Cryptic clues — 25 September 2026

Answers & explanations

1. FAULT (5)

   Counter sigh once the printer jams again. Inside parks FAULT in default — error, a slip or failing. Biros, damp coats and a humming queue ticket sell the short hide as high-street paperwork rather than a labelled peel.

2. ARMY (4)

   Cocktail or saint, either way shaken. SHAKE MARY and ARMY marches out — a host of troops.

3. RICH (4)

   Paddy-field quip. Wealthy is rich; rice with a change puts H where E sat, giving RICH.

4. LOWLY (5)

   Village green when the clock still ticks. Beheaded docks the opening S of slowly, and LOWLY remains. Humble is that lowly reading — of modest station. Soft damp grass and lukewarm tea sell the scalp as sexton mutter while the first letter falls away.

5. CHECK (5)

   'First of all' takes carefully handle every cracked kettle to give CHECK. Assay is the testing verb, lab-coat calm. The kitchen-disaster surface misleads toward DIY; the openers quietly run the quality check.

6. THREAD (6)

   Seaside promenade when the gulls still cry. Hotel yields H; walk is TREAD and wraps it — T(H)READ. Yarn is the thread sense. Soft salt and a bent deckchair cloak the container as holiday mutter while the inn letter nests in the step.

7. FANCY (5)

   Shop window when the trim still gleams. Ornate is the elaborate sense; liking is to take a fancy. Five letters for the frill and the fondness.

8. SOLEMN (6)

   Choirmaster before the requiem. First of all lifts spirit, output, love, edition, modern, now spelling SOLEMN — earnest. Organ-loft hush covers the initials.

9. PROFOUND (8)

   Veteran PRO and plant (to found) FOUND make PROFOUND. Intense is the deep sense. Nursery stakes lean while a straight charade hides in gardening chat.

10. EXPOSED (7)

    Studio hush when the blinds still rattle. Reveal supplies EXPOSE; diameter is D — EXPOSE+D spells EXPOSED. Bare is the open, uncovered sense. Soft cables and a bent light-stand sell the symbol pair as shoot mutter.