Issue #658 Tue 8 Jul
Strands hints — July 8, 2025
A Tuesday morning grid that rewards patience and a steady hand. The layout offers enough room to maneuver for those willing to look past the first obvious connection.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
You open the trunk and find the one thing you hoped you would not need, yet are relieved to have.
Automotive emergency equipment
BACKUP ITEMS KEPT IN RESERVE
Spangram 4 nudges · 6 letters
The connector word
A single word acting as a plural noun.
6 letters.
Starts with S, ends with S.
SPARES
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 B (7 letters)
- 2 C (6 letters)
- 3 H (5 letters)
- 4 K (4 letters)
- 5 M (6 letters)
- 6 P (5 letters)
- 7 T (4 letters)
- 8 T (5 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 BE (7 letters)
- 2 CH (6 letters)
- 3 HA (5 letters)
- 4 KE (4 letters)
- 5 MO (6 letters)
- 6 PA (5 letters)
- 7 TI (4 letters)
- 8 TI (5 letters)
Theme word 1 of 8 5 nudges · 7 letters
A theme word
The place where the day begins and ends, defined by its mattress and pillows.
7 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BE.
BEDROOM
Theme word 2 of 8 5 nudges · 6 letters
A theme word
What you do to your clothes when you realize the weather forecast was wrong.
6 letters.
Starts with C.
Starts with CH.
CHANGE
Theme word 3 of 8 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
The parts of the body you clap together to signal appreciation.
5 letters.
Starts with H.
Starts with HA.
HANDS
Theme word 4 of 8 5 nudges · 4 letters
A theme word
Small metal objects you jingle in your pocket to make sure you have not left them behind.
4 letters.
Starts with K.
Starts with KE.
KEYS
Theme word 5 of 8 5 nudges · 6 letters
A theme word
A brief pause in conversation where everything feels suspended.
6 letters.
Starts with M.
Starts with MO.
MOMENT
Theme word 6 of 8 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
Individual components that assemble into a larger machine.
5 letters.
Starts with P.
Starts with PA.
PARTS
Theme word 7 of 8 5 nudges · 4 letters
A theme word
The duration between the start of your shift and the final bell.
4 letters.
Starts with T.
Starts with TI.
TIME
Theme word 8 of 8 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
The rubber rings that carry the weight of the vehicle across the pavement.
5 letters.
Starts with T.
Starts with TI.
TIRES