Crossword Challenge Puzzle 397 Clues and Answers
Puzzle 397 of Crossword Challenge gives you 29 clues on a 8×10 board. Each one is listed below with a hint first and the answer second.
Short answers dominate here: 8 of 29 fit in one or two squares. 4 clues are pictures, and 2 of those ask you to fill the gaps in a word printed on the image; 2 clues want only the initials of the clue words; 2 want just the first letter of a single word; 1 clue is a fill-in. The longest answer runs 9 letters and belongs to “Measures pressure”.
Start at the edges. The first letters of the 7 answers hanging from the top row spell the answer to “Large residence”, and the first letters of the 9 answers along the left edge spell the answer to “Measures pressure”. 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.
MEASURES PRESSURE
1Measures pressure
Top row 1/7 · 9 letters · down
Fits M _ _ O _ _ T _ _. Solving “Electric” first gives you its sixth letter.
MANOMETER
LIVING
2Living
Top row 2/7 · 5 letters · down
A _ _ V _. The fourth square is also part of the picture clue in the left column.
ALIVE
NATIONS LEAGUE
3Nations league
Top row 3/7 · 2 letters · down
Initials: the first letter of each word in “Nations league”.
NL
4Picture clue
Top row 4/7 · 1 letter · down
What is shown in the image? Shape: S.
S
ATOMIC CHARGE
5Atomic charge
Top row 5/7 · 3 letters · down
Begins with I. Solving “___ KARENINA” first gives you its third letter.
ION
PROPERTY HOLDER
6Property holder
Top row 6/7 · 5 letters · down
Begins with O. Solving “Emergency room” first gives you its fourth letter.
OWNER
CLOSE TO COAST
7Close to coast
Top row 7/7 · 9 letters · down
Begins with N. Check the sixth letter against “Halfway”.
NEARSHORE
Left column
These sit down the left edge and every answer runs across.
LARGE RESIDENCE
8Large residence
Left column 1/9 · 7 letters · across
Shape: M _ _ S _ _ N. Solving “Atomic charge” first gives you its fifth letter.
MANSION
WHOLE
9Whole
Left column 2/9 · 3 letters · across
Starts with A; pattern A _ _. Its third letter is shared with “Nations league”.
ALL
k--fe
10Picture clue
Left column 3/9 · 2 letters · across
Say what the picture shows. “k--fe” is printed on it, and the dashes are the letters you type. Starts with N.
NI
11Picture clue
Left column 4/9 · 4 letters · across
Describe the picture in one word that fits O _ _ _. The third square is also part of “Input key”.
OVEN
COACHES
12Coaches
Left column 5/9 · 7 letters · across
Shape: M _ _ T _ _ S. Its fifth letter is shared with “Eye-related”.
MENTORS
ELECTRIC
13Electric
Left column 6/9 · 1 letter · across
Just the opening letter of Electric.
E
DEFINITE ARTICLE
14Definite article
Left column 7/9 · 3 letters · across
T _ _. Check the third letter against “Input key”.
THE
NOT LATER
15Not later
Left column 8/9 · 7 letters · across
E _ _ L _ _ R. Solving “Eye-related” first gives you its fifth letter.
EARLIER
bea-
16Picture clue
Left column 9/9 · 2 letters · across
Work out the object in the picture, then drop the part already written on it (“bea-”). What is left starts with R.
RD
Inside the grid
Split squares hold two clues: the top half runs across, the bottom half runs down.
IN DEBT
17In debt
Row 3, col 5 · 3 letters · across
Shape: O _ _. Check the third letter against “Close to coast”.
OWE
AGAINST
18Against
Row 3, col 5 · 4 letters · down
Starts with A; pattern A _ _ _. “Coaches” crosses it at the third square.
ANTI
"___ KARENINA"
19"___ KARENINA"
Row 4, col 4 · 4 letters · across
The missing word in “___ KARENINA” starts with A.
ANNA
INPUT KEY
20Input key
Row 4, col 4 · 5 letters · down
Starts with E; pattern E _ _ E _. “Definite article” crosses it at the fourth square.
ENTER
EMERGENCY ROOM
21Emergency room
Row 5, col 6 · 2 letters · across
Initials: the first letter of each word in “Emergency room”.
ER
EYE-RELATED
22Eye-related
Row 5, col 6 · 5 letters · down
Shape: O _ _ I _. Its fourth letter is shared with “Not later”.
OPTIC
HINT
23Hint
Row 7, col 3 · 3 letters · across
Starts with T; pattern T _ _. The third square is also part of “Eye-related”.
TIP
HELD
24Held
Row 7, col 3 · 3 letters · down
Begins with H. The third square is also part of the picture clue in the left column.
HAD
HALFWAY
25Halfway
Row 7, col 7 · 1 letter · across
Only one square: take the initial of Halfway.
H
NOT HIM
26Not him
Row 7, col 7 · 3 letters · down
Fits H _ _. The third square is also part of “Field size”.
HER
E'EN IF
27E'en if
Row 8, col 5 · 3 letters · across
Begins with T. “Close to coast” crosses it at the third square.
THO
CITY OF ANGELS
28City of angels
Row 8, col 5 · 2 letters · down
L _. The second square is also part of “Field size”.
LA
FIELD SIZE
29Field size
Row 10, col 4 · 4 letters · across
Fits A _ _ _. Solving “Not him” first gives you its third letter.
ACRE
Crossword Challenge Level 397 Solved Grid
Hide the letters to check your own board against the empty grid.
Next puzzles
Crossword Challenge Puzzle 3988×10 · 29 clues · 4 picturesLongest answer runs 9 letters, and 1 clue is a fill-in-the-blank.See hints and answersCrossword Challenge Puzzle 3998×10 · 30 clues · 5 picturesLongest answer runs 9 letters, and 1 clue is a fill-in-the-blank.See hints and answers
Puzzle 397 solved
Thanks for working through Puzzle 397 with us. Puzzle 398 is next, with 29 clues on a 8×10 board.