A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #221
hints & answers for January 18, 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 18, 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 G, P, P and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

GRANDSTAND belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SHOW OFF

Reveal all four words
  • GRANDSTAND
  • PEACOCK
  • POSTURE
  • STRUT

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Ahead of the rest in importance or position.

Show one word

MAIN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FOREMOST

Reveal all four words
  • MAIN
  • PARAMOUNT
  • PRIME
  • SUPREME

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, G, W and Y. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BLUE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

COLORS IN BRAZIL’S FLAG

Reveal all four words
  • BLUE
  • GREEN
  • WHITE
  • YELLOW

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try adding the same ending to each entry.

Show one word

CHAIN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

___ LETTER

Reveal all four words
  • CHAIN
  • COVER
  • LOVE
  • SCARLET

Each entry comes before "LETTER" to form a word, expression or name: CHAIN → CHAIN LETTER; COVER → COVER LETTER; LOVE → LOVE LETTER; SCARLET → SCARLET LETTER.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: SHOW OFF
  • Green: FOREMOST
  • Blue: COLORS IN BRAZIL’S FLAG
  • Purple: ___ LETTER

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

SHOW OFF

GRANDSTAND · PEACOCK · POSTURE · STRUT

Green

FOREMOST

MAIN · PARAMOUNT · PRIME · SUPREME

Blue

COLORS IN BRAZIL’S FLAG

BLUE · GREEN · WHITE · YELLOW

Purple

___ LETTER

CHAIN · COVER · LOVE · SCARLET

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.