Clever clogs merits a rum

Latest answer — September 11, 2026

6 Down

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Clue explained

SMARTIE means a clever person, or “clever clogs”. It is an anagram of MERITS A, with “rum” indicating that the letters are mixed up.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
Colourful Smarties sweets shown together in a bowl.

Times Quick Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Friday, September 11, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Loss of all hope as pride is shattered
  2. 5One attractive meal
  3. 7Almost completed bridge in Cheltenham, perhaps
  4. 8Tense test of cleric
  5. 10Subordinate to a Parisian, the German
  6. 11Judge particular bit erroneously, to some extent
  7. 13End of credits before commercial broadcast
  8. 15Irregular line runs within sirloin, say
  9. 17Charged with hotel, one got stupidly busy
  10. 18Behold mostly peaceful neighbourhood
  11. 20Happiness priest found in fine metropolis
  12. 22Follow idol around
  13. 23Leader of Thailand involved in state visit
  14. 24Item of clothing fellow wrapped around limb

Down

  1. 1Talk of wrongdoing carrying over after athletic event
  2. 2Street with station
  3. 3Like standard uninspiring sweetener
  4. 4Regularly missing orders, Renault shut once more
  5. 5Couple you welcomed to party
  6. 6Clever clogs merits a rum
  7. 9Reportedly smash flimsy car part
  8. 12One taking small parts from tip, barely damaged
  9. 14Soldiers with others housed in rubbish hideout
  10. 16Fighting using blades
  11. 19Key personnel raced around
  12. 21Some of family circle turned unfriendly

The answer to “Clever clogs merits a rum” in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword is SMARTIE — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on September 11, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 6-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.

“Clever clogs merits a rum” answer

SMARTIE (7 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 SMARTIE.

When else has “Clever clogs merits a rum” appeared?

The Times Quick 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 11, 2026 (most recent) → SMARTIE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Clever clogs merits a rum”?

The answer is SMARTIE, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on September 11, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Clever clogs merits a rum”?

7 letters: SMARTIE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on September 11, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 6-Down.

Can “Clever clogs merits a rum” have a different answer?

Yes — The Times Quick 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 Quick Cryptic answers?

The full grid for September 11, 2026 is on the Times Quick Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Times Quick 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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