| Encouraging strokes on the back |
|
|
| Light touches |
USA Today |
22 Oct 2026 |
| Butter portions |
Commuter |
19 Oct 2026 |
| Taps gently |
Commuter |
13 Oct 2026 |
| Bay State gridiron team, familiarly |
Wall Street Journal |
13 Oct 2026 |
| Gentle touches |
Commuter |
12 Oct 2026 |
| Gentle touches |
Commuter |
10 Oct 2026 |
| Encouraging strokes on the back |
|
|
| Actions often accompanied by "good boy" |
The Telegraph Cross Atlantic |
25 Sep 2026 |
| Small squares of butter |
Newsday |
21 Sep 2026 |
| Bits of butter |
Eugene Sheffer |
12 Sep 2026 |
| Gentle, comforting touches |
New York Times Mini |
09 Sep 2026 |
| Touches gently |
Universal |
06 Sep 2026 |
| Butter slices |
Universal |
04 Sep 2026 |
| Tangible encouragement |
Newsday |
04 Sep 2026 |
| New England football team, informally |
Wall Street Journal |
17 Aug 2026 |
| Touches lightly |
Thomas Joseph |
04 Aug 2026 |
| Butter units |
New York Times Midi |
29 Jul 2026 |
| Some congratulations |
New York Times |
11 Jul 2026 |
| Encouraging strokes on the back |
|
|
| Gentle touches |
Commuter |
25 Jun 2026 |
| Taps another way (4) |
Mirror Cryptic |
12 Jun 2026 |
| Lumps of butter |
Mirror Quick |
12 Jun 2026 |
| Gillette Stadium team in the N.F.L., to fans |
New York Times |
11 Jun 2026 |
| Hits lightly (4) |
Mirror Quick |
20 May 2026 |
| Taps another way (4) |
Mirror Cryptic |
20 May 2026 |
| New England NFLers |
USA Today Quick |
05 May 2026 |
| Portions of butter |
Newsday |
04 May 2026 |
| Bits of butter |
LA Times Daily |
26 Apr 2026 |
| Bits of butter |
USA Today |
22 Apr 2026 |
| Tender touches |
Thomas Joseph |
15 Apr 2026 |
| Touches gently, on the shoulder |
|
|
| Light touches |
Universal |
21 Mar 2026 |
| Tender touches |
Thomas Joseph |
18 Feb 2026 |
| Small quantities of butter |
The Telegraph Cross Atlantic |
27 Jan 2026 |
| Foxboro gridders |
Wall Street Journal |
10 Jan 2026 |
| Bits of butter |
Commuter |
17 Dec 2025 |
| Appreciative taps on the back |
|
|
| __ on the back |
LA Times Daily |
16 Nov 2025 |
| Comforting touches |
LA Times Daily |
02 Nov 2025 |
| Frisks, with "down" |
|
|
| New England American football team, for short |
The Telegraph Cross Atlantic |
03 Oct 2025 |
| Gentle touches |
Commuter |
29 Sep 2025 |
| Consoling taps |
USA Today |
27 Sep 2025 |
| Light touches |
Eugene Sheffer |
09 Sep 2025 |
| Taps broken taps (4) |
|
|
| Bits of butter |
Eugene Sheffer |
04 Jul 2025 |
| Encouraging strokes on the back |
|
|
| O'Brien & Sajak |
|
|
| Light touches |
Universal |
10 Jun 2025 |
| Small portions of butter |
Newsday |
09 Jun 2025 |
| Praises for puppies |
Newsday |
05 Jun 2025 |
| Benatar and Morita |
|
|
| Touches lightly |
Thomas Joseph |
13 May 2025 |
| Light touches |
Eugene Sheffer |
28 Apr 2025 |
| Gives a comforting touch |
|
|
| Touches gently, on the shoulder |
|
|
| A little love for the labradoodle |
|
|
| Touches lightly |
Thomas Joseph |
10 Apr 2025 |
| Portions of butter |
Newsday |
31 Mar 2025 |
| Gentle touches |
