Circus insect? (4)

Latest answer — July 20, 2026

18 Down

This little jumper might have a knack for entertaining! 🎪

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Guardian Quick Crossword

This clue's Monday, July 20, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Electrical item momentarily illuminating things (5,4)
  2. 8Blue - purplish butterfly (5)
  3. 9Monkey with long face (7)
  4. 10Lewdness (8)
  5. 11Metal, atomic number 30 (4)
  6. 13Unilateral (3-3)
  7. 14Tiny tree art (6)
  8. 16Sewing case (4)
  9. 17Result of division (8)
  10. 19Mesopotamian city in modern day Iraq (7)
  11. 20Small lizard (5)
  12. 21Word-finding reference (9)

Down

  1. 1Fade role (anag) (8)
  2. 2Think highly of (6)
  3. 3Hew (4)
  4. 4Consent (12)
  5. 5GP's paperwork (12)
  6. 6Go through whole innings with wicket intact (5,4,3)
  7. 7Hookah - confused talk (6-6)
  8. 12Country homes? (8)
  9. 15English romantic painter (1775-1851) (6)
  10. 18Circus insect? (4)

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Electrical item momentarily illuminating things (5,4) — Answer: FLASHLAMP. Hint: This handy device can brighten your path when the lights go out! 🔦
  2. 8. Blue - purplish butterfly (5) — Answer: AZURE. Hint: Think of a color often associated with clear skies and serene waters! 💙
  3. 9. Monkey with long face (7) — Answer: MACAQUE. Hint: This playful primate is often found swinging through trees in tropical regions! 🐒
  4. 10. Lewdness (8) — Answer: RIBALDRY. Hint: Think of a term that describes naughty humor or risqué behavior! 😏
  5. 11. Metal, atomic number 30 (4) — Answer: ZINC. Hint: Think of a metal commonly used in galvanization! 🔩
  6. 13. Unilateral (3-3) — Answer: ONEWAY. Hint: Think of a route that only goes in one direction! 🚦
  7. 14. Tiny tree art (6) — Answer: BONSAI. Hint: This miniature plant art takes patience and care to flourish! 🌱
  8. 16. Sewing case (4) — Answer: ETUI. Hint: Think of a small container that holds something special, often for tools or accessories! 🧵
  9. 17. Result of division (8) — Answer: QUOTIENT. Hint: It's what you get when you split one number by another! ➗
  10. 19. Mesopotamian city in modern day Iraq (7) — Answer: BABYLON. Hint: This ancient city was famous for its hanging gardens and rich history! 🌍
  11. 20. Small lizard (5) — Answer: GECKO. Hint: This little critter is known for its ability to climb walls and make some unique sounds! 🦎
  12. 21. Word-finding reference (9) — Answer: THESAURUS. Hint: When searching for synonyms, this trusty companion has your back! 📚

Down

  1. 1. Fade role (anag) (8) — Answer: FREELOAD. Hint: Think of someone who takes advantage without giving back! 💸
  2. 2. Think highly of (6) — Answer: ADMIRE. Hint: When you look up to someone, that means you really value them! 😊
  3. 3. Hew (4) — Answer: HACK. Hint: It's a term often used in tech circles when referring to breaking into systems! 💻
  4. 4. Consent (12) — Answer: ACQUIESCENCE. Hint: It's that agreeable feeling when you go along with something without much fuss! 👍
  5. 5. GP's paperwork (12) — Answer: PRESCRIPTION. Hint: This document is often needed to get your medicine from the pharmacy! 💊
  6. 6. Go through whole innings with wicket intact (5,4,3) — Answer: CARRYONESBAT. Hint: Think about how you might keep your position secure while playing a game! 🏏
  7. 7. Hookah - confused talk (6-6) — Answer: HUBBLEBUBBLE. Hint: This playful term refers to a type of smoking device often associated with social gatherings! 💨
  8. 12. Country homes? (8) — Answer: COTTAGES. Hint: These cozy abodes often remind us of fairy tales! 🏡
  9. 15. English romantic painter (1775-1851) (6) — Answer: TURNER. Hint: Think of a master of light and color who painted landscapes that make you dream! 🎨
  10. 18. Circus insect? (4) — Answer: FLEA. Hint: This little jumper might have a knack for entertaining! 🎪

Recent Guardian Quick Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Circus insect? (4)” in the The Guardian Quick crossword is FLEA — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on July 20, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 18-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Circus insect? (4)” answer

FLEA (4 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is FLEA.

Why the answer is FLEA

This little jumper might have a knack for entertaining! 🎪

When else has “Circus insect? (4)” appeared?

The Guardian Quick reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

July 20, 2026 (most recent) → FLEA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the Guardian Quick Crossword on July 20, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full The Guardian Quick answer list for July 20, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live Guardian Quick answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the Guardian Quick Crossword

The Guardian Quick Crossword is a British straight-definition daily (typically around 13×13) — no cryptic wordplay, just clean definitions and abbreviations. This page covers a Monday puzzle. Because answers favour common UK vocabulary and short fill, seeing a confirmation once makes the next appearance easy to spot.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Circus insect? (4)”?

The answer is FLEA, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on July 20, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Circus insect? (4)”?

4 letters: FLEA.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Guardian Quick crossword on July 20, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 18-Down.

Can “Circus insect? (4)” have a different answer?

Yes — The Guardian Quick sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Guardian Quick answers?

The full grid for July 20, 2026 is on the Guardian Quick answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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