Decryptic

Decryptic #67 - 2nd September 2026

Solution & wordplay explained · Published 2 September 2026

Ghost theme: Time off LEISURE · HONEYMOON · LEAVE · HOLIDAY

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The solved grid

Across

1 Across Parasitic infection from disturbed Irish tonics (11) → TRICHINOSIS Anagram Anagram of “IRISH TONICS”.
8 Across Idle hours found in Hawaiian lei surely (7) → LEISURE Hidden word Hidden inside “lei surely”.
9 Across Leaders of awkward uncles never trust youngsters, parent's sister (5) → AUNTY Initialism First letters of: awkward, uncles, never, trust, youngsters.
10 Across Bounces holding a thousand, explosive devices (5) → BOMBS Container M inside BOBS.
11 Across A skin disease found in a julep rosy (7) → LEPROSY Hidden word Hidden inside “julep rosy”.
12 Across Sweetheart's satellite, a getaway after marriage (9) → HONEYMOON Charade HONEY + MOON.
15 Across Increase suddenly, as seen backwards in fans' input oohs (5,2) → SHOOT UP Hidden backwards Hidden backwards inside “input oohs”.
16 Across Go away, as leaders of local elephants always visit England (5) → LEAVE Initialism First letters of: local, elephants, always, visit, England.
18 Across Go roam map alternately for mum's dad (5) → GRAMP Alternate letters Every other letter of “go roam map”, starting with the first.
19 Across Vacation, oh daily reshuffled (7) → HOLIDAY Anagram Anagram of “OH DAILY”.
20 Across Buffet, or an eclectic medley (11) → SMORGASBORD Double definition Two separate definitions of the same word.

Down

1 Down Bag and kilt scrambled to boast (4,3) → TALK BIG Anagram Anagram of “BAG KILT”.
2 Down Expression, cores of dig, ode, fig, son, camel (5) → IDIOM Middle letters Middle letters of: dig, ode, fig, son, camel.
3 Down Catches found in an aloha Ulster celebration (5) → HAULS Hidden word Hidden inside “aloha Ulster”.
4 Down No, in Scots, from barcode standard turned around (3) → NAE Reversal EAN reversed.
5 Down Hair wash made from fake mess (7) → SHAMPOO Charade SHAM + POO.
6 Down Blazing orb followed by low spirits, at dusk (7) → SUNDOWN Charade SUN + DOWN.
7 Down Fronts of deer running yearly, leaping yonder, spoken with no emotion (5) → DRYLY Initialism First letters of: deer, running, yearly, leaping, yonder.
11 Down Chiefly, lazy artists yell using paint, for an easy basketball shot (5) → LAYUP Initialism First letters of: lazy, artists, yell, using, paint.
12 Down Curved fastener followed by cries of delight are smoking pipes (7) → HOOKAHS Charade HOOK + AHS.
13 Down Incapable, put onto scrambled (3,2,2) → NOT UP TO Anagram Anagram of “PUT ONTO”.
14 Down Epee and DIY scrambled, utterly drunk (3,4) → PIE EYED Anagram Anagram of “EPEE DIY”.
15 Down Short signature followed by a master's degree, a Greek letter (5) → SIGMA Charade SIG + MA.
16 Down Rearranged, still swings rhythmically (5) → LILTS Anagram Anagram of “STILL”.
17 Down Sound-related Australian currency with computer input/output (5) → AUDIO Charade AUD + IO.
19 Down Go, then an hour, reversed, to monopolize (3) → HOG Reversal GO H reversed.

How this puzzle was checked

Every clue in this crossword was verified against its own wordplay by software, then the finished puzzle was read and edited by hand before publication: definitions, indicators, enumerations and surface readings all get looked at, and clues that don't hold up are rewritten. The editorial standards set out what that covers.

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