Another day, another Wheel of Fortune moment that has the internet divided. Contestant Joey Sweet’s bonus-round guess—“Cleared in hand”—might’ve sounded right, but the actual answer, “Carved By Hand,” left everyone groaning.
The November 18 episode saw Sweet, a program director from Oceanside, California, come heartbreakingly close to $40,000. With letters C, D, M, A, and F on the board, his guess wasn’t far off—but the clock beat him. Host Ryan Seacrest was quick to empathize: “That’s a tough one,” he said, revealing the lost prize.
Fans immediately flooded social media, some defending Sweet (“That puzzle was brutal!”) and others marveling at the show’s ability to trip up even sharp players. “The word ‘By’ is a silent killer,” one viewer noted.
Sweet took the loss in stride, still scoring a Mexico trip and cash. But the moment joins Wheel’s hall of fame for hilarious misfires, right behind the now-legendary “sausages” blunder. One thing’s clear: when it comes to game-show pressure, even the simplest phrases can turn into tongue-twisters.
