NYT Strands today April 19: My hints, answers, and theme breakdown for game #412 - Struggling with NYT Strands today April 19? You’re not the only one. The latest puzzle (#412) comes with a tricky twist — a theme that looks simple on the surface but might leave you second-guessing your guesses. With the spangram “TAKE THAT” acting as the center of the puzzle, today’s board builds around the phrase “take a ___,” challenging players to think creatively about everyday expressions. If you’re stuck or curious about how others cracked it, I’ve broken everything down — hints, clues, and all the right answers — to help you through.

What’s the theme in NYT Strands today?

The official NYT Strands theme for April 19 is “___ a ___,” and while that might sound vague, the puzzle builds around common expressions that follow this structure. The key connection? Every answer fits into a popular phrase that starts with “take a.”

Some examples include:

• Take a breather
  
  
• Take a gander
  
  
• Take a chance
  
  
• Take a hike
  
  
• Take a selfie
  
  
• Take a number
  
  
• Take a hint
  
  

And the spangram? It ties it all together with “TAKE THAT,” a clever phrase that touches the second column at the top and the fifth column at the bottom of the grid. This phrase helps players split the board and locate the theme-based answers on both sides.

What are the full NYT Strands answers for April 19?

Today’s board featured eight words that all stem from the same structure. Once you recognize the theme, the rest becomes a satisfying hunt for related expressions. Here’s the complete list of NYT Strands answers for April 19 (game #412):

• HINT
  
  
• CHANCE
  
  
• HIKE
  
  
• GANDER
  
  
• NUMBER
  
  
• SELFIE
  
  
• BREATHER
  
  
• SPANGRAM: TAKE THAT

Why was today’s NYT Strands puzzle tricky?

Although this was marked as one of the easier Strands this week, many players still found it tough to get started. That’s because the theme — “___ a ___” — didn’t immediately connect to a specific category like food, sports, or movies. Instead, it required thinking in idioms and short phrases.

Another twist: None of the clue words directly gave away the full phrases. You had to make smart guesses or rely on the in-game hint system, which activates after finding a few shorter words like:

• NICE
  
  
• BRAT
  
  
• MEAN
  
  
• BEAN
  
  
• TRUE
  
  
• BREAK
  
  

The initial clue placement also didn’t make the spangram obvious right away. Once “TAKE THAT” clicked, the rest of the game opened up fast.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle was a fun reminder of how even a simple theme can stretch our brains. With familiar phrases like “take a hike” and “take a breather,” it made use of common language — but required lateral thinking to get there.

It’s also interesting that the phrase “take a break” appeared on the board but wasn’t accepted as a valid answer. That’s a nod to puzzle nuance — and as shared by the player at Tom’s Guide, a playful reminder of how Strands likes to keep us on our toes.

FAQs:

Q1: What is the NYT Strands today April 19 spangram?
The spangram is TAKE THAT.

Q2: What is the theme for today’s NYT Strands puzzle?
The theme is phrases starting with “take a.”