Crossword Challenge Puzzle 342 Clues and Answers
Crossword Challenge Puzzle 342 is an 8×10 board with 30 clues, and every one of them is answered below.
Short answers dominate here: 9 of 30 fit in one or two squares. 4 clues are pictures, and 1 of those asks you to fill the gaps in a word printed on the image; 3 clues want only the initials of the clue words; 4 want just the first letter of a single word. The longest answer runs 9 letters and belongs to “Quick fix”.
Start at the edges. The first letters of the 7 answers hanging from the top row spell the answer to the picture clue in the left column, and the first letters of the 9 answers along the left edge spell the answer to “Quick fix”. Solve one of those two and every edge clue starts with a known letter.
Hints and answers, clue by clue
Clues look the way they do in the game. Tap Hint for a nudge or Answer to see the letters. The fully solved grid is below the hints.
Top row
These sit along the top edge and every answer runs down.
QUICK FIX
1Quick fix
Top row 1/7 · 9 letters · down
Shape: M _ _ E _ _ I _ _. Its sixth letter is shared with “Urgency”.
MAKESHIFT
CULTURAL SYMBOL
2Cultural symbol
Top row 2/7 · 4 letters · down
Fits I _ _ _. The picture clue in the left column crosses it at the third square.
ICON
LINE NUMBER
3Line number
Top row 3/7 · 2 letters · down
Shorten the clue to its first letters: 2 squares.
LN
4Picture clue
Top row 4/7 · 3 letters · down
What is shown in the image? Shape: L _ _. Its third letter is shared with “Eye”.
LEO
IDEA
5Idea
Top row 5/7 · 1 letter · down
Just the opening letter of Idea.
I
GREASED
6Greased
Top row 6/7 · 5 letters · down
Shape: O _ _ E _. Its fourth letter is shared with “Rose's hue”.
OILED
WANT
7Want
Top row 7/7 · 4 letters · down
Shape: N _ _ _. The third square is also part of “Eye”.
NEED
Left column
These sit down the left edge and every answer runs across.
8Picture clue
Left column 1/9 · 7 letters · across
One word for the picture, starting with M. Its fifth letter is shared with “Idea”.
MILLION
9Picture clue
Left column 2/9 · 4 letters · across
What is shown in the image? Shape: A _ _ _. Its third letter is shared with “Line number”.
ACNE
-ala
10Picture clue
Left column 3/9 · 2 letters · across
Picture word minus “ala” gives the answer. First letter: K.
KO
FINAL PART
11Final part
Left column 4/9 · 3 letters · across
Begins with E. The third square is also part of “Vacuum's target”.
END
SOFT
12Soft
Left column 5/9 · 1 letter · across
Soft starts with the answer.
S
URGENCY
13Urgency
Left column 6/9 · 5 letters · across
Shape: H _ _ T _. “T-bone” crosses it at the fourth square.
HASTE
VERY STRONG
14Very strong
Left column 7/9 · 7 letters · across
Shape: I _ _ E _ _ E. Its fifth letter is shared with “Salad base”.
INTENSE
FREE THROW
15Free throw
Left column 8/9 · 2 letters · across
Take one letter from each word of the clue, in order.
FT
DECK WOOD
16Deck wood
Left column 9/9 · 4 letters · across
Shape: T _ _ _. The third square is also part of “Ace”.
TEAK
Inside the grid
Split squares hold two clues: the top half runs across, the bottom half runs down.
INTERNET EXPLORER
17Internet explorer
Row 3, col 6 · 2 letters · across
Shorten the clue to its first letters: 2 squares.
IE
SALAD BASE
18Salad base
Row 3, col 6 · 6 letters · down
Starts with G; pattern G _ _ E _ _. Check the fourth letter against “Urgency”.
GREENS
EYE
19Eye
Row 4, col 4 · 4 letters · across
O _ _ _. The third square is also part of “Greased”.
OGLE
VACUUM'S TARGET
20Vacuum's target
Row 4, col 4 · 4 letters · down
D _ _ _. “Urgency” crosses it at the third square.
DUST
ROSE'S HUE
21Rose's hue
Row 5, col 5 · 3 letters · across
Fits R _ _. Its third letter is shared with “Want”.
RED
T-BONE
22T-bone
Row 5, col 5 · 5 letters · down
Begins with S. Solving “Rush directive” first gives you its fourth letter.
STEAK
PRE-OWNED
23Pre-owned
Row 6, col 3 · 4 letters · across
Shape: U _ _ _. Solving “Salad base” first gives you its third letter.
USED
PUT UP
24Put up
Row 6, col 3 · 4 letters · down
A _ _ _. Check the third letter against “Free throw”.
ANTE
HELD ONTO
25Held onto
Row 6, col 8 · 4 letters · down
Fits K _ _ _. Its third letter is shared with “Rush directive”.
KEPT
KNOW
26Know
Row 7, col 7 · 1 letter · across
Just the opening letter of Know.
K
WOOD-CUTTING TOOL
27Wood-cutting tool
Row 7, col 7 · 3 letters · down
S _ _. “Weight abbr.” crosses it at the third square.
SAW
RUSH DIRECTIVE
28Rush directive
Row 9, col 4 · 4 letters · across
Shape: A _ _ _. Its third letter is shared with “Wood-cutting tool”.
ASAP
ACE
29Ace
Row 9, col 4 · 1 letter · down
Write the first letter of Ace, nothing more.
A
WEIGHT ABBR.
30Weight abbr.
Row 10, col 6 · 2 letters · across
Fits W _. The second square is also part of “Held onto”.
WT
Crossword Challenge Level 342 Solved Grid
Hide the letters to check your own board against the empty grid.
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Puzzle 342 solved
Thanks for working through Puzzle 342 with us. Puzzle 343 is next, with 31 clues on a 8×10 board.