pay, settle or cover the cost of a bill or expense takes the definition of an adverb meaning without delay or in great haste
3d Poor person is correct, I’m incapable (9)
MENDICANT: The definition of a poor person or a pauper who lives by begging is got from a charade of MEND (correct) as to correct or reform and I CAN’T (I’m incapable) as a phrase denoting I’m incapable of or I’m unable to do something
4d Half-heartedly shake up the joint (5)
ELBOW: WOB[B]LE (shake) as a verb meaning to shake, tremble or move back and forth rapidly, usually in an uncontrolled manner showing removal or setting aside of half or 50% of the two innermost letters BB (half-heartedly) and seen going upwards or in an ascending mode (up) takes to the definition of a noun meaning the joint between the forearm and the upper arm
5d Student council finally nearer to reform (7)
LEARNER: The definition of a noun meaning a student, novice or apprentice who is gaining knowledge or skill is reached from the final or terminal letter (finally) of [COUNCI]L followed by an anagram (to reform) of NEARER
6d Popular retail outlet is coming (2,5)
IN STORE: A charade of IN (popular) as an informal term for popular, fashionable or trendy and STORE (retail outlet) as a shop or commercial establishment where merchandise is offered for sale yields the definition of an adjective phrase meaning coming, approaching, forthcoming or about to happen in the near future
7d Talk about rich! See hideous grinner? (8,3)
CHESHIRE CAT: CHAT (talk) as to talk in an easy, familiar manner placed around (about) an anagram (hideous) of RICH SEE guides to the definition of a grinner, referring to the fictional cat popularised by Lewis Carroll in ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ known for disappearing, often leaving only its grin behind
8d Western perspective for engineer (6)
WANGLE: A charade of W (Western) as the geographical abbreviation for west or western and ANGLE (perspective) as a noun denoting a perspective, aspect, outlook or viewpoint leads to the definition of a verb meaning to engineer, manipulate or achieve something through contrivance or guile
11d Teeth cleaner, and felt fantastic before extraction (6,5)
DENTAL FLOSS: The definition of a teeth cleaner in the form of a cord of thin filaments used to remove food particles and dental plaque from the tight spaces between teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach is got from an anagram (fantastic) of AND FELT placed in front of (before) LOSS (extraction) as the act of removing, taking away or losing something
16d Posy there transformed, as if by magic! (3,6)
HEY PRESTO: An anagram (transformed) of POSY THERE takes to the definition of a phrase used to announce a sudden, magical or successful transformation or used casually when something happens quickly i.e. as if by magic
18d Drivel, two books one absorbed in hurry (7)
RUBBISH: The definition of a noun denoting drivel, garbage or something that does not have or make sense is got from a combination of BB (two books) as referring to two books where B is the abbreviation for book and I (one) as the Roman numeral for one placed inside (in) RUSH (hurry) as a verb meaning to hurry, hasten or act or move at high speed
19d Beautiful heart of creep on stage, crawler! (7)
ELEGANT: The definition of an adjective denoting beautiful, sophisticated or refined is arrived at from the middle letter (heart) of [CR]E[EP] placed upon in the down clue (on) a combination of LEG (stage) as a stage of a competition and ANT (crawler) as a small, crawling, social insect
20d County councillor originally overlooking Italian region (7)
CUMBRIA: The definition of a ceremonial county in North West England is reached from the original or initial letter (originally) of C[OUNCILLOR] placed or seen above in the down clue (overlooking) UMBRIA (Italian region) as a landlocked region in central Italy known as the ‘Green Heart of Italy’ and bordering Tuscany, Marche and Lazio
21d Element, mixture of mud and air (6)
RADIUM: The definition of a radioactive element that is used in the treatment of cancer is obtained from an anagram (mixture) of a combination of MUD and AIR
23d Lock two’s opening before closures of other three curious locks (5)
TRESS: The definition of a long lock or ringlet of hair is arrived at from the opening or initial letter (opening) of T[WO] (two’s) placed in front of (before) the closing or end letters (closures) of [OTHE]R [THRE]E [CURIOU]S [LOCK]S
There were many clues that I liked in this puzzle such as 1a, 9a, 10a, 13a, 22a, 25a, 26a, 2d, 3d, 7d, 11d and 20d; 7d 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.