Telegraph Cryptic Crossword Answers - Aug 31

Cryptic Crossword No 31332

E
X
E
M
P
T
S
B
U
S
P
A
S
S
M
A
R
T
U
P
R
T
B
A
R
B
A
R
A
C
H
A
P
T
E
R
A
D
W
T
K
C
D
A
S
T
R
A
N
G
E
R
S
E
V
E
N
T
S
U
M
S
C
U
Y
E
M
E
N
E
A
R
T
H
W
O
R
M
A
N
E
I
A
S
P
I
R
A
T
E
S
P
R
E
S
S
N
A
R
T
Y
I
T
A
I
G
A
C
A
R
I
B
B
E
A
N
W
N
T
A
A
I
S
U
E
N
T
R
I
E
S
I
N
D
O
O
R
S
R
E
O
T
N
E
R
E
P
A
R
E
N
T
S
T
O
T
T
E
R
S

Across

  1. 1Frees former European politician with leads to tax scandal
  2. 5After return of loan, dad finally gets benefits and cheap means of travel
  3. 9Two pubs by area in Windsor, say
  4. 10Covers of cloth more appropriate for part of book
  5. 11Street run enrages foreigners
  6. 12Day before National Theatre performance
  7. 13Medieval landholders abandoning old country
  8. 15Rewarm hot wriggling wriggler
  9. 17Pronounces "H" in house like Captain Hook and Smee?
  10. 19Flatten papers
  11. 22Tops of trees axed in great American pine forest
  12. 23Can a bribe upset West Indian?
  13. 25Guards dropping heads in doorways
  14. 26I involved donors at home
  15. 27Brings up yearly leases
  16. 28Sways accountants?

Down

  1. 1Disorganised mess by a government building
  2. 2Read about odd part of body
  3. 3Seafood uncooked in edges of pan
  4. 4Southern gallery intended to give out a formal account
  5. 5Throws foreign money
  6. 6Type of bar initially seen on trendy form of travel
  7. 7Cunning code deciphered in style!
  8. 8Play guitar holding a tuner initially to get level
  9. 14Went quickly over allocation for commentary
  10. 16Break precipitation and temperature control
  11. 17Article on fool in large port
  12. 18Rope in decorator
  13. 20Offensive sight I noticed, reportedly
  14. 21Diggers in use, sometimes skirting cavities
  15. 23Groups of actors throw opening of scene
  16. 24Offer extremely elegant bathroom fitting

Here are the Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answers for Monday, August 31, 2026 — every solution for that day's Monday–Friday 15×15 cryptic, listed at the top of this page. Whether you're catching up on a puzzle you missed, settling a “what was the answer on August 31?” question, or checking a grid you finished that day, the complete clue-by-clue solution is right here. Looking for today's puzzle instead? Head to our live Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answers page.

Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answers for August 31, 2026

The full solution for the August 31 Telegraph Cryptic is shown above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as that day's grid read. Each answer is listed separately, so you can check just the clue you were stuck on and leave the rest. This is the confirmed grid as published on Monday, August 31.

Full Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answer list for August 31, 2026

Every clue from the August 31 grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1Frees former European politician with leads to tax scandalEXEMPTS
5After return of loan, dad finally gets benefits and cheap means of travelBUSPASS
9Two pubs by area in Windsor, sayBARBARA
10Covers of cloth more appropriate for part of bookCHAPTER
11Street run enrages foreignersSTRANGERS
12Day before National Theatre performanceEVENT
13Medieval landholders abandoning old countryYEMEN
15Rewarm hot wriggling wrigglerEARTHWORM
17Pronounces "H" in house like Captain Hook and Smee?ASPIRATES
19Flatten papersPRESS
22Tops of trees axed in great American pine forestTAIGA
23Can a bribe upset West Indian?CARIBBEAN
25Guards dropping heads in doorwaysENTRIES
26I involved donors at homeINDOORS
27Brings up yearly leasesPARENTS
28Sways accountants?TOTTERS

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Disorganised mess by a government buildingEMBASSY
2Read about odd part of bodyEARDRUM
3Seafood uncooked in edges of panPRAWN
4Southern gallery intended to give out a formal accountSTATEMENT
5Throws foreign moneyBUCKS
6Type of bar initially seen on trendy form of travelSPACESHIP
7Cunning code deciphered in style!ARTDECO
8Play guitar holding a tuner initially to get levelSTRATUM
14Went quickly over allocation for commentaryNARRATION
16Break precipitation and temperature controlRESTRAINT
17Article on fool in large portANTWERP
18Rope in decoratorPAINTER
20Offensive sight I noticed, reportedlyEYESORE
21Diggers in use, sometimes skirting cavitiesSINUSES
23Groups of actors throw opening of sceneCASTS
24Offer extremely elegant bathroom fittingBIDET

Hints for the August 31 cryptic

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The August 31 Telegraph Cryptic was a classic Monday 15×15 of cryptic wordplay — anagrams, charades, double definitions and the rest — separate from the harder Toughie. If a long entry stalls you, a hint or a single confirmed answer usually opens the corner around it. Use the hints first, then reveal the answers above only if you need them.

Looking for a different day?

Prefer to solve rather than peek? The play button opens the puzzle so you can try that day's grid yourself, then come back to check your answers. Stuck on a single clue from any puzzle, our crossword solver reveals just that answer from your known letters.

Frequently asked questions

What were the Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answers on August 31, 2026?

Every across and down answer for the Monday, August 31, 2026 Telegraph Cryptic is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed Monday–Friday 15×15 cryptic as published that day.

Was that day's puzzle the Toughie or the Prize Cryptic?

No — this archive page is the standard weekday Cryptic. The Toughie (Tue–Fri) and weekend Prize Cryptics are separate Telegraph puzzles.

Where can I find today's Telegraph Cryptic answers?

Today's live puzzle is on our Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answers today page, updated as soon as each new weekday grid goes live.

How do I look up a different date?

Use the previous/next links above to step between weekdays, or open the today page to browse the full dated archive. There is no Mon–Fri Cryptic on Saturday or Sunday.

The Telegraph Cryptic Crossword is published by The Telegraph; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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