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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11NYT Strands puzzle #273, published Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, has the theme “Old hang-ups.” Start with the hints below to avoid spoilers; the complete answer list appears farther down.
Hints for Strands #273
- Theme: “Old hang-ups.” Think of parts and mechanisms associated with a vintage household telephone.
- Gentle nudge: The wording plays on both ending a phone call and an old-fashioned phone.
- Spangram hint: “Pick up if you’re there,” as TechRadar puts it. The spangram runs from the right side of the fourth row to the left side of the third row. Source
How to earn an in-game hint
Find three non-theme words of four or more letters in the grid to earn a hint that highlights a theme word. Strands requires theme words not to overlap; the spangram describes the theme and touches two opposite sides of the board, according to the NYT instructions reproduced by Parade. Parade’s instructions and puzzle help
Strands #273 answers
Spoilers below. The answer set reported by TechRadar, Parade, and Wordhint is:
- RECEIVER
- SWITCH
- DIAL
- CRADLE
- HANDSET
- RINGER
Spangram: ROTARYPHONE
The words point to a rotary telephone: the cradle supports the handset, the dial selects a number, the receiver is held to the ear, the ringer signals an incoming call, and the switch connects or disconnects a call. The theme and answer list are also reported by Wordhint and Parade.
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