Jump to a hint level
Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
← Back to hint toolLoad any date with the interactive hint ladder
Word grid
All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.
BELT
COUCH
CUTIE
EASY
EFFECTS
EXPRESS
FRAME
GOGGLES
HOT DOG
HURRAH
I OWE YOU
PHRASE
PIN
RAZOR
WHOOPEE
YAHOO
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENTStraightforward
CONVEYModerate
WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH LETTERS AS HOMOPHONESTricky
SAFETY ___Devious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENTStraightforward
OLD-FASHIONED WAYS TO CHEER OR CELEBRATE+ 3 more…
CONVEYModerate
WAYS TO PUT SOMETHING INTO WORDS+ 3 more…
WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH LETTERS AS HOMOPHONESTricky
THESE WORDS ARE OFTEN SPELLED OUT AS JUST A FEW LETTERS SAID ALOUD+ 3 more…
SAFETY ___Devious
PROTECTIVE GEAR OR DEVICES THAT FOLLOW THE WORD 'SAFETY'+ 3 more…
Full solution
QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENTStraightforward
HOT DOG,HURRAH,WHOOPEE,YAHOO
HOT DOG, HURRAH, WHOOPEE, and YAHOO are all old-fashioned or vintage exclamations of excitement or joy
CONVEYModerate
COUCH,EXPRESS,FRAME,PHRASE
COUCH, EXPRESS, FRAME, and PHRASE all mean to articulate or communicate an idea in words
WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH LETTERS AS HOMOPHONESTricky
CUTIE,EASY,EFFECTS,I OWE YOU
CUTIE = Q-T, EASY = E-Z, EFFECTS = F-X, and I OWE YOU = IOU — each word or phrase is commonly abbreviated using letters that sound like the word when spoken
SAFETY ___Devious
BELT,GOGGLES,PIN,RAZOR
BELT, GOGGLES, PIN, and RAZOR can all follow SAFETY to form common compound words or phrases: safety belt, safety goggles, safety pin, safety razor