The Telegraph Cross Atlantic |
22 Mar 2025 |
| Gentle touches |
Commuter |
15 Mar 2025 |
| Butter squares |
LA Times Daily |
12 Mar 2025 |
| Tender touches |
Thomas Joseph |
03 Mar 2025 |
| Squares of butter |
|
|
| Caresses |
New York Times |
30 Jan 2025 |
| Little Patricia's making the butter (4) |
|
|
| Butter servings |
LA Times Daily |
19 Jan 2025 |
| O'Brien and Sajak |
|
|
| Gentle touches |
Commuter |
07 Jan 2025 |
| NFL team with the most Super Bowl appearances, familiarly |
|
|
| Taps affectionately |
Mirror Quick |
20 Dec 2024 |
| Practise taking odd bits of butter |
Mirror Cryptic |
20 Dec 2024 |
| Sajak et al. |
|
|
| Butter lumps |
|
|
| O'Brien & Benatar |
|
|
| Bits of butter |
Eugene Sheffer |
06 Nov 2024 |
| Gentle touches |
Commuter |
29 Oct 2024 |
| Spat (anag) (4) |
|
|
| Butter slices |
Premier Sunday |
20 Oct 2024 |
| Rivals of the Jets and Fins |
USA Today Quick |
13 Sep 2024 |
| Rubs gently, of a pet (4) |
|
|
| Paulsen & Sajak |
|
|
| NE, on NFL scoreboards |
|
|
| Gentle touches |
USA Today |
23 Aug 2024 |
| Gentle touches |
Commuter |
10 Aug 2024 |
| Light touches |
Eugene Sheffer |
29 Jul 2024 |
| Light touches, and an apt anagram of "taps" |
|
|
| Gentle touches |
Commuter |
27 Jul 2024 |
| Butter squares |
Newsday |
14 Jul 2024 |
| Tender touches |
Thomas Joseph |
13 Jul 2024 |
| Gentle touches |
LA Times Daily |
09 Jul 2024 |
| Gentle touches |
Universal |
03 Jul 2024 |
| Gentle touches |
Commuter |
02 Jul 2024 |
| Taps lightly, ... her hand |
|
|
| Sajak and others |
|
|
| New England NFL players, for short |
Commuter |
10 May 2024 |
| Gently touches |
Commuter |
06 May 2024 |
| AFC East team |
LA Times Daily |
04 May 2024 |
| Gillette Stadium squad, familiarly |
Wall Street Journal |
04 May 2024 |
| Touches gently, on the shoulder |
|
|
| Lumps of butter (4) |
|
|
| Boone & Sajak |
|
|
| Foxborough gridders, familiarly |
Wall Street Journal |
10 Apr 2024 |
| Butter servings |
Wall Street Journal |
09 Apr 2024 |
| Touches lightly |
Thomas Joseph |
26 Mar 2024 |
| Bits of butter |
Eugene Sheffer |
23 Mar 2024 |
| ___ on the back (encouragements) |
Universal |
22 Mar 2024 |
| Taps lightly |
|
|
| Congratulates, ... on the back |
|
|
| Sajak & Boone |
|
|
| Touches lightly |
Thomas Joseph |
05 Feb 2024 |
| New England NFL team, familiarly |
TV |
04 Feb 2024 |
| Light touches |
New York Times |
25 Jan 2024 |
| Gently taps |
USA Today |
05 Jan 2024 |
| Gently tops |
|
|
| Belichick's crew, informally |
|
|
| Touches lightly |
LA Times Daily |
13 Dec 2023 |
| Butter servings |
Newsday |
13 Dec 2023 |
| Tender touches |
Thomas Joseph |
08 Dec 2023 |
| Strokes dog |
|
|
| Nixon & Boone |
TV |
26 Nov 2023 |
| Gently strokes, as a dog |
|
|
| Tender touches |
Universal |
30 Aug 2023 |
| Light touches |
New York Times |
20 Jul 2023 |
| Bits of butter |
Newsday |
19 Jul 2023 |
| Gentle touches |
USA Today |
26 Jun 2023 |
| Butter bits |
Wall Street Journal |
23 Jun 2023 |
| Encouraging strokes on the back |
