A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #120
hints & answers for October 9, 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 October 9, 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 C, C, P and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CORN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CROPS

Reveal all four words
  • CORN
  • CUCUMBER
  • PEPPER
  • TOMATO

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Informal names for the part above your shoulders.

Show one word

CROWN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SLANG FOR HEAD

Reveal all four words
  • CROWN
  • DOME
  • MELON
  • NOODLE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CUT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SONG

Reveal all four words
  • CUT
  • NUMBER
  • SINGLE
  • TRACK

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BIRD belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT WHISTLE

Reveal all four words
  • BIRD
  • KETTLE
  • REFEREE
  • TRAIN
Show categories only
  • Yellow: CROPS
  • Green: SLANG FOR HEAD
  • Blue: SONG
  • Purple: THINGS THAT WHISTLE

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

CROPS

CORN · CUCUMBER · PEPPER · TOMATO

Green

SLANG FOR HEAD

CROWN · DOME · MELON · NOODLE

Blue

SONG

CUT · NUMBER · SINGLE · TRACK

Purple

THINGS THAT WHISTLE

BIRD · KETTLE · REFEREE · TRAIN

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.