NYT Strands Puzzle: Hints, Answers & Tips for September 7 (918)

If you’ve been staring at today’s NYT Strands grid and feeling a little stuck, you’re not alone. The theme this week is pretty cheeky – “It’s a deal!” – and the little hint that comes with it says, “Give a little, get a little.” In plain English: think negotiation.

First things first: start hunting for any word that’s four letters or longer. Every trio of such words will coax the puzzle engine into handing you one of the hidden theme words. Here’s the list I used to unlock the hints, but feel free to substitute any other four‑plus‑letter words you find:

MARE, HARE, RAGE, RAGER, RENT, SENT, GOAL, PORT, SHEAR, MEET, TEEM.

Once you’ve collected enough, the engine will reveal the core answers that tie into the “deal” motif. The non‑spangram solutions for today are:

AGREE, SHARE, SETTLE, NEGOTIATE, COMPROMISE.

Now for the fun part – the spangram that stretches from one side of the grid to the other. It reads MEETMEHALFWAY. To spot it, start at the very first “M” in the top row, then trace a winding path down and across until you hit the final “Y.” It’s a neat visual reminder that a good deal is all about meeting in the middle.

While you’re here, you might be curious about the most notorious Strands challenges I’ve bumped into:

• Dated slang – those retro phrases can bite. The toughest word? PHAT.
• Thar she blows! – marine‑biology lovers get a leg up. The nastiest one was BALEEN (or RIGHT).
• Off the hook – another sea‑creature gauntlet. I wrestled with BIGEYE and SKIPJACK.

Need a quick refresher on who’s writing all this? I’m Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a lifelong pop‑culture junkie and co‑author of a couple of nostalgia‑heavy books (think 70s‑80s toys and the sweet ’90s). I’ve been pounding the keyboard since ’89, hopping between local mags, the Star Tribune, NBC Digital and now CNET. If a Marathon bar ever makes a comeback, you can bet I’ll be first in line.

That’s it for today’s Strands rundown. Grab your pen, start filling in those words, and remember: a little give‑and‑take goes a long way. Happy puzzling!