A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #224
hints & answers for January 21, 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 21, 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 F, H, R and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

FLEECE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

RIP OFF

Reveal all four words
  • FLEECE
  • HOSE
  • ROB
  • STIFF

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CANDLE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS MADE OF WAX

Reveal all four words
  • CANDLE
  • CRAYON
  • HONEYCOMB
  • SEAL

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CABIN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PARTS OF AN AIRPLANE

Reveal all four words
  • CABIN
  • ENGINE
  • NOSE
  • WING

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BULB belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

UNITS OF VEGETABLES

Reveal all four words
  • BULB
  • EAR
  • HEAD
  • STALK
Show categories only
  • Yellow: RIP OFF
  • Green: THINGS MADE OF WAX
  • Blue: PARTS OF AN AIRPLANE
  • Purple: UNITS OF VEGETABLES

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

RIP OFF

FLEECE · HOSE · ROB · STIFF

Green

THINGS MADE OF WAX

CANDLE · CRAYON · HONEYCOMB · SEAL

Blue

PARTS OF AN AIRPLANE

CABIN · ENGINE · NOSE · WING

Purple

UNITS OF VEGETABLES

BULB · EAR · HEAD · STALK

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.