Times Quick Cryptic Crossword Answers Today

Times Quick Cryptic No 3373

By Juji

N
A
I
L
E
D
P
H
Y
S
I
O
E
N
M
A
I
D
P
Y
J
A
M
A
S
N
O
T
E
D
A
U
A
A
D
U
I
L
A
R
K
E
N
C
R
Y
P
T
S
I
E
P
D
A
H
D
A
L
M
A
T
I
A
N
T
A
L
L
E
M
A
B
S
E
N
T
L
Y
D
U
K
E
P
C
T
E
O
T
R
P
L
A
Z
A
D
I
V
O
R
C
E
E
R
I
E
A
L
D
E
F
I
N
E
F
R
I
L
L
Y

Across

  1. 1Secured mobile in dealNAILED
  2. 4Healthcare worker they’d said regularly gets involved in back operationPHYSIO
  3. 8Finally remedy hole in father’s nightwearPYJAMAS
  4. 10Renowned editor finishing new booksNOTED
  5. 11Bird left Noah’s vesselLARK
  6. 12Ciphers gent uncovered beside underground chambersENCRYPTS
  7. 14Spotted dog close to field barking at animalDALMATIAN
  8. 18Dispatched parts competently, without thinkingABSENTLY
  9. 20Nobleman appointed to host kingDUKE
  10. 22Public square is place jazzman used now and againPLAZA
  11. 23Five soldiers in gamble split upDIVORCE
  12. 24Clearly describe part of fish seen in Scottish riverDEFINE
  13. 25Ruffled young mare carrying queenFRILLY

Down

  1. 1Write about boxer from mountainous landNEPALI
  2. 2Hurt in martial art, almost holding onINJURED
  3. 3Name of woman rising in the morning with meEMMA
  4. 5Worker rejected untrustworthy person’s supportHANDRAIL
  5. 6Lifting, say, is exerciseSITUP
  6. 7On vacation, ordered food of dubious natureODDISH
  7. 9Some Victorians and all Edwardians in lightweight footwearSANDALLED
  8. 13Insect hidden in ordinary fruitPLANTAIN
  9. 15Dull Renault hybridNEUTRAL
  10. 16Lightly hit adept shot to gain lead in poloTAPPED
  11. 17Just married before end of financial yearMERELY
  12. 19Blemish on female’s neck coveringSCARF
  13. 21Finished deliveriesOVER

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Secured mobile in deal — Answer: NAILED. Hint: Think of fastening something firmly so it cannot budge 🔒
  2. 4. Healthcare worker they’d said regularly gets involved in back operation — Answer: PHYSIO. Hint: Think of a rehabilitation specialist who helps restore movement after an injury or operation. 🩺
  3. 8. Finally remedy hole in father’s nightwear — Answer: PYJAMAS. Hint: Picture the cozy bedtime outfit your dad might reach for after a long day. 😴
  4. 10. Renowned editor finishing new books — Answer: NOTED. Hint: Look for a word meaning famous or well-known, like a celebrated editor might be. ✨
  5. 11. Bird left Noah’s vessel — Answer: LARK. Hint: Picture the cheerful songbird that might have flown away from Noah’s boat. 🐦
  6. 12. Ciphers gent uncovered beside underground chambers — Answer: ENCRYPTS. Hint: Think of the action used to turn a message into secret code, with a subtle nod to underground chambers. 🔐
  7. 14. Spotted dog close to field barking at animal — Answer: DALMATIAN. Hint: Picture the black-and-white dog breed famously linked with firehouses 🐾
  8. 18. Dispatched parts competently, without thinking — Answer: ABSENTLY. Hint: This adverb describes doing something automatically while your mind is elsewhere. 🧠
  9. 20. Nobleman appointed to host king — Answer: DUKE. Hint: Picture a high-ranking noble entrusted with welcoming the monarch. 👑
  10. 22. Public square is place jazzman used now and again — Answer: PLAZA. Hint: Think of a town’s open gathering spot, where a jazz musician might occasionally perform. 🎷
  11. 23. Five soldiers in gamble split up — Answer: DIVORCE. Hint: This means to legally end a marriage, rather than merely take some time apart. 💔
  12. 24. Clearly describe part of fish seen in Scottish river — Answer: DEFINE. Hint: Think of a verb meaning to explain something precisely, with a fishy twist in the wordplay. 🐟
  13. 25. Ruffled young mare carrying queen — Answer: FRILLY. Hint: Picture a young female horse embracing a chess queen, then take on a ruffled look. 🐴

