Cracking Today's NYT Strands: Hints, Clues, and Answers for January 23rd

Ah, the daily Strands puzzle from The New York Times – a delightful brain-teaser that often feels like a brilliant challenge, but sometimes, let's be honest, it's just plain perplexing! We’ve all been there, staring at the grid on our screens, convinced we've exhausted every possible combination of letters, only to find ourselves utterly stumped. If you're scratching your head over today's Strands for January 23rd, 2024, don't worry, you're absolutely not alone.

Before we dive into any specifics for today's puzzle, let's just take a moment for a few evergreen tips that often help crack these linguistic nuts. Remember, the game asks you to find words related to a hidden theme, plus one overarching "Spangram" that literally spans the board and describes the category. Try looking for common suffixes or prefixes, thinking broadly about synonyms, or even considering words that double up on letters. Sometimes just taking a break and coming back with fresh eyes can work wonders, too.

Alright, for those of you wrestling with the January 23rd Strands, let's offer a few gentle nudges without giving the whole game away just yet. If you're seeking just a whisper of inspiration, here are some thoughts to chew on:

• Hint 1: Think about objects or concepts that naturally go together, almost like they complete each other. What items are rarely found on their own?

• Hint 2: Consider things that often come in a set of two, or are intrinsically linked. This isn't about opposites, but rather complementary partners.

• Hint 3: The Spangram for today isn't a specific object itself, but more of a descriptive phrase that neatly categorizes all the other words you're searching for. It explains why these items are together.

Still feeling a bit stuck, even with those clues? No problem at all! Let's get a tiny bit more direct, but still keep the answers under wraps for those who want to savor the 'aha!' moment. For January 23rd, if you're finding it tough:

• Clue 1: Imagine items you might wear or use on your feet, or on your hands, that typically come in a quantity of two.

• Clue 2: What about things you might use at a meal, or even certain relationships between people, that imply a duality?

• Clue 3: The Spangram is a common phrase that describes two things that are perfectly aligned or designed to be together.

Okay, dear puzzler, if you've exhausted every last mental resource and simply need to see the solution, then look no further. This is your final warning: spoilers ahead! Scroll down only if you are absolutely, unequivocally ready to reveal the answers for today's NYT Strands puzzle on January 23rd, 2024.

... Deep breath ...

Today's theme, and the mighty Spangram, is:

Spangram: MATCHING SETS

And the themed words you were meant to uncover are:

• SHOES

• SOCKS

• GLOVES

• EARRINGS

• TWINS

• CHOPSTICKS

Phew! Hopefully, you either managed to conquer the grid with our help or at least found some peace of mind knowing the solution. Strands is a fantastic way to stretch your vocabulary and lateral thinking, even when it gives us a good challenge. Keep practicing, and we'll be right here to offer a friendly hand (or a full reveal!) for tomorrow's puzzle if you need us. Happy puzzling!