A few ticks and I’ll be off

Latest answer — September 10, 2026

21 Across

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Clue explained

TIME BOMB is a ticking device that will go off after a few ticks. The clue is a cryptic definition, with “I’ll be off” meaning that the bomb will explode.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
A stylized time bomb with a visible clock and fuse

Times Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Thursday, September 10, 2026 appearance

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The answer to A few ticks and I’ll be off in the The Times Cryptic crossword is TIMEBOMB — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on September 10, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 21-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.

A few ticks and I’ll be off” answer

TIMEBOMB (8 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 TIMEBOMB.

What does TIMEBOMB mean?

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

(noun)

  • a bomb designed to explode at a preset time

When else has “A few ticks and I’ll be off” appeared?

The Times 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 10, 2026 (most recent) TIMEBOMB. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “A few ticks and I’ll be off”?

The answer is TIMEBOMB, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on September 10, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “A few ticks and I’ll be off”?

8 letters: TIMEBOMB.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Times Cryptic crossword on September 10, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 21-Across.

Can “A few ticks and I’ll be off” have a different answer?

Yes — The Times 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 Times Cryptic answers?

The full grid for September 10, 2026 is on the Times Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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

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