Pic on a pec

Crossword Answer — July 31, 2026

Answer

Think of a tiny bit of ink decorating a muscular chest. 🖋️

WSJ Answers

WSJ Crossword

Friday, July 31, 2026

By Jeff Jerome · Edited by Mike Shenk

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

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

WSJ Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Hacker’s goal
  2. 7“1,000 songs in your pocket” advertiser
  3. 11Hurried flight
  4. 14Coal stratum
  5. 18“Roamin’ in the ___” (1912 Harry Lauder song)
  6. 19Longest river entirely within Switzerland
  7. 20Bonobo, e.g.
  8. 215 for B or 6 for C, e.g.
  9. 22Home of Velázquez’s “Las Meninas”
  10. 23Grumpy or Happy on wash day, maybe?
  11. 26Away from home
  12. 27Hero helped by the divine monkey Hanuman
  13. 29Road trip stops
  14. 30GI thumbing a ride from Fort Bragg to Fort Benning?
  15. 34Capital on the Missouri River
  16. 35The Chariot or the Tower, e.g.
  17. 362013 Joaquin Phoenix movie about an AI crush
  18. 37Take a load off
  19. 38Olympic paddler
  20. 42Inexperienced educator?
  21. 48From the start
  22. 49“___ would like to play” (2006 ad slogan)
  23. 50Frozen Wasser
  24. 51Cheeky, say
  25. 52Boccie-loving Doberman?
  26. 59“Girl, Interrupted” Oscar winner
  27. 60Bygone jet
  28. 61Colleague of Cleese and Idle
  29. 62Tailless amphibian
  30. 63Stared stupidly
  31. 64Musket attachment
  32. 66Chicago’s largest newspaper
  33. 68Impressively tough
  34. 71Part of QED
  35. 73Harden (to)
  36. 74Business with sweaters
  37. 77Wrong
  38. 78“I’ll take whatever beef or pork is available, thanks”?
  39. 81Shankar with a sitar
  40. 82Closely monitored hosp. section
  41. 83Fraction of a joule
  42. 84Kate, to Archie and Lilibet
  43. 85Roy Campanella or Charles Johnson, e.g.?
  44. 89Unspecified
  45. 93___ Lingus
  46. 94Paris accord?
  47. 95Valentine’s gift
  48. 96Evaluate
  49. 100Praise for a former British prime minister?
  50. 106Mobile home?
  51. 108“Very funny!”
  52. 109Still in the game
  53. 110Central American plotting a coup?
  54. 113Took a road trip
  55. 115___ II (Gillette brand)
  56. 116Word after bachelor or mouse
  57. 117Salt or smoke, say
  58. 118Gridiron squads
  59. 119Spanish painter with murals in 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s lobby
  60. 120“___ Beso” (Paul Anka song)
  61. 121“You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” singer seen as the last part of this puzzle’s theme answers
  62. 122Parched place

