A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #254
hints & answers for February 20, 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 February 20, 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, D, D and D. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BORE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PARTY POOPER

Reveal all four words
  • BORE
  • DRAG
  • DRIP
  • DUD

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BRASS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MUSICAL SECTIONS

Reveal all four words
  • BRASS
  • RHYTHM
  • STRING
  • WIND

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BEAD belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BIT OF LIQUID

Reveal all four words
  • BEAD
  • DROP
  • GLOB
  • TEAR

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, C, L and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BEAT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

VEGETABLE HOMOPHONES

Reveal all four words
  • BEAT
  • CHARRED
  • LEAK
  • PEE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: PARTY POOPER
  • Green: MUSICAL SECTIONS
  • Blue: BIT OF LIQUID
  • Purple: VEGETABLE HOMOPHONES

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

PARTY POOPER

BORE · DRAG · DRIP · DUD

Green

MUSICAL SECTIONS

BRASS · RHYTHM · STRING · WIND

Blue

BIT OF LIQUID

BEAD · DROP · GLOB · TEAR

Purple

VEGETABLE HOMOPHONES

BEAT · CHARRED · LEAK · PEE

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.