Under Fire
August 30, 2026 · 12×11 · Hard
Grey wolf out West
Terse desk note
Aim at the jack
Shaped like an X
Rough wool robes
Army fighting unit
Skinned knee moment
Old hand at war
Raring to go now
Caribbean folk magic
Hypes up the crowd
Raid from above
Powder, warm mug
Snitch or sewer pest
Hold the roof up
Seen in a mirror
Whack, mob-style
Top boss, casually
Grip and keep it
Cross the pool
Gem for December
As stated, in emails
Expert wartime pilot
Age with a label
Safari sun cover
Kin to cholesterol
Presto, it's shown
Gave out on loan
No longer inside
Weakest chess piece
Cartel of oil states
Short for a map
Prelude to a day
100 square meters
Point a finger
Two seed leaves
Casual term, dad
Assuming it's so
Watches from couch
Flips a yes around
Blocking an invasion
Under Fire — Solution
August 30, 2026 · 12×11 · Hard
Grey wolf out West
L
Terse desk note
Aim at the jack
M
Shaped like an X
Rough wool robes
C
Army fighting unit
R
Skinned knee moment
S
Old hand at war
Raring to go now
V
Caribbean folk magic
O
B
E
A
H
Hypes up the crowd
E
M
C
E
E
Raid from above
Powder, warm mug
B
O
M
B
I
N
G
Snitch or sewer pest
R
A
T
C
O
C
O
A
Hold the roof up
Seen in a mirror
Whack, mob-style
I
M
A
G
E
Top boss, casually
Grip and keep it
C
Cross the pool
Gem for December
S
W
I
M
As stated, in emails
P
E
R
P
R
E
Z
Expert wartime pilot
A
C
E
Age with a label
Safari sun cover
E
R
A
Kin to cholesterol
E
Presto, it's shown
I
Gave out on loan
No longer inside
L
E
N
T
Weakest chess piece
Cartel of oil states
N
S
T
E
R
O
L
Short for a map
Prelude to a day
T
O
P
O
100 square meters
Point a finger
Two seed leaves
A
C
C
U
S
E
Casual term, dad
Assuming it's so
P
A
P
A
D
I
C
O
T
Watches from couch
V
I
E
W
E
R
Flips a yes around
N
O
N
Blocking an invasion
D
E
F
E
N
C
E
Under Fire — The notes
August 30, 2026 · 12×11 · Hard
- LOBOGrey wolf out WestSpanish and Portuguese for wolf; used in the American Southwest, and the mascot of the University of New Mexico.
- MEMOTerse desk noteA short written note, often circulated at work to remind or inform staff quickly.
- BOCCEAim at the jackAn Italian lawn-bowling game where players roll balls toward a small target ball, the jack.
- CHIShaped like an XThe Greek letter χ, shaped like a cross or an X; also used for the chi-squared statistical test.
- ABASRough wool robesLoose, coarse outer robes traditionally worn in parts of the Middle East and North Africa.
- REGIMENTArmy fighting unitA large military unit, made up of several battalions, commanded by a colonel.
- SCRAPESkinned knee momentA graze or scuff on the skin; also a close call, a narrow escape from trouble.
- VETERANOld hand at warSomeone with long experience, especially a former soldier who has served in combat.
- EAGERRaring to go nowFull of enthusiasm and keen to start; raring to go.
- OBEAHCaribbean folk magicA folk system of spiritual practices and magic from the Caribbean, blending African traditions.
- EMCEEHypes up the crowdSomeone who hosts an event or hypes the crowd at a show; short for master of ceremonies.
- BOMBINGRaid from aboveAn aerial attack dropping explosives on a target, often during wartime.
- COCOAPowder, warm mugA powder made from roasted cacao beans, used for hot chocolate and baking.
- RATSnitch or sewer pestA rodent that scurries through walls, or slang for a police informer, a snitch.
- WALLSHold the roof upThe vertical structures that hold up a roof and enclose a room or building.
- IMAGESeen in a mirrorWhat a mirror reflects, or any visual likeness, a photo, drawing, or reputation.
- ICEWhack, mob-styleSlang for to kill someone, mafia-style; also to freeze someone out socially, « to ice someone out ».
- PREZTop boss, casuallyInformal, clipped way to say « president », often used in headlines or casual speech.
- RETAINGrip and keep itTo keep or hold onto something, information, staff, or a lawyer you've hired.
- SWIMCross the poolTo move through water using arms and legs, as in a pool, lake, or sea.
- ZIRCONGem for DecemberA sparkling natural gemstone, one of December's birthstones, often mistaken for diamond.
- PERAs stated, in emailsUsed in office emails to mean « as stated », « per my last message », or simply « for each ».
- ACEExpert wartime pilotA fighter pilot credited with many aerial victories, especially in WWI or WWII; also, to pass with flying colors.
- ERAAge with a labelA distinct period of time, often named for its defining events, the Ice Age, the Digital Era.
- TOPEESafari sun coverA lightweight hat worn for sun protection in tropical climates, especially by colonial-era explorers.
- STEROLKin to cholesterolA type of lipid molecule; cholesterol is the best-known example found in animal cells.
- ECCOPresto, it's shownItalian for « here it is » or « behold »; a flourish when unveiling or announcing something.
- LENTGave out on loanPast tense of « lend »: gave something temporarily, expecting it back.
- OUTNo longer insideNot inside, not included, or no longer in the game, struck out, voted out, or simply outside.
- PAWNWeakest chess pieceThe weakest chess piece, or to hock a valued item for quick cash at a pawnshop.
- OPECCartel of oil statesThe Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, a cartel of oil-producing nations.
- TOPOShort for a mapShort for topographic map, showing the shape and features of the land, handy for hikers or army planners.
- EVEPrelude to a dayThe period or day immediately before an event, Christmas Eve, the eve of an election.
- ARE100 square metersA metric unit of area equal to 100 square meters, one-hundredth of a hectare.
- ACCUSEPoint a fingerTo claim someone did wrong, to point the finger and lay blame.
- DICOTTwo seed leavesA flowering plant whose seedlings sprout two seed leaves at first, like beans, roses, or oaks.
- PAPACasual term, dadAn informal, affectionate word for father, used by children in many languages.
- IFAssuming it's soIntroduces a condition or possibility, « if you say so », « if only », the word of maybes.
- VIEWERWatches from couchSomeone watching television or a screen; also a small device for looking at slides or photos.
- NONFlips a yes aroundA prefix or standalone word meaning « not », non-stop, non-fiction, or simply a firm refusal.
- DEFENCEBlocking an invasionProtection against attack, a nation's defence, a sports team's back line, or a legal defence in court.