|
|
| Soft touches |
LA Times Daily |
15 Apr 2023 |
| Light touches |
Eugene Sheffer |
05 Apr 2023 |
| Encouraging strokes on the back |
|
|
| Bits of butter |
Universal |
14 Feb 2023 |
| Light touches |
USA Today |
30 Nov 2022 |
| “Deflategate” team, familiarly |
Wall Street Journal |
05 Nov 2022 |
| Light touches |
USA Today |
04 Nov 2022 |
| Touches gently |
USA Today |
28 Oct 2022 |
| Portions of butter |
Newsday |
26 Oct 2022 |
| Butter portions |
LA Times Daily |
18 Oct 2022 |
| Butter bits |
Wall Street Journal |
20 Sep 2022 |
| Touches gently |
USA Today |
17 Sep 2022 |
| Dollops of butter |
|
|
| Bits of butter |
Eugene Sheffer |
31 Aug 2022 |
| Light touches |
New York Times |
28 Aug 2022 |
| Butter bits |
Premier Sunday |
21 Aug 2022 |
| Touches lightly |
Thomas Joseph |
04 Aug 2022 |
| Servings of butter |
Newsday |
19 Jul 2022 |
| Butter squares |
|
|
| Brady's longtime team, for short |
Universal |
18 Mar 2022 |
| Light touches |
Newsday |
03 Mar 2022 |
| Light touches |
Thomas Joseph |
25 Feb 2022 |
| Consoling touches |
|
|
| Touches lightly |
Universal |
04 Feb 2022 |
| Caresses |
New York Times |
26 Jan 2022 |
| Light touches |
LA Times Daily |
21 Jan 2022 |
| Light touches |
|
|
| New England NFL team |
|
|
| New England NFL team |
LA Times Daily |
11 Oct 2021 |
| Is gentle with |
|
|
| Is gentle with |
LA Times Daily |
10 Sep 2021 |
| Rewards for "good boys" |
Universal |
03 Aug 2021 |
| Light touches |
Eugene Sheffer |
05 May 2021 |
| Butter squares |
Newsday |
02 May 2021 |
| New England footballers, familiarly |
Wall Street Journal |
12 Apr 2021 |
| Gentle touches |
USA Today |
06 Apr 2021 |
| Taps gently |
Universal |
04 Apr 2021 |
| Gentle touches |
Newsday |
16 Mar 2021 |
| New England NFL team, informally |
Universal |
20 Feb 2021 |
| Bits of butter |
Eugene Sheffer |
12 Feb 2021 |
| Bits of butter |
Universal |
21 Jan 2021 |
| Tender touches |
Thomas Joseph |
08 Jan 2021 |
| Six-time Super Bowl champs |
Wall Street Journal |
30 Sep 2020 |
| Portions of butter |
Newsday |
02 Sep 2020 |
| Encouraging touches |
Newsday |
26 Jul 2020 |
| Gently taps |
USA Today |
16 Jun 2020 |
| Light touches |
Newsday |
22 May 2020 |
| Butter portions |
Newsday |
13 May 2020 |
| Apt anagram of TAPS |
New York Times |
28 Apr 2020 |
| Frisks, with "down" |
LA Times Daily |
27 Apr 2020 |
| Frisks, with 'down' |
|
|
| 2019 Super Bowl champs |
Universal |
16 Apr 2020 |
| Butter portions for rolls |
Newsday |
10 Mar 2020 |
| Brady bunch? |
|
|
| Positive feedback on the back |
USA Today |
28 Feb 2020 |
| Super Bowl LIII winners, informally |
|
|
| Brady’s bunch |
Wall Street Journal |
05 Dec 2019 |
| Bits served with bread |
Newsday |
22 Aug 2019 |
| Light strokes |
|
|
| Frisks, with 'down' |
USA Today |
18 May 2019 |
| Brady's team, briefly |
USA Today |
14 Apr 2019 |
| Belichick's team, briefly |
|
|
| Prepackaged diner spread |
Newsday |
15 Mar 2019 |
| Tom Brady's team, for short |
USA Today |
10 Feb 2019 |
