Need help with today's NYT Strand puzzle? The theme of today's puzzle, “Is this some kind of a joke? - is a bit challenging, but not too difficult if you know what you're getting at

Below are some helpful hints and what-if answers for Strands #165 We will start with the hints and then lead you to the full solution to Strands #165

WARNING: There are spoilers for Strands #165

The official theme for NYT Strands #165 is

“Is this some kind of joke?

And here's an unofficial hint from me: “funny people”

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

Still struggling? Spangram gives you a hint on conjunctions Today it starts with “Y” and ends with “G”

Scroll down to find out what it is

It's YOUREKIDDING

Now, what's the answer to today's Strand game #165?

Drumroll, please

Spangram was YOUREKIDDING

Strand #165

“Is this some kind of joke?” This piece is not so difficult if you know what you are getting at At first, “Is this some kind of a joke?” theme, I thought it was about comedians, but in fact it is much more general It concerns funny kinds of people rather than specific personalities

Fortunately, I noticed this immediately when I spotted COMIC in the lower right corner FOOL and CLOWN followed above it, and in the upper right I found PRANKSTER

BUFFOON and JESTER (bottom right and middle left, respectively) were a little harder to find, but without them I would not have gotten the spangram; YOUREJOKING is not only an unlikely phrase to find on its own, but actually starts three rows down and to touch both the top and bottom of the board, it would have to double back on itself

I had a tough time with it today

Are you reading this late in the day? The full article on Strand's solution to yesterday's game #164 can be found here