A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #132
hints & answers for October 21, 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 21, 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 B, D, P and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BOWL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

TABLEWARE

Reveal all four words
  • BOWL
  • DISH
  • PLATE
  • SAUCER

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

It may sound like talk, but it does not make sense.

Show one word

BALONEY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

NONSENSE

Reveal all four words
  • BALONEY
  • BUNK
  • CROCK
  • TRIPE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CUP belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BRA PARTS

Reveal all four words
  • CUP
  • HOOK
  • STRAP
  • WIRE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Gentle hint

Several words have been shortened into one pronounceable form.

Show one word

LASER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ACRONYMS

Reveal all four words
  • LASER
  • RADAR
  • SCUBA
  • SPAM
Show categories only
  • Yellow: TABLEWARE
  • Green: NONSENSE
  • Blue: BRA PARTS
  • Purple: ACRONYMS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

TABLEWARE

BOWL · DISH · PLATE · SAUCER

Green

NONSENSE

BALONEY · BUNK · CROCK · TRIPE

Blue

BRA PARTS

CUP · HOOK · STRAP · WIRE

Purple

ACRONYMS

LASER · RADAR · SCUBA · SPAM

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.