You’re staring at a grid of letters. The clock is ticking, or maybe it’s just that nagging feeling in the back of your brain that you should have solved this already. The theme is "We're walking." Sounds simple, right?
Well, for anyone playing the NYT Strands on November 13, it was anything but straightforward.
People were losing their minds over this one. You’d think a hint about walking would lead you toward "sidewalk" or "shoes," but the New York Times loves a good curveball. This specific puzzle focused on a very specific biological trait: BIPEDAL movement.
The Breakdown of Strands Hint Nov 13
If you were hunting for the Strands hint nov 13, you likely got stuck on the fact that not all these "walkers" actually walk the way we do. Honestly, seeing a word like PANGOLIN in a word search is enough to make anyone double-check their spelling.
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Here is the reality of that day's board. The spangram—the word that touches both sides of the grid and defines the whole mess—was BIPEDAL.
The Official Word List
- HUMAN: The obvious one. We walk. We get coffee. We play Strands.
- GIBBON: A bit of a "gotcha" because they spend so much time in trees, but they do walk on two legs when they're on the ground.
- KANGAROO: This is where the "walking" theme gets literal-ish. They hop, but technically they're bipedal.
- PANGOLIN: The absolute curveball. Most people don't even know what a pangolin looks like, let alone that they tuck their front claws and walk on their hind legs.
- MEERKAT: They stand up to look for predators, which apparently was enough for the puzzle makers.
- OSTRICH: The giant birds that definitely don't fly, but they sure can run on two legs.
Why This Puzzle Felt So Hard
Most Strands puzzles have a cohesive "vibe." If the theme is "Breakfast," you look for eggs and toast. But "We're walking" was a linguistic trap.
I saw people on Reddit complaining about STORK being in the grid but not being a "theme word." That’s the classic Strands frustration. The grid is littered with "filler" words that help you earn actual hints, but they aren't part of the final solution. It's mean. It's effective. It makes you want to throw your phone across the room.
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The inclusion of the PANGOLIN was the real kicker. It’s a shy, scaly mammal that is unfortunately the most trafficked animal in the world. While they are fascinating creatures, they aren't exactly the first thing you think of when someone says "Hey, let's go for a walk."
Tips for Tackling These Science-Heavy Themes
When the NYT goes the route of biological or scientific classifications, you have to stop thinking about "common" words.
- Look for the Spangram First: If you can find the yellow word, the rest usually falls into place. On Nov 13, finding BIPEDAL was the only way to make sense of the animal names.
- Ignore the Red Herrings: Just because you see "LION" or "KING" (which were both in this grid) doesn't mean they belong. If it doesn't fit the specific theme of bipedalism, it's just a hint-generator.
- Check the Corners: Usually, one of the smaller theme words like HUMAN is tucked into a corner to give you a starting point.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Strands
Don't let a weird animal list ruin your streak. If you’re stuck on a future puzzle, try to find three random, non-theme words as fast as possible. This fills up your hint meter. Once you get that first letter highlighted, the "shape" of the puzzle changes.
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For the Strands hint nov 13, the lesson was clear: "walking" is a broader term than you think. Next time the theme seems too simple, start thinking about the scientific definition of the words. It might just save your game.
Go back and look at the grid again if you can. Notice how OSTRICH and GIBBON were positioned to block off the center. It’s a masterpiece of puzzle design, even if it was a total headache at the time.