Dotty dance?

Archive answer — July 18, 2026

5 Down

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“POLKA” is the published 5-letter fill for 5 Down. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

Guardian Quick Crossword

This clue’s Saturday, July 18, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal or hide a letter.

Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 13 by 13 crossword grid.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

13 clues
  1. 1Expect, with optimism
  2. 3Get a move on, driver!
  3. 9Nut turner
  4. 10Provincial
  5. 11Emerging butterfly
  6. 12Go by
  7. 14World as a community
  8. 17Chopper coat
  9. 19Porcupine spike
  10. 22In the offing
  11. 23Study of mysterious fliers
  12. 24Expert on a bird of prey
  13. 25Teal-like shade

Down

13 clues
  1. 1East Sussex seaside town
  2. 2Shopping centre
  3. 4New World buzzard
  4. 5Dotty dance?POLKA
  5. 6City in Cyprus
  6. 7Mosaic piece
  7. 8Luanda’s country
  8. 13Methodist
  9. 15Backfiring (sporting?) error
  10. 16Rum, whisky etc.
  11. 18Passover bread
  12. 20Creamy white
  13. 21Foundling

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. Expect, with optimism

    Answer: HOPE

  2. 3. Get a move on, driver!

    Answer: STEPONIT

  3. 9. Nut turner

    Answer: SPANNER

  4. 10. Provincial

    Answer: LOCAL

  5. 11. Emerging butterfly

    Answer: IMAGO

  6. 12. Go by

    Answer: ELAPSE

  7. 14. World as a community

    Answer: GLOBALVILLAGE

  8. 17. Chopper coat

    Answer: ENAMEL

  9. 19. Porcupine spike

    Answer: QUILL

  10. 22. In the offing

    Answer: AFOOT

  11. 23. Study of mysterious fliers

    Answer: UFOLOGY

  12. 24. Expert on a bird of prey

    Answer: FALCONER

  13. 25. Teal-like shade

    Answer: CYAN

Down

  1. 1. East Sussex seaside town

    Answer: HASTINGS

  2. 2. Shopping centre

    Answer: PLAZA

  3. 4. New World buzzard

    Answer: TURKEYVULTURE

  4. 5. Dotty dance?

    Answer: POLKA

  5. 6. City in Cyprus

    Answer: NICOSIA

  6. 7. Mosaic piece

    Answer: TILE

  7. 8. Luanda’s country

    Answer: ANGOLA

  8. 13. Methodist

    Answer: WESLEYAN

  9. 15. Backfiring (sporting?) error

    Answer: OWNGOAL

  10. 16. Rum, whisky etc.

    Answer: LIQUOR

  11. 18. Passover bread

    Answer: MATZO

  12. 20. Creamy white

    Answer: IVORY

  13. 21. Foundling

    Answer: WAIF

The answer to “Dotty dance?” in the Guardian Quick Crossword is POLKA — a 5-letter word. It appears in our available data for July 18, 2026 at 5-Down. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Dotty dance?” answer

POLKA(5 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does POLKA fit?

POLKA is the published 5-letter answer at 5-Down. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Dotty dance?” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Dotty dance?”?

The answer is POLKA.

How many letters are in the answer?

5 letters: POLKA.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the Guardian Quick Crossword for July 18, 2026 at 5-Down.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the Guardian Quick answers page for July 18, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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