Down

  1. 1. Write about boxer from mountainous land — Answer: NEPALI. Hint: Think of someone or something from the Himalayan home of Mount Everest. 🏔️
  2. 2. Hurt in martial art, almost holding on — Answer: INJURED. Hint: Think of a past-tense word meaning hurt, with a martial-art reference and a sense of persevering woven together. 🥋
  3. 3. Name of woman rising in the morning with me — Answer: EMMA. Hint: Think of a familiar feminine name linked to sharing an early-morning greeting. 🌅
  4. 5. Worker rejected untrustworthy person’s support — Answer: HANDRAIL. Hint: Think of the sturdy support you might grip while climbing stairs. 🪜
  5. 6. Lifting, say, is exercise — Answer: SITUP. Hint: Think of a basic abdominal exercise where you raise your torso from the floor. 💪
  6. 7. On vacation, ordered food of dubious nature — Answer: ODDISH. Hint: Look for a word meaning slightly strange, with the holiday and meal wording providing playful cover. 🤔
  7. 9. Some Victorians and all Edwardians in lightweight footwear — Answer: SANDALLED. Hint: Picture feet dressed in open, strappy shoes popular in bygone eras 👡
  8. 13. Insect hidden in ordinary fruit — Answer: PLANTAIN. Hint: Think of a tropical fruit often fried or cooked rather than eaten raw. 🍌
  9. 15. Dull Renault hybrid — Answer: NEUTRAL. Hint: Think of something neither exciting nor taking a side, with the car maker providing a playful twist. 🧩
  10. 16. Lightly hit adept shot to gain lead in polo — Answer: TAPPED. Hint: Think of a gentle strike that also describes a skillful polo play. 🏇
  11. 17. Just married before end of financial year — Answer: MERELY. Hint: Look for a word meaning “only,” built from a wedding abbreviation and a shortened accounting-year reference. 💍
  12. 19. Blemish on female’s neck covering — Answer: SCARF. Hint: A skin mark and a feminine clue together point to something cozy worn around the neck. 🧣
  13. 21. Finished deliveries — Answer: OVER. Hint: What you might say when every package has arrived and the job is complete 📦

Recent Times Quick Cryptic Answers

The last 2 days of solutions

Times Quick Cryptic 5 August 2026Times Quick Cryptic 4 August 2026

Looking for today's Times Quick Cryptic 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 Times releases it. Launched in March 2014 under crossword editor Richard Rogan, the Quick Cryptic is a Monday–Friday 13×13 with named setters — a deliberate stepping stone into the main Times Cryptic. Whether you're checking a finished grid or stuck on a single clue, the full answers are below.

Full Times Quick 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
1Secured mobile in dealNAILED
4Healthcare worker they’d said regularly gets involved in back operationPHYSIO
8Finally remedy hole in father’s nightwearPYJAMAS
10Renowned editor finishing new booksNOTED
11Bird left Noah’s vesselLARK
12Ciphers gent uncovered beside underground chambersENCRYPTS
14Spotted dog close to field barking at animalDALMATIAN
18Dispatched parts competently, without thinkingABSENTLY
20Nobleman appointed to host kingDUKE
22Public square is place jazzman used now and againPLAZA
23Five soldiers in gamble split upDIVORCE
24Clearly describe part of fish seen in Scottish riverDEFINE
25Ruffled young mare carrying queenFRILLY