| Tom Brady's team, for short |
|
|
| Brady's bunch |
|
|
| Frisks, with "down" |
|
|
| Brady's bunch |
Wall Street Journal |
29 Nov 2018 |
| 'Deflategate' squad |
Wall Street Journal |
03 Nov 2018 |
| Encouraging strokes on the back |
|
|
| A.F.C. East team, informally |
New York Times |
19 Oct 2018 |
| Touches gently |
Wall Street Journal |
27 Aug 2018 |
| Reassuring touches |
Premier Sunday |
12 Aug 2018 |
| Units of butter |
Universal |
27 Jun 2018 |
| Quarrel beginning to end in slaps |
The Telegraph Toughie |
07 Jun 2018 |
| Frisks, with ''down'' |
Newsday |
03 Jun 2018 |
| Butter squares |
Wall Street Journal |
28 Apr 2018 |
| Butter servings |
|
|
| Touches lightly |
Thomas Joseph |
20 Mar 2018 |
| New England NFLers |
LA Times Daily |
06 Mar 2018 |
| New England NFLers |
|
|
| Puppy pleasers |
|
|
| A.F.C. East team, informally |
|
|
| Units of butter |
|
|
| "Deflategate" squad |
|
|
| Butter squares |
|
|
| Touches gently |
|
|
| Gently touches |
|
|
| Tom Brady's team, in headlines |
USA Today |
16 Nov 2017 |
| Servings of butter |
Newsday |
30 Oct 2017 |
| Foxborough squad |
Wall Street Journal |
16 Sep 2017 |
| Super Bowl LI champs, informally |
USA Today |
12 May 2017 |
| Butter units |
Universal |
05 May 2017 |
| Butter servings |
Newsday |
06 Mar 2017 |
| Brady's bunch, familiarly |
Wall Street Journal |
10 Feb 2017 |
| Tender strokes |
USA Today |
23 Jan 2017 |
| Light touches |
Thomas Joseph |
11 Jan 2017 |
| Super Bowl LI champs, informally |
|
|
| Tom Brady's team, in headlines |
|
|
| Butter units |
|
|
| Bits of butter |
|
|
| Some butter |
|
|
| Light touches |
USA Today |
17 Jul 2016 |
| Super Bowl XLIX champs, to their fans |
New York Times |
14 Jun 2016 |
| Gillette Stadium squad |
Wall Street Journal |
02 Apr 2016 |
| Butter servings |
|
|
| Consoling gestures |
New York Times |
05 Mar 2016 |
| Foxborough gridders |
Wall Street Journal |
06 Feb 2016 |
| Affectionate taps |
Universal |
19 Jan 2016 |
| New England football team, informally |
New York Times |
13 Jan 2016 |
| Working out what to serve with rolls? |
|
|
| New England football team, informally |
|
|
| Light touches |
|
|
| New England NFLers |
|
|
| Affectionate taps |
|
|
| Gentle touches |
|
|
| Super Bowl XLIX champs, to their fans |
|
|
| Butter squares |
Eugene Sheffer |
03 Dec 2015 |
| Gently strokes, as a dog |
New York Times |
26 Nov 2015 |
| 2015 Super Bowl winners, familiarly |
New York Times |
06 Nov 2015 |
| Butter squares |
Universal |
26 Oct 2015 |
| Some congratulations |
New York Times |
02 Aug 2015 |
| New England team, for short |
Wall Street Journal |
29 Jun 2015 |
| Gently touches |
LA Times Daily |
10 May 2015 |
| Dog rewards |
Newsday |
30 Apr 2015 |
| Butter portions |
|
|
| Butter squares |
|
|
| Three-time Super Bowl winners, to fans |
|
|
| Some congratulations |
|
|
| Gently strokes, as a dog |
|
|
| Gently touches |
|
|
| 2015 Super Bowl winners, familiarly |
|
|
| Frisks, with "down" |
|
|
| Dog rewards |
|
|
