A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #273
hints & answers for March 10, 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 March 10, 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, B, F and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BALL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS A DOG CAN FETCH

Reveal all four words
  • BALL
  • BONE
  • FRISBEE
  • STICK

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Keep something from being seen or discovered.

Show one word

BLOCK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CONCEAL

Reveal all four words
  • BLOCK
  • COVER
  • HIDE
  • OBSCURE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

COMMAND belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MAC KEYBOARD KEYS

Reveal all four words
  • COMMAND
  • CONTROL
  • OPTION
  • SHIFT

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BLANK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

EXPERIENCE A MEMORY LAPSE

Reveal all four words
  • BLANK
  • FLAKE
  • FORGET
  • SPACE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: THINGS A DOG CAN FETCH
  • Green: CONCEAL
  • Blue: MAC KEYBOARD KEYS
  • Purple: EXPERIENCE A MEMORY LAPSE

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

THINGS A DOG CAN FETCH

BALL · BONE · FRISBEE · STICK

Green

CONCEAL

BLOCK · COVER · HIDE · OBSCURE

Blue

MAC KEYBOARD KEYS

COMMAND · CONTROL · OPTION · SHIFT

Purple

EXPERIENCE A MEMORY LAPSE

BLANK · FLAKE · FORGET · SPACE

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.