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Classic Crossword

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      How to Play Crossword

      Fill in the grid using the clues provided

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      Tap a cell to select it, tap again to toggle direction
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      Fill in letters using the keyboard
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      Use Reveal Letter/Word if you get stuck
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      Green = correct letter

      Classic Crossword for Thursday 20 August 2026

      The Classic Crossword published on Thursday 20 August 2026: a 15x15 crossword with 16 clues across and 18 down. Play it above at your own pace; past editions are practice and do not count towards the daily leaderboard. Every clue is listed below so you can solve on paper or check what you are up against.

      Across

      1. 1 Essential part or math function (8)
      2. 5 Engage in battle (6)
      3. 10 Weariness of spirit (5)
      4. 11 Absolve from blame (9)
      5. 12 Depressingly dark or dim; not cheerful or optimistic (6)
      6. 13 Detailed examination of the elements or structure of something. (8)
      7. 15 Contrasting conjunction in legal documents (7)
      8. 17 Noisy disturbance (6)
      9. 20 Not sunk, on the surface of water (6)
      10. 22 Brief and to the point (7)
      11. 26 Heavy wheel storing rotational energy (8)
      12. 27 Part of a ship's steering mechanism (6)
      13. 30 Making amends for a wrong (9)
      14. 31 Luxury car brand (5)
      15. 32 Part of the urinary system (6)
      16. 33 Act of leaving something out (8)

      Down

      1. 1 Era when glaciers covered much of the Earth (6)
      2. 2 Latin American dance (5)
      3. 3 Faint gleam (7)
      4. 4 Poker's best pocket pair (4)
      5. 6 Areas where two things intersect (7)
      6. 7 Casual footwear originally made for sailors (9)
      7. 8 Hidden riches (8)
      8. 9 Made of keratin, like a beak or claw (5)
      9. 14 Terrific, in slang (3)
      10. 16 A district in Los Angeles, California which is noted as the centre of the American movie industry (9)
      11. 18 Position between forwards and backs (8)
      12. 19 Near the ground (3)
      13. 21 Olympic competitor, for one (7)
      14. 23 Fried dough Spanish snack (7)
      15. 24 Stout upright anchoring a handrail (5)
      16. 25 Place for confinement of criminals (6)
      17. 28 Major Indian centre (5)
      18. 29 Slender part of a wine glass (4)

      About the Classic Crossword

      The Classic Crossword is the traditional black-and-white 15x15 grid you know from the weekend paper, with straight clues and no cryptic tricks. It is the longest crossword on Cuppa and the one to settle in with: a proper half-hour solve with a full set of Across and Down clues.

      A new grid is published every morning and every past edition is kept in the archive. Play in your browser on any device, free, with no app to install.

      How to play Classic Crossword

      1. Choose a clue from the Across or Down list, or tap a square in the grid.
      2. Type the answer. Letters fill in along the current direction.
      3. Use Check to confirm a letter or the whole grid, and Reveal when you are truly stuck.
      4. Finish to stop the clock and see your time against other solvers.

      A new puzzle is published every morning, Sydney time, and signed-in members keep their streaks and scores across devices.

      Questions about Classic Crossword

      How big is the Classic Crossword?
      It is a 15x15 grid, the standard size for a newspaper crossword.
      Are the clues straight or cryptic?
      Straight. Each clue is a plain definition or description of the answer. The cryptic version is a separate daily puzzle.
      Can I go back to an earlier grid?
      Yes. Use the date controls above the puzzle or browse the archive to open any previous day.

      Browse the Classic Crossword archive to play any past puzzle.

      More puzzles from Cuppa