A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #138
hints & answers for October 27, 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 27, 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, C, G and N. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BRASS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SHAMELESS BOLDNESS

Reveal all four words
  • BRASS
  • CHEEK
  • GALL
  • NERVE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Look on the periodic table for these materials.

Show one word

COPPER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

METAL ELEMENTS

Reveal all four words
  • COPPER
  • GOLD
  • NICKEL
  • SILVER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

LIBERTY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

W.N.B.A. TEAMS

Reveal all four words
  • LIBERTY
  • MERCURY
  • SKY
  • SPARKS

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CARS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS WITH TRUNKS

Reveal all four words
  • CARS
  • ELEPHANTS
  • SWIMMERS
  • TREES
Show categories only
  • Yellow: SHAMELESS BOLDNESS
  • Green: METAL ELEMENTS
  • Blue: W.N.B.A. TEAMS
  • Purple: THINGS WITH TRUNKS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

SHAMELESS BOLDNESS

BRASS · CHEEK · GALL · NERVE

Green

METAL ELEMENTS

COPPER · GOLD · NICKEL · SILVER

Blue

W.N.B.A. TEAMS

LIBERTY · MERCURY · SKY · SPARKS

Purple

THINGS WITH TRUNKS

CARS · ELEPHANTS · SWIMMERS · TREES

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.