Say romance is gripping subject

Latest answer — August 07, 2026

24 Down

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Clue decoded

A LIEGE is a subject, especially a feudal or royal subject. The wordplay starts with LIE, meaning “say” in the sense of tell an untruth, followed by GE, giving LIE-GE; the wording “romance” supplies the playful notion of a lie or invented tale. Because that final construction is deliberately loose, this parse is less direct than the definition.

Clue type:
Definition
A historical scene depicting a feudal subject before a monarch

Times Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Friday, August 07, 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. 1Display of gender inequality encapsulates current peeve
  2. 3Suspect due bail holding everyone back is not to be praised
  3. 10Tanner starting run beats hides hard
  4. 11Weak king charges let down
  5. 12Concerned about animal enclosure suffering infestation
  6. 13Fluid consumed in address regularly visited for bevvies
  7. 15Route some time entered by you and a learner bearing west
  8. 18Train old falcon not to turn aggressive
  9. 21Inn employee initially ignored person shoving
  10. 23Domes, 13 shelters on high
  11. 26Rejecting outsiders, chap with his land
  12. 27Horseman in a party I’m unsure should be in company
  13. 28Semiaquatic creature spiked rump badly
  14. 29Shrub male insect snubbed

Down

  1. 1Bad behaviour of several types on Tube
  2. 2Attack in sports bar of criminal associate
  3. 4See female perhaps show liking for opera
  4. 5Passion visible in commercial broadcast
  5. 6Mocking of French cooking, but having no right
  6. 7Helps nursing large sickly-looking bird
  7. 8Like fish caught somewhere in East Anglia
  8. 9Great sources for research into construction material
  9. 14Very large cat tucked into round lamprey, perhaps
  10. 16Case in Antrim settled, in which one is reprieved
  11. 17Befuddled gent barred from drunken celebrating is crabby
  12. 19Cylindrical package Vicky unwrapped is carpet
  13. 20Essentially flimsy ashen stick
  14. 22Go over river with mounting speed
  15. 24Say romance is gripping subject
  16. 25Tungsten half of striking tool forcibly hit

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Display of gender inequality encapsulates current peeve — Answer: MIFF. Hint: Think of a concise word meaning an annoyance, with the wordplay hiding a sense of “right now” inside a gender contrast. 😤
  2. 3. Suspect due bail holding everyone back is not to be praised — Answer: ILLAUDABLE. Hint: Something deserving criticism rather than praise fits this word. 👎
  3. 10. Tanner starting run beats hides hard — Answer: SUNBATHER. Hint: Think of someone who enjoys soaking up rays to develop a tan. ☀️
  4. 11. Weak king charges let down — Answer: FRAIL. Hint: Look for a five-letter adjective meaning weak, with a royal letdown hiding in the wording. 👑
  5. 12. Concerned about animal enclosure suffering infestation — Answer: OVERRUN. Hint: Picture an animal enclosure overwhelmed by unwanted invaders. 🐜
  6. 13. Fluid consumed in address regularly visited for bevvies — Answer: DRINKS. Hint: Think of what you might order at a bar when one beverage just won’t do 🍹
  7. 15. Route some time entered by you and a learner bearing west — Answer: DUALCARRIAGEWAY. Hint: Think of a divided road with separate lanes for traffic heading in opposite directions. 🛣️
  8. 18. Train old falcon not to turn aggressive — Answer: CONFRONTATIONAL. Hint: Think of a word describing someone ready to pick a fight rather than stay diplomatic. 🥊
  9. 21. Inn employee initially ignored person shoving — Answer: OSTLER. Hint: Picture the old-fashioned inn worker responsible for guests’ horses, and notice the clue’s initial-letter nudge. 🐴
  10. 23. Domes, 13 shelters on high — Answer: CUPOLAS. Hint: Think of the small rounded roofs often perched atop larger buildings. 🏛️
  11. 26. Rejecting outsiders, chap with his land — Answer: HAITI. Hint: Think of the Caribbean nation that shares Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. 🌴
  12. 27. Horseman in a party I’m unsure should be in company — Answer: CABALLERO. Hint: Think of a Spanish-speaking gentleman on horseback, often used as a courteous form of address. 🤠
  13. 28. Semiaquatic creature spiked rump badly — Answer: MUDSKIPPER. Hint: Think of a mudflat-dwelling fish famous for “walking” across land with its fins. 🐟
  14. 29. Shrub male insect snubbed — Answer: HEBE. Hint: Think of a shrub name built by pairing a male pronoun with a clipped insect. 🌿

