Strands September 19, 2026: Answers, Spangram & Hints (#1119)
Recap
This puzzle featured a fun theme of pirate phrases, with a spangram that described the style of speaking. Solvers had to find six specific phrases and a longer phrase that tied everything together.
The official theme clue
Shiver me timbers!
Printed above the board in the app itself that day — the line that decided which of the many words hiding in the grid actually counted.
Strands hints, one rung at a time
Six rungs, softest first. The recap above already named the answers, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying the board fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.
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Hint 1: What the theme was getting at
A reading of the theme. No answers.
The theme is about a style of speaking associated with sailors, often used for fun or to create a festive atmosphere. It involves using specific phrases and words to create a sense of playfulness and adventure.
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Hint 2: The category, said plainly
The same idea, unhedged.
Category is nautical phrases used for fun or festivity.
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Hint 3: Board facts: how many words, how long
Counted off the grid.
The board was 6 letters wide and 8 tall. 6 theme answers were hidden in it, plus the spangram, which ran side to side and was 15 letters long.
- Theme word 1
- 5 letters
- Theme word 2
- 5 letters
- Theme word 3
- 4 letters
- Theme word 4
- 5 letters
- Theme word 5
- 6 letters
- Theme word 6
- 8 letters
- Spangram
- 15 letters, side to side
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Hint 4: One clue per word, easiest first
Crossword-style.
Theme word 1 (5 letters)
Friendly term used to address a fellow pirate.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
Sly or clever, in a pirate's vocabulary.
Theme word 3 (4 letters)
Sound effect for a pirate's laughter or excitement.
Theme word 4 (5 letters)
Command to stop or halt, used by pirates at sea.
Theme word 5 (6 letters)
Pirate's expression of joy or surprise.
Theme word 6 (8 letters)
Term of endearment used by pirates for their friends.
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Hint 5: First two letters of every theme word
Enough to start tracing.
- Theme word 1
- MA… (5 letters)
- Theme word 2
- SA… (5 letters)
- Theme word 3
- AR… (4 letters)
- Theme word 4
- AV… (5 letters)
- Theme word 5
- YO… (6 letters)
- Theme word 6
- HE… (8 letters)
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Hint 6: What the spangram meant
The long one that tied the board together.
This phrase describes how to communicate in a fun, swashbuckling way.
It touched both edges, running side to side across all 6 columns.
The starting letter board
The grid as printed, 6 across and 8 down. Read only — reveal an answer below and this board traces it.
Every Strands answer and the spangram
Every answer from that board, folded. Opening one traces its path above — the spangram in gold.
Theme word 1 · 4 letters
ARRR
ARRR is a classic pirate sound, expressing excitement or laughter.
Theme word 2 · 5 letters
AVAST
AVAST is a command used by pirates to stop or halt, often used in a playful manner.
Theme word 3 · 8 letters
HEARTIES
HEARTIES is a term of endearment used by pirates to address their friends or crew members.
Theme word 4 · 5 letters
MATEY
MATEY is a friendly term used to address a fellow pirate or friend.
Theme word 5 · 5 letters
SAVVY
SAVVY is a pirate term for being sly or clever, often used to describe someone's cunning nature.
Theme word 6 · 6 letters
YOHOHO
YOHOHO is a pirate's expression of joy or surprise, often used to convey excitement.
Spangram · 15 letters, side to side
TALKLIKEAPIRATE
TALKLIKEAPIRATE is the phrase that describes the style of speaking like a pirate, using specific words and phrases.
This puzzle by the numbers
- Puzzle
- (#1119) · Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Theme answers
- 6 plus the spangram
- Board
- 6 × 8 letters
- Answer lengths
- 4–8 letters
- Spangram
- 15 letters, side to side
- Difficulty
- medium for a weekday board
- Valid non-theme words
- 724 accepted for hints
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