The Friday, December 19, 2025, NYT Strands theme is “On the chopping block.” The spangram is MAKING THE CUT, and the six theme words are JULIENNE, CUBE, DICE, CHIFFONADE, SLICE and MINCE. They are all terms for cutting or preparing food.
Spoiler-light hint
Think of knife skills and familiar ways to prepare vegetables. The theme takes “on the chopping block” literally.
NYT Strands answers for December 19, 2025
| Type | Answer |
|---|---|
| Spangram | MAKING THE CUT |
| Theme word | JULIENNE |
| Theme word | CUBE |
| Theme word | DICE |
| Theme word | CHIFFONADE |
| Theme word | SLICE |
| Theme word | MINCE |
The spangram is often displayed in the grid without spaces as MAKINGTHECUT. Forbes contributor Erik Kain explains that a spangram “crosses from one side of the grid to another and reveals even more about the day’s theme” in his Strands guide.
How the answers fit the theme
JULIENNE, CUBE, DICE, CHIFFONADE, SLICE and MINCE name ways to cut or prepare food. MAKING THE CUT links those literal techniques to the phrase “on the chopping block.” CHIFFONADE is the more specialized culinary term in this set; one commenter in the December 19 Strands discussion said it was unfamiliar to them, an individual reaction rather than a measure of how widely known the word is.
What Strands is
NYT Strands is a New York Times word-search-style game. Players connect letters in a grid to find words related to a daily theme; the spangram is a longer word or phrase that spans opposite sides of the grid and expresses the theme. The December 19 puzzle guides from TechRadar, Parade and TheWordFinder also report this theme and answer set.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
