Telegraph Cryptic Crossword Answers Today

Cryptic Crossword No 31328

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Across

  1. 1Military jumpers for destocking, original shadePARASOL
  2. 5Dull periods periodically rotating US spiesPROSAIC
  3. 9Study gazing at the stars?MUGUP
  4. 10One having a small bite here in Mexico?CHIHUAHUA
  5. 11Firm undertaking involving mass trade-offCOMPROMISE
  6. 12Temporary setback as Mike bales out of small airshipBLIP
  7. 14Painter & decorator getting nice Hello! mag spreadMICHELANGELO
  8. 18His job is to sort out the classroomSCHOOLMASTER
  9. 21Crazy to write off British forceARMY
  10. 22Something from the Savoy Hotel, a grip perhapsLIGHTOPERA
  11. 25Swiss city hosting today's Facebook lead?BASEMETAL
  12. 26Boredom leads to extremely nasty nationalists urging insurrectionENNUI
  13. 27Where toy manufacturer is dependent on elf 'n' safety at work?LAPLAND
  14. 28Pardon means roughly twenty to be dischargedAMNESTY

Down

  1. 1Rodents beneath edges of plateau rockPUMICE
  2. 2Note Russian jet circling on eastern courseREGIME
  3. 3Delightful guest ignoring tech bossSUPERVISOR
  4. 4Temporary vicar Old Jock Hume entirely stripped offLOCUM
  5. 5Maritime campaigner Samuel, originator of sea pumpsPLIMSOLLS
  6. 6Work over – drink up!OPUS
  7. 7Lad who went for a dip feeling sick, beset by painsACHILLES
  8. 8Tory eating meat pie without base – excellent!CHAMPION
  9. 13Angry Lebanon regularly denying former queenANNEBOLEYN
  10. 15Clumsy, poor actor is deft when tipsyHAMFISTED
  11. 16City in Turkmenistan bulldozedISTANBUL
  12. 17Little Tom's out of bed, which is an encouraging signTHUMBSUP
  13. 19Game served up in Moonrakers Inn, EtonTENNIS
  14. 20National Insurance collected in tax year is an extravaganceVANITY
  15. 23Turkish sweet hearts left entertained by Ms GardnerHALVA
  16. 24Daughter in law initially goes off puzzle bookEMMA

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Military jumpers for destocking, original shade — Answer: PARASOL. Hint: Combine a military jumper with an abbreviation for an original shade. 🎨
  2. 5. Dull periods periodically rotating US spies — Answer: PROSAIC. Hint: Look for a word meaning dull, assembled from rotating snippets of “periods” and “US spies.” 🕵️
  3. 9. Study gazing at the stars? — Answer: MUGUP. Hint: This informal verb means study, with a playful celestial-reading surface. 🌟
  4. 10. One having a small bite here in Mexico? — Answer: CHIHUAHUA. Hint: Think of a famously tiny Mexican dog whose name fits the nippy definition. 🐶
  5. 11. Firm undertaking involving mass trade-off — Answer: COMPROMISE. Hint: A negotiated settlement is suggested by a business undertaking involving a mass abbreviation. 🤝
  6. 12. Temporary setback as Mike bales out of small airship — Answer: BLIP. Hint: Remove the radio call sign for Mike from a small dirigible to get a brief setback. 🎈
  7. 14. Painter & decorator getting nice Hello! mag spread — Answer: MICHELANGELO. Hint: An Italian Renaissance artist emerges when a greeting magazine is thoroughly rearranged. 🖌️
  8. 18. His job is to sort out the classroom — Answer: SCHOOLMASTER. Hint: The definition points to someone responsible for managing a classroom. 🏫
  9. 21. Crazy to write off British force — Answer: ARMY. Hint: The definition is a British military force, while the wordplay involves “crazy” and writing something off. 🎖️
  10. 22. Something from the Savoy Hotel, a grip perhaps — Answer: LIGHTOPERA. Hint: Think of the theatrical genre associated with Gilbert and Sullivan’s Savoy productions. 🎭
  11. 25. Swiss city hosting today's Facebook lead? — Answer: BASEMETAL. Hint: A Swiss city provides the opening, while the definition points to a common industrial substance. 🏭
  12. 26. Boredom leads to extremely nasty nationalists urging insurrection — Answer: ENNUI. Hint: The definition is boredom; collect the outermost letters of the final words in the clue. 😴
  13. 27. Where toy manufacturer is dependent on elf 'n' safety at work? — Answer: LAPLAND. Hint: Look for the snowy home of toy-makers, with the clue’s “elf ’n’ safety” supplying the playful wordplay. ❄️
  14. 28. Pardon means roughly twenty to be discharged — Answer: AMNESTY. Hint: A word for pardon is built from a rough version of “means” and part of “twenty.” 🕊️