Down

  1. 1Permit
  2. 2Acknowledge
  3. 3Indigenous West Indian people
  4. 4Flow forth
  5. 5Caesar of comedy
  6. 6Bothersome bunkmates
  7. 7Confession starter
  8. 8Play with, kitten-style
  9. 9Singer Rita
  10. 10German article
  11. 11Focused beam
  12. 12Bldg. divisions
  13. 13Mrs. Lovett’s wares, in “Sweeney Todd”
  14. 14Paris’s ___-Coeur
  15. 15Anesthetic of the past
  16. 16Lend ___ (listen)
  17. 17Code creator
  18. 18Polite fellow
  19. 24Brest brother
  20. 25Indian yogurt-and-cucumber dip
  21. 28Cuts like ___ knife through butter
  22. 31Three-prong Japanese weapon
  23. 32Resurrection figure
  24. 33Tee follower
  25. 37Commotion
  26. 38Line at LaGuardia
  27. 39Yucatán years
  28. 40Semiaquatic salamander
  29. 41Athena’s symbol
  30. 42Bar supply
  31. 43Calling for
  32. 44“Jerry Maguire” director Cameron
  33. 45Skeletal ship
  34. 46Falco of “The Sopranos”
  35. 47Sax piece
  36. 49Aging facility
  37. 53“Count me out”
  38. 54Opposition answers
  39. 55Day-___ paint
  40. 56Pesto bit
  41. 57Bed in a barracks
  42. 58Painter/AIDS activist Keith
  43. 59Singer Jackson
  44. 63Spiritual guide
  45. 64No-frills
  46. 65Pic on a pec
  47. 67Condescending address for a man
  48. 68Fishhook feature
  49. 69Human rights activist Clooney
  50. 70Met headliner
  51. 72“The heavens speed ___ thine enterprise!”: Portia
  52. 74Elisabeth of “Leaving Las Vegas”
  53. 75Slammers
  54. 76Critic’s concern
  55. 78Rent-___
  56. 79Clearance tag abbr.
  57. 80Hall of Famer Ripken
  58. 82Antarctic expanse
  59. 86Casey with a countdown
  60. 87Sky streaker
  61. 88Shade
  62. 89Chris of “Law & Order”
  63. 90Hanging one’s head
  64. 91___ culpa
  65. 92Mount Vernon and Monticello, e.g.
  66. 95Lion, at times
  67. 96Dr. visits
  68. 97Market unit
  69. 98Sub system
  70. 99Put into practice
  71. 100South American barbecue
  72. 101Pointer’s word
  73. 102Garlic unit
  74. 103Personnel head, at times
  75. 104Happening
  76. 105Cincinnati team
  77. 107Cries of insight
  78. 111Roman 300
  79. 112Bewildered response
  80. 114Bullring cry

