House, lies or wash (5)
Latest answer — August 29, 2026
22 Across
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Clue explained
WHITE completes three familiar compounds: White House, white lies and whitewash. “House” is capitalised in the clue’s implied proper name, but the answer itself is WHITE.
- Clue type:
- Example
Guardian Quick Crossword
This clue's Saturday, August 29, 2026 appearance
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Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Gentle flow (4) — Answer: OOZE. Hint: A slow, viscous seep is this kind of flow. 💧
- 3. Small hand-held telescope - The Amber ___ (8) — Answer: SPYGLASS. Hint: This old-fashioned optical aid lets you peer at distant objects. 🔭
- 9. Portable computers (7) — Answer: LAPTOPS. Hint: These portable computers are designed to rest comfortably on your knees. 💻
- 10. Dance - ___ No.5 (Lou Bega) (5) — Answer: MAMBO. Hint: Think of a lively Cuban-style dance with a strong rhythmic beat. 💃
- 11. Small, U-shaped bone in neck - oh, DIY! (anag) (5) — Answer: HYOID. Hint: This tiny neck bone supports the tongue without forming a joint with another bone. 🦴
- 12. Large flatfish (6) — Answer: TURBOT. Hint: Look for a large edible flatfish often found on restaurant menus. 🐟
- 14. One who stirs up trouble (8-5) — Answer: MISCHIEFMAKER. Hint: This person delights in causing trouble or playful mayhem. 😈
- 17. Mark Carney became its PM in 2025 (6) — Answer: CANADA. Hint: Mark Carney took the top political job in this North American country in 2025. 🍁
- 19. Life, fire or body (5) — Answer: GUARD. Hint: It can protect a goal, a flame, or your physical well-being. 🛡️
- 22. House, lies or wash (5) — Answer: WHITE. Hint: It can describe a house, a lie, or a wash. 🤍
- 23. ___ bun - London football team (7) — Answer: CHELSEA. Hint: Complete the phrase naming a London club and a sweet steamed bun. ⚽
- 24. Do or request something daring (4,4) — Answer: MAKEBOLD. Hint: Take the plunge and either perform or ask for something daring. 🚀
- 25. Harp-like instrument (4) — Answer: LYRE. Hint: This ancient stringed instrument resembles a small harp. 🎶
Down
- 1. US state - with '!', a stage musical (8) — Answer: OKLAHOMA. Hint: This state shares its name with a famous musical marked by an exclamation point. 🎭
- 2. Youngest Marx brother (5) — Answer: ZEPPO. Hint: The youngest Marx Brother was known for a quieter comic presence. 🎬
- 4. Ripping children's party game? (4,3,6) — Answer: PASSTHEPARCEL. Hint: In this party game, music and layers of wrapping keep everyone guessing. 🎁
- 5. One who competes on computer, video etc (5) — Answer: GAMER. Hint: This competitor may face opponents in video or computer games. 🎮
- 6. Wrestling move (7) — Answer: ARMLOCK. Hint: This grappling technique traps an opponent's limb to force submission. 🤼
- 7. Slovenly, lazy person (4) — Answer: SLOB. Hint: A messy, untidy person might earn this blunt label. 🧹
- 8. Thingamy (6) — Answer: DOODAH. Hint: Use this playful placeholder when the name of a thing escapes you. 🤔
- 13. Person who has obtained a degree (8) — Answer: GRADUATE. Hint: Think of someone who has successfully completed university studies. 🎓
- 15. Queasy on the water (7) — Answer: SEASICK. Hint: This describes feeling ill while aboard a rocking boat. 🤢
- 16. Anything that attracts (6) — Answer: MAGNET. Hint: Think of an object known for pulling certain metals toward it. 🧲
- 18. Bitter and sour - brace (anag) (5) — Answer: ACERB. Hint: This word describes a sharply unpleasant taste or attitude. 🍋
- 20. Analysis of (eg) purity of precious metals (5) — Answer: ASSAY. Hint: A jeweler might perform this test to check the quality of a metal. 💍
- 21. Stay afloat (4) — Answer: SWIM. Hint: This basic water skill helps you avoid sinking. 🏊
The answer to “House, lies or wash (5)” in the The Guardian Quick crossword is WHITE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on August 29, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 22-Across. 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.
“House, lies or wash (5)” answer
WHITE (5 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 WHITE.
What does WHITE mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of WHITE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(adjective)
- of the colour of milk or fresh snow, due to the reflection of all visible rays of light; the opposite of black
- belonging to or denoting a human group having light-coloured skin (chiefly used of peoples of European extraction)
- counter-revolutionary or reactionary
When else has “House, lies or wash (5)” 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.
August 29, 2026 (most recent) → WHITE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “House, lies or wash (5)”?
The answer is WHITE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on August 29, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “House, lies or wash (5)”?
5 letters: WHITE.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the The Guardian Quick crossword on August 29, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 22-Across.
Can “House, lies or wash (5)” 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 August 29, 2026 is on the Guardian Quick answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
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