| Some dog rewards |
|
|
| New England team, to fans |
|
|
| Light touches |
|
|
| Prepackaged butter portions |
|
|
| Butter dabs |
|
|
| Butter bits |
|
|
| Praises for pups |
|
|
| Shows of approval |
|
|
| Frisks, with "down" |
|
|
| Butter servings |
|
|
| Gently strokes |
|
|
| Squares with dinner rolls |
|
|
| Back strokes? |
|
|
| Breadbasket bunch |
|
|
| ___ down (frisks) |
|
|
| Touches affectionately |
|
|
| Rewards for Fido |
|
|
| Touches lightly |
|
|
| Squares with dinner rolls |
|
|
| Breadbasket bunch |
|
|
| Back strokes? |
|
|
| Tom Brady's team, to fans |
|
|
| Encourages, perhaps |
|
|
| Encouraging touches |
|
|
| Tom Brady's team, to fans |
|
|
| Butter servings |
|
|
| Little touches |
|
|
| Bits of butter |
|
|
| Light touches |
|
|
| Butter servings |
|
|
| Light touches |
|
|
| Loving strokes |
|
|
| Tom Brady and his bunch |
|
|
| Spread things? |
|
|
| Back-hand compliments? |
|
|
| Loving strokes |
|
|
| Super Bowl XXXVI champs, to fans |
|
|
| ___ down (frisks) |
|
|
| Reassures, in a way |
|
|
| Oleo squares |
|
|
| Three-time grid champs of the 2000s |
|
|
| Gentle touches |
|
|
| Consoles, in a way |
|
|
| Butter slices |
|
|
| Squares at diner tables |
|
|
| Butter slices |
|
|
| Congratulates, in a way |
|
|
| Butter servings |
|
|
| Butter units |
|
|
| Butter squares |
|
|
| Little touches |
|
|
| N.E. eleven |
|
|
| They may be on the back |
|
|
| Forms of encouragement |
|
|
| Butter squares |
|
|
| Butter servings |
|
|
| Butter servings |
|
|
| Football team or some points they score, for short |
|
|
| Butter units |
|
|
| Back supports? |
|
|
| Dog rewards |
|
|
| Butter slices |
|
|
| Congratulatory or consoling gestures |
|
|
| Back strokes? |
|
|
| Brady and Moss, e.g. |
|
|
| Congratulations of a sort |
|
|
| Frisks, with "down" |
|
|
| Butter servings |
|
|
| Gillete Stadium players, familiarly |
|
|
| Back supports? |
|
|
| Back-hand compliments? |
|
|
| Touches gently |
|
|
| Back-hand compliments? |
|
|
| New England team, to fans |
|
|
| Benatar and Boone |
|
|
| Loving strokes |
|
|
| Super Bowl XXXIX champs, to their fans |
|
|
| Puts on a foundation |
|
|
| Butter portions |
|
|
| Squares at diner tables |
|
|
| Squares at diner tables |
|
|
| New England NFLers |
|
|
| Foxboro bunch |
|
|
| Margarine servings |
|
|
| N.E. gridders, in headlines |
|
|
| Margarine slices |
|
|
| Caresses gently |
|
|
| Little touches |
|
|
| NFL team, for short |
|
|
| Butter measures |
|
|
| Little touches |
|
|
| Butter units |
|
|
| Frisks, with "down" |
|
|
| Butter portions |
|
|
| Touches affectionately |
|
|
| New England NFLers |
|
|
| They're welcome on the back |
|
|
| Butter squares |
|
|
| Dabs |
|
|
| Light strokes |
|
|
| Last year's Super Bowl champs |
|
|
| Singers Benatar and Boone |
|
|
| Squares in a breadbasket |
|
|
| Butter servings |
|
|
| NFL team, for short |
|
|
| Butter portions |
|
|
| Squares in a breadbasket |
|
|
| Gently strokes |
|
|
| Butter servings |
|
|
