Telegraph Cryptic Crossword Answers Today
Cryptic Crossword No 31311
Across
- 1Lurid coverage of something very juicy?ORANGEPEEL
- 6Reported bent pipeDUCT
- 10Show bowFRONT
- 12Graze from rodent caught in schoolSCRATCH
- 14Magazine reports on gallery's pieceNEWSTATESMAN
- 18Where inaccurate lobbed pass could go, too hardOVERONESHEAD
- 21Giant model in atticTITANIC
- 25Elegant second wife is hotSWISH
Down
- 3Get away from London? Many PMs do thisGOTOTHECOUNTRY
- 8Mobile beneath old comicTHEBEANO
- 9Best Ford for musician?GEORGEHARRISON
- 15Answer stupid, mostly deserve punishmentATHICKEAR
- 16Gets hold of visual aidsCONTACTS
- 17Given Prime – outstandingBESTOWED
- 19Psychic's channelMEDIUM
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Lurid coverage of something very juicy? — Answer: ORANGEPEEL. Hint: Think of the vividly colored outer layer covering a juicy citrus fruit. 🍊
- 6. Reported bent pipe — Answer: DUCT. Hint: Think of the channel that carries air through a building’s ventilation system. 🌬️
- 10. Show bow — Answer: FRONT. Hint: Think of the side that faces forward, whether onstage or on a ship. 🎭
- 11. Maybe Python Cleese finally takes little drink — Answer: SNAKEBITE. Hint: A pub drink gets its name from a slithering creature and its painful chomp. 🍹
- 12. Graze from rodent caught in school — Answer: SCRATCH. Hint: Think of a minor scrape, like the mark a mouse might leave while exploring a classroom. 🐭
- 13. 5 Down for example, flipping geezer drilling safe — Answer: SURNAME. Hint: Think of the family name that identifies someone beyond their given name. 🧩
- 14. Magazine reports on gallery's piece — Answer: NEWSTATESMAN. Hint: Think of a respected British magazine known for political commentary and current affairs 📰
- 18. Where inaccurate lobbed pass could go, too hard — Answer: OVERONESHEAD. Hint: A high pass with too much force might sail beyond the intended receiver’s reach. 🏈
- 21. Giant model in attic — Answer: TITANIC. Hint: Picture an enormous ocean liner recreated as a display piece upstairs. 🚢
- 23. Musical instruments brother takes home — Answer: CORNETS. Hint: Think of the small brass instruments often heard in marching bands. 🎺
- 24. Quality of chicken, farm animal I cared about — Answer: COWARDICE. Hint: This quality describes a lack of bravery, with a barnyard animal hidden in the wordplay. 🐔
- 25. Elegant second wife is hot — Answer: SWISH. Hint: Think of a stylish word for something moving with a smooth, flashy flourish. ✨
- 26. Back four in Swedish team — Answer: SIDE. Hint: Think of the term for a team, especially in a football match ⚽
- 27. "Maestro possibly bored by performing with Queen" – Mercury expert? — Answer: ASTRONOMER. Hint: Think of a stargazer who might study the planet sharing its name with Queen’s legendary frontman. 🔭
Down
- 1. Sean Connery's bureau is cool — Answer: OFFISH. Hint: Think of a chilly, standoffish attitude with a workplace twist. 😎
- 2. American poet getting in round on ship? — Answer: ABOARD. Hint: Think of the phrase describing someone on a vessel, with a playful nod to a poet’s name. 🚢
- 3. Get away from London? Many PMs do this — Answer: GOTOTHECOUNTRY. Hint: It’s what British prime ministers may do when heading beyond the capital for a change of scenery. 🏞️
- 4. With great speed, present glue to Spooner — Answer: POSTHASTE. Hint: Look for a formal phrase meaning “with great speed,” hidden behind a playful Spooner-style swap involving a gift and adhesive. ⚡
- 5. English vehicle heading to Stewart Lee, comedian — Answer: EVANS. Hint: Use the vehicle reference literally and connect it with Stewart’s surname for this comedian’s name. 🚐
- 7. Protesting angrily, engineer ruins map — Answer: UPINARMS. Hint: Think of an idiom for loudly protesting, with the chaotic map suggesting something has been rearranged. 🗺️
