1) HIGH SEAS

  • Puzzle Clue: Often several instances of the word “SEA” (or “sea”) stacked or placed at a “high” position.
  • Solution Explanation: Multiple “SEA” + positioned “high” → “HIGH SEAS.”

2) MAN OVERBOARD

  • Puzzle Clue: The word “man” is placed above (“over”) the word “board.”
  • Solution Explanation: “Man” over “board” → “man overboard.”

3) FIRST MATE

  • Puzzle Clue: The word “mate” may appear multiple times, or there’s an indication of “first.”
  • Solution Explanation: “First” + “mate” = “First Mate” (the chief officer on a pirate or naval ship).

4) LONG JOHN SILVER

  • Puzzle Clue: “John Silver” might be elongated or accompanied by “long.”
  • Solution Explanation: Combined into “Long John Silver,” the famous pirate from Treasure Island.

5) PIECES OF EIGHT

  • Puzzle Clue: A figure “8” or something indicating “eight,” plus “pieces.”
  • Solution Explanation: “Pieces” + “eight” = “Pieces of Eight,” the Spanish coins often associated with pirates.

6) JACK SPARROW

  • Puzzle Clue: The word “jack,” sometimes with a hint of a sparrow or simply referencing the name.
  • Solution Explanation: “Jack” + “sparrow” → “Jack Sparrow,” the fictional pirate captain from Pirates of the Caribbean.

7) CUTLASS

  • Puzzle Clue: The word “lass” may be “cut” (slashed) through, or “cut” + “lass.”
  • Solution Explanation: “Cut” + “lass” = “Cutlass,” the short sword commonly used by pirates.

8) CROSSBONES

  • Puzzle Clue: The word “bones” arranged in a cross shape.
  • Solution Explanation: “Bones” crossing each other → “crossbones,” as in the “skull and crossbones” pirate symbol.

9) WALK THE PLANK

  • Puzzle Clue: The words “walk,” “the,” and “plank” are scrambled or arranged in a puzzle format.
  • Solution Explanation: Rearrange to form “walk the plank,” the classic pirate punishment.

10) ALL HANDS ON DECK

  • Puzzle Clue: Multiple instances of “hands” placed above the word “deck.”
  • Solution Explanation: “All hands” (all crew) “on deck” → “All hands on deck.”

11) BLACKBEARD

  • Puzzle Clue: The word “BEARD” is colored black or accompanied by “black.”
  • Solution Explanation: “Black” + “beard” = “Blackbeard,” the notorious pirate (real name Edward Teach/Thatch).

12) CAT O’ NINE TAILS

  • Puzzle Clue: The word “cat” plus “tails” repeated nine times, or a clear indication of nine “tails.”
  • Solution Explanation: “Cat” + “o’ nine tails” = “Cat o’ nine tails,” the whip used for punishment aboard ships.