A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #32
hints & answers for July 13, 2023

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows July 13, 2023. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with H, L, S and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

HEEL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SHOE PARTS

Reveal all four words
  • HEEL
  • LACE
  • SOLE
  • TONGUE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

A table, some pieces and an evening together.

Show one word

CLUE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BOARD GAMES

Reveal all four words
  • CLUE
  • RISK
  • SORRY
  • TROUBLE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, H, R and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BOND belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FICTIONAL SPIES

Reveal all four words
  • BOND
  • HUNT
  • RYAN
  • SMART

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try putting the same beginning before each entry.

Show one word

BAND belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

RUBBER ___

Reveal all four words
  • BAND
  • CEMENT
  • DUCKIE
  • SOUL

Each entry comes after "RUBBER" to form a word, expression or name: BAND → RUBBER BAND; CEMENT → RUBBER CEMENT; DUCKIE → RUBBER DUCKIE; SOUL → RUBBER SOUL.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: SHOE PARTS
  • Green: BOARD GAMES
  • Blue: FICTIONAL SPIES
  • Purple: RUBBER ___

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

SHOE PARTS

HEEL · LACE · SOLE · TONGUE

Green

BOARD GAMES

CLUE · RISK · SORRY · TROUBLE

Blue

FICTIONAL SPIES

BOND · HUNT · RYAN · SMART

Purple

RUBBER ___

BAND · CEMENT · DUCKIE · SOUL

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.