With a lot on the line, or a phonetic hint to 3-, 8-, 15-, and 23-Down

Editorially verified for the Aug 27, 2026

31 Down

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Poker chips on a gambling table suggesting a high-stakes situation.

Clue explained

“High stakes” describes a situation in which a great deal can be won or lost, hence “a lot on the line.” It also supplies the phonetic hint for several long entries whose wording is transformed by the puzzle’s theme.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Thursday, August 27, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1"Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" network
  2. 4Collision sound
  3. 7Hill partner, in textbook publishing and country music
  4. 13Big sellers
  5. 16"That's old news"
  6. 17"Could there possibly be a good explanation for this?"
  7. 18Skating jumps similar to toe loops
  8. 19Ruckus
  9. 20Motorcycle attachments
  10. 22Hair line?
  11. 25Dangers
  12. 26Disconnect
  13. 28"Get __ town!"
  14. 30Ski area near Reno
  15. 34Gold at the Milano Cortina Olympics?
  16. 35Second, but not first
  17. 36Getting the check
  18. 37__ choy
  19. 38Every evening
  20. 40Prefix with political
  21. 41Revises
  22. 43Assessment, briefly
  23. 44Boater or bowler
  24. 45Greta of classic Hollywood
  25. 46Hustle genre
  26. 47Texting tech
  27. 48Some natural hairstyles
  28. 50Part of QED
  29. 52Trench coat, wig, and big sunglasses, maybe
  30. 55Sando spread
  31. 58Patchy-patterned horses
  32. 59Tacit
  33. 62Certain spot
  34. 63Application that combats dark circles
  35. 64Gobbles (down)
  36. 65Some GEs
  37. 66__/her/hers

Down

  1. 1Degs. conferred after defenses
  2. 2Large sushi order
  3. 3Card game that's really taking off?
  4. 4"WonderWater" brand
  5. 5Alias letters
  6. 6"Cleanup on aisle five" impetus
  7. 7Half marathon's 13.1
  8. 8Namesake of Converse's All Star sneaker
  9. 9Participate in decision-making
  10. 10Motorola phone
  11. 11Combative Olympian?
  12. 12Dict. entries
  13. 14Michael of "Juno"
  14. 15Dance around what's really important
  15. 21Opposite of noite
  16. 23Links activity
  17. 24North African capital
  18. 26Emergency kit
  19. 27Sweet smell
  20. 29Comedian Notaro
  21. 31With a lot on the line, or a phonetic hint to 3-, 8-, 15-, and 23-Down
  22. 32Wee hour
  23. 33Showbiz quartets
  24. 36Come in second
  25. 39Sports bar sets
  26. 42Supreme court presence?
  27. 46Eager agreement
  28. 49Tricks
  29. 51"Te quiero, __ mío"
  30. 52Singer Celine
  31. 53Empire also known as the "Realm of the Four Parts"
  32. 54New Age singer who speaks Irish
  33. 56"Totes"
  34. 57"I'll get the check"
  35. 58[Praying emoji]
  36. 60Org. with LSU Tigers, Auburn Tigers, and Missouri Tigers
  37. 61WFH devices

The answer to “With a lot on the line, or a phonetic hint to 3-, 8-, 15-, and 23-Down” in the The Washington Post crossword is HIGHSTAKES — a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 27, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 31-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“With a lot on the line, or a phonetic hint to 3-, 8-, 15-, and 23-Down” answer

HIGHSTAKES (10 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is HIGHSTAKES.

When else has “With a lot on the line, or a phonetic hint to 3-, 8-, 15-, and 23-Down” appeared?

The Washington Post reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 27, 2026 (most recent) → HIGHSTAKES. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “With a lot on the line, or a phonetic hint to 3-, 8-, 15-, and 23-Down”?

The answer is HIGHSTAKES, a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 27, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “With a lot on the line, or a phonetic hint to 3-, 8-, 15-, and 23-Down”?

10 letters: HIGHSTAKES.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on August 27, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 31-Down.

Can “With a lot on the line, or a phonetic hint to 3-, 8-, 15-, and 23-Down” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for August 27, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Washington Post Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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