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Write about boxer from mountainous landNEPALI
2Hurt in martial art, almost holding onINJURED
3Name of woman rising in the morning with meEMMA
5Worker rejected untrustworthy person’s supportHANDRAIL
6Lifting, say, is exerciseSITUP
7On vacation, ordered food of dubious natureODDISH
9Some Victorians and all Edwardians in lightweight footwearSANDALLED
13Insect hidden in ordinary fruitPLANTAIN
15Dull Renault hybridNEUTRAL
16Lightly hit adept shot to gain lead in poloTAPPED
17Just married before end of financial yearMERELY
19Blemish on female’s neck coveringSCARF
21Finished deliveriesOVER

Today's Times Quick Cryptic answers

Today's solution appears above, split into Across and Down exactly as the puzzle numbers them. Each answer is listed separately so you can reveal just the clue that's blocking you. The grid is confirmed Monday through Friday as soon as The Times publishes it.

About the Times Quick Cryptic

The Times Quick Cryptic launched in March 2014 under crossword editor Richard Rogan as a deliberate stepping stone into the main Times Cryptic. It uses a reduced 13×13 grid (56 fewer squares than the 15×15) and shorter, fairer cryptic clueing — well-known wordplay devices, fewer oblique definitions — so newer solvers can finish in one sitting, and experienced solvers get a quick warm-up. Unlike the anonymous main Cryptic, each Quick Cryptic carries a setter pseudonym (Jalna, Wurm, Pipsqueak, Teazel and others). It appears Monday–Friday only. Ready for the full puzzle? See our Times Cryptic answers.

Quick Cryptic vs the main Times Cryptic

What changes when you step up from the QC to the 15×15:

Quick CrypticTimes Cryptic
Grid size13×1315×15
DaysMonday–FridayDaily
SetterNamed pseudonymAnonymous
ClueingShorter, familiar devicesFull cryptic range
IntentLearn cryptics / quick solveThe main daily challenge

How to break a stubborn Quick Cryptic clue

  • Find the definition. It almost always sits at the start or end of the clue; the middle is the wordplay.
  • Use the smaller grid. On a 13×13, one confirmed answer often unlocks two or three crossings at once.
  • Expect fair play. Quick Cryptic setters are steered toward common wordplay and clearer definitions than the main cryptic — if a reading feels impossibly obscure, try the simpler parse first.
  • Reveal one answer only. Our crossword solver confirms a single clue from your known letters without spoiling the rest.

Browse past Times Quick Cryptic answers

Every previous weekday Quick Cryptic is archived on this page by date with full solutions. There is no Quick 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 Times Quick Cryptic 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 Times releases it.

What time does the Times Quick Cryptic come out?

Monday through Friday at midnight UK time. There is no Quick Cryptic on Saturday or Sunday. We post the answers as soon as that day's grid is listed.

What is the Times Quick Cryptic?

Launched on 10 March 2014 under crossword editor Richard Rogan, it's a Monday–Friday 13×13 cryptic with named setters — shorter and gentler than the main Times Cryptic, aimed at newer cryptic solvers or a quicker daily solve.

Why are Quick Cryptic setters named?

Unlike the anonymous main Cryptic, each Quick Cryptic carries a pseudonym (Jalna, Wurm, Pipsqueak, Teazel and others) so solvers can learn individual styles while they practise cryptic devices.

Does the Quick Cryptic run on weekends?

No — it appears Monday through Friday. For weekends, the main Times Cryptic still runs.

Where can I find past Times Quick Cryptic answers?

Every previous weekday puzzle is in the archive on this page, listed by date with full solutions. The archive steps from Friday to Monday.

NYT Crossword Answers NYT Mini Crossword Answers Wordle Hint Today Connections Hint Today Strands Hint Today Quordle Hint Today Contexto Hint Today Spotle Hint Today Minute Cryptic Answer Today Pips Hint Today Jumble Answers Today 7 Little Words Answers