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NYT Strands Answer & Hints — “Oh, of course!”, May 20, 2025

Stuck on the May 20, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle? Here are progressive hints and the full answer for the “Oh, of course!” puzzle (Strands #137 of 509 in our archive). Every reveal is hidden by default — click to open the ones you need.

Spoiler warning. The answers below are for the May 20, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Scroll past this section if you want to solve it yourself first.
Hint 1: The themeReveal

The theme for the May 20, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle is “Oh, of course!”. Every theme word and the spangram connects back to this phrase, so think about what related words might fit a 6×8 grid of 48 letters before you start scanning.

Hint 2: Spangram length and first letterReveal

The spangram for the “Oh, of course!” puzzle is 10 letters long and starts with the letter F. It touches two opposite edges of the grid, as every NYT Strands spangram does.

Hint 3: How many theme wordsReveal

Besides the spangram, the May 20, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle has 6 theme words. Together with the spangram, they use every letter on the 6×8 grid exactly once.

Answer: Full spangramReveal

The spangram for the May 20, 2025 NYT Strands “Oh, of course!” puzzle is FINEDINING. It spans two opposite edges of the 6×8 grid and captures the theme directly.

Answer: All theme wordsReveal

Here are the 6 theme words for the May 20, 2025 NYT Strands “Oh, of course!” puzzle:

  • APPETIZERS
  • CHEESE
  • DESSERT
  • ENTREE
  • SALAD
  • SOUP

Plus the spangram FINEDINING, that’s every word on the grid — all 48 letters accounted for.

Answers for the May 20, 2025 NYT Strands puzzle. Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive — today's NYT Strands is free on nytimes.com/games/strands.

About the "Oh, of course!" NYT Strands puzzle

The theme "Oh, of course!" comes with an exclamation point and all the energy that implies. This work & business Strands puzzle hides words that connect to a bold, expressive idea. When you see punctuation in a Strands theme, it's usually a sign that the puzzle maker is referencing a familiar phrase or reaction — let that emotional context guide your word search across the grid.

This puzzle has 6 theme words hidden in the grid — a balanced count that gives you enough to work with without overwhelming the board. The 10-letter spangram is notably long, consuming a good chunk of the grid's 48 letters. Its size makes it easier to find if you focus on the grid's edges. Originally published on a Tuesday, As puzzle #137 of 509+, this one comes from the middle of the Strands collection, when the puzzle makers had hit their stride.

#137
Puzzle Number
6
Theme Words
10
Spangram Letters
Medium
Difficulty

How to approach "Oh, of course!"

  • The energetic theme title suggests vivid, expressive vocabulary. Look for words that match the theme's bold tone and emotional charge.
  • The long 10-letter spangram is your best starting point. Scan the edges of the grid — the spangram must start on one side and end on the opposite side.
  • The spangram always describes or names the theme. If you can guess the theme from the title alone, you effectively know the spangram — then just find its path in the grid.
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Strands Unlimited is an independent fan archive of past Strands puzzles. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The New York Times Company. NYT Strands is a trademark of The New York Times Company. Today's daily puzzle is free at nytimes.com/games/strands.