Work through the levels. Reveal the Spangram only when you’re truly ready.
Today’s clue: “There's more where that came from”
A gentle direction — no specifics.
Closer — the category is coming into focus.
Near-direct — only read if you’re stuck.
Direction only.
Getting closer.
Near-direct.
6 theme words — lengths in random order
Spaces not counted in total
All theme words — shuffled
These words fit the theme on the surface, but aren’t part of today’s solution. Knowing them ahead of time can save you minutes of searching.
Directly from the clue, but not a theme answer — it's just the prompt, not a listed word.
A natural synonym for something extra, but not in today's set.
A formal term for excess, but not included as a theme word.
a textbook decoy
The clue was a wink at the spangram ANDTHENSOME, which unlocked the rest of the puzzle. Once that phrase was placed, the remaining words EXCESS, EXTRA, LEFTOVER, SPARE, SURPLUS, and UNUSED quickly surfaced because they are all common synonyms for surplus. The most deceptive part was UNUSED, which shifts the focus from abundance to non-use, but the connection was still clear. The grid snaked the spangram cleverly, making it a satisfying central find.
The clue, 'There's more where that came from,' is a common saying that often prompts the response 'and then some.' The puzzle plays on this by making the spangram ANDTHENSOME, which literally means 'and even more.' So the clue essentially spells out the spangram, and together they set the theme of words for surplus — EXCESS, EXTRA, LEFTOVER, SPARE, SURPLUS, and UNUSED. It's a playful joke where the clue is the setup and the spangram is the punchline.
These six words form a tight category of synonyms for 'more than enough,' but editor Tracy Bennett selected a blend of formal and informal terms. SURPLUS and UNUSED have a businesslike tone, while SPARE and EXTRA are everyday adjectives. LEFTOVER hints at meals, and EXCESS can be a noun or verb. The spangram ANDTHENSOME bridges them with a folksy idiom, making the puzzle feel like a linguistic tour of overabundance. The inclusion of UNUSED is especially clever — it shifts from quantity to availability, broadening the set.