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Hacker’s goal — Answer: ACCESS. Hint: Think of what a hacker wants to obtain when trying to enter a protected system 🔓
  2. 7. “1,000 songs in your pocket” advertiser — Answer: IPOD. Hint: Think of the Apple gadget once promoted as holding an entire music library in your pocket 🎵
  3. 11. Hurried flight — Answer: LAM. Hint: Think of a quick getaway, especially one made to avoid trouble. 🏃
  4. 14. Coal stratum — Answer: SEAM. Hint: Think of a distinct underground layer where coal is found. ⛏️
  5. 18. “Roamin’ in the ___” (1912 Harry Lauder song) — Answer: GLOAMIN. Hint: Think of the poetic word for twilight that completes this old song title. 🌆
  6. 19. Longest river entirely within Switzerland — Answer: AARE. Hint: Think of the Swiss river that winds through Bern before joining the Rhine. 🏞️
  7. 20. Bonobo, e.g. — Answer: APE. Hint: Think of a tailless, highly intelligent primate closely related to humans 🐒
  8. 21. 5 for B or 6 for C, e.g. — Answer: ATNO. Hint: Think of the periodic-table number that identifies an element, like boron’s or carbon’s. ⚛️
  9. 22. Home of Velázquez’s “Las Meninas” — Answer: ELPRADO. Hint: Think of Madrid’s renowned art museum, where Velázquez’s masterpiece hangs. 🖼️
  10. 23. Grumpy or Happy on wash day, maybe? — Answer: DWARFSTARCHER. Hint: Picture someone giving a storybook dwarf a very crisp finish after laundry day. 🧺
  11. 26. Away from home — Answer: NOTIN. Hint: Think of the phrase used when someone isn’t at their usual residence. 🏡
  12. 27. Hero helped by the divine monkey Hanuman — Answer: RAMA. Hint: This revered prince is the central figure of a major Hindu epic. 🏹
  13. 29. Road trip stops — Answer: RESTAREAS. Hint: Places along the highway where travelers can pause, refuel, and stretch their legs. 🚗
  14. 30. GI thumbing a ride from Fort Bragg to Fort Benning? — Answer: TWOBASEHITCHER. Hint: Picture a soldier hitching a ride between two military bases. 🪖
  15. 34. Capital on the Missouri River — Answer: PIERRE. Hint: Picture the state capital named for a famous French explorer along the river 🗺️
  16. 35. The Chariot or the Tower, e.g. — Answer: TAROT. Hint: Each of these is a card in a fortune-telling deck. 🔮
  17. 36. 2013 Joaquin Phoenix movie about an AI crush — Answer: HER. Hint: Joaquin Phoenix falls for a highly advanced operating system in this futuristic romance. 🤖
  18. 37. Take a load off — Answer: SIT. Hint: What you might do when your feet need a break 🪑
  19. 38. Olympic paddler — Answer: CANOEIST. Hint: Think of the athlete who races through the Games in a narrow boat using a paddle. 🛶
  20. 42. Inexperienced educator? — Answer: GREENTEACHER. Hint: Think of a novice instructor described with a color associated with inexperience. 🎓
  21. 48. From the start — Answer: ANEW. Hint: Think of doing something over again, right back at the beginning. 🔄
  22. 49. “___ would like to play” (2006 ad slogan) — Answer: WII. Hint: Think of the Nintendo console whose 2006 slogan invited everyone to join the game 🎮
  23. 50. Frozen Wasser — Answer: EIS. Hint: Think of what happens to water in a freezer. ❄️
  24. 51. Cheeky, say — Answer: RUDE. Hint: A mischievous remark can cross the line from playful into this kind of behavior. 😏
  25. 52. Boccie-loving Doberman? — Answer: BOWLINGPINSCHER. Hint: Picture a German guard dog reimagined as a familiar bowling target 🎳
  26. 59. “Girl, Interrupted” Oscar winner — Answer: JOLIE. Hint: Think of the actress who won an Academy Award for playing Lisa in this intense psychiatric-hospital drama 🎬
  27. 60. Bygone jet — Answer: SST. Hint: Think of the retired supersonic passenger plane that once crossed the Atlantic in record time. ✈️
  28. 61. Colleague of Cleese and Idle — Answer: PALIN. Hint: Think of the Monty Python performer who later became a beloved travel documentarian. ✈️
  29. 62. Tailless amphibian — Answer: TOAD. Hint: Think of the bumpy, hopping amphibian often associated with witches 🐸
  30. 63. Stared stupidly — Answer: GAWKED. Hint: Looked on with a blank, slack-jawed expression of amazement 😳
