Looking for a clue for today's NYT strand? Today's theme, “Give me a break” is an easy clue, but finding all the words is another matter.

Below we have compiled a list of useful hints and answers for Strand #271 in case you need help. We will start with the hints and then lead you to the full solution for Strand #271.

WARNING: There are spoilers for Strand #271.

The official theme for NYT Strands #271 is... “Give me a break.”

And here's an unofficial hint from me: “After five minutes, start again.”

If you're still in the dark, here's a handy word that gives you a valuable hint token:

Still having trouble? Spangram gives you a hint on conjunctions. Today it starts with “D” and ends with “E.”

Scroll down to see what it is.

DOWNTIME.

Now, what's the answer to today's strand?

Drumroll, please.

... Spangram was DOWNTIME.

Strands #271

“Give me a break”

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Hello Strands fans! This was a rather tricky one, as it turns out I don't know much about synonyms for breaks. Which is ironic considering that the average freelancer like me is allowed to take multiple breaks in a day.

Anyway, after thinking for a bit that one of the two “X's” could be related to X-rays, which would be a very literal definition of “break,” I decided to use a hint that would clarify LOAF.

This made it much easier! I quickly chose RELAX on the left, CHILL on the upper right, and UNWIND on the lower right; PAUSE fit nicely between the latter two, and the right side was complete.

The last three were a pain, but once I found the LOUNGE in the upper left corner, I had enough room to get the DOWNTIME spangram. Then, after much head-scratching, I figured out that the anagram of LTUXEAUIR is LUXURIATE and completed the puzzle.

Are you reading this in a slow time zone? The full article on Strand's solution to yesterday's Round 270 can be found here.