Stroke goat, perhaps, then step on it

Latest answer — September 29, 2026

27 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

BUTTERFLY is a swimming stroke. It is BUTTER, which a goat might provide through its milk, followed by FLY, as in the command to step on it or hurry.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
A swimmer performing the butterfly stroke.

Telegraph Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, September 29, 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. 1Lake circled by hungry tailless bird
  2. 4Feeling wicked, cutting off nearly everyone
  3. 9Leading dance in hospital department
  4. 10Perfect golf club softly scratched
  5. 11English seat is possibly most comfortable
  6. 12Well-behaved soldier
  7. 13In report, mentions tourist attractions
  8. 15Gathers information from Edward about underwear
  9. 18Class conflict
  10. 20Snaps out of it?
  11. 23Best cur one trained? Without question
  12. 24Watch old boy work in the military
  13. 26Picture this writer's anger after finally getting dismissed
  14. 27Stroke goat, perhaps, then step on it
  15. 28Harry near guests lacking upper-class grandeur
  16. 29Vegetable marrows we'd eaten, though not all

Down

  1. 1Cross with journalists after European editor spoke
  2. 2Good arguments for sprouts
  3. 3Plain I've got over depression
  4. 4Dirk could be inside this studio initially with Ted?
  5. 5Supply iron and get new gas
  6. 6Apart from oars, ignore the odd parts below
  7. 7Negotiate most of recent diet changes
  8. 8Like an anorak on Debra – dry on a regular basis
  9. 14Christian maybe willing to receive the setter's news
  10. 16It's of benefit if you have a flat belly
  11. 17Dreadful leaders in House of Representatives make fun of the French
  12. 19Boss went missing with trainee
  13. 21Article promises no advanced solutions
  14. 22Ways England cricketer's caught
  15. 23Hold cold fish
  16. 25Some stuck up colonel fires gun

The answer to “Stroke goat, perhaps, then step on it” in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword is BUTTERFLY — a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on September 29, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 27-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.

“Stroke goat, perhaps, then step on it” answer

BUTTERFLY (9 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 BUTTERFLY.

What does BUTTERFLY mean?

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

(noun)

  • a nectar-feeding insect with two pairs of large, typically brightly coloured wings that are covered with microscopic scales. Butterflies are distinguished from moths by having clubbed or dilated antennae, holding their wings erect when at rest, and being active by day
  • a showy or frivolous person
  • a fluttering and nauseous sensation felt in the stomach when one is nervous

When else has “Stroke goat, perhaps, then step on it” 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.

September 29, 2026 (most recent) → BUTTERFLY. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Stroke goat, perhaps, then step on it”?

The answer is BUTTERFLY, a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on September 29, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Stroke goat, perhaps, then step on it”?

9 letters: BUTTERFLY.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on September 29, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 27-Across.

Can “Stroke goat, perhaps, then step on it” 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 September 29, 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.

Crossword Clues

Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.