You’re sitting there with a Sunday morning coffee, the grid is nearly full, but you’ve got four empty boxes staring back at you. The clue is corkscrews and such crossword style. It’s annoying. You know the word is right there on the tip of your tongue, probably sitting in your kitchen drawer right now, but your brain just won't give it up.
Honestly, crossword puzzles love this specific niche of domesticity. Most people immediately think of "tools" or "openers," but those rarely fit the letter count or the specific linguistic trick the constructor is playing. Usually, the answer is 螺旋 (spirals) or, more commonly in the New York Times (NYT) style, AWLS or OPENERS. But the king of all answers for this specific clue? WIGGLES. No, wait—that's too playful. It's almost always HELICES.
Why Helices is the Answer You’re Looking For
Let’s get technical for a second. A corkscrew, by definition, is a helix. It isn’t a spiral. A spiral stays on a flat plane—think of a cinnamon roll. A helix moves around a central axis while going up or down. Crossword constructors, especially veterans like Will Shortz or Brendan Emmett Quigley, love that distinction. It’s "crossword-ese" at its finest.
If you see "Corkscrews and such" and the word is seven letters long, try HELICES. It's the plural of helix. It sounds like something out of a biology textbook, but in the world of wine enthusiasts and puzzle pros, it’s the gold standard for describing that metal coil.
Sometimes, though, the clue is looking for the action rather than the object. If the grid wants a verb, you might be looking at ZIGZAGS or TWISTS. It depends entirely on the surrounding "crosses."
The Evolution of the Wine Opener in Puzzles
Wine culture has changed, and so have the puzzles. Back in the 1970s, a crossword might just ask for a "Bung starter." Today? You’re more likely to see a clue referencing a Sommelier’s tool or a Waiters friend.
These devices have a fascinating history that actually helps you solve these clues faster. The first patented corkscrew was by Samuel Henshall in 1795. He added a simple disk—the Henshall Button—to the top of the worm. This stopped the screw from going too deep and helped break the wax seal. If you ever see a clue about "Henshall’s invention," he’s your guy.
Then you have the Ah-So. You know the one. It has two prongs and no screw at all. It’s for old, crumbly corks. In a crossword, this is often clued as "Pronged opener" or "Vintage wine tool."
Beyond the Helix: Other Common Fill
Don't get tunnel-visioned. If "helices" doesn't fit, look at these variations:
- Worms: This is the actual name for the metal screw part. "Corkscrew parts" = WORMS.
- T-Bars: The simplest form of the tool. Just a handle and a screw.
- Augers: Often used for wood, but sometimes used interchangeably in tougher Saturday puzzles.
- Screws: Sometimes the simplest answer is the one we skip over because we’re looking for something fancy.
Solving the "And Such" Part of the Clue
The phrase "and such" is a massive red flag in a crossword. It means the answer is a category or a shared physical characteristic. It’s a grouping mechanism.
When a constructor writes "Corkscrews and such," they are usually pointing toward a shape. Think about things that curve. Think about spirals, coils, or curlicues.
I once spent twenty minutes on a Los Angeles Times puzzle where the answer was MEANDERS. I was thinking about kitchen gadgets, but the constructor was thinking about the shape of a river. That’s the "Aha!" moment that makes crosswords addictive, but it's also what makes you want to throw your pen across the room.
The Physicality of the Tool
Think about the motion. To use a corkscrew, you bore. You pierce. You lever.
The "Waiter’s Friend" (that folding one every bartender carries) relies on a fulcrum. That’s a five-letter word that pops up constantly. If the clue is "Corkscrew feature," and you have a U and an M, write in FULCRUM.
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The double-wing corkscrew—the one that looks like a little person waving their arms—is technically a rack and pinion mechanism. You won't see that entire phrase often, but you might see GEARS or LEVERS as the answer for "Corkscrew parts."
Expert Tips for Nailing the Clue Every Time
- Check the pluralization. If the clue is "Corkscrews" (plural), your answer almost certainly ends in S or ES. It’s an easy way to narrow down the options.
- Look for "Var." If the clue says "Corkscrew, Var.," it means they want a weird spelling or an archaic version.
- Count your vowels. Crossword-ese thrives on vowels. Words like OILIER or AIOLI show up because they help bridge gaps. If your corkscrew answer is looking heavy on the E and I, HELICES is your best bet.
- Context is king. Is the puzzle themed around wine? If so, the answer might be more technical. Is it a "punny" Thursday puzzle? The answer might be a play on words, like BOTTLEBOUTS.
The Most Famous Corkscrew Clues in Recent History
According to the XWord Info database, which tracks every NYT puzzle, "Corkscrew" has been used as a clue over 100 times in the last two decades.
One of the most clever was "Corkscrew, e.g." with the answer being STREET. Why? Because of Lombard Street in San Francisco—the most "corkscrew" shaped road in America. If you’re stuck, stop thinking about the kitchen. Start thinking about the world.
Another one that gets people is "Corkscrew shape." The answer VOLUTE is a deep cut from architectural terminology, specifically the scrolls on Ionic columns. It’s rare, but when it hits, it’s a total grid-breaker.
How to Actually Get Better at These
You’ve got to build a mental library. Start recognizing that "and such" usually means the constructor is grouping by shape or function.
If you are really struggling with a specific grid, look at the letters you do have. If you have an H and an L, it's HELIX. If you have a W and an R, it's WORM.
The reality is that corkscrews are just a vehicle for constructors to use the letters X, V, and Z. They love the "zig" and "zag" of the motion because it helps them place high-value Scrabble letters in the grid.
Putting it All Together
Next time you see corkscrews and such crossword clues, don't panic. Take a breath.
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Look at the length. If it’s six letters, try SPIRAL. If it’s seven, go for HELICES. If it’s five, maybe it’s TWIST.
The more you play, the more you realize that crosswords aren't just about what you know; they are about how you categorize the world. A corkscrew isn't just a tool; it's a helix, a lever, a worm, and a zigzag all wrapped into one.
Actionable Solve Steps
- Count the boxes immediately. Plural clues mean plural answers 99% of the time.
- Scan for "crosses" that use rare letters. If you find a 'Z' or an 'X' nearby, the corkscrew clue is likely ZIGZAG or HELIX.
- Think outside the kitchen. If the literal meaning doesn't fit, consider "corkscrew" as a descriptor for roads, paths, or even hair (think COILS).
- Keep a "Crossword Cheat Sheet" for common three- and four-letter fillers like AWL (a piercing tool) or ORE (often used in tool clues).
- Practice with the NYT Mini. It often uses these types of linguistic tropes to train new solvers for the larger weekday grids.