Issue #684 Sun 3 Aug
Strands hints — August 3, 2025
A steady, patient grid for a Sunday morning. The letters are laid out with a deliberate pace.
Theme 3 reveals
Today's theme
The ball hits the heel of the glove and rolls into the dirt.
Professional and amateur athletic competition
MISHAPS ON THE FIELD
Spangram 4 nudges · 10 letters
The connector word
Single ten-letter compound noun
10 letters.
Starts with S, ends with F.
SPORTSGOOF
Group hint 1 reveal
Show all starting letters
Starting letters
- 1 B (7 letters)
- 2 B (6 letters)
- 3 E (5 letters)
- 4 F (5 letters)
- 5 F (6 letters)
- 6 M (4 letters)
- 7 W (5 letters)
Group hint 1 reveal
Show the first two letters of each
First two letters
- 1 BL (7 letters)
- 2 BO (6 letters)
- 3 ER (5 letters)
- 4 FA (5 letters)
- 5 FU (6 letters)
- 6 MU (4 letters)
- 7 WH (5 letters)
Theme word 1 of 7 5 nudges · 7 letters
A theme word
A broadcast highlight reel of things that went wrong during the game.
7 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BL.
BLOOPER
Theme word 2 of 7 5 nudges · 6 letters
A theme word
The ball slips through your fingers just as you reach for it.
6 letters.
Starts with B.
Starts with BO.
BOBBLE
Theme word 3 of 7 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
A tally mark on the scoreboard that indicates a failure to execute.
5 letters.
Starts with E.
Starts with ER.
ERROR
Theme word 4 of 7 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
The umpire signals that the serve landed outside the boundary line.
5 letters.
Starts with F.
Starts with FA.
FAULT
Theme word 5 of 7 5 nudges · 6 letters
A theme word
You lose your grip on the pigskin during a heavy tackle.
6 letters.
Starts with F.
Starts with FU.
FUMBLE
Theme word 6 of 7 5 nudges · 4 letters
A theme word
A failure to secure the catch when the ball hits your chest.
4 letters.
Starts with M.
Starts with MU.
MUFF
Theme word 7 of 7 5 nudges · 5 letters
A theme word
A swing that misses the ball entirely and leaves you off balance.
5 letters.
Starts with W.
Starts with WH.
WHIFF