- 8. Mobile beneath old comic — Answer: THEBEANO. Hint: Think of a long-running British comic famous for mischievous characters and plenty of mayhem. 📰
- 9. Best Ford for musician? — Answer: GEORGEHARRISON. Hint: Think of a musician whose name combines a legendary soccer player’s first name with an iconic actor’s surname. 🎸
- 15. Answer stupid, mostly deserve punishment — Answer: ATHICKEAR. Hint: Think of a phrase for a well-deserved smack, with “stupid” supplying the key description. 👊
- 16. Gets hold of visual aids — Answer: CONTACTS. Hint: Think of a word that can mean reaching out to someone and lenses that help you see. 👓
- 17. Given Prime – outstanding — Answer: BESTOWED. Hint: Think of a formal word for something granted or presented, especially as an honor. 🎁
- 19. Psychic's channel — Answer: MEDIUM. Hint: A clairvoyant may use this to connect with the spirit world 🔮
- 20. Criticises therapist embracing Bible book — Answer: ESTHER. Hint: Think of the brave biblical queen celebrated during Purim, whose name also fits the wordplay. 👑
- 22. Snack cold in middle of brasserie — Answer: CHIPS. Hint: Think of the classic crispy potato side served at a casual French eatery. 🍟
Recent Telegraph Cryptic Answers
The last 2 days of solutions
Looking for today's Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated August 6, 2026 — is at the top of this page, updated as soon as The Telegraph releases it. The Cryptic continues the paper's daily crossword tradition from 30 July 1925 (the UK's first daily newspaper crossword) and the famous January 1942 Bletchley Park solving contest — a Monday–Friday 15×15 separate from the harder Toughie and weekend Prize Cryptics. Whether you're checking a finished grid or stuck on a single clue, the full answers are below.
Full Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answer list for today
Every clue from today's grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.
Across
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lurid coverage of something very juicy? | ORANGEPEEL |
| 6 | Reported bent pipe | DUCT |
| 10 | Show bow | FRONT |
| 11 | Maybe Python Cleese finally takes little drink | SNAKEBITE |
| 12 | Graze from rodent caught in school | SCRATCH |
| 13 | 5 Down for example, flipping geezer drilling safe | SURNAME |
| 14 | Magazine reports on gallery's piece | NEWSTATESMAN |
| 18 | Where inaccurate lobbed pass could go, too hard | OVERONESHEAD |
| 21 | Giant model in attic | TITANIC |
| 23 | Musical instruments brother takes home | CORNETS |
| 24 | Quality of chicken, farm animal I cared about | COWARDICE |
| 25 | Elegant second wife is hot | SWISH |
| 26 | Back four in Swedish team | SIDE |
| 27 | "Maestro possibly bored by performing with Queen" – Mercury expert? | ASTRONOMER |
Down
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean Connery's bureau is cool | OFFISH |
| 2 | American poet getting in round on ship? | ABOARD |
| 3 | Get away from London? Many PMs do this | GOTOTHECOUNTRY |
| 4 | With great speed, present glue to Spooner | POSTHASTE |
| 5 | English vehicle heading to Stewart Lee, comedian | EVANS |
| 7 | Protesting angrily, engineer ruins map | UPINARMS |
| 8 | Mobile beneath old comic | THEBEANO |
| 9 | Best Ford for musician? | GEORGEHARRISON |
| 15 | Answer stupid, mostly deserve punishment | ATHICKEAR |
| 16 | Gets hold of visual aids | CONTACTS |
| 17 | Given Prime – outstanding | BESTOWED |
| 19 | Psychic's channel | MEDIUM |
| 20 | Criticises therapist embracing Bible book | ESTHER |
| 22 | Snack cold in middle of brasserie | CHIPS |
Today's Telegraph Cryptic answers
Today's solution appears above, split into Across and Down exactly as the puzzle numbers them. Each answer is listed separately, so if you only need one word you can reveal the clue that's blocking you and keep solving the rest. The grid is confirmed and refreshed Monday through Friday as soon as it's published.
