Harry Maguire leaving United an illusion

Latest answer — August 28, 2026

19 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

MIRAGE means “an illusion”. Scramble MAGUIRE (“Harry Maguire”) after removing U, the abbreviation for United, with “leaving” indicating the deletion and rearrangement.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
A desert scene showing a mirage that resembles distant water

Telegraph Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Friday, August 28, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Party leaders in pub exchange information
  2. 3Phone twice for Forester's hero
  3. 10Soft, silky fabric? Check eleven torn coats!
  4. 11Resort in Maldives is for 3 Across
  5. 12Fires 3 Across's instrument in audition?
  6. 13Arranger of scores in a group backing
  7. 14Seabird circling cold district in NZ port
  8. 16See 25 Down
  9. 19Harry Maguire leaving United an illusion
  10. 20Canon houses workers in block
  11. 22Stories about Brobdingnagians perhaps?
  12. 24Two females securing a bundle
  13. 26You loudly tucking in love scrambled eggs here?
  14. 27Brace next to square timber
  15. 28Eating fine food needs good science
  16. 29Black Prince in retreat? Nonsense

Down

  1. 1See 11 Across
  2. 2Panda cool about entering Arctic
  3. 412:59 meeting?
  4. 5Immature stage seen on a genome sequence?
  5. 6Plant shelter outside Montreal banning a student
  6. 7Cetaceans heard where Myfanwy lives?
  7. 8Rising again, interim ruler holds on in Paris
  8. 9Staying power from eleven at bingo?
  9. 14See 23 Down
  10. 15Vast distance short, then endlessly long
  11. 17Fuel that is stored in dollies abroad
  12. 18Whence latest novel: Wuthering Heights in reverse?
  13. 21Energy provided after excess nitrogen in protein
  14. 233 Across left our organist confused about manuscript
  15. 24Air finale in Love Island
  16. 25Spanner right accessing both nuts in appliance

The answer to “Harry Maguire leaving United an illusion” in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword is MIRAGE — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on August 28, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 19-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.

“Harry Maguire leaving United an illusion” answer

MIRAGE (6 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 MIRAGE.

What does MIRAGE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of MIRAGE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, especially the appearance of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road caused by the refraction of light from the sky by heated air

When else has “Harry Maguire leaving United an illusion” appeared?

The Telegraph Cryptic 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 28, 2026 (most recent) → MIRAGE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Harry Maguire leaving United an illusion”?

The answer is MIRAGE, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on August 28, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Harry Maguire leaving United an illusion”?

6 letters: MIRAGE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on August 28, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 19-Across.

Can “Harry Maguire leaving United an illusion” have a different answer?

Yes — The Telegraph Cryptic 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 Telegraph Cryptic answers?

The full grid for August 28, 2026 is on the Telegraph Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Telegraph Cryptic Crossword is published by The Telegraph; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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