Strands is back with another brain-bending NYT Strands puzzle, and today’s challenge took a few surprising turns before it all finally clicked into place. As always, I’ll be guiding you through the theme, sharing a few helpful hints, and revealing today’s answers and spangram—so if you’re stuck, you’re in the right place.
Before we dive into today’s puzzle, a quick reminder: Strands is the newest word puzzle from the New York Times, a clever twist on the traditional word search. The goal is to find all theme-related words hidden in a grid, including one extra-special word—the spangram—which stretches from one end of the board to the other and ties everything together.
Let’s jump in!
Today’s Strands Theme: Oh, Of Course!
At first glance, this theme was a bit vague. “Oh, Of Course!” could refer to so many things. A realization? A moment of epiphany? Maybe something to do with formal settings?
Then I thought back to yesterday’s puzzle. The hint about the fish you caught there made something click. Could this be about meals? Something culinary?
Let’s take a closer look at the clues and how they tie into today’s answers.
Today’s Strands Hints for May 20, 2025
Here are three clues to get your brain working before you scroll to the answers. Spoilers are just below!
Hint 1:
The fish you found in yesterday’s puzzle might be served here.
Hint 2:
You’d probably start with something light, maybe SALAD or SOUP.
Hint 3:
There’s a progression, ending with something sweet.
Getting warmer?
Also read: Today’s NYT Connections Hints And Answers for May 20, 2025
First Two Letters of Each Word
Still stuck? Try building words from these starting letters:
- SA
- AP
- SO
- DE
- CH
- EN
- FI (the first part of the spangram)
These should help you piece together the full set. Keep an eye out for that extra-long word—it’s the one that spans the whole grid and connects the theme.
Today’s Spangram
The spangram for Tuesday, May 20th is:
FINEDINING
Now that ties everything together. Elegant meals, thoughtful plating, multi-course progression—yes, the theme is all about the fine dining experience.
Today’s Strands Answers for May 20, 2025
Here are all of today’s theme words:
- SALAD – Often your leafy green starter.
- APPETIZERS – Small plates to whet your appetite.
- SOUP – Another common starter, often warm and comforting.
- DESSERT – The sweet finale of the meal.
- CHEESE – Served in many cultures either before or after dessert.
- ENTREE – The star of the meal, the main course.
- FINEDINING – The overarching spangram that connects the theme.
Put it all together and you have a journey through a classy, multi-course meal—the very essence of “Oh, Of Course!” in a culinary context.
Today’s Puzzle Breakdown
This one was tricky at first. The theme wasn’t immediately clear from the title alone, and the grid felt deceptively chaotic. I kept stumbling into unrelated words like “TEA,” “ZIP,” and “DATE,” but none of them quite fit the theme.
Once I found SALAD, though, the puzzle started to reveal itself. That led quickly to SOUP and DESSERT, and from there I saw FINEDINING starting to form diagonally across the grid. That spangram helped frame the rest of the puzzle, pointing me toward APPETIZERS, CHEESE, and ENTREE.
Finding APPETIZERS took the longest—it’s a longer word, and the zig-zag pattern made it hard to visualize. But that’s the joy of Strands, isn’t it? One breakthrough leads to another, and the whole grid suddenly feels solvable.
Also read: Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues and Answers for , May 20
How Did You Do?
Did this puzzle stump you? Or did you breeze through it like a seasoned food critic at a Michelin-starred restaurant?
Let me know how your Strands journey went today! Drop your thoughts in the comments, or come find me on [Twitter/X] and [Threads/Facebook] to talk puzzles, gaming, or whatever you’re watching this week.
Also read: Today’s Quordle Hints & Answers – May 20, Game #1212
Stay Tuned
If you enjoyed today’s Strands guide, make sure to check back tomorrow for the next installment. I also cover daily Wordle solutions, Connections, and more brain-teasing content, so you never miss a puzzle beat.
Until then—bon appétit, and happy solving!