What is the Telegraph Cryptic Crossword?
The Telegraph Cryptic is The Telegraph's classic weekday cryptic — a 15×15 grid of cryptic wordplay clues (anagrams, charades, double definitions, and the rest). It continues the paper's daily crossword tradition that began on 30 July 1925, when The Daily Telegraph published the UK's first daily newspaper crossword. Today's Mon–Fri Cryptic is usually set anonymously; weekend Prize Cryptics are separate puzzles. Play online at Telegraph Puzzles. Prefer a non-cryptic warm-up? See our Telegraph Quick answers.
Cryptic vs Toughie vs Prize Cryptic
Telegraph Puzzles runs several cryptics; this page covers only the standard weekday Cryptic:
| Puzzle | When it runs | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Cryptic (this page) | Monday–Friday | Standard daily cryptic; setters usually anonymous |
| Toughie | Tuesday–Friday | Harder companion cryptic; named setter pseudonyms |
| Prize Cryptic | Saturday & Sunday | Separate weekend prize puzzles — not the weekday grid |
The 1942 Bletchley Park connection
In late 1941 a reader claimed to finish the Telegraph crossword in under 12 minutes. On 10 January 1942 the paper hosted a timed contest at its Fleet Street offices; several solvers beat the clock, and the War Office later approached competitors for code-breaking training at Bletchley Park. That episode is why the Telegraph Cryptic still turns up in British crossword history — less as trivia than as a reminder that the skills it rewards (anagrams, lateral thinking, pattern spotting) have always been the point.
How to break a stubborn Telegraph Cryptic clue
- Split definition from wordplay. One end of a fair cryptic clue defines the answer; the rest builds it with anagrams, charades, hidden words, double definitions, and similar devices.
- Use the crossings. Three or four letters from easier neighbours usually crack a long entry you cannot see yet.
- Don't confuse it with the Toughie. If a weekday grid feels unusually brutal, check you are on the standard Cryptic rather than the separate Tuesday–Friday Toughie.
- Reveal one answer only. Our crossword solver can confirm a single clue from your known letters without spoiling the rest of the grid.
Browse past Telegraph Cryptic answers
Every previous weekday Telegraph Cryptic is archived on this page by date with full solutions. There is no Mon–Fri Cryptic on Saturday or Sunday, so the archive steps from Friday to Monday. Stuck on a single clue, our crossword solver will reveal just that answer.
Browse more puzzles on the crossword solver, or use it to crack any clue from any publication.
Frequently asked questions
What are today's Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answers?
Every across and down answer for today's puzzle (August 6, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, updated as soon as The Telegraph releases it.
What time does the Telegraph Cryptic Crossword come out?
At midnight UK time on each weekday it runs (Monday–Friday). Weekend Prize Cryptics are separate puzzles. We post the weekday Cryptic answers as soon as that day's grid goes live.
Does the Telegraph Cryptic run every day?
The daily Cryptic we cover runs Monday through Friday. Saturdays and Sundays have separate Prize Cryptic puzzles, which are not the same weekday grid.
Is the Telegraph Cryptic the same as the Toughie?
No. The Cryptic is the paper's standard weekday cryptic. The Toughie is a separate, harder cryptic that runs Tuesday–Friday alongside it.
Why is the Telegraph Cryptic historically famous?
The Telegraph published the UK's first daily newspaper crossword in 1925. In January 1942 a timed solving contest at the paper led the War Office to recruit several fast solvers for code-breaking work at Bletchley Park.
Where can I find past Telegraph Cryptic answers?
Every previous weekday Cryptic is in the archive on this page, listed by date with full solutions. There is no Mon–Fri Cryptic on Saturday or Sunday, so the archive steps from Friday to Monday.