  31. 64. Musket attachment — Answer: BAYONET. Hint: This blade lets an old firearm double as a spear in close combat. 🔪
  32. 66. Chicago’s largest newspaper — Answer: TRIBUNE. Hint: Think of the Windy City’s famous daily, named after an ancient Roman public official. 📰
  33. 68. Impressively tough — Answer: BADASS. Hint: A bold way to describe someone remarkably formidable. 💪
  34. 71. Part of QED — Answer: ERAT. Hint: This Latin phrase component means “was to be demonstrated.” 📜
  35. 73. Harden (to) — Answer: INURE. Hint: To become accustomed to hardship is to do this. 💪
  36. 74. Business with sweaters — Answer: SPA. Hint: Think of a relaxing business where warm wraps might replace woolly pullovers. 🧖
  37. 77. Wrong — Answer: AMISS. Hint: Something is wrong when it’s not quite right. ⚠️
  38. 78. “I’ll take whatever beef or pork is available, thanks”? — Answer: ANYTHINGBUTCHER. Hint: Think of a phrase combining total flexibility with the person behind the meat counter. 🥩
  39. 81. Shankar with a sitar — Answer: RAVI. Hint: Think of the legendary Indian sitarist whose daughter Anoushka followed in his musical footsteps 🎶
  40. 82. Closely monitored hosp. section — Answer: ICU. Hint: This hospital unit keeps a very close watch on its most critical patients. 🏥
  41. 83. Fraction of a joule — Answer: ERG. Hint: Think of a tiny cgs unit of energy, much smaller than a joule. ⚡
  42. 84. Kate, to Archie and Lilibet — Answer: AUNT. Hint: Think of the familiar family title Archie and Lilibet might use for their father’s brother’s wife. 👑
  43. 85. Roy Campanella or Charles Johnson, e.g.? — Answer: BLACKCATCHER. Hint: Think of a baseball catcher identified by his African American heritage. ⚾
  44. 89. Unspecified — Answer: NAMELESS. Hint: Think of something without a given identity or label. 🏷️
  45. 93. ___ Lingus — Answer: AER. Hint: Think of the Irish airline whose name belongs before “Lingus.” ✈️
  46. 94. Paris accord? — Answer: OUI. Hint: Think of a brief French expression of agreement. 🇫🇷
  47. 95. Valentine’s gift — Answer: ROSES. Hint: A classic romantic bouquet that often arrives with a sweet note 💐
  48. 96. Evaluate — Answer: ASSESS. Hint: Give it a careful review to judge its value or quality 🧐
  49. 100. Praise for a former British prime minister? — Answer: AMENTOTHATCHER. Hint: Think of a devout-sounding expression of agreement aimed at a past leader. 🙌
  50. 106. Mobile home? — Answer: PHONECASE. Hint: Think of the protective home your cell carries wherever it goes 📱
  51. 108. “Very funny!” — Answer: HAHA. Hint: A cheerful reaction to a joke or punchline 😄
  52. 109. Still in the game — Answer: ALIVE. Hint: Not eliminated yet, this describes someone who remains in the competition. 🎯
  53. 110. Central American plotting a coup? — Answer: PANAMAHATCHER. Hint: Think of a schemer from a tropical isthmus plotting a sudden overthrow. 🌴
  54. 113. Took a road trip — Answer: MOTORED. Hint: Went cruising by car on an extended journey 🚗
  55. 115. ___ II (Gillette brand) — Answer: TRAC. Hint: Think of Gillette’s classic razor line named for a second-generation model. 🪒
  56. 116. Word after bachelor or mouse — Answer: PAD. Hint: Think of a place a bachelor might live and a surface that helps a computer mouse glide 🖱️
  57. 117. Salt or smoke, say — Answer: CURE. Hint: It’s a way to preserve food, whether with brine or a smoky flavor. 🥓
  58. 118. Gridiron squads — Answer: ELEVENS. Hint: These football teams are named for the number of players on the field 🏈
  59. 119. Spanish painter with murals in 30 Rockefeller Plaza’s lobby — Answer: SERT. Hint: Think of the Spanish muralist whose grand, dramatic works welcome visitors to a famous Manhattan skyscraper 🎨
  60. 120. “___ Beso” (Paul Anka song) — Answer: ESO. Hint: This Paul Anka song title begins with a Spanish word meaning “that.” 🎵
  61. 121. “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” singer seen as the last part of this puzzle’s theme answers — Answer: CHER. Hint: Think of the iconic singer behind a defiant comeback anthem, whose name appears at the ends of the themed entries. 🎤
  62. 122. Parched place — Answer: DESERT. Hint: Think of a sandy, rain-starved region where oases are precious 🏜️

