Daily Telegraph Cryptic 3370

Stuck on a clue in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 3370? Every clue is solved below with the definition, wordplay, and answer explained — plus hints for the tricks that catch most solvers out.

Across

1A — Keen on pattern of fine threads, looking back - lovely! (10)BEWITCHING

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'lovely!' — 'lovely!' here means utterly captivating, charming.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'looking back'
  • Operation
    'looking back' signals a reversal operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'pattern of fine threads,'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Keen' → ITCHING
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'pattern of fine threads,' → WEB
  • Assembly
    ITCHING + (WEB > BEW) = BEWITCHING

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6A — Opening letters (4)POST

  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Double definition
  • Assembly
    POST = POST

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9A — Builder just like that punches valet, say (5)MASON

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Builder' — Builds with stone
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'punches'
  • Operation
    'punches' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'just like that valet,'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'just like that' → SO
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'valet,' → MAN
  • Assembly
    SO + MAN = MA(SO)N

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10A — Meat and drink kept, as pickled (4,5)RUMP STEAK

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Meat'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'pickled'
  • Operation
    'pickled' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'kept, as'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'drink' → RUM
  • Assembly
    RUM + (KEPTAS > PSTEAK) = RUMP STEAK

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12A — Published page, improbable (7)OUTSIDE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'improbable' — 'improbable' here means slim — 'an outside chance' is a slim chance.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Published' → OUT
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'page,' → SIDE
  • Assembly
    OUT + SIDE = OUTSIDE

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13A — Fault found with perfect mount (5)SINAI

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'mount' — Mount Sinai is the biblical mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Fault' → SIN
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'perfect' → AI
  • Assembly
    SIN + AI = SINAI

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15A — Reportedly, where apples found for agent (7)INSIDER

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'agent' — The man on the _ _ _ _ _ _
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'Reportedly,'
  • Operation
    'Reportedly,' signals a homophone operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'where apples found'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'where apples found' → IN CIDER
  • Assembly
    INCIDER = INSIDER

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17A — Resort said to come into view – here? (7)SEASIDE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Resort' — A seaside is a coastal resort destination.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'said'
  • Operation
    'said' signals a homophone operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'to come into view'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'to come into view' → SEE
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'here?' → SIDE
  • Assembly
    (SEE > SEA) + SIDE = SEASIDE

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19A — Surprisingly, Belgian is from Asia (7)BENGALI

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'from Asia'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'Surprisingly,'
  • Operation
    'Surprisingly,' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Belgian'
  • Assembly
    BELGIAN = BENGALI

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21A — Dawn in short, except if dark (7)SUNLESS

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'if dark' — Sunless means without sunlight — dark.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Dawn in short,' → SUN
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'except' → LESS
  • Assembly
    SUN + LESS = SUNLESS

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22A — Playboy finds love east of capital city (5)ROMEO

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Playboy'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'east of'
  • Operation
    'east of' signals a ordering operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'love capital city'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'love' → O
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'capital city' → ROME
  • Assembly
    O + ROME = ROMEO

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24A — Finely shave old man gripping end of blade (7)FEATHER

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Finely shave' — To feather is to thin or shave finely — a woodworking and painting term.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'gripping'
  • Operation
    'gripping' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'old man blade'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'end of'
  • Operation
    'end of' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'blade'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'old man' → FATHER
  • Assembly
    FATHER + E = F(E)ATHER

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27A — Feast in celebration on a cake (9)ABUNDANCE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Feast' — An abundance is a feast — a plentiful supply.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'celebration' → DANCE
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'cake' → BUN
  • Assembly
    DANCE + A + BUN = ABUNDANCE

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28A — Under examination, eat ham sandwiches (5)NEATH

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Under' — 'neath is the archaic / poetic short form of beneath — under.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'sandwiches'
  • Operation
    'sandwiches' signals a hidden_word operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'examination, eat ham'
  • Assembly
    NEATH = NEATH

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29A — Check out starter in trattoria, food consumed (4)DIET

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'food consumed'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'starter'
  • Operation
    'starter' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'trattoria,'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Check out' → DIE
  • Assembly
    DIE + T = DIET

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30A — Testing wheel? That's too bad (4,6)HARD CHEESE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'That's too bad' — 'Hard cheese!' is a British expression of commiseration — bad luck.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Testing' → HARD
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'wheel?' → CHEESE
  • Assembly
    HARD + CHEESE = HARD CHEESE

