Newsday.Answers
Daily Newsday Crossword

“Take your pick and play”

The verified answer to the Newsday Crossword clue “Take your pick and play”, with letter-by-letter analysis and the full puzzle context for the Thursday, December 11, 2025 puzzle.

Published · Down · 5 letters

Hints first

Letters 5
First letter S
Last letter M
S ? ? ? M

A 5-letter down entry from the Thursday puzzle

The Answer

S T R U M

The answer to “Take your pick and play” is STRUM

Letters 5
Direction Down
Published Dec 11, 2025

Letter analysis: the 5-letter answer

Vowels, consonants, and crossword construction notes
Unique 5 of 5 positions
Vowels 1 20% of word
Consonants 4 non-vowels
First letter S starts with

The clue “Take your pick and play” appeared in the Newsday Crossword on Thursday, December 11, 2025 as a down entry. The verified answer is STRUM — a 5-letter word that begins with S and ends with M.

This answer contains 1 vowel and 4 consonants. The Newsday Crossword is published daily by Newsday on Long Island and edited by Stan Newman, whose Saturday Stumper is widely considered one of the toughest mainstream crosswords in print.

Other clues with the answer STRUM

STRUM has been used as the answer for these Newsday Crossword clues
“Play guitar chords” Feb 9, 2026 “Play rhythm guitar” Nov 16, 2025

More clues from the December 11, 2025 puzzle

Thursday Newsday Crossword
View full puzzle
Jump off a board 4 ℓ · D Red Sea port 4 ℓ · D Silo cousin 8 ℓ · D Secure, as a board 6 ℓ · D Least cordial 6 ℓ · D Kangaroo pouch, e.g. 3 ℓ · A Intuitive feeling 4 ℓ · A Derive (from) 4 ℓ · D Nuptial ritual 3 ℓ · D __ Paulo (big city for futebol) 3 ℓ · D Smooths, as shelves 5 ℓ · A Choral contingent 5 ℓ · D Hair Beyonce once had 4 ℓ · D Saddler's implement 3 ℓ · D Name on the Lion King soundtrack 5 ℓ · D Held in common 6 ℓ · D Hot pods 6 ℓ · D Have what it takes 13 ℓ · A Area of expertise 6 ℓ · A

Frequently asked questions about “Take your pick and play”

What is the answer to “Take your pick and play” in the Newsday Crossword?

The verified answer is STRUM — a 5-letter word that appeared as a down entry on Thursday, December 11, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Take your pick and play”?

The answer STRUM contains 5 letters.

Was “Take your pick and play” an across or down clue?

This clue ran as a Down entry.

Is this site affiliated with Newsday?

No. This is an independent fan reference site — we are not affiliated with Newsday. The Newsday Crossword is a trademark of its respective owner. We solve and verify each Newsday Crossword puzzle manually before publishing the answer key.

Take your pick and play — Newsday Crossword Clue Answer | Newsday Crossword Answers