Down

  1. 1. Permit — Answer: ALLOW. Hint: Give someone the go-ahead to do something. 👍
  2. 2. Acknowledge — Answer: COPTO. Hint: Admit that something is true in a casual, conversational way. 🤝
  3. 3. Indigenous West Indian people — Answer: CARIB. Hint: Think of the Indigenous people associated with the islands of the Caribbean. 🌴
  4. 4. Flow forth — Answer: EMANATE. Hint: Think of something issuing outward from a source, like light, warmth, or a distinctive scent. 💨
  5. 5. Caesar of comedy — Answer: SID. Hint: Think of the first name of the legendary TV comedian who headlined *Your Show of Shows* 📺
  6. 6. Bothersome bunkmates — Answer: SNORERS. Hint: These noisy sleepers can make sharing a room a real challenge. 😴
  7. 7. Confession starter — Answer: IADMIT. Hint: A phrase someone might say before owning up to something 🤭
  8. 8. Play with, kitten-style — Answer: PAWAT. Hint: Think of how a kitten bats at a toy with its little feet. 🐾
  9. 9. Singer Rita — Answer: ORA. Hint: Think of the British pop singer known for hits like “Anywhere” and “Let You Love Me” 🎤
  10. 10. German article — Answer: DER. Hint: This German word means “the” when introducing a masculine noun. 🇩🇪
  11. 11. Focused beam — Answer: LASER. Hint: Think of the concentrated beam often used in pointers, scanners, and precision tools 🔦
  12. 12. Bldg. divisions — Answer: APTS. Hint: Separate living spaces within a building 🏢
  13. 13. Mrs. Lovett’s wares, in “Sweeney Todd” — Answer: MEATPIES. Hint: Think of the notoriously mysterious savory pastries sold by Mrs. Lovett 🥧
  14. 14. Paris’s ___-Coeur — Answer: SACRE. Hint: Think of the white-domed basilica crowning Montmartre in Paris. ⛪
  15. 15. Anesthetic of the past — Answer: ETHER. Hint: This old-fashioned operating-room vapor once sent patients gently to sleep. 💤
  16. 16. Lend ___ (listen) — Answer: ANEAR. Hint: This word hints at being close or nearby, especially in terms of sound! 🎧
  17. 17. Code creator — Answer: MORSE. Hint: Think of the inventor associated with dots and dashes. 📡
  18. 18. Polite fellow — Answer: GENT. Hint: Think of an old-fashioned word for a courteous man. 🎩
  19. 24. Brest brother — Answer: FRERE. Hint: Think of the French word for a male sibling, as spoken in Brest. 🇫🇷
  20. 25. Indian yogurt-and-cucumber dip — Answer: RAITA. Hint: This cooling Indian side combines creamy yogurt with crisp cucumber and spices. 🥒
  21. 28. Cuts like ___ knife through butter — Answer: AHOT. Hint: Think of a heated blade that glides effortlessly through butter. 🔪
  22. 31. Three-prong Japanese weapon — Answer: SAI. Hint: Think of the compact martial-arts weapon with a central shaft and two side prongs, often associated with Okinawan kobudō 🥋
  23. 32. Resurrection figure — Answer: CHRIST. Hint: Think of the central figure celebrated at Easter ✝️
  24. 33. Tee follower — Answer: HEE. Hint: Think of the second half of a playful giggle written after “tee.” 😄
  25. 37. Commotion — Answer: STIR. Hint: A lively disturbance or bustling fuss is what this clue is getting at. 🌀
  26. 38. Line at LaGuardia — Answer: CABS. Hint: After landing, you might join this queue for a ride into the city 🚕
  27. 39. Yucatán years — Answer: ANOS. Hint: In Yucatán, think of the Spanish word for years. 🇲🇽
  28. 40. Semiaquatic salamander — Answer: NEWT. Hint: This water-loving amphibian is often found in ponds and streams. 🦎
  29. 41. Athena’s symbol — Answer: OWL. Hint: Think of the nocturnal bird traditionally associated with wisdom and Greek mythology. 🏛️
  30. 42. Bar supply — Answer: GIN. Hint: This juniper-flavored spirit is a classic partner for tonic at the bar 🍸
  31. 43. Calling for — Answer: NEEDING. Hint: Requiring something rather than merely wanting it 📣
  32. 44. “Jerry Maguire” director Cameron — Answer: CROWE. Hint: Think of the Oscar-winning filmmaker who also directed “Gladiator” and “A Beautiful Mind.” 🎬
  33. 45. Skeletal ship — Answer: HULK. Hint: Picture a battered old vessel stripped down to its bare frame. 🚢
  34. 46. Falco of “The Sopranos” — Answer: EDIE. Hint: She portrayed Carmela Soprano, Tony’s formidable wife, in the hit HBO series. 🎬
  35. 47. Sax piece — Answer: REED. Hint: This small vibrating strip helps a saxophone produce its sound 🎷
  36. 49. Aging facility — Answer: WINERY. Hint: Think of a place where grapes mature into something you can sip. 🍷
  37. 53. “Count me out” — Answer: IPASS. Hint: A brief way to decline an offer or invitation politely. 🙅
  38. 54. Opposition answers — Answer: NAYS. Hint: Think of the negative votes cast against a proposal. 👎
  39. 55. Day-___ paint — Answer: GLO. Hint: Think of the trademark associated with brilliantly fluorescent colors. 🎨
  40. 56. Pesto bit — Answer: PINENUT. Hint: This crunchy little seed is a classic ingredient in green Italian sauce. 🌿