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Down

1D — Killer, a killing made? (4)BOMB

  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Double definition
  • Assembly
    BOMB = BOMB

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2D — State is onto criminals, land invaded (9)WISCONSIN

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'State' — WISCONSIN is a US state.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'invaded'
  • Operation
    'invaded' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'is criminals, land'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'criminals,' → CONS
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'land' → WIN
  • Assembly
    WIN + ISCONS = W(ISCONS)IN

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3D — Opener for England in pavilion followed rule (5)TENET

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'followed rule'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'Opener for'
  • Operation
    'Opener for' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'England'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'in'
  • Operation
    'in' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Opener for England pavilion'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'pavilion' → TENT
  • Assembly
    E + TENT = TEN(E)T

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4D — Runner, flier and hunter (7)HARRIER

  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Double definition
  • Assembly
    HARRIER = HARRIER

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5D — Might those identify pages in book? (7)NUMBERS

  • Definition
    The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: ''
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Cryptic definition
  • Assembly
    NUMBERS = NUMBERS

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7D — Oblique cone filled with a large quantity of water (5)OCEAN

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'large quantity of water'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'Oblique'
  • Operation
    'Oblique' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'cone'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'filled with'
  • Operation
    'filled with' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'cone a'
  • Assembly
    (CONE > OCEN) + A = OCE(A)N

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8D — Veg out, eat that with a piece of cake (4,2,4)TAKE IT EASY

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Veg out,'
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'eat that' → TAKE IT
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'piece of cake' → EASY
  • Assembly
    TAKEIT + EASY = TAKE IT EASY

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11D — Mark has trapped American bear (7)SUSTAIN

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'bear' — 'bear' as a verb = sustain, endure, carry on with.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'has trapped'
  • Operation
    'has trapped' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'Mark American'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Mark' → STAIN
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'American' → US
  • Assembly
    STAIN + US = S(US)TAIN

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14D — Where planks cut, right length, bet I'm wrong initially (6,4)TIMBER YARD

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Where planks cut,'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'wrong initially'
  • Operation
    'wrong initially' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'right bet I'm'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'right' → R
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'length,' → YARD
  • Assembly
    (R > RBETIM > TIMBER) + YARD = TIMBER YARD

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16D — Brilliant place to play baseball (7)DIAMOND

  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Double definition
  • Assembly
    DIAMOND = DIAMOND

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18D — Boozer, where beer ain't drunk after one (9)INEBRIATE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Boozer,' — An 'inebriate' is a habitual drunkard — the surface 'Boozer' definition.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'drunk'
  • Operation
    'drunk' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'beer ain't one'
  • Abbreviation
    Abbreviations spotted: 'one' → I
  • Assembly
    BEER + AINT + I > BEERAINTI = INEBRIATE

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20D — Princess at home with lover, much appreciated (7)INFANTA

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Princess' — An infanta is a Spanish or Portuguese princess.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'at home' → IN
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'lover,' → FAN
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'much appreciated' → TA
  • Assembly
    IN + FAN + TA = INFANTA

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21D — We see a funny little bit of dulse – here? (7)SEAWEED

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'here?' — Dulse is a kind of seaweed — 'here?' points to the category it belongs to.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'little bit of'
  • Operation
    'little bit of' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'dulse'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'funny'
  • Operation
    'funny' signals a anagram operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'We see a dulse'
  • Assembly
    WE + SEE + A + D > WEESEAD = SEAWEED

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23D — Small animal, minute value (5)MOUSE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Small animal,' — A mouse is a small animal — the textbook tiny rodent.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'minute' → MO
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'value' → USE
  • Assembly
    MO + USE = MOUSE

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25D — Feeling nice, oddly, what about that? (5)HUNCH

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'Feeling' — A hunch is an intuitive feeling — a gut instinct.
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'oddly,'
  • Operation
    'oddly,' signals a letter_selection operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'nice,'
  • Indicator
    Indicator found: 'about'
  • Operation
    'about' signals a container operation
  • Fodder
    Fodder: 'nice, what that?'
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'what that?' → HUH
  • Assembly
    HUH + NC = HU(NC)H

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26D — Article on middle of shelf for you (4)THEE

  • Definition
    Definition found: 'you' — 'thee' is the archaic singular 'you' — the object form of 'thou'.
  • Wordplay
    Wordplay: Charade
  • Synonym
    Synonyms spotted: 'Article' → THE
  • Assembly
    THE + E = THEE

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