How do I solve 1 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

1 across reads "Good time to restrain American Air Force" (4 letters); the answer is GUST. It's a container clue: one word goes inside another. Container indicators include 'in', 'around', 'holding', and 'embracing' — identify the outer word, then the inner piece that gets slotted into it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 3 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

3 across reads "Marcel Marceau seemingly such a green activist?" (4-6 letters); the answer is TREE-HUGGER. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 10 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

10 across reads "An important first for subversive?" (9 letters); the answer is ANARCHIST. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 11 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

11 across reads "All dwarfs small and equal?" (5 letters); the answer is SEVEN. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 12 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

12 across reads "Course taken by European film company" (5 letters); the answer is PATHE. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 13 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

13 across reads "Check name in claim for dispute" (9 letters); the answer is CHALLENGE. It's a container clue: one word goes inside another. Container indicators include 'in', 'around', 'holding', and 'embracing' — identify the outer word, then the inner piece that gets slotted into it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 14 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

14 across reads "10 Across, no saint, deceptive Persian enemy?" (8 letters); the answer is THRACIAN. It's an anagram clue: the answer is a rearrangement of letters supplied by the clue itself. Look for an indicator like 'mixed', 'broken', 'cooked', or 'wild', and find a phrase whose letters add up to the answer's length. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 16 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

16 across reads "Four from Rome in vessels for turns" (6 letters); the answer is PIVOTS. It's a container clue: one word goes inside another. Container indicators include 'in', 'around', 'holding', and 'embracing' — identify the outer word, then the inner piece that gets slotted into it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 19 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

19 across reads "Bats amused snake-haired monster" (6 letters); the answer is MEDUSA. It's an anagram clue: the answer is a rearrangement of letters supplied by the clue itself. Look for an indicator like 'mixed', 'broken', 'cooked', or 'wild', and find a phrase whose letters add up to the answer's length. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 20 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

20 across reads "Boys circling northern edge fall from cliff" (8 letters); the answer is LANDSLIP. It's a container clue: one word goes inside another. Container indicators include 'in', 'around', 'holding', and 'embracing' — identify the outer word, then the inner piece that gets slotted into it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 22 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

22 across reads "Okay writer one sees regularly" (9 letters); the answer is AUTHORISE. It's a letter-selection clue: take specific letters from a longer source. 'First of' means the opening letter, 'extremely' means first + last, 'regularly' means every other letter, 'oddly' / 'evenly' means odd or even positions. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 26 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

26 across reads "Number pledging future constitutional support?" (5,5,4,5 letters); the answer is YOULL NEVER WALK ALONE. It's a cryptic definition: the whole clue is a playful or punny description of the answer. No wordplay decomposition to do — read laterally and identify what's being described. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 28 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

28 across reads "Extremely reasonable request for copy" (10 letters); the answer is REPETITION. It's a letter-selection clue: take specific letters from a longer source. 'First of' means the opening letter, 'extremely' means first + last, 'regularly' means every other letter, 'oddly' / 'evenly' means odd or even positions. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 29 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

29 across reads "Lewis for one is extremely louche" (4 letters); the answer is ISLE. It's a letter-selection clue: take specific letters from a longer source. 'First of' means the opening letter, 'extremely' means first + last, 'regularly' means every other letter, 'oddly' / 'evenly' means odd or even positions. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 1 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

1 down reads "See a little government file" (5 letters); the answer is GRASP. It's a letter-selection clue: take specific letters from a longer source. 'First of' means the opening letter, 'extremely' means first + last, 'regularly' means every other letter, 'oddly' / 'evenly' means odd or even positions. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 2 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

2 down reads "Very tired and broken" (9 letters); the answer is SHATTERED. It's a double-definition clue: two separate definitions of the same word sit side by side. No wordplay split and no indicators — both halves of the clue define the answer. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 4 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

4 down reads "Mac artist at home with paint" (8 letters); the answer is RAINCOAT. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 5 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

5 down reads "Deceive mate endlessly sent up" (6 letters); the answer is ENTRAP. It's a deletion clue: start with a word the clue points to, then drop one or more letters. Indicators include 'endlessly' (lose the last letter), 'beheaded' (lose the first), or 'heartlessly' (lose the middle). The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 6 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

6 down reads "Immaculate Lulu dines out" (9 letters); the answer is UNSULLIED. It's an anagram clue: the answer is a rearrangement of letters supplied by the clue itself. Look for an indicator like 'mixed', 'broken', 'cooked', or 'wild', and find a phrase whose letters add up to the answer's length. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 7 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

