Hard work

Latest answer — September 09, 2026

28 Down

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

GRAFT is a noun meaning hard work, especially strenuous or laborious work. In British informal usage, it can also be a verb meaning to work hard.

Clue type:
Definition
A construction worker carrying out strenuous manual work.

Telegraph Quick Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, September 09, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Young mare
  2. 4Grape variety
  3. 10Very bad
  4. 11Cowboy's noose
  5. 12String instrument
  6. 13Stagger
  7. 15Curse
  8. 17Vehicle crash
  9. 19Frequently
  10. 22Large jug
  11. 25Undersea missile
  12. 27Fury
  13. 29Monks' superior
  14. 30Japanese fish
  15. 31Not fresh
  16. 32Pier

Down

  1. 2Rustic poem
  2. 3Satirise
  3. 5Coastal opening
  4. 6Dark
  5. 7Concoct, e.g. a plot
  6. 8Fold
  7. 9Frumpish
  8. 14Footwear item
  9. 16Matured
  10. 18Cheesy snack
  11. 20Easily broken
  12. 21Pinch
  13. 23Unsound
  14. 24Underground chapel
  15. 26Praise highly
  16. 28Hard work

The answer to “Hard work” in the The Telegraph Quick crossword is GRAFT — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Quick crossword on September 9, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 28-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.

“Hard work” answer

GRAFT (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 GRAFT.

What does GRAFT mean?

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

(noun)

  • a shoot or twig inserted into a slit on the trunk or stem of a living plant, from which it receives sap
  • a piece of living tissue that is transplanted surgically

When else has “Hard work” appeared?

The Telegraph 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.

September 9, 2026 (most recent) → GRAFT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Hard work”?

The answer is GRAFT, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Quick crossword on September 9, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Hard work”?

5 letters: GRAFT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Telegraph Quick crossword on September 9, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 28-Down.

Can “Hard work” have a different answer?

Yes — The Telegraph 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 Telegraph Quick answers?

The full grid for September 9, 2026 is on the Telegraph Quick answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Telegraph Quick 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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