  41. 57. Bed in a barracks — Answer: COT. Hint: A simple sleeping spot often found in shared military quarters 🛏️
  42. 58. Painter/AIDS activist Keith — Answer: HARING. Hint: Think of the New York artist famous for bold, dancing line figures and public murals. 🎨
  43. 59. Singer Jackson — Answer: JANET. Hint: Think of the pop star behind “Rhythm Nation” and “Together Again.” 🎤
  44. 63. Spiritual guide — Answer: GURU. Hint: Think of a wise teacher who guides others along a spiritual path 🧘
  45. 64. No-frills — Answer: BASIC. Hint: Think simple, plain, and free of extras. 🧼
  46. 65. Pic on a pec — Answer: TAT. Hint: Think of a tiny bit of ink decorating a muscular chest. 🖋️
  47. 67. Condescending address for a man — Answer: BUB. Hint: Think of a patronizing little nickname for a man. 🙃
  48. 68. Fishhook feature — Answer: BARB. Hint: It’s the sharp little point that helps keep a catch from slipping free. 🎣
  49. 69. Human rights activist Clooney — Answer: AMAL. Hint: This accomplished human rights lawyer is married to Hollywood star George Clooney. ⚖️
  50. 70. Met headliner — Answer: DIVA. Hint: Think of a famously dramatic female star who commands the spotlight 🎤
  51. 72. “The heavens speed ___ thine enterprise!”: Portia — Answer: THEEIN. Hint: Portia offers a Shakespearean blessing, using an old-fashioned pronoun before “thine enterprise.” ✨
  52. 74. Elisabeth of “Leaving Las Vegas” — Answer: SHUE. Hint: Think of the actress who earned an Oscar nomination opposite Nicolas Cage in this gritty Las Vegas drama 🎬
  53. 75. Slammers — Answer: PENS. Hint: Think of places where lawbreakers may spend time behind bars. 🔒
  54. 76. Critic’s concern — Answer: ARTS. Hint: A reviewer may focus on the broader creative world rather than one specific work. 🎭
  55. 78. Rent-___ — Answer: ACAR. Hint: Think of what you might borrow from a rental agency for a road trip 🚗
  56. 79. Clearance tag abbr. — Answer: IRR. Hint: Look for the tiny abbreviation on a tag marking a markdown or final sale 🏷️
  57. 80. Hall of Famer Ripken — Answer: CAL. Hint: Think of the Orioles legend’s short first name. ⚾
  58. 82. Antarctic expanse — Answer: ICESCAPE. Hint: Think of a vast, frozen landscape at the bottom of the world. 🧊
  59. 86. Casey with a countdown — Answer: KASEM. Hint: Think of the radio personality famous for hosting a weekly music countdown. 📻
  60. 87. Sky streaker — Answer: COMET. Hint: Look up for the bright visitor racing across the night sky ☄️
  61. 88. Shade — Answer: HUE. Hint: Think about how colors can vary and create atmosphere! 🎨
  62. 89. Chris of “Law & Order” — Answer: NOTH. Hint: Think of the actor who played Detective Mike Logan before becoming famous as Mr. Big on Sex and the City 🎬
  63. 90. Hanging one’s head — Answer: ASHAMED. Hint: Feeling embarrassed and remorseful after doing something wrong? 😔
  64. 91. ___ culpa — Answer: MEA. Hint: Latin for “my fault” — a humble little self-own 😅
  65. 92. Mount Vernon and Monticello, e.g. — Answer: ESTATES. Hint: These are grand historic properties associated with U.S. presidents 🏛️
  66. 95. Lion, at times — Answer: ROARER. Hint: What might the king of the jungle be when it makes its voice known? 🦁
  67. 96. Dr. visits — Answer: APPTS. Hint: Think of the scheduled meetings you book with a physician. 🩺
  68. 97. Market unit — Answer: SHARE. Hint: Think of a small piece of company ownership that can be traded on an exchange. 📈
  69. 98. Sub system — Answer: SONAR. Hint: An underwater detection system that uses sound to locate objects 🌊
  70. 99. Put into practice — Answer: ENACT. Hint: Turn an idea or plan into real-world action. ⚙️
  71. 100. South American barbecue — Answer: ASADO. Hint: Think of the beloved Argentine and Uruguayan tradition of grilling meat over an open flame. 🥩
  72. 101. Pointer’s word — Answer: THERE. Hint: A word used to point out a place away from the speaker 📍
  73. 102. Garlic unit — Answer: CLOVE. Hint: Think of one individual segment of a garlic bulb. 🧄
  74. 103. Personnel head, at times — Answer: HIRER. Hint: This person may be responsible for bringing new team members aboard. 🧑‍💼
  75. 104. Happening — Answer: EVENT. Hint: Think of an occurrence or notable occasion taking place. 🎉
  76. 105. Cincinnati team — Answer: REDS. Hint: This Ohio baseball team shares its nickname with a vivid primary color ⚾
  77. 107. Cries of insight — Answer: AHAS. Hint: What you might shout when a tricky idea suddenly clicks 💡
  78. 111. Roman 300 — Answer: CCC. Hint: Think of the Roman numeral made by repeating the symbol for 100 three times. 🏛️
  79. 112. Bewildered response — Answer: HUH. Hint: A puzzled little question you might blurt out when nothing makes sense 🤔
  80. 114. Bullring cry — Answer: OLE. Hint: A Spanish cheer you might hear as the matador makes a daring move. 🐂