Down

  1. 1. Bad behaviour of several types on Tube — Answer: MISCONDUCT. Hint: Think of a broad term for improper behaviour, with the Tube offering a fitting setting. 🚇
  2. 2. Attack in sports bar of criminal associate — Answer: FENCE. Hint: Think of a sports attack involving blades and a shady dealer of stolen goods. 🤺
  3. 4. See female perhaps show liking for opera — Answer: LOHENGRIN. Hint: Think of a famous Wagner opera featuring a mysterious knight and a swan. 🦢
  4. 5. Passion visible in commercial broadcast — Answer: AIRED. Hint: Look for a word meaning broadcast that contains a fiery synonym for passion. 🔥
  5. 6. Mocking of French cooking, but having no right — Answer: DEFYING. Hint: Look for a verb meaning to resist or disobey, while the clue cheekily gestures toward French cuisine. 😉
  6. 7. Helps nursing large sickly-looking bird — Answer: BLACKSWAN. Hint: Picture an elegant waterbird associated with a famous phrase for a rare, surprising event. 🦢
  7. 8. Like fish caught somewhere in East Anglia — Answer: EELY. Hint: Look for an adjective describing something slippery and snake-shaped in the water. 🐟
  8. 9. Great sources for research into construction material — Answer: FABRIC. Hint: Think of a woven material that can also mean the underlying structure of something, such as a building or society. 🧵
  9. 14. Very large cat tucked into round lamprey, perhaps — Answer: CYCLOSTOME. Hint: Think of a jawless, eel-like aquatic creature rather than a feline. 🐟
  10. 16. Case in Antrim settled, in which one is reprieved — Answer: AMNESTIED. Hint: Think of being officially forgiven or released from a penalty. ⚖️
  11. 17. Befuddled gent barred from drunken celebrating is crabby — Answer: IRASCIBLE. Hint: Think of someone notably prickly and quick to lose their temper. 😠
  12. 19. Cylindrical package Vicky unwrapped is carpet — Answer: ROLLICK. Hint: Think of a lively, carefree romp full of playful energy. 🤸
  13. 20. Essentially flimsy ashen stick — Answer: IMPALE. Hint: Think of what you might do with a sharp stick to pin something in place. 🪵
  14. 22. Go over river with mounting speed — Answer: RECAP. Hint: Think of a quick review, with a river and increasing pace tucked into the wordplay. 🔍
  15. 24. Say romance is gripping subject — Answer: LIEGE. Hint: Think of a medieval romance featuring a loyal subject bound to a lord. 🏰
  16. 25. Tungsten half of striking tool forcibly hit — Answer: WHAM. Hint: Think of the comic-book sound of a forceful blow! 💥

Recent Times Cryptic Answers

The last 3 days of solutions

Times Cryptic 6 August 2026Times Cryptic 5 August 2026Times Cryptic 4 August 2026

The answer to “Say romance is gripping subject” in the The Times Cryptic crossword is LIEGE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 7, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 24-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.

“Say romance is gripping subject” answer

LIEGE (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 LIEGE.

When else has “Say romance is gripping subject” 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.

August 7, 2026 (most recent) → LIEGE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the Times Cryptic Crossword on August 7, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full The Times Cryptic answer list for August 7, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live Times Cryptic answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the Times Cryptic Crossword

The Times Cryptic Crossword has been The Times' flagship daily since 1 February 1930, when farmer and writer Adrian Bell set Crossword No. 1 after ten days' notice. It is a 15×15 of fair British cryptic wordplay — every clue has a definition plus a second layer (anagram, charade, double definition, and so on) — with traditionally anonymous setters. This page covers a Friday puzzle. Many solvers find later weekdays tougher than Monday even without an official difficulty ladder; confirming one long answer usually opens the crossings around it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Say romance is gripping subject”?

The answer is LIEGE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 7, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Say romance is gripping subject”?

5 letters: LIEGE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 7, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 24-Down.

Can “Say romance is gripping subject” 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 August 7, 2026 is on the Times Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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