Telegraph Cryptic Crossword Answers Today
Cryptic Crossword No 31312
Across
- 1Sort of bank job Barry bored me about?ARMEDROBBERY
- 12Loose Women is appealingWINSOME
- 24Truth about representing ItalyREALITY
- 26Ours eat and drink in resort – it's far from a favouriteRANKOUTSIDER
Down
- 3Detective signalled and drove awayDISPELLED
- 6Find native Australian solicitorROOTOUT
- 7Daring top batsman means to get drinkBOTTLEOPENER
- 17Greek character holding a danceLAMBADA
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Sort of bank job Barry bored me about? — Answer: ARMEDROBBERY. Hint: Think of a financial-institution heist where the culprit comes prepared for trouble. 💰
- 8. Vehicle's over cloud moving miles to the west — Answer: OMNIBUS. Hint: Think of an old-fashioned vehicle designed to carry many passengers, with the wordplay sending “miles” westward. 🚌
- 9. Refuse to take part if third lad touches too much — Answer: BOYCOTT. Hint: Think of a protest action where you deliberately withhold your participation 🚫
- 11. Bakery offering fundamental opinion to Spooner — Answer: TEACAKE. Hint: A sweet bakery treat enjoyed with a cuppa may emerge after a playful Spooner-style sound swap. 🍰
- 12. Loose Women is appealing — Answer: WINSOME. Hint: Think of a charming, attractive quality that makes someone especially endearing. 😊
- 13. Relaxes with guys dropping lead — Answer: EASES. Hint: Look for a verb meaning unwinds, formed by trimming the front of a word for male friends. 🧩
- 14. Ultimately most Pride parades will follow large musical floats — Answer: LEVITATES. Hint: Think of what objects do when they rise and hover without support. 🎈
- 16. Transform poodle with CGI to be German Shepherd? — Answer: POLICEDOG. Hint: Think of a trained canine partner that helps officers sniff out trouble. 🐕
- 19. Sweetener found in sauces on the counter — Answer: SUGAR. Hint: This everyday pantry sweetener often hides in ketchup, barbecue sauce, and other table condiments 🍯
- 21. To do with figures UN rejected, America discovered — Answer: NUMERIC. Hint: It describes anything related to numbers or calculations. 🔢
- 23. Mark Noble mishit? No and it should be ignored — Answer: BLEMISH. Hint: Think of a small imperfection or flaw—the kind you might overlook. ✨
- 24. Truth about representing Italy — Answer: REALITY. Hint: Think beyond appearances: this word names what is genuinely true. 🧐
- 25. Gran assumes plug on Tesla for example is one from Vegas? — Answer: NEVADAN. Hint: Think of someone who calls the Silver State home. 🏜️
- 26. Ours eat and drink in resort – it's far from a favourite — Answer: RANKOUTSIDER. Hint: Think of a long-shot competitor who is decidedly not among the favourites. 🐎
Down
- 1. Cancels entertaining adult books? — Answer: ANNUALS. Hint: Think of books or magazines published once every year, perhaps with a grown-up twist. 📚
- 2. In seconds I'm told about acid rain spoiling Isuzu bonnets — Answer: MOBCAPS. Hint: The wording hides the answer systematically, so inspect each nearby word for the same positional pattern 🔎
- 3. Detective signalled and drove away — Answer: DISPELLED. Hint: Think of a sleuth sending a signal that makes something vanish. 🕵️
- 4. Old games console docked with steer-control component? — Answer: OXBOW. Hint: Picture a horseshoe-shaped river bend, with a playful gaming-console reference pointing the way. 🌊
- 5. Fitting type of burglar alarm, initially still working to break in — Answer: BAYONET. Hint: A fitting named after a blade can be built from a burglar alarm’s initial, a synonym for still, and a synonym for working. 🔧
- 6. Find native Australian solicitor — Answer: ROOTOUT. Hint: Look for a verb meaning “uncover” that combines a plant’s underground anchor with the opposite of “in.” 🌱
- 7. Daring top batsman means to get drink — Answer: BOTTLEOPENER. Hint: Think of the handy tool used to remove a drink’s cap, with a little baseball flair in the wording. 🥤
- 10. Nice one – term of endearment used by darling husband in party game — Answer: TREASUREHUNT. Hint: Think of a party game where affectionate words lead you on a search for hidden prizes 🗺️
- 15. Rolling Stones and five ace bands go to perform — Answer: VAGABONDS. Hint: Think of free-spirited wanderers who travel from place to place. 🧳
- 17. Greek character holding a dance — Answer: LAMBADA. Hint: Think of a spirited Brazilian dance whose name cleverly embraces a Greek-letter reference. 💃
- 18. Having a bad trip? Is crack involved? — Answer: CARSICK. Hint: Think of the queasy feeling some passengers get on a winding drive 🤢
- 19. Romantic ballad adored after release of disc is delayed — Answer: SHELVED. Hint: Think of a record release being put on hold, like a project paused indefinitely. ⏸️
- 20. Look pleased with communist revolutionary worker who's dogged — Answer: GRINDER. Hint: Think of a tireless worker, smiling broadly, with a nod to a revolutionary communist. 🛠️
- 22. Beastly sort of firm may stop you conclusively — Answer: COYPU. Hint: Think of a large, semi-aquatic South American rodent once raised for its fur. 🐀
Recent Telegraph Cryptic Answers
The last 3 days of solutions
Looking for today's Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated August 7, 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 | Sort of bank job Barry bored me about? | ARMEDROBBERY |
| 8 | Vehicle's over cloud moving miles to the west | OMNIBUS |
| 9 | Refuse to take part if third lad touches too much | BOYCOTT |
| 11 | Bakery offering fundamental opinion to Spooner | TEACAKE |
| 12 | Loose Women is appealing | WINSOME |
| 13 | Relaxes with guys dropping lead | EASES |
| 14 | Ultimately most Pride parades will follow large musical floats | LEVITATES |
| 16 | Transform poodle with CGI to be German Shepherd? | POLICEDOG |
| 19 | Sweetener found in sauces on the counter | SUGAR |
| 21 | To do with figures UN rejected, America discovered | NUMERIC |
| 23 | Mark Noble mishit? No and it should be ignored | BLEMISH |
| 24 | Truth about representing Italy | REALITY |
| 25 | Gran assumes plug on Tesla for example is one from Vegas? | NEVADAN |
| 26 | Ours eat and drink in resort – it's far from a favourite | RANKOUTSIDER |
Down
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cancels entertaining adult books? | ANNUALS |
| 2 | In seconds I'm told about acid rain spoiling Isuzu bonnets | MOBCAPS |
| 3 | Detective signalled and drove away | DISPELLED |
| 4 | Old games console docked with steer-control component? | OXBOW |
| 5 | Fitting type of burglar alarm, initially still working to break in | BAYONET |
| 6 | Find native Australian solicitor | ROOTOUT |
| 7 | Daring top batsman means to get drink | BOTTLEOPENER |
| 10 | Nice one – term of endearment used by darling husband in party game | TREASUREHUNT |
| 15 | Rolling Stones and five ace bands go to perform | VAGABONDS |
| 17 | Greek character holding a dance | LAMBADA |
| 18 | Having a bad trip? Is crack involved? | CARSICK |
| 19 | Romantic ballad adored after release of disc is delayed | SHELVED |
| 20 | Look pleased with communist revolutionary worker who's dogged | GRINDER |
| 22 | Beastly sort of firm may stop you conclusively | COYPU |
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 7, 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.