NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
(Image credit: New York Times)
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #279) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Prepare to be eaten
NYT Strands today (game #279) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
STOP
STAMP
HEAT
MATCH
CHOP
TOAST
NYT Strands today (game #279) - hint #3 - spangram
What is a hint for today's spangram?
• Spuds up
NYT Strands today (game #279) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
First: bottom, 4th column
Last: top, 6th column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #279) - the answers
NYT Strands answers for game 279 on a blue background
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today's Strands, game #279, are…
FRIED
BAKED
MASHED
ROASTED
FONDANT
SCALLOPED
SPANGRAM: HOT POTATO
My rating: Easy
My score: Perfect
Having spent far too long watching The Walking Dead, zombies – or “walkers” – was my first thought about today’s clue “Prepare to be eaten". I used to love that show, but then it turned into a zombie itself and self-replicated into other weaker versions of itself. Then those weaker versions self-replicated into even weaker more boring versions, so you could hardly recognize the old Walking Dead anymore.
Anyway, I digress because today’s Strands was actually about the greatest vegetable of them all – the beloved HOT POTATO – and some of the multiple ways in which it can be cooked. My favorite is smashed potatoes – boiled whole, then squished, then drizzled, then BAKED – it works, my friends.
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, 6 December, game #278)
CLUB
BUNCH
GROUP
CROWD
CIRCLE
CLIQUE
SOCIETY
SPANGRAM: FELLOWSHIP
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
Contributor
Johnny is a freelance pop culture journalist who has been writing about the internet, music, football and famous people since the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs' eye. Previously known by the pseudonym the Pop Detective, his journalistic career began making up stories about Madonna's addiction to sausage rolls (this is not true by the way). A man of few talents, his career is rich and various and includes the highs of interviewing Elton John and Blur; and the lows of interviewing Right Said Fred, appearing on a Channel 5 documentary about Peter Kay, and fact-checking the instruction manual for a German cooker. Somehow still affording to live in North London he is at his happiest riding his bicycle and shouting at pigeons.
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