Down

  1. 1. Rodents beneath edges of plateau rock — Answer: PUMICE. Hint: Place rodents under the outer letters of “plateau” to uncover the rock. 🪨
  2. 2. Note Russian jet circling on eastern course — Answer: REGIME. Hint: Combine a solfège note with a Russian jet rearranged around the abbreviation for eastern. ✈️
  3. 3. Delightful guest ignoring tech boss — Answer: SUPERVISOR. Hint: A compliment joins a guest after a familiar technology abbreviation is removed. 💼
  4. 4. Temporary vicar Old Jock Hume entirely stripped off — Answer: LOCUM. Hint: A temporary replacement cleric is the definition, with the wordplay hidden inside the latter part of the clue. ⛪
  5. 5. Maritime campaigner Samuel, originator of sea pumps — Answer: PLIMSOLLS. Hint: This honors Samuel, the maritime reformer associated with a famous ship-safety marking. ⚓
  6. 6. Work over – drink up! — Answer: OPUS. Hint: For “work,” reverse a verb meaning take a sip after the usual abbreviation for over. 🥤
  7. 7. Lad who went for a dip feeling sick, beset by pains — Answer: ACHILLES. Hint: Think of the legendary Greek hero whose vulnerable heel became famous. 🏛️
  8. 8. Tory eating meat pie without base – excellent! — Answer: CHAMPION. Hint: This describes someone outstanding, or a person who triumphs in competition. 🏆
  9. 13. Angry Lebanon regularly denying former queen — Answer: ANNEBOLEYN. Hint: Look to the Tudor period for the queen whose marriage to Henry VIII ended dramatically. 👑
  10. 15. Clumsy, poor actor is deft when tipsy — Answer: HAMFISTED. Hint: This describes someone whose actions are awkward and lacking finesse. 🤹
  11. 16. City in Turkmenistan bulldozed — Answer: ISTANBUL. Hint: Think of the famous Turkish city that spans two continents. 🌉
  12. 17. Little Tom's out of bed, which is an encouraging sign — Answer: THUMBSUP. Hint: A familiar hand gesture signals approval or encouragement. 👍
  13. 19. Game served up in Moonrakers Inn, Eton — Answer: TENNIS. Hint: This racket sport is played across a net and can be enjoyed in singles or doubles. 🎾
  14. 20. National Insurance collected in tax year is an extravagance — Answer: VANITY. Hint: It can mean excessive self-regard or an empty indulgence. 💎
  15. 23. Turkish sweet hearts left entertained by Ms Gardner — Answer: HALVA. Hint: This crumbly confection is often made with sesame or nuts. 🍬
  16. 24. Daughter in law initially goes off puzzle book — Answer: EMMA. Hint: Think of Jane Austen’s novel about a clever young matchmaker. 📚

Recent Telegraph Cryptic Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

Telegraph Cryptic 25 August 2026Telegraph Cryptic 24 August 2026Telegraph Cryptic 21 August 2026Telegraph Cryptic 20 August 2026Telegraph Cryptic 19 August 2026Telegraph Cryptic 18 August 2026Telegraph Cryptic 17 August 2026

Looking for today's Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated August 26, 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

#ClueAnswer
1Military jumpers for destocking, original shadePARASOL
5Dull periods periodically rotating US spiesPROSAIC
9Study gazing at the stars?MUGUP
10One having a small bite here in Mexico?CHIHUAHUA
11Firm undertaking involving mass trade-offCOMPROMISE
12Temporary setback as Mike bales out of small airshipBLIP
14Painter & decorator getting nice Hello! mag spreadMICHELANGELO
18His job is to sort out the classroomSCHOOLMASTER
21Crazy to write off British forceARMY
22Something from the Savoy Hotel, a grip perhapsLIGHTOPERA
25Swiss city hosting today's Facebook lead?BASEMETAL
26Boredom leads to extremely nasty nationalists urging insurrectionENNUI
27Where toy manufacturer is dependent on elf 'n' safety at work?LAPLAND
28Pardon means roughly twenty to be dischargedAMNESTY

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Rodents beneath edges of plateau rockPUMICE
2Note Russian jet circling on eastern courseREGIME
3Delightful guest ignoring tech bossSUPERVISOR
4Temporary vicar Old Jock Hume entirely stripped offLOCUM
5Maritime campaigner Samuel, originator of sea pumpsPLIMSOLLS
6Work over – drink up!OPUS
7Lad who went for a dip feeling sick, beset by painsACHILLES
8Tory eating meat pie without base – excellent!CHAMPION
13Angry Lebanon regularly denying former queenANNEBOLEYN
15Clumsy, poor actor is deft when tipsyHAMFISTED
16City in Turkmenistan bulldozedISTANBUL
17Little Tom's out of bed, which is an encouraging signTHUMBSUP
19Game served up in Moonrakers Inn, EtonTENNIS
20National Insurance collected in tax year is an extravaganceVANITY
23Turkish sweet hearts left entertained by Ms GardnerHALVA
24Daughter in law initially goes off puzzle bookEMMA

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:

PuzzleWhen it runsWhat it is
Cryptic (this page)Monday–FridayStandard daily cryptic; setters usually anonymous
ToughieTuesday–FridayHarder companion cryptic; named setter pseudonyms
Prize CrypticSaturday & SundaySeparate 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 26, 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.

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