NYT Strands #167, published Saturday, August 17, 2024, had the theme “Carle classic.” The spangram was HUNGRYCATERPILLAR, referring to Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The theme words were LEAF, APPLE, PICKLE, SALAMI, and WATERMELON.
Saturday’s NYT Strands, published August 17, 2024, was game #167. The theme clue was “Carle classic”, pointing to Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The spangram was HUNGRYCATERPILLAR, and the five theme answers were LEAF, APPLE, PICKLE, SALAMI, and WATERMELON.
Strands #167 answers for August 17, 2024
| Type | Answer | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Spangram | HUNGRYCATERPILLAR | Identifies The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle’s classic picture book. |
| Theme word | LEAF | A natural food associated with a caterpillar. |
| Theme word | APPLE | One of the foods eaten in the story. |
| Theme word | PICKLE | Part of the caterpillar’s memorable food sequence. |
| Theme word | SALAMI | Another food from the story’s increasingly excessive meal. |
| Theme word | WATERMELON | One of the recognizable foods in the book. |
What was the Strands theme?
The theme clue was “Carle classic.” “Carle” refers to children’s author and illustrator Eric Carle, while “classic” points to his best-known picture book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
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That connection explains why the answers are foods rather than words describing book characters or artwork. The caterpillar eats its way through a sequence of foods before undergoing its transformation. The board’s five theme words draw from that familiar eating sequence, with LEAF providing the most direct caterpillar reference.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11If “Carle classic” had you thinking of the original story, The Very Hungry Caterpillar book is the obvious companion read for a child’s bookshelf or story time. The book is a literary reference behind the puzzle, not something needed to solve it; edition, format, price, and availability can vary.
Spangram hint and answer
The additional hint for the spangram was “Bedtime story.” That points toward a children’s book rather than a general phrase about insects or food.
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The completed spangram was:
HUNGRYCATERPILLAR
In Strands, a spangram connects two sides of the board and describes the puzzle’s overall theme. Here, it effectively spells out the title reference without spaces: The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Answer guides reported that the path began on the left side of the board around the third row and ended on the right around the sixth row. That coordinate description is included as a secondary-source report only; the primary NYT board was not accessible for an independent grid transcription.
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All five theme words
LEAF
LEAF is the most natural answer for the caterpillar itself. It also helps establish the puzzle’s connection to food and the natural world before the more distinctive story foods appear.
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APPLE
APPLE is one of the foods the caterpillar eats in The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It is also a useful confirmation that the puzzle is drawing from the book’s illustrations and food list.
PICKLE
PICKLE is a less expected caterpillar food, which makes it particularly helpful once the literary reference has been recognized.
SALAMI
SALAMI continues the book’s deliberately surprising food sequence. Its appearance makes the theme much more specific than a generic “things a caterpillar eats” category.
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WATERMELON is the final theme answer in this set and another unmistakable food reference from the story.
Helpful non-answer words
Several answer reports also listed SLANG, GLEE, WHELP, HELP, MICE, and RAIL. These were valid words that players could submit to earn in-game hints. They were not final theme answers and should not be confused with the five words hidden by the puzzle’s theme.
How difficult was this puzzle?
The puzzle is likely to feel moderately difficult for anyone unfamiliar with Eric Carle’s work. “Carle classic” is an author-based clue, so the theme is not obvious from the wording alone. Once HUNGRYCATERPILLAR is identified, however, the food answers become substantially easier to spot.
The key solving insight is to treat “Carle” as a title clue. Searching the grid only for ordinary caterpillar-related words may reveal LEAF, but it does not immediately explain unusual entries such as PICKLE and SALAMI. Recognizing the book turns those apparent mismatches into confirmation.
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Quick answer recap
- Theme: Carle classic
- Spangram: HUNGRYCATERPILLAR
- Theme words: LEAF, APPLE, PICKLE, SALAMI, WATERMELON
- Game: NYT Strands #167
- Date: Saturday, August 17, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the spangram for NYT Strands on August 17, 2024?
The spangram was HUNGRYCATERPILLAR, referring to Eric Carle’s picture book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
What were the answers to Strands #167?
The theme answers were LEAF, APPLE, PICKLE, SALAMI, and WATERMELON.
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Were SLANG, GLEE, WHELP, HELP, MICE, and RAIL theme answers?
No. SLANG, GLEE, WHELP, HELP, MICE, and RAIL were additional words that could unlock hints, not final theme answers.
The Bottom Line
NYT Strands #167, from August 17, 2024, referenced Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The spangram was HUNGRYCATERPILLAR; the answers were LEAF, APPLE, PICKLE, SALAMI, and WATERMELON.
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