Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteNYT Strands puzzle #663, for Friday, December 26, 2025, has the theme “Please hold.” Use the hints below before scrolling to the answer list. Guides agree on the spangram and seven theme words, but disagree on the final word: one reports LOOT, while two report TOOL. The discrepancy is unresolved.
Hints for Strands #663
The theme hint is “Please hold.” Parade offers this additional clue: “Cats love these more than they love expensive toys.”
Strands is a themed word-search-style game: words can run in any direction, and the spangram spans the board and describes its theme. Try Hard Guides says finding three non-theme words earns a hint that highlights a theme word. These mechanics are described by a third-party guide, not an official rules source.
Answers for Friday, December 26
Spoilers below: the following reveals the spangram and the words reported for the puzzle.
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BOXING DAY
Reported theme words
- MATCH
- SHOE
- LUNCH
- GIFT
- TACKLE
- BALLOT
- PIZZA
Unresolved final word: LOOT or TOOL?
Forbes lists LOOT; Parade and Try Hard Guides list TOOL. The guides otherwise agree on the seven words above and BOXING DAY. Because the original NYT board was not available to confirm the disputed entry, neither LOOT nor TOOL can be presented here as verified.
Sources and puzzle identification
Forbes identifies this as Strands #663 for Friday, December 26, with the theme “Please hold,” and reports LOOT: Forbes’ December 25 guide.
Parade reports TOOL and provides the cat-themed secondary hint in its December 26 guide. Try Hard Guides also reports TOOL and identifies the puzzle as #663 in its December 25 guide. The December 2025 puzzle archive lists December 26 as “Please hold,” with eight words and a nine-letter spangram.
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