Volume 236

 Hi, Solvers!


Here are some hints for figuring out the themes of the puzzles in Redstone Games' Crosswords Free Volume 236. 


  1. Language Arts - Look closely at the theme entries and think "there's a language in there somewhere."
  2. Clips for Quips - ___ for ___ puzzles usually mean some letters have been changed. 
  3. What the H? - Single letters usually mean they've been added or subtracted from a base phrase. 
  4. Long Division - If nothing's been changed, look for a different type of wordplay. The theme entries do have something in common!
  5. The Joys of Gees - ___ of ___ puzzles can also mean some letters have been changed. 
  6. Tie It Down - The word "down" in a title means the theme entries are vertical. The rest of the title is a hint to what's been changed. 
  7. Bonding Agents - "Bonding" means two words have been put together for a reason. 
  8. Lost Art - "Lost" means some letters are missing. 
  9. Stick 'Em Up - The word "up" in the title is a hint that the theme entries are vertical. The rest of the title is a hint to what's been changed. 
  10. Plot Twist - Words like "twist" are a hint that the answer is an anagram. 


If you go below this area, you will definitely see the answers to what the themes are. If you want to avoid spoilers and try to figure it out for yourself, do not go below this line. 



Here are the answers to the themes in Robin Stears' Volume 236 hard-level puzzles. 

  1. Language Arts - TRIGGERMAN, SOFTHAIR, TURDUCKEN, SHINDIGS, UNPOLISHED. The bold letters spell out a language.
  2. Clips for Quips - The letters QU have been changed to CL. QUICK CHANGE = CLICK CHANGE. SPINACH QUICHE = SPINACH CLICHE. STRANGE QUARKS = STRANGE CLARKS. QUACK REMEDY = CLACK REMDY.
  3. What the H? - The letter H has been added to words that begin with a W. DOO-WOPPERS = DOO WHOPPERS. WIG SNATCHED = WHIG SNATCHED. DESSERT WINE = DESSERT WHINE. WET CLIMATE = WHET CLIMATE. 
  4. Long Division - The entries are longer than usual, and the second word is a synonym for DIVISION. Straight ARM. The Last CHAPTER. Michelle BRANCH. The West WING.
  5. The Joys of Gees - The sound EEZ has been changed to OIZ. ONE YOUR KNEES = ON YOUR NOISE. PRETTY PLEASE = PRETTY PLOYS. GOOBER PEAS = GOOBER POISE. SWARM OF BEES = SWARM OF BOYS. 
  6. Tie It Down. The letters TIE have been added to the bottom of vertical them entries. MAKE A BET = MAKE A BETTIE. CUPID'S BOW = CUPID'S BOWTIE. PIPING HOT = PIPING HOTTIE. PEEK-A-BOO = PEEK A BOOTIE. 
  7. Bonding Agents = An organization that calls some of its employees "agents" is in the middle of a multi-word phrase. BALD EAGLES, DATE OF BIRTH, HAIR STYLIST, FRUIT SALAD. 
  8. Lost Art - The letters ART have been deleted ("lost") from common phrases. DIAMOND CARTEL = DIAMOND CEL. HOLIDAY PARTIES = HOLIDAY PIES. O'ER THE RAMPARTS = O'ER THE RAMPS. DIRTY MARTINIS = DIRTY MINIS.
  9. Stick 'Em Up - The letters EM have been added to the top of vertical theme entries. PRESS KIT = EMPRESS KIT. BOSS AROUND = EMBOSS AROUND. MY PLEASURE = EMMY PLEASURE. IT'S MAGIC = EMITS MAGIC. 
  10. Plot Twist - Synonyms for PLOT have been anagrammed in common phrases. TRUE STORY = TRUE STYRO. OLD WIVES' TALE = OLD WIVES' TEAL. MYTHICAL LORE = MYTHICAL ROLE. SPIN A RYAN = SPIN A YARN. 
Happy solving! 

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