The answer to “Pic on a pec” in the Wall Street Journal crossword is TAT — a 3-letter word. This clue ran in the Wall Street Journal crossword on July 31, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 65-Down. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“Pic on a pec” answer

TAT (3 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 TAT.

Why the answer is TAT

Think of a tiny bit of ink decorating a muscular chest. 🖋️

When else has “Pic on a pec” appeared?

Wall Street Journal reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

July 31, 2026 (this puzzle) → TAT. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the WSJ Crossword on July 31, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full Wall Street Journal answer list for July 31, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live WSJ answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the WSJ Crossword

The Wall Street Journal Crossword is a free daily 15×15 (larger for the end-of-week themed grid), edited by Mike Shenk and known for clean, fair cluing with a business and finance streak. This page covers a Friday puzzle. The WSJ also runs a contest (meta) crossword whose answer hides inside the finished grid, so its long theme entries tend to carry extra weight. Locking one confirmed mid-length answer usually opens the crossings around it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Pic on a pec”?

The answer is TAT, a 3-letter word. It appeared in the Wall Street Journal crossword on July 31, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Pic on a pec”?

3 letters: TAT.

Where did this clue appear?

In the Wall Street Journal crossword on July 31, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 65-Down.

Can “Pic on a pec” have a different answer?

Yes — Wall Street Journal 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 WSJ answers?

The full grid for July 31, 2026 is on the WSJ answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

NYT Crossword Answers NYT Mini Crossword Answers WSJ Answers — Jul 31 Wordle Hint Today Connections Hint Today Strands Hint Today Quordle Hint Today Contexto Hint Today Spotle Hint Today Minute Cryptic Answer Today Pips Hint Today Jumble Answers Today