On the November 18 episode of Wheel of Fortune, contestant Joey Sweet nearly won a \$40,000 prize in the bonus round with the puzzle “CA\_ED’ ‘\_ \_’ ‘\_AND.’”
After selecting letters C, D, M, A, and a Wild Card “F,” he guessed “Cleared in hand,” but the correct answer was “Carved By Hand.”
The tricky solution frustrated Sweet, host Ryan Seacrest, and even Vanna White. Seacrest comforted Sweet, acknowledging the difficulty and revealed the missed prize.
Despite the loss, Sweet stayed positive, leaving with over \$16,000 in cash and a Mexico trip.
The moment went viral as fans praised the puzzle’s difficulty, especially the challenge of guessing “By.” This followed another recent viral slip-up where contestant Will Jordan guessed “Treat yourself a round of sausages” instead of “Give yourself a round of applause.” Wheel of Fortune continues to provide memorable and unexpected moments.