I had barely taken the first sip of my morning coffee when today's Strands clue, "In a manner of speaking", sent me off in two different directions. Was I supposed to be thinking about what we say, or how we say it? I put my mug down, gave the grid another look and tried not to commit too quickly.
That's often the pleasure of this little daily ritual. A clue can feel perfectly ordinary until you start pulling at its edges. If you're staring at the letters with the same slightly puzzled expression I was, give yourself a moment to explore before reaching for a hint.
This page covers NYT Strands #1140 for Monday, October 12, 2026. You will find the theme clue, a spoiler free hint, a stronger hint, the spangram and every theme word, in that order. Scroll slowly and stop where you like.
Today's Strands theme
The official clue for Monday, October 12, 2026 is "In a manner of speaking". There are 5 theme words to find plus the spangram, which always touches two opposite sides of the board.
Spoiler free hints
- The spangram has 12 letters and begins with the letter T.
- The shortest theme word has 5 letters, the longest has 10.
- The theme words start with these letters: D, J, L, P, V.
A stronger hint for each word
| Starts with | Length | First two letters |
|---|---|---|
| D | 7 letters | Di... |
| J | 6 letters | Ja... |
| L | 5 letters | Li... |
| P | 8 letters | Pa... |
| V | 10 letters | Ve... |
Today's spangram
Last chance to look away. The spangram for Strands #1140 is TURNOFPHRASE.
All NYT Strands answers for October 12, 2026
- DIALECT (7 letters)
- JARGON (6 letters)
- LINGO (5 letters)
- PARLANCE (8 letters)
- VERNACULAR (10 letters)
Spangram: TURNOFPHRASE. That is the full board solved.
How to get better at Strands
For this board, try thinking about the clue as a category rather than hunting for a familiar quotation. Consider the different ways people describe speech, then test possible words against the letters you can actually connect. Longer candidates are easier to check if you spot a likely ending first and work backwards. Remember that paths can bend and run diagonally, so a promising start needn't continue in a straight line. If you stall, finding three valid words of at least four letters outside the theme will earn you a hint.
Frequently asked questions
What is the spangram in Strands today?
The spangram for Monday, October 12, 2026, puzzle #1140, is TURNOFPHRASE. It spans the board from one side to the opposite side.
How many theme words are in today's Strands?
There are 5 theme words today, plus the spangram.
How do you earn hints in Strands?
Find any valid non theme word of at least four letters. Every three of those unlocks one hint, which highlights the letters of a theme word without ordering them for you.
What time does a new Strands puzzle appear?
A new puzzle goes live at midnight in your local time zone, so this page is updated every morning with the new board.
Sources
- NYT Games, Strands puzzle #1140 for Monday, October 12, 2026, edited by Tracy Bennett, constructed by Tracy Bennett.
- The New York Times, how to play Strands.
