Strands #985 hints
The official theme was "Not a good sign". If it reads like a riddle, the first hint puts it in plain words.
Hints revealed: 0
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What's the theme in plain words?Gentle hint
Old superstitions your grandma would warn you about: stuff that supposedly brings bad luck if you do it or stumble across it.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 6 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
It names what you are said to get when one of these superstitions comes true, and it is a two-word phrase for a bad streak of fortune.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: B, F, M, S, S, T.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint: spangram length
The spangram has 10 letters and runs from left to right.
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Play Strands #985
This is the exact grid from the NYT game. Drag through neighbouring letters (diagonals count) to form words. Stuck? The Hint button outlines one word for you.
Strands #985 in numbers
- Theme words
- 6
- Recent average
- 5.8
- Longest theme word
- 10 letters
- Rare letters on this board: K. Words with them are a good place to start, since few words can use them.
- The 7 answers use all 48 letters, an average of 6.9 letters each.
Strands #985 answers
From here on, the theme words and spangram for November 13, 2026 are shown when you tap.
Reveal one word at a time
Only want a foothold? Open one word, find it on the board, then go back and try for the rest. Shorter words come first because they give away the least.
Theme word 1 (4 letters, reveals the word)
SALT. It starts in row 8, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters, reveals the word)
FLOOR. It starts in row 6, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (6 letters, reveals the word)
BROKEN. It starts in row 3, column 6, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (6 letters, reveals the word)
MIRROR. It starts in row 6, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (7 letters, reveals the word)
SPILLED. It starts in row 4, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 6 (10 letters, reveals the word)
THIRTEENTH. It starts in row 3, column 1, counting from the top left.
The spangram (10 letters, reveals it)
ROTTENLUCK. It starts in row 4, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board (full spoiler)
Spangram: ROTTENLUCK
Theme words: BROKEN, FLOOR, MIRROR, SALT, SPILLED, THIRTEENTH
The clue 'Not a good sign' points to superstitions about bad omens, such as a BROKEN MIRROR, SPILLED SALT, or the THIRTEENTH of the month. Each one is said to bring ROTTENLUCK, and even putting a purse on the FLOOR is said to be unlucky.
Puzzle note
The sneaky one was FLOOR, since a purse on the ground is a less famous omen than a BROKEN MIRROR or SPILLED SALT. Easy to miss. Before hunting for letters, ask yourself: which bad luck superstitions can I list from this clue?
On the board, the spangram ROTTENLUCK stretches between the left and right edges and uses a corner letter.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 12 | #984 | Facing the music |
| Nov 11 | #983 | Work it out |
| Nov 10 | #982 | Influentially online |
| Nov 9 | #981 | Idle chatter |
| Nov 8 | #980 | Disciplined combat |
| Nov 7 | #979 | In the blink of an eye |
| Nov 6 | #978 | Autumn walk in the woods |
About Strands
Strands hides themed words in a six-by-eight grid where every letter gets used. One special answer, the spangram, touches two opposite edges and sums up the theme. Replaying old boards helps you read the punny clues faster.
Other puzzles on Nov 13
Strands #985 questions
What was the Strands theme on November 13, 2026?
The official clue for Strands #985 was "Not a good sign", with 6 theme words plus a spangram.
What was the Strands spangram on November 13, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #985 was ROTTENLUCK, for the theme "Not a good sign".
What were the Strands theme words on November 13, 2026?
BROKEN, FLOOR, MIRROR, SALT, SPILLED, THIRTEENTH, plus the spangram ROTTENLUCK.
What did the Strands #985 clue mean?
The clue 'Not a good sign' points to superstitions about bad omens, such as a BROKEN MIRROR, SPILLED SALT, or the THIRTEENTH of the month. Each one is said to bring ROTTENLUCK, and even putting a purse on the FLOOR is said to be unlucky.
How long was the Strands #985 spangram?
ROTTENLUCK has 10 letters, and the 6 theme words started with B, F, M, S, S, T.