Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
Approach a meal as though you have not eaten all day.
Show one word
DOWN belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
EAT VORACIOUSLY
Reveal all four words
- DOWN
- INHALE
- SCARF
- WOLF
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #272
hints & answers for March 9, 2024
Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.
#272
This reference always shows March 9, 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.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with C, D, M and M. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
CONCENTRATION belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
AREAS OF ACADEMIC FOCUS
Reveal all four words
- CONCENTRATION
- DEGREE
- MAJOR
- MINOR
Blue group
More challenging
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with B, B, G and S. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
BLANKET belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
UNIVERSAL
Reveal all four words
- BLANKET
- BROAD
- GENERAL
- SWEEPING
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
Wordplay hint
Try putting the same beginning before each entry.
Show one word
BAR belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
SPACE ___
Reveal all four words
- BAR
- CADET
- HEATER
- STATION
Each entry comes after "SPACE" to form a word, expression or name: BAR → SPACE BAR; CADET → SPACE CADET; HEATER → SPACE HEATER; STATION → SPACE STATION.
Show categories only
- Yellow: EAT VORACIOUSLY
- Green: AREAS OF ACADEMIC FOCUS
- Blue: UNIVERSAL
- Purple: SPACE ___
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
EAT VORACIOUSLY
DOWN · INHALE · SCARF · WOLF
Green
AREAS OF ACADEMIC FOCUS
CONCENTRATION · DEGREE · MAJOR · MINOR
Blue
UNIVERSAL
BLANKET · BROAD · GENERAL · SWEEPING
Purple
SPACE ___
BAR · CADET · HEATER · STATION
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.