How do I solve 1 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

1 across reads " Rocky 6 — in a rut, Hugh Jackman?" (10 letters); the answer is AUSTRALIAN. 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 6 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

6 across reads "Festivals starting late, unfortunately" (4 letters); the answer is ALAS. 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 10 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

10 across reads "Biblical messenger’s talk that is splitting sides" (7 letters); the answer is GABRIEL. 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 11 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

11 across reads "Do musical score?" (7 letters); the answer is HAIRCUT. 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 Times Cryptic 29537?

12 across reads "Most intense part of impressive dish that’s unfinished" (9 letters); the answer is EPICENTRE. 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 13 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

13 across reads "Like croissants without ends, say" (5 letters); the answer is UTTER. 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 14 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

14 across reads "Open banana avoided by worker, perhaps" (5 letters); the answer is PLAIN. 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 15 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

15 across reads "Confectionery with marijuana? It’s a bit of a racket" (5,4 letters); the answer is SWEETSPOT. 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 17 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

17 across reads "Glance over young professional’s football skills" (5-4 letters); the answer is KEEPYUPPY. It's a reversal clue: the answer is a word read backwards. Look for indicators like 'back', 'returned', or — in a down clue — 'up' or 'lifted'. Find the source word and reverse it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 20 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

20 across reads "Did row ultimately undo American revolutionary?" (5 letters); the answer is OARED. 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 21 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

21 across reads "Shape of mug that H&M cut apart" (5 letters); the answer is RHOMB. 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 23 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

23 across reads "Inferior work following exclusive about a French duke" (9 letters); the answer is POUNDSHOP. 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 25 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

25 across reads "Sweetheart for many encapsulates poetry?" (3,4 letters); the answer is ARTFORM. 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 26 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

26 across reads "Most tacky introduction for Iggy and Stooges briefly broadcast" (7 letters); the answer is GOOIEST. 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 27 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

27 across reads "Notice essay has page replacing it" (4 letters); the answer is ESPY. 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 28 across in Times Cryptic 29537?

28 across reads "Churchgoers welcoming corrupt female swimmer" (10 letters); the answer is PARROTFISH. 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 1 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

1 down reads "Two lines required to capture this fish" (5 letters); the answer is ANGLE. 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 2 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

2 down reads "Petition to eat BLT with filling that's extended and purified" (9 letters); the answer is SUBLIMATE. 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 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

3 down reads "Act surprised as Obi-Wan, Rey and ultimately Luke Skywalker are cast" (5,2,7 letters); the answer is RAISEANEYEBROW. 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 4 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

4 down reads "They show unqualified person recently breaking records" (1-6 letters); the answer is LPLATES. 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 5 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

5 down reads "Two articles about permitted jumper?" (7 letters); the answer is ATHLETE. 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 7 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

7 down reads "Legitimate Literature 101 dons" (5 letters); the answer is LICIT. 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 8 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

8 down reads "Dripping is like some fat" (9 letters); the answer is SATURATED. 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 9 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

9 down reads "Abrupt Times editor: undo changes in our masthead text!" (4,2,3,5 letters); the answer is DIEUETMONDROIT. 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 14 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

14 down reads "Useful feature for table fork, with peace shattered" (5,4 letters); the answer is POKERFACE. 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 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

16 down reads "Aha! House of Commons censure over game" (9 letters); the answer is PARCHEESI. It's a reversal clue: the answer is a word read backwards. Look for indicators like 'back', 'returned', or — in a down clue — 'up' or 'lifted'. Find the source word and reverse it. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

How do I solve 18 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

18 down reads "Channel covering mixed martial arts after 12" (3-4 letters); the answer is PIPEMMA. 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 19 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

19 down reads "Who's looking at this African nation, ignoring one more recently created?" (7 letters); the answer is YOUNGER. 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 22 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

22 down reads "Someone paid by the state to stock books, available as needed" (2,3 letters); the answer is ONTAP. 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 24 down in Times Cryptic 29537?

24 down reads "Way to conceal Conservative plot" (5 letters); the answer is PATCH. 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.

Times Cryptic 29537

Published 2026-05-08

Stuck on a clue in Times Cryptic 29537? Every clue is solved below with the definition, wordplay, and answer explained — plus hints for the tricks that catch most solvers out.

Across

1A — <i>Rocky 6</i> — in a rut, Hugh Jackman? (10) — AUSTRALIAN

Definition
Definition found: 'Hugh Jackman?' — Hugh Jackman is an example of an Australian.
Indicator
Indicator found: 'Rocky'

Operation
'Rocky' signals a anagram operation

Fodder
Fodder: '6 in a rut,'

Assembly
ALAS + INARUT > ALASINARUT = AUSTRALIAN

Try this clue in the trainer →

6A — Festivals starting late, unfortunately (4) — ALAS

Definition
Definition found: 'unfortunately'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'starting late,'

Operation
'starting late,' signals a deletion operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Festivals'

Assembly
GALAS - G = ALAS

Try this clue in the trainer →

10A — Biblical messenger’s talk that is splitting sides (7) — GABRIEL

Definition
Definition found: 'Biblical messenger’s' — Biblical messenger

Indicator
Indicator found: 'splitting'

Operation
'splitting' signals a container operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'that is sides'

Assembly
GAB + (RL + IE > R(IE)L) = GABRIEL

Try this clue in the trainer →

11A — Do musical score? (7) — HAIRCUT

Definition
Definition found: 'Do'

Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade

Assembly
HAIR + CUT = HAIRCUT

Try this clue in the trainer →

12A — Most intense part of impressive dish that’s unfinished (9) — EPICENTRE

Definition
Definition found: 'Most intense part'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'that’s unfinished'

Operation
'that’s unfinished' signals a deletion operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'dish'

Assembly
EPIC + (ENTREE - E > ENTRE) = EPICENTRE

Try this clue in the trainer →

13A — Like croissants without ends, say (5) — UTTER

Definition
Definition found: 'say'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'without ends,'

Operation
'without ends,' signals a deletion operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Like croissants'

Assembly
BUTTERY = UTTER

Try this clue in the trainer →

14A — Open banana avoided by worker, perhaps (5) — PLAIN

Definition
Definition found: 'Open'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'avoided by'

Operation
'avoided by' signals a deletion operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'banana worker, perhaps'

Assembly
PLANTAIN + ANT > PLANTAINANT = PLAIN

Try this clue in the trainer →

15A — Confectionery with marijuana? It’s a bit of a racket (5,4) — SWEETSPOT

Definition
Definition found: 'It’s a bit of a racket' — The 'sweet spot' is the optimum area on a sports racket for hitting the ball.

Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade

Assembly
SWEETS + POT = SWEETSPOT

Try this clue in the trainer →

17A — Glance over young professional’s football skills (5-4) — KEEPYUPPY

Definition
Definition found: 'football skills' — The definition is 'football skills', referring to the act of juggling a football to keep it off the ground.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'over'

Operation
'over' signals a reversal operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Glance'

Assembly
(PEEK > KEEP) + YUPPY = KEEPYUPPY

Try this clue in the trainer →

20A — Did row ultimately undo American revolutionary? (5) — OARED

Definition
Definition found: 'Did row'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'ultimately'

Operation
'ultimately' signals a letter_selection operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'undo'

Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'American' → A

Assembly
O + A + RED = OARED

Try this clue in the trainer →

21A — Shape of mug that H&M cut apart (5) — RHOMB

Definition
Definition found: 'Shape' — A rhomb is a four-sided shape (rhombus).

Indicator
Indicator found: 'cut apart'

Operation
'cut apart' signals a anagram operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'mug H&M'

Assembly
ROB + HM > ROBHM = RHOMB

Try this clue in the trainer →

23A — Inferior work following exclusive about a French duke (9) — POUNDSHOP

Definition
Definition found: 'Inferior' — A pound shop sells inferior or cheap goods.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'about'

Operation
'about' signals a container operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'exclusive a French duke'

Assembly
OP + (POSH + UN + D > POUNDSH) = POUNDSHOP

Try this clue in the trainer →

25A — Sweetheart for many encapsulates poetry? (3,4) — ARTFORM

Definition
Definition found: 'poetry?'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'encapsulates'

Operation
'encapsulates' signals a hidden_word operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Sweetheart for many'

Assembly
ARTFORM = ARTFORM

Try this clue in the trainer →

26A — Most tacky introduction for Iggy and Stooges briefly broadcast (7) — GOOIEST

Definition
Definition found: 'Most tacky' — 'Most tacky' = stickiest = GOOIEST.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'introduction for'

Operation
'introduction for' signals a letter_selection operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Iggy'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'briefly'

Operation
'briefly' signals a deletion operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Stooges'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'broadcast'

Operation
'broadcast' signals a anagram operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'introduction for Iggy Stooges briefly'

Assembly
I + (STOOGES - S > STOOGE) > ISTOOGE = GOOIEST

Try this clue in the trainer →

27A — Notice essay has page replacing it (4) — ESPY

Definition
Definition found: 'Notice' — Notice is the definition of ESPY.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'replacing'

Operation
'replacing' signals a substitution operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'essay page it'

Assembly
ESSAY = ESPY

Try this clue in the trainer →

28A — Churchgoers welcoming corrupt female swimmer (10) — PARROTFISH

Definition
Definition found: 'swimmer' — A swimmer, specifically a brightly coloured marine fish.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'welcoming'

Operation
'welcoming' signals a container operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Churchgoers corrupt female'

Assembly
PARISH + ROTF = PAR(ROTF)ISH

Try this clue in the trainer →

Down

1D — Two lines required to capture this fish (5) — ANGLE

Definition
The whole clue is the definition — both halves define the answer.

Indicator
Indicator found: ''

Wordplay
Wordplay: Double definition

Definition
first definition: 'Two lines required to capture this' — The first definition is 'Two lines required to capture this'.

Definition
second definition: 'fish' — The second definition is 'fish'.

Assembly
ANGLE = ANGLE

Try this clue in the trainer →

2D — Petition to eat BLT with filling that's extended and purified (9) — SUBLIMATE

Definition
Definition found: 'purified' — 'purified' = SUBLIMATE (chemistry: turn solid into vapour).

Indicator
Indicator found: 'to eat'

Operation
'to eat' signals a container operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'BLT filling that's extended'

Assembly
SUE + BLIMAT = SU(BLIMAT)E

Try this clue in the trainer →

3D — Act surprised as Obi-Wan, Rey and ultimately Luke Skywalker are cast (5,2,7) — RAISEANEYEBROW

Definition
Definition found: 'Act surprised' — 'Act surprised' = RAISE AN EYEBROW.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'ultimately'

Operation
'ultimately' signals a letter_selection operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Luke Skywalker are'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'cast'

Operation
'cast' signals a anagram operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'as Obi-Wan, Rey Luke Skywalker are'

Assembly
AS + OBIWAN + REY + ERE > ASOBIWANREYERE = RAISEANEYEBROW

Try this clue in the trainer →

4D — They show unqualified person recently breaking records (1-6) — LPLATES

Definition
Definition found: 'They show unqualified person'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'breaking'

Operation
'breaking' signals a container operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'recently records'

Assembly
LPS + LATE = LP(LATE)S

Try this clue in the trainer →

5D — Two articles about permitted jumper? (7) — ATHLETE

Definition
Definition found: 'jumper?' — A jumper (e.g., in track and field) is an example of an athlete.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'about'

Operation
'about' signals a container operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Two articles permitted'

Assembly
ATHE + LET = ATH(LET)E

Try this clue in the trainer →

7D — Legitimate Literature 101 dons (5) — LICIT

Definition
Definition found: 'Legitimate'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'dons'

Operation
'dons' signals a container operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Literature 101'

Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Literature 101'

Assembly
LIT + CI = LI(CI)T

Try this clue in the trainer →

8D — Dripping is like some fat (9) — SATURATED

Definition
The whole clue is the definition — both halves define the answer.

Indicator
Indicator found: ''

Wordplay
Wordplay: Double definition

Definition
first definition: 'Dripping' — The first definition is 'Dripping'.

Definition
second definition: 'is like some fat' — The second definition is 'is like some fat'.

Assembly
SATURATED = SATURATED

Try this clue in the trainer →

9D — Abrupt Times editor: undo changes in our masthead text! (4,2,3,5) — DIEUETMONDROIT

Definition
Definition found: 'our masthead text!' — DIEU ET MON DROIT is the royal motto on the British coat of arms — the 'masthead' of a Times-style newspaper.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'Abrupt'

Operation
'Abrupt' signals a deletion operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Times'

Indicator
Indicator found: 'changes'

Operation
'changes' signals a anagram operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Abrupt Times editor: undo'

Assembly
(TIMES - S > TIME) + EDITOR + UNDO > TIMEEDITORUNDO = DIEUETMONDROIT

Try this clue in the trainer →

14D — Useful feature for table fork, with peace shattered (5,4) — POKERFACE

Definition
Definition found: 'Useful feature for table' — A POKER FACE is a useful feature at the (poker) table.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'shattered'

Operation
'shattered' signals a anagram operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'fork, peace'

Assembly
FORK + PEACE > FORKPEACE = POKERFACE

Try this clue in the trainer →

16D — Aha! House of Commons censure over game (9) — PARCHEESI

Definition
Definition found: 'game' — PARCHEESI is a board game (the American name for Pachisi).

Indicator
Indicator found: 'over'

Operation
'over' signals a reversal operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Aha! House of Commons censure'

Assembly
ISEE + HC + RAP > ISEEHCRAP = PARCHEESI

Try this clue in the trainer →

18D — Channel covering mixed martial arts after 12 (3-4) — PIPEMMA

Definition
Definition found: 'after 12' — "Pip emma" is early 20th-century British military signallers' slang for PM (post meridiem), meaning after 12 noon.

Wordplay
Wordplay: Charade

Assembly
PIPE + MMA = PIPEMMA

Try this clue in the trainer →

19D — Who's looking at this African nation, ignoring one more recently created? (7) — YOUNGER

Definition
Definition found: 'more recently created?' — 'more recently created' = YOUNGER.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'ignoring'

Operation
'ignoring' signals a deletion operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'African nation, one'

Assembly
YOU + (NIGER - I > NGER) = YOUNGER

Try this clue in the trainer →

22D — Someone paid by the state to stock books, available as needed (2,3) — ONTAP

Definition
Definition found: 'available as needed' — 'available as needed' = ON TAP.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'to stock'

Operation
'to stock' signals a container operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Someone paid by the state books,'

Assembly
OAP + NT = O(NT)AP

Try this clue in the trainer →

24D — Way to conceal Conservative plot (5) — PATCH

Definition
Definition found: 'plot' — A PATCH (of land) is a plot.

Indicator
Indicator found: 'to conceal'

Operation
'to conceal' signals a container operation

Fodder
Fodder: 'Way Conservative'

Assembly
PATH + C = PAT(C)H

Try this clue in the trainer →