| New England football team, for short |
|
|
| Taps |
|
|
| Encouraging signs? |
|
|
| 2002 Super Bowl champs, familiarly |
|
|
| Strokes |
|
|
| Praises, in a way |
|
|
| Super Bowl XXXVI champs, familiarly |
|
|
| Squares on the table |
|
|
| Super Bowl XXXVI champs, familiarly |
|
|
| Squares on the table |
|
|
| Praises for pups |
|
|
| Sajak and Benatar |
|
|
| Butter portions |
|
|
| Light touches |
|
|
| 2002 Super Bowl winners, in headlines |
|
|
| Butter servings |
|
|
| TD trailers |
|
|
| Taps |
|
|
| ___ on the back: praises |
|
|
| Touches lightly |
|
|
| Affectionate gestures |
|
|
| Strokes affectionately |
|
|
| Certain congratulations |
|
|
| Comforting touches |
|
|
| Taps gently |
|
|
| Congratulatory or consoling gestures |
|
|
| Praises for pups |
|
|
| They may be directed toward the back |
|
|
| Oleo squares |
|
|
| Light strokes |
|
|
| Bit of butter |
|
|
| Butter pieces |
|
|
| Sajak and Benatar |
|
|
| Shows of approval |
|
|
| Touches lightly |
|
|
| ___ down (frisks) |
|
|
| Strokes |
|
|
| Butter bits |
|
|
| Boone and Paulsen |
|
|
| New England team, for short |
|
|
| Light strokes |
|
|
| Congratulations, of a sort |
|
|
| Puppy pleasers |
|
|
| Sen. Moynihan et al. |
|
|
| Sajak and Summerall |
|
|
| Congratulates |
|
|
| Frisks |
|
|
| Caresses |
|
|
| Butter squares |
|
|
| Some encouragement |
|
|
| Encourages |
|
|
| Nixon and Schroeder |
|
|
| Dog rewards |
|
|
| Butter units |
|
|
| Congratulates in a way |
|
|
| Strikes lightly |
|
|
| New England eleven, familiarly |
|
|
| Soft touches |
|
|
| Butter portions |
|
|
| Portions of butter |
|
|
| Sajak and O'Brien |
|
|
| Light slaps |
|
|
| Boone and Sajak |
|
|
| Affectionate taps |
|
|
| Foxboro pros, for short |
|
|
| Compliments for Fido |
|
|
| New England grid team |
|
|
| Foxboro team, for short |
|
|
| Boone and O'Brien |
|
|
| O'Brien and Boone |
|
|
| Lads from Limerick |
|
|
| Caresses |
|
|
| Touches lovingly |
|
|
| Boone and Hingle |
|
|
| Walks with light footsteps |
|
|
| Hingle and Boone |
|
|
| Strokes |
|
|
| Back compliments |
|
|
| Touches lightly |
|
|
| Servings of butter |
|
|
| O'Brien and Rooney |
|
|
| Light touches |
|
|
| Hingle et al. |
|
|
| Mikes' friends. |
|
|
| Butter pieces. |
|
|
| Bits of butter. |
|
|
| Attentions for Rover. |
|
|
| Strikes gently. |
|
|
| Small masses. |
|
|
| Casual accolades. |
|
|
| Caresses. |
|
|
| Spygate team, for short |
|
|
| NFL team that plays in The Razor, briefly |
|
|
| Inventors' papers: Abbr. |
|
|
| Butter units. |
|
|
| Butter squares. |
|
|
| Taps gently. |
|
|
| Pieces, as of butter. |
|
|
| Butter cuts. |
|
|
| Butter portions. |
|
|
| Light blows. |
|
|
| Servings of butter. |
|
|
| Pieces of butter. |
|
|
| Light touches. |
|
|
| Dabs. |
|
|
| Butter servings. |
|
|
| Small portions, as of butter. |
|
|
| Small pieces, as of butter. |
|
|
| Portions of butter. |
|
|
| Strokes. |
|
|
| Touches gently. |
|
|
| O'Malley and O'Brien. |
|
|
| The dancing Rooneys. |
|
|