7 down reads "Journey on goods vehicle in Glasgow district" (5 letters); the answer is GOVAN. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 8 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

8 down reads "Narrow carpets lifted in seconds?" (7-2 letters); the answer is RUNNERS-UP. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 9 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

9 down reads "Spots an East End carriage reportedly?" (4 letters); the answer is ACNE. It's a homophone clue: the answer sounds like another word. Indicators like 'reportedly', 'we hear', or 'sounds like' point to a word that's pronounced similarly to the answer. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 14 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

14 down reads "Yes! Warm to mischievous adventurer!" (3,6 letters); the answer is TOM SAWYER. It's an anagram clue: the answer is a rearrangement of letters supplied by the clue itself. Look for an indicator like 'mixed', 'broken', 'cooked', or 'wild', and find a phrase whose letters add up to the answer's length. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 15 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

15 down reads "French dish, lost cause, failed" (9 letters); the answer is CASSOULET. It's an anagram clue: the answer is a rearrangement of letters supplied by the clue itself. Look for an indicator like 'mixed', 'broken', 'cooked', or 'wild', and find a phrase whose letters add up to the answer's length. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 17 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

17 down reads "Ignorant learner I marked externally" (9 letters); the answer is OBLIVIOUS. It's a container clue: one word goes inside another. Container indicators include 'in', 'around', 'holding', and 'embracing' — identify the outer word, then the inner piece that gets slotted into it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 18 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

18 down reads "Where one goes after class tracked location?" (8 letters); the answer is WATERLOO. It's a charade: the answer breaks into parts in clue order, each part clued by a word or short phrase. No indicators needed; watch for standard abbreviations (RA = artist, US = American, IN = at home) and short synonyms. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 21 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

21 down reads "Lad I'm with, not all there: thicko" (6 letters); the answer is DIMWIT. It's a hidden-word clue: the answer is spelled out by consecutive letters in the clue itself, often crossing a word boundary. Indicators like 'in', 'some', or 'part of' signal that you're looking at a substring. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 23 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

23 down reads "Beginning of the end for POTUS" (5 letters); the answer is TRUMP. It's a letter-selection clue: take specific letters from a longer source. 'First of' means the opening letter, 'extremely' means first + last, 'regularly' means every other letter, 'oddly' / 'evenly' means odd or even positions. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 24 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

24 down reads "Cattle interact periodically" (4 letters); the answer is NEAT. It's a letter-selection clue: take specific letters from a longer source. 'First of' means the opening letter, 'extremely' means first + last, 'regularly' means every other letter, 'oddly' / 'evenly' means odd or even positions. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 25 down in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253?

25 down reads "Old official Chancellor finishing early" (5 letters); the answer is REEVE. It's a deletion clue: start with a word the clue points to, then drop one or more letters. Indicators include 'endlessly' (lose the last letter), 'beheaded' (lose the first), or 'heartlessly' (lose the middle). The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31253 — Answers, Hints & Wordplay Explained

1A — Good time to restrain American Air Force (4) — GUST

Definition
Definition found: 'Air Force' — Do not think of armed forces, think of wind force
Indicator
Indicator found: 'to restrain'
Operation
'to restrain' signals a container operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Good time American'
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Good' → G
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'time' → T
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'American' → US
Assembly
GT + US = G(US)T

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3A — Marcel Marceau seemingly such a green activist? (4-6) — TREE-HUGGER

Definition
Definition found: ''
Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Marcel Marceau seemingly such a green activist?' → TREEHUGGER
Assembly
TREEHUGGER = TREE-HUGGER

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10A — An important first for subversive? (9) — ANARCHIST

Definition
Definition found: 'subversive?'
Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'important' → ARCH
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'first' → IST
Assembly
AN + ARCH + IST = ANARCHIST

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11A — All dwarfs small and equal? (5) — SEVEN

Definition
Definition found: 'All dwarfs'
Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'small' → S
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'equal?' → EVEN
Assembly
S + EVEN = SEVEN

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12A — Course taken by European film company (5) — PATHE

Definition
Definition found: 'film company' — Famous French/European film production studio
Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Course' → PATH
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'European' → E
Assembly
PATH + E = PATHE

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13A — Check name in claim for dispute (9) — CHALLENGE

Definition
Definition found: 'dispute'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'in'
Operation
'in' signals a container operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Check name claim'
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Check' → CH
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'name' → N
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'claim' → ALLEGE
Assembly
CHALLEGE + N = CHALLE(N)GE

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14A — 10 Across, no saint, deceptive Persian enemy? (8) — THRACIAN

Definition
Definition found: 'Persian enemy?'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'deceptive'
Operation
'deceptive' signals a anagram operation
Fodder
Fodder: '10 Across,'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'no saint,'
Operation
'no saint,' signals a deletion operation
Fodder
Fodder: '10 Across,'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: '10 Across,' → ANARCHIST
Assembly
(ANARCHIST - S > ANARCHIT) > ANARCHIT = THRACIAN

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16A — Four from Rome in vessels for turns (6) — PIVOTS

Definition
Definition found: 'turns'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'in'
Operation
'in' signals a container operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Four from Rome vessels'
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Four from Rome' → IV
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'vessels' → POTS
Assembly
POTS + IV = P(IV)OTS

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19A — Bats amused snake-haired monster (6) — MEDUSA

Definition
Definition found: 'snake-haired monster'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'Bats'
Operation
'Bats' signals a anagram operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'amused'
Assembly
AMUSED = MEDUSA

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20A — Boys circling northern edge fall from cliff (8) — LANDSLIP

Definition
Definition found: 'fall from cliff'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'circling'
Operation
'circling' signals a container operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Boys northern'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Boys' → LADS
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'northern' → N
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'edge' → LIP
Assembly
(LADS + N > LA(N)DS) + LIP = LANDSLIP

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22A — Okay writer one sees regularly (9) — AUTHORISE

Definition
Definition found: 'Okay'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'regularly'
Operation
'regularly' signals a letter_selection operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'sees'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'writer' → AUTHOR
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'one' → I
Assembly
AUTHOR + I + SE = AUTHORISE

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26A — Number pledging future constitutional support? (5,5,4,5) — YOULL NEVER WALK ALONE

Definition
The whole clue is one cryptic definition — read it laterally.
Indicator
Indicator found: ''
Wordplay
Wordplay: Cryptic definition
Assembly
YOULLNEVERWALKALONE = YOULL NEVER WALK ALONE

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28A — Extremely reasonable request for copy (10) — REPETITION

Definition
Definition found: 'for copy'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'Extremely'
Operation
'Extremely' signals a letter_selection operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'reasonable'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'request' → PETITION
Assembly
RE + PETITION = REPETITION

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29A — Lewis for one is extremely louche (4) — ISLE

Definition
Definition found: 'Lewis for one'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'extremely'
Operation
'extremely' signals a letter_selection operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'louche'
Assembly
IS + LE = ISLE

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1D — See a little government file (5) — GRASP

Definition
Definition found: 'See'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'a little'
Operation
'a little' signals a letter_selection operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'government'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'file' → RASP
Assembly
G + RASP = GRASP

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2D — Very tired and broken (9) — SHATTERED

Wordplay
Wordplay: Double definition
Assembly
SHATTERED = SHATTERED

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4D — Mac artist at home with paint (8) — RAINCOAT

Definition
Definition found: 'Mac'
Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'artist' → RA
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'at home' → IN
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'with paint' → COAT
Assembly
RA + IN + COAT = RAINCOAT

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5D — Deceive mate endlessly sent up (6) — ENTRAP

Definition
Definition found: 'Deceive'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'endlessly'
Operation
'endlessly' signals a deletion operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'mate'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'sent up'
Operation
'sent up' signals a reversal operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'mate'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'mate' → PARTNER
Assembly
(PARTNER - R > PARTNE) > PARTNE = ENTRAP

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6D — Immaculate Lulu dines out (9) — UNSULLIED

Definition
Definition found: 'Immaculate'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'out'
Operation
'out' signals a anagram operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Lulu dines'
Assembly
LULUDINES = UNSULLIED

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7D — Journey on goods vehicle in Glasgow district (5) — GOVAN

Definition
Definition found: 'Glasgow district'
Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Journey' → GO
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'goods vehicle' → VAN
Assembly
GO + VAN = GOVAN

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8D — Narrow carpets lifted in seconds? (7-2) — RUNNERS-UP

Definition
Definition found: 'in seconds?'
Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Narrow carpets' → RUNNERS
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'lifted' → UP
Assembly
RUNNERS + UP = RUNNERS-UP

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9D — Spots an East End carriage reportedly? (4) — ACNE

Definition
Definition found: 'Spots'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'reportedly?'
Operation
'reportedly?' signals a homophone operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'East End carriage'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'East End carriage' → HACKNEY
Assembly
HACKNEY = ACNE

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14D — Yes! Warm to mischievous adventurer! (3,6) — TOM SAWYER

Definition
Definition found: 'adventurer!'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'mischievous'
Operation
'mischievous' signals a anagram operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Yes! Warm to'
Assembly
YESWARMTO = TOMSAWYER

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15D — French dish, lost cause, failed (9) — CASSOULET

Definition
Definition found: 'French dish,'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'failed'
Operation
'failed' signals a anagram operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'lost cause,'
Assembly
LOSTCAUSE = CASSOULET

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17D — Ignorant learner I marked externally (9) — OBLIVIOUS

Definition
Definition found: 'Ignorant'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'externally'
Operation
'externally' signals a container operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'learner I marked'
Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'learner' → L
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'marked' → OBVIOUS
Assembly
OBVIOUS + LI = OB(LI)VIOUS

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18D — Where one goes after class tracked location? (8) — WATERLOO

Definition
Definition found: 'tracked location?' — Trains goes here
Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Where one goes' → LOO
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'class tracked' → WATER
Assembly
LOO + WATER = WATERLOO

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21D — Lad I'm with, not all there: thicko (6) — DIMWIT

Definition
Definition found: 'thicko'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'not all there:'
Operation
'not all there:' signals a hidden_word operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Lad I'm with,'
Assembly
DIMWIT = DIMWIT

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23D — Beginning of the end for POTUS (5) — TRUMP

Definition
Definition found: 'for POTUS'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'Beginning of'
Operation
'Beginning of' signals a letter_selection operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'the'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'end' → RUMP
Assembly
T + RUMP = TRUMP

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24D — Cattle interact periodically (4) — NEAT

Definition
Definition found: 'Cattle' — Germanic origins that literally means a cow, ox, bull, or domestic bovine
Indicator
Indicator found: 'periodically'
Operation
'periodically' signals a letter_selection operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'interact'
Assembly
NEAT = NEAT

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25D — Old official Chancellor finishing early (5) — REEVE

Definition
Definition found: 'Old official'
Indicator
Indicator found: 'finishing early'
Operation
'finishing early' signals a deletion operation
Fodder
Fodder: 'Chancellor'
Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'Chancellor' → REEVES
Assembly
REEVES - S = REEVE

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Across

1A — Good time to restrain American Air Force (4) — GUST

3A — Marcel Marceau seemingly such a green activist? (4-6) — TREE-HUGGER

10A — An important first for subversive? (9) — ANARCHIST

11A — All dwarfs small and equal? (5) — SEVEN

12A — Course taken by European film company (5) — PATHE

13A — Check name in claim for dispute (9) — CHALLENGE

14A — 10 Across, no saint, deceptive Persian enemy? (8) — THRACIAN

16A — Four from Rome in vessels for turns (6) — PIVOTS

19A — Bats amused snake-haired monster (6) — MEDUSA

20A — Boys circling northern edge fall from cliff (8) — LANDSLIP

22A — Okay writer one sees regularly (9) — AUTHORISE

26A — Number pledging future constitutional support? (5,5,4,5) — YOULL NEVER WALK ALONE

28A — Extremely reasonable request for copy (10) — REPETITION

29A — Lewis for one is extremely louche (4) — ISLE

Down

1D — See a little government file (5) — GRASP

2D — Very tired and broken (9) — SHATTERED

4D — Mac artist at home with paint (8) — RAINCOAT

5D — Deceive mate endlessly sent up (6) — ENTRAP

6D — Immaculate Lulu dines out (9) — UNSULLIED

7D — Journey on goods vehicle in Glasgow district (5) — GOVAN

8D — Narrow carpets lifted in seconds? (7-2) — RUNNERS-UP

9D — Spots an East End carriage reportedly? (4) — ACNE

14D — Yes! Warm to mischievous adventurer! (3,6) — TOM SAWYER

15D — French dish, lost cause, failed (9) — CASSOULET

17D — Ignorant learner I marked externally (9) — OBLIVIOUS

18D — Where one goes after class tracked location? (8) — WATERLOO

21D — Lad I'm with, not all there: thicko (6) — DIMWIT

23D — Beginning of the end for POTUS (5) — TRUMP

24D — Cattle interact periodically (4) — NEAT

25D — Old official Chancellor finishing early (5) — REEVE