Today's NYT Strands is live for Tuesday, March 31, 2026 (Puzzle #758). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "While you were sleeping"
What It Really Means
This theme points to the Tooth Fairy, the mythical figure who visits children at night to exchange lost teeth for money or gifts.
Think About...
- Items associated with the Tooth Fairy's visit
- Things you'd find under a pillow
- Elements of the nighttime tooth exchange ritual
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Down and across and left to right
Letter Count: 13 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the seventh row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): A nocturnal visitor associated with childhood dental milestones
Hint 2 (Warmer): This mythical figure exchanges currency for baby teeth left under pillows
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is T, last letter is Y
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THETOOTHFAIRY
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Something that helps you fly
Closer: Often depicted on fairies and magical creatures
Letter Clue: Starts with W, 5 letters total
Answer
WINGS
Word 2
Vague: A type of skirt
Closer: Ballet dancers wear this
Letter Clue: Starts with T, 4 letters total
Answer
TUTU
Word 3
Vague: A trade or swap
Closer: What happens when the Tooth Fairy takes a tooth and leaves something behind
Letter Clue: Starts with E, 8 letters total
Answer
EXCHANGE
Word 4
Vague: Small metallic currency
Closer: What the Tooth Fairy traditionally leaves under the pillow
Letter Clue: Starts with C, 4 letters total
Answer
COIN
Word 5
Vague: Something you rest your head on
Closer: Where children traditionally leave their lost teeth
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 6 letters total
Answer
PILLOW
Word 6
Vague: A magical stick
Closer: Fairies often carry one to grant wishes or perform magic
Letter Clue: Starts with W, 4 letters total
Answer
WAND
Word 7
Vague: A brief written message
Closer: Sometimes left by the Tooth Fairy along with money
Letter Clue: Starts with N, 4 letters total
Answer
NOTE
Full Answers
Spangram: THETOOTHFAIRY
Theme Words:
- WINGS
- TUTU
- EXCHANGE
- COIN
- PILLOW
- WAND
- NOTE
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Easy
Trickiest Word: TUTU (A ballet skirt might not be the first thing you associate with the Tooth Fairy, but fairies are often depicted in tutus)
Our Take: A straightforward childhood mythology theme with clear connections. The inclusion of TUTU adds a creative twist, fairies in popular culture often wear them, making it a clever thematic extension. All words relate directly to the Tooth Fairy legend, making this puzzle accessible for solvers of all levels.
