Telegraph Cryptic Crossword Answers Today
Cryptic Crossword No 31310
Across
- 1Church worker wanting a bob or two?CAMPANOLOGIST
- 9Share veg grown here?ALLOTMENT
- 10A smallish dog, my JoeCORGI
- 15Taps into new technology discipleSCHOLAR
- 17RAF fume terribly, getting warmerEARMUFF
- 18Swim Mersey, bracing dip!IMMERSE
- 20Thin fabric put around oily cheeseTAFFETA
- 28Fish swimming around fountain well behind yardYELLOWFINTUNA
Down
- 1Novelist Roald's layers discussed by SpoonerCHARLESDICKENS
- 8Failing MO makes dodgy laxativeMILKOFMAGNESIA
- 14Calling declarationPROFESSION
- 16Irritated mega-whiny writerHEMINGWAY
- 20Free hot shakes from thatTHEREOF
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Church worker wanting a bob or two? — Answer: CAMPANOLOGIST. Hint: Think of someone whose work revolves around church bells—and who wouldn’t mind a little spare change. 🔔
- 9. Share veg grown here? — Answer: ALLOTMENT. Hint: Think of a garden plot where vegetables are grown and shared out. 🌱
- 10. A smallish dog, my Joe — Answer: CORGI. Hint: Think of the famously short-legged royal pup associated with Queen Elizabeth II. 🐶
- 11. American shopping centre withdraws wool supplier — Answer: LLAMA. Hint: Picture a woolly South American pack animal often raised for its fleece. 🧶
- 12. Open return trip taken by Indian VIP — Answer: AJAR. Hint: Think of a door that isn’t fully closed, rather than a journey. 🚪
- 13. Where to find Scottish believers in Starfleet commander? — Answer: KIRK. Hint: Think of a Scottish church and a famous spacefaring captain 🚀
- 15. Taps into new technology disciple — Answer: SCHOLAR. Hint: A devoted learner who eagerly studies new ideas 📚
- 17. RAF fume terribly, getting warmer — Answer: EARMUFF. Hint: A cozy winter accessory that keeps your ears warm without covering your head. 🧣
- 18. Swim Mersey, bracing dip! — Answer: IMMERSE. Hint: Take a refreshing plunge, or put something completely under water. 🏊
- 20. Thin fabric put around oily cheese — Answer: TAFFETA. Hint: Think of a lightweight, smooth textile often used for elegant garments and gift ribbons. 🧵
- 21. Agreeable family settled at last — Answer: KIND. Hint: A pleasant synonym emerges when “family” gets a tiny finishing touch from “settled.” 😊
- 22. Regularly glimpsed long green monster — Answer: OGRE. Hint: Think of a fairy-tale brute, often associated with green skin and a fearsome appetite. 👹
- 23. Songwriter starts to sing in my own nightclub — Answer: SIMON. Hint: Think of the singer-songwriter famously paired with Garfunkel; his first name is the key. 🎶
- 26. Prince Andrew gutted when thrown in nick — Answer: NAWAB. Hint: Think of a historical Indian prince or ruler rather than a modern royal 👑
- 27. Through which to view popular satirical magazine articles? — Answer: EYEPIECES. Hint: Think of optical gear that could also describe well-liked bits of a humor magazine. 👓
- 28. Fish swimming around fountain well behind yard — Answer: YELLOWFINTUNA. Hint: Think of a prized ocean catch known for its bright fin and popular in sushi or tins. 🐟
Down
- 1. Novelist Roald's layers discussed by Spooner — Answer: CHARLESDICKENS. Hint: Think of a famous Victorian novelist concealed in a playful Spoonerism involving a children’s author and stacked garments. 📚
- 2. Mum next to lake by Taormina on vacation – a lovely island — Answer: MALTA. Hint: Think of a sunny Mediterranean island known for historic streets and crystal-clear waters. 🏝️
- 3. Where one might find a Constable just hanging around? — Answer: ARTGALLERY. Hint: Look for the place where paintings by masters are displayed on the walls 🖼️
- 4. Old swan song in an alfresco setting — Answer: OPENAIR. Hint: Picture a timeless farewell tune performed beneath the open sky. 🎶
- 5. Fresh taco baker unwrapped – popular snack item — Answer: OATCAKE. Hint: Think of a wholesome baked snack often enjoyed with tea or cheese 🍪
- 6. Slowly move part of foot — Answer: INCH. Hint: Think of a tiny distance unit that can also mean to creep along slowly. 📏
- 7. Highwayman fails to finish on time, exercising due depravity — Answer: TURPITUDE. Hint: Think of a formal noun for serious moral corruption or wickedness. 😈
- 8. Failing MO makes dodgy laxative — Answer: MILKOFMAGNESIA. Hint: Picture the chalky, old-fashioned remedy often associated with an upset stomach. 🥄
- 14. Calling declaration — Answer: PROFESSION. Hint: It can mean both a person’s vocation and a formal declaration of belief or intent. 🧭
- 16. Irritated mega-whiny writer — Answer: HEMINGWAY. Hint: Think of a famous author known for spare prose and an adventurous life. ✍️
- 19. Heading north, grocer gleefully embraces old master — Answer: ELGRECO. Hint: Think of the Renaissance painter whose Spanish nickname means “the Greek.” 🎨
- 20. Free hot shakes from that — Answer: THEREOF. Hint: Look for a formal word meaning “of that,” often used in legal language. ⚖️
- 24. Steam a cauldron containing Chinese food here — Answer: MACAU. Hint: Think of a famous Chinese gambling destination with Portuguese colonial flair. 🎲
- 25. Murder victim left south of Lincoln — Answer: ABEL. Hint: Think of the biblical brother whose tragic fate came at Cain’s hand. 🕊️
Looking for today's Telegraph Cryptic Crossword answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated August 5, 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 | Church worker wanting a bob or two? | CAMPANOLOGIST |
| 9 | Share veg grown here? | ALLOTMENT |
| 10 | A smallish dog, my Joe | CORGI |
| 11 | American shopping centre withdraws wool supplier | LLAMA |
| 12 | Open return trip taken by Indian VIP | AJAR |
| 13 | Where to find Scottish believers in Starfleet commander? | KIRK |
| 15 | Taps into new technology disciple | SCHOLAR |
| 17 | RAF fume terribly, getting warmer | EARMUFF |
| 18 | Swim Mersey, bracing dip! | IMMERSE |
| 20 | Thin fabric put around oily cheese | TAFFETA |
| 21 | Agreeable family settled at last | KIND |
| 22 | Regularly glimpsed long green monster | OGRE |
| 23 | Songwriter starts to sing in my own nightclub | SIMON |
| 26 | Prince Andrew gutted when thrown in nick | NAWAB |
| 27 | Through which to view popular satirical magazine articles? | EYEPIECES |
| 28 | Fish swimming around fountain well behind yard | YELLOWFINTUNA |
Down
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novelist Roald's layers discussed by Spooner | CHARLESDICKENS |
| 2 | Mum next to lake by Taormina on vacation – a lovely island | MALTA |
| 3 | Where one might find a Constable just hanging around? | ARTGALLERY |
| 4 | Old swan song in an alfresco setting | OPENAIR |
| 5 | Fresh taco baker unwrapped – popular snack item | OATCAKE |
| 6 | Slowly move part of foot | INCH |
| 7 | Highwayman fails to finish on time, exercising due depravity | TURPITUDE |
| 8 | Failing MO makes dodgy laxative | MILKOFMAGNESIA |
| 14 | Calling declaration | PROFESSION |
| 16 | Irritated mega-whiny writer | HEMINGWAY |
| 19 | Heading north, grocer gleefully embraces old master | ELGRECO |
| 20 | Free hot shakes from that | THEREOF |
| 24 | Steam a cauldron containing Chinese food here | MACAU |
| 25 | Murder victim left south of Lincoln | ABEL |
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 5, 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.