Decryptic #37 - 3rd August 2026
Solution & wordplay explained · Published 3 August 2026
The solved grid and a clue-by-clue explanation of every piece of wordplay in this Decryptic daily. It's a past puzzle, and the archive lets you play older crosswords. Today's crossword is always free to play.
The solved grid
1P
A
2L
A
3T
A
4B
L
5E
6E
N
7G
O
O
H
O
X
V
E
8R
O
U
G
E
9A
C
A
D
E
M
E
T
D
I
L
10R
U
M
P
R
O
11A
S
T
12B
R
13A
A
O
B
E
R
N
14Y
O
U
15S
T
O
O
D
16O
R
E
E
T
U
U
N
C
17D
A
H
18C
A
T
A
19L
Y
Z
E
D
K
I
E
O
20M
A
21D
E
I
R
22A
23G
R
A
F
T
E
U
N
T
H
G
A
24N
E
B
25G
R
E
A
T
S
E
A
L
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Across
1 Across Tasty, as a plate lab is rearranged in the lab (9) → PALATABLE Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “a plate lab”.
6 Across English, hidden in a creaky old engine (3) → ENG Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “engine”.
8 Across Cosmetic blusher made from Romania, Uganda and the East (5) → ROUGE Charade
Join three pieces end to end, 2, 2 and 1 letters long.
9 Across Scholarly world formed when a fruity drink enters the pinnacle (7) → ACADEME Container
Put a 3-letter run inside a 4-letter word.
10 Across Trams pour chaotically to produce a hearty beef cut (4,5) → RUMP ROAST Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “trams pour”.
12 Across Big Red Apple, initially, forms an undergarment (3) → BRA Initialism
Take the first letter of each: Big, Red, Apple.
14 Across Ewe, reportedly, is the one I'm speaking to (3) → YOU Homophone
The answer sounds like “ewe”.
15 Across Grasped, minus its foundation, remained standing (5) → STOOD Deletion
Remove 5 letters from the start of a longer word.
16 Across Mineral, they say, used for rowing (3) → ORE Homophone
The answer sounds like “oar”.
17 Across Long Morse signal found in panda hunts secretly (3) → DAH Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “panda hunts”.
18 Across Sped up, lazy cadet disturbed (9) → CATALYZED Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “lazy cadet”.
20 Across Air made oddly into a fortified wine (7) → MADEIRA Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “air made”.
23 Across Good grade for a floating platform brings hard work (5) → GRAFT Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 1 and 4 letters long.
24 Across Ben, turned around, is a beak (3) → NEB Reversal
Reverse a run of letters to build the answer, which begins with “N”.
25 Across Fine sealant, docked of a pest, is the official emblem (5,4) → GREAT SEAL Deletion
Remove 3 letters from the end of a longer word.
Down
1 Down Depicted, as a poor trade, we hear (9) → PORTRAYED Homophone
The answer sounds like “poor trade”.
2 Down Blowhard, noisy near a river's opening (9) → LOUDMOUTH Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 4 and 5 letters long.
3 Down Tom, Helen, Emma, Ian and Rita initially own something belonging to them (5) → THEIR Initialism
Take the first letter of each: Tom, Helen, Emma, Ian, Rita.
4 Down Snake found in gumbo art display (3) → BOA Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “gumbo art”.
5 Down Highly honoured, Axle Ted disturbed (7) → EXALTED Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “Axle Ted”.
6 Down Night before found in sleeve, partly (3) → EVE Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “sleeve”.
7 Down Command to a horse, hidden in a large evening gala (3) → GEE Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “large evening”.
11 Down Roughly a boxing match (5) → ABOUT Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 1 and 4 letters long.
12 Down Zero began strangely, marking an ancient era (6,3) → BRONZE AGE Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “zero began”.
13 Down Data clone scrambled gives a hearsay account (9) → ANECDOTAL Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “data clone”.
15 Down Feeding at the breast, as an unweaned creature loses love (7) → SUCKING Deletion
Remove 1 letter from the middle of a longer word.
19 Down Kindle, or pale (5) → LIGHT Double definition
Look for two different meanings of the same word.
20 Down Members enjoying nightlife, initially (3) → MEN Initialism
Take the first letter of each: Members, Enjoying, Nightlife.
21 Down Nickname, or copy a tape (3) → DUB Double definition
Look for two different meanings of the same word.
22 Down Consumed a number, we hear (3) → ATE Homophone
The answer sounds like “eight”.