A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #217
hints & answers for January 14, 2024

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 January 14, 2024. 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, I and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BILL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS TO PAY

Reveal all four words
  • BILL
  • CHECK
  • INVOICE
  • TAB

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

PINCH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THIEVE

Reveal all four words
  • PINCH
  • ROB
  • STEAL
  • SWIPE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

The name changes with the creature's sex.

Show one word

BUCK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MALE ANIMALS

Reveal all four words
  • BUCK
  • BULL
  • JACK
  • TOM

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

JEAN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

LEGWEAR, IN THE SINGULAR

Reveal all four words
  • JEAN
  • PANT
  • SHORT
  • TIGHT
Show categories only
  • Yellow: THINGS TO PAY
  • Green: THIEVE
  • Blue: MALE ANIMALS
  • Purple: LEGWEAR, IN THE SINGULAR

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

THINGS TO PAY

BILL · CHECK · INVOICE · TAB

Green

THIEVE

PINCH · ROB · STEAL · SWIPE

Blue

MALE ANIMALS

BUCK · BULL · JACK · TOM

Purple

LEGWEAR, IN THE SINGULAR

JEAN · PANT · SHORT · TIGHT

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.