Strands · No. 953 · Monday, October 12, 2026

NYT Strands #953 hints and answers

Today’s theme clue is “In a manner of speaking”. Hints for the theme and the spangram, one step at a time.

By DailyWordHint editors · Puzzle for Monday, October 12, 2026 · Puzzle by Tracy Bennett for The New York Times

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0 of 6 theme words found

Today’s themeIn a manner of speaking

Every 3 non-theme words you find earn a hint.

0 of 8 hints used

The theme5 words

NudgeReveal nudge

Doctors, surfers, and Yorkshire villages each have their own.

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HintReveal hint

Five nouns for group- or region-specific word use: shop talk, street slang, regional speech patterns.

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One wordReveal one word

One theme word: JARGON

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AnswerReveal answer

Theme words: DIALECT, JARGON, LINGO, PARLANCE, VERNACULAR

The spangramTouches two sides

NudgeReveal nudge

Reviewers hand out compliments for a writer's small flourishes.

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HintReveal hint

A three-word idiom with a preposition in the middle; it shows up in book reviews.

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One wordReveal one word

T _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E (12 letters)

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AnswerReveal answer

TURNOFPHRASE

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