Yellow group
Straightforward
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with C, P, T and T. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
CROP belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
SHIRTS
Reveal all four words
- CROP
- POLO
- TANK
- TEE
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #201
hints & answers for December 29, 2023
Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.
#201
This reference always shows December 29, 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.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with B, F, F and R. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
BAD belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
COOL, IN ’80S SLANG
Reveal all four words
- BAD
- FLY
- FRESH
- RAD
Blue group
More challenging
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with B, E, G and J. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
BEE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
LETTER SPELLINGS
Reveal all four words
- BEE
- EX
- GEE
- JAY
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
Wordplay hint
Try adding the same ending to each entry.
Show one word
BOY belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
___ GEORGE
Reveal all four words
- BOY
- BY
- CURIOUS
- SAINT
Each entry comes before "GEORGE" to form a word, expression or name: BOY → BOY GEORGE; BY → BY GEORGE; CURIOUS → CURIOUS GEORGE; SAINT → SAINT GEORGE.
Show categories only
- Yellow: SHIRTS
- Green: COOL, IN ’80S SLANG
- Blue: LETTER SPELLINGS
- Purple: ___ GEORGE
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
SHIRTS
CROP · POLO · TANK · TEE
Green
COOL, IN ’80S SLANG
BAD · FLY · FRESH · RAD
Blue
LETTER SPELLINGS
BEE · EX · GEE · JAY
Purple
___ GEORGE
BOY · BY · CURIOUS · SAINT